2023 Spring Town & Country Call Newsletter

OFFICERS

TOWN & COUNTRY CALL

VirginiaVeterinary MedicalAssociation

3801WesterreParkway,SuiteD Henrico,VA23233

(P)804-346-2611 (F)804-346-2655

(E)info@vvma.org

(W)wwwvvmaorg

submission deadline

SamanthaTeunis AssociationCoordinator

RobinSchmitz retiringJune30,2023!

Thedeadlineforreceiptofcopy

tobeincludedinthenextissue ofTown&CountryCallis: June 5, 2023

MEMBERASSISTANCEPROGRAM &WORK-LIFESERVICES

TheVVMAhaspartneredwithMcLaughlinYoungandoffersawonderfulbenefit forVVMAmembers.TheMemberAssistanceProgram&Work-LifeServicesare availabletoVVMAmembersandtheirimmediatefamily.

ReasonstousetheMAPinclude:financialplanning,maritaldifficulties, parenting,stress,depression,work-relatedconcerns,alcoholanddrug use/abuse,griefandloss,orpreventative.

FREEANDCONFIDENTIALASSISTANCE

isavailable24/7/365at800-633-3353

LaurenMaxey,DVM President

NathanielBurke,DVM President-Elect

BrianNeumann,DVM

Vice President

CourtneyConroy,DVM

Secretary-Treasurer

MartinBetts,DVM

Immediate Past President

DIRECTORS

RebeccaBeamer,DVM

Southwest VA & VASART

AbbegailBingaman,DVM

Northern VA

LauraChretien,DVM

Fredericksburg

EdwardFallin,DVM

Central

SherriGard,DVM

VAEP

BomHarris,DVM

VAFAP

ChristopherHussion,DVM

Loudoun

OPENPOSITION

Roanoke Valley

JosephMay,DVM

Southside VMA

StuartMorse,DVM

Prince William

RachaelNuzzo,DVM

Shenandoah

AshleyPowell,DVM

Coastal

MargaretRucker,DVM

Appalachian

CherylSimpson-Freeman,DVM

Piedmont

Jamie Stewart, DVM

At-Large

Nomatterwhatproblemsyouare dealingwith,TheNationalSuicide PreventionLifelinewantstohelpyou findareasontokeepliving.By calling,you’llbeconnectedtoa skilled,trainedcounseloratacrisis centerinyourarea,anytime24/7.

1-800-273-8255 Publicationofmaterialsinthisnewsletterdoes

1-540-231-6557

Ifyouareconcernedaboutyourself oranyVirginiaTechstudentbeing(or becoming)suicidal,pleasecallthe CookCounselingCenter.This numbercanbeusedduringregular officehoursorafter-hourstospeak withacounselor.

Yourcallisconfidentialandfree

BretVanLear,DVM

Blue Ridge

GarrettWood,DVM

Jefferson

VirginiaNewman Student Representative

AVMAREPRESENTATIVES

ErinCasey,DVM

Delegate

DiannaThornton,DVM

Alternate Delegate

President's LAURENMAXEY,DVM

Message

Greetings colleagues,

It has been another great start to a new year for the VVMA.

VVMA's Day at the Capitol and the legislative session was quieter this year, but there are many issues on the horizon that we are keeping close eyes on. Our lobbyist and legislative chairs are still working hard on getting clarification on the veterinary sales tax exemption legislation to include vaccines, and we should have updates soon.

The 2023 Virginia Veterinary Conference in February was very successful thanks to our wonderful sponsors, vendors, speakers and attendees. Among other things, we learned how to better deal with clients in negative interactions and what to expect after receiving a board complaint. It was really wonderful seeing everyone in person again!

The VVMA has a few things we would like to focus on this year:

Work on restructuring the Power of Ten program schedule and content to make it both effective and easier for recent graduates to attend and increase the ability to network with VVMA leaders and members.

Form a committee including members of the VALVT to brainstorm how we as veterinarians can appropriately utilize LVTs to the full extent of their license, empower LVTs and retain LVTs not only in our practices but in the veterinary field in general.

Develop more opportunities for new and seasoned members to become involved with the board in committees or via other avenues

Continue brainstorming ways to promote organized veterinary medicine and enhance our communication on both the state and national level

I look forward to leading the VVMA this year in these endeavors. If there is anything the VVMA can help with or any questions we can answer, please reach out. We are here to represent you all!

meet the 2023-2024

VVMA Officers

2022-2023 Veterinary Memorial Fund Research Projects

Lead Investigator: Menciotti, Giulio

Study Title: Speckle tracking echocardiography as a new screening tool for dilated cardiomyopathy in Doberman Pinschers

Purpose: To determine if a single diagnostic tool, echocardiography examination including speckle tracking echocardiography, could eliminate the need for 24-hour Holter monitor in Doberman Pinschers being screened for dilated cardiomyopathy.

Lead Investigator: Ramos, Renata

Study Title: Pre- and post-phacoemulsification morphologic iridocorneal angle analysis by anterior segment gonioscopic imaging as a predictor of glaucomas in dogs

Purpose: To determine the clinical value of monitoring iridocorneal angle morphology as a predictor of glaucoma following cataract surgery in dogs.

Lead Investigator: Serpa, Priscila

Study Title: Detection of circulating tumor DNA in liquid biopsies of dogs with lymphoma: biomarker discovery

Purpose: To investigate whether genetic material (DNA and microRNA) from cancer cells can be identified in the blood of dogs with lymphoma.

Lead Investigator: Tuohy, Joanne

Study Title: Pilot study evaluating the ablative and biomechanical effects of complete tumor histotripsy ablation in canine osteosarcoma

Purpose: To evaluate histotripsy, a novel tumor ablation technique, as a non-invasive limb-salvage treatment in canine osteosarcoma.

Lead Investigator: Wilkinson, Ashley

Study Title: ADAMTS13 activity in dogs with presumptive idiopathic immune thrombocytopenia

Purpose: To determine whether a subset of dogs with presumptive idiopathic immune thromocytopenia have reduced activity of the enzyme ADAMTS13, which appears to play a role in blood clotting

Since its founding, the Veterinary Memorial Fund has supported over 100 different projects to foster improved veterinary medical care.

Congratulations to Dr. Erin Casey on her election to AVMA Board of Directors!

Dr. Casey has represented Virginia as its delegate to the AVMA House of Delegates since 2017 She has been elected as District II director, representing AVMA members in Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. Her six year term will begin in July 2023.

to our 2023 Virginia Veterinary Award recipients:

Session Wrap Up

It was a "short" 45-day Session but you wouldn't know it by the bill count! Over 800 bills - 819 to be exact - passed the House of Delegates and Senate and are awaiting action by the Governor. A total of 1,906 pieces of legislation were introduced in the House and Senate in this past Session; a tremendous amount for the six weeks the General Assembly was in Richmond. The VVMA saw a large number of animal or animal welfare-related bills introduced - not an uncommon occurrence! However, as usual by crossover, the number of bills still active had been reduced and most bills that needed changing were amended and agreed to by the patrons and impacted constituencies. Following are a few of the legislative highlights from the 2023 Session:

There were three measures introduced this Session amending the rabies statutes in the Commonwealth. HB 1406, patroned by Delegate Tim Anderson (R-Virginia Beach), would have eliminated the requirement to pay a license tax for owning a dog or cat and would have eliminated the misdemeanor penalty for failing to pay such license tax. The VVMA, along with the Virginia Association of Counties, the Treasurers Association of Virginia, the Virginia Alliance of Animal Shelters, the Virginia Animal Control Association, and a number of other animal welfare groups and individual shelters both public and private, opposed this legislation It would have been an unfunded mandate on the locality, it would have resulted in a loss of revenue to the locality that could be directed towards shelter services, and would have been the first step in doing away with licensing in Virginia The bill had an aggregate fiscal impact in the millions for localities in Virginia - the city of Richmond alone reported a potential licensing revenue loss of $250,000 Legislators in subcommittee showed no support for this bill and it was killed on a unanimous vote

HB 1468 by Delegate Lee Ware (R-Powhatan) would have prevented a veterinarian from charging more than $20 for a rabies shot or requiring additional services alongside a rabies vaccination VVMA reached out to Delegate Ware early in the Session registering our concerns and opposition to the bill Ultimately, he struck the bill The bill originated from a constituent concern who complained about the cost of taking multiples dogs into a vet for rabies shots We reminded the Delegate that the need for low-cost rabies vaccinations available to the public was the reason the Code mandates localities hold rabies vaccination clinics at least every two years

Finally, VVMA supported and assisted Delegate Otto Wachsman (R-Sussex) with HB 1577 This bill requires any person who confines a dog or cat for active signs of rabies or suspected rabies to allow the Virginia Department of Health access to the animal during its confinement The Health Department and Dr Julia Murphy also assisted the Delegate by providing technical amendments to the bill This bill passed the House and Senate on a unanimous vote

There were four bills introduced to address the reporting of animal research data, to penalize federal animal welfare violations by Virginia institutions of higher education at the state level, and to create and incentivize whistleblowers reporting suspected violations at research facilities within state universities Ultimately, two bills survived and were conformed to each other in dramatically pared-down form Senator Jennifer Boysko (D-Fairfax) patroned SB 1271 and Delegate Michael Webert (R-Fauquier) sponsored HB 2348; as introduced, these bills would have allowed the state to issue monetary fines to colleges/universities for federal animal welfare violations in conducting research The final compromise language requires an animal testing facility to make certain inspection reports publicly available by displaying a link to access the reports on the home page of the animal testing facility's website or, if the facility does not maintain a website, making the report available by means of a press release or other similar publication

continued on page 12

Legislative Session Wrap Up, Contd.

In addition, the bill requires any animal testing facility operated by an institution of higher education that receives a citation for critical noncompliance, as defined in the bill, under the Animal Welfare Act or its regulations, to notify the leadership of such institution, including the president, dean, and board of visitors or board of trustees. The provisions of the bill do not apply to any federal facility or privately owned licensed veterinary practice. The VVMA worked with the Delegate to exempt private veterinary practices in an abundance of caution.

The biggest takeaway from the 2023 Session is the historic number of legislative retirements - 28 members with over 400 years of legislative experience. With 19 House members and 9 Senators leaving the General Assembly, and all 100 House and all 40 Senate seats up for re-election, the 2024 Session is shaping up to be a wild one! The loss of institutional memory and the retirement of key committee chairs will make next year's General Assembly a challenging experience for lobbyists and legislators alike With more announcements likely, below is the list of legislators who have publicly announced their retirement to date:

Delegate Dawn Adams (D-Richmond)

Delegate Les Adams (R-Chatham)

Delegate Timothy Anderson (R-Virginia Beach)

Delegate John Avoli (R-Staunton)

Delegate Rob Bell (R-Albemarle)

Delegate Kathy Byron (R-Lynchburg)

Delegate Jeff Bourne (D-Richmond)

Delegate Jeff Campbell (R-Wytheville)

Delegate Glenn Davis (R-Virginia Beach)

Delegate James Edmunds (R-Halifax)

Delegate Eileen Filler-Corn (D-Fairfax)

Delegate Kaye Kory (D-Fairfax)

Delegate Wendy Gooditis (D-Loudoun)

Delegate Mike Mullin (D-Newport News)

Delegate Kathleen Murphy (D-Fairfax)

Delegate Ken Plum (D-Fairfax)

Delegate Margaret Ransone (R-Westmoreland)

Delegate Roxanne Robinson (R-Chesterfield)

Delegate Will Wampler (R-Abingdon)

Senator John Bell (D-Loudoun)

Senator John Edwards (D-Roanoke)

Senator Janet Howell (D-Reston)

Senator Lynnwood Lewis (D-Accomack)

Senator Tommy Norment (R-James City County)

Senator Richard L. Saslaw (D-Fairfax)

Senator Jill Vogel (R-Fauquier)

Senator Steve Newman (R-Lynchburg)

Senator John Cosgrove (R-Chesapeake)

There are a number of tremendous VVMA supporters on this list, particularly Delegate Rob Bell, Delegate Kathy Byron (co-patron of last year's sales tax exemption bill), Delegate James Edmunds, Delegate Margaret Ransone, and Delegate Roxann Robinson We will actively monitor all of these changes in the legislature and work to forge new friendships and relationships with the next wave of delegates and senators resulting from the November 2023 elections

As always, thank you for your interest in the legislative process and for your support of our advocacy efforts

We are excited to introduce our 2023-2024 Power of 10 class! These doctors will spend the next year enhancing their interpersonal, leadership & communication skills and experiencing first-hand the significance of organized veterinary medicine.

Thank you to all our speakers, sponsors, vendors & attendees for a wonderful 2023 Virginia Veterinary Conference!

RELIEF VETERINARIANS

Danoff, DVM

Available weekdays & weekends. 1999 UF Grad; Internship trained at Tufts. Dogs, cats, birds, and some exotics. Northern Virginia, Prince William, Loudoun, & Fauquier Counties

Current Virginia & DEA Licenses

571-212-5024 | kimdanoff@gmail com

DVM

Southeastern VA/Hampton Roads 1992 Tufts Graduate Experience in: general/preventive medicine & routine surgery and complicated soft tissue & orthopedic surgery, Virginia & DEA license.

Mon – Sat: 6 to 9 hour shifts. Long-term (2-3 weeks): considered; based on availability & location

941-416-8992 | vvrs2020@yahoo com

James D. Meister, DVM

Available 7 days/week for short or long term in the Shenandoah Valley Available for both small animal or equine work Private practitioner for 25 years. NC State graduate. I hold Virginia, USDA and DEA licenses.

847-344-0069 | prairiedvm@aol com

Tosha Starke, DVM

12 years in practice. Personable; Available Monday-Saturday in Northern VA; Current DEA license; Licensed in VA; Professional references available; www allfourpawsvetrelief com

(540) 239-8714 | info@allfourpawsvetrelief.com

Katrina (Kitti) Tadema-Wielandt, DVM

Waynesboro & 100 mile radius; Available for long and short term relief; 20+ years experience in small animal medicine including emergency

(540) 943-5731 | 1987uivet@gmail com

FREEVVMAMemberBenefit