{"id":8612,"date":"2020-08-03T17:10:48","date_gmt":"2020-08-04T00:10:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/todaysveterinarybusiness.com\/?p=8612"},"modified":"2022-06-15T17:46:28","modified_gmt":"2022-06-15T17:46:28","slug":"avma-2022-president-candidates","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/navc.sitepreview.app\/todaysveterinarybusiness.com\/avma-2022-president-candidates\/","title":{"rendered":"Two AVMA veterans will run for 2022 presidency"},"content":{"rendered":"

Two women are vying to become president of the American Veterinary Medical Association in 2022, raising the likelihood of only the fourth female president in the organization\u2019s nearly 160-year history.<\/p>\n

Grace Bransford, DVM, the AVMA\u2019s immediate past vice president, and Lori Teller, DVM, DABVP (canine\/feline), who chairs the board of directors, declared their candidacies July 31 during a virtual meeting of the House of Delegates. The nomination period remains open.<\/p>\n

The Zoom video conference was held the same day the delegates were to have met in San Diego at the kickoff of the AVMA annual convention. The in-person convention was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic and rescheduled as a virtual event Aug. 20 to 22.<\/p>\n

Dr. Bransford, a Northern California small animal practitioner, and Dr. Teller, a faculty member at the Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine<\/a>, addressed the delegates, who will choose the 2021-22 president-elect \u2014 effectively the 2022-23 president \u2014 next summer.<\/p>\n

Dr. Bransford, who spent a decade in advertising and marketing before embarking on a veterinary career, reflected on her years of volunteer service with the AVMA.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have achieved a great deal in providing the benefits and services our members have asked for, especially in the areas of government advocacy, economic research and analysis, wellness support, and partnering with other leadership groups in our profession,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe can work harder to make sure that our association and our profession reflect the diversity of our country, and we can continually evaluate ourselves to see that we are considering the global collective and perspectives in our actions.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dr. Teller, a telehealth professor<\/a> and part-time Houston practitioner, told the delegates about being a cancer survivor and the mother of a special-needs son.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs president-elect of the AVMA, I can continue to help guide the association to meet the needs of the profession and help us become more proactive in addressing current issues and those just over the horizon,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am a practitioner, an educator, a wife, mom, daughter, sister. I am someone who overcomes obstacles and challenges and gets things done.\u201d<\/p>\n

The AVMA\u2019s previous female presidents were Mary Beth Leininger in 1996-97, Bonnie Beaver in 2004-05 and Ren\u00e9 Carlson in 2011-12.<\/p>\n

In other action:<\/p>\n