EDUCATION l REGULATORY UPDATES l BUSINESS GUIDES l MVMA NEWS

2010 Fall Conference Set for November 10-11

12 CE Credits • Crowne Plaza Hotel • Timonium, MD

MVMA’s 2010 Fall Conference will be held November 10-11 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Timonium, Maryland. The conference offers 12 CE credits in a variety of educational tracks. There will be tracks for small animal and equine practitioners, as well as a track for technicians.

“This is an excellent opportunity to get some CE credits in a convenient setting,” said MVMA Executive Director Ron Sohn. “The State Board has increased the veterinarians requirements to 18 hours annually and MVMA is committed to filling those hours with top-quality sessions.”

In addition to education sessions, you’ll also find product information and networking opportunities at the conference. Exhibitors will be on hand to show the latest in products and services to aid the veterinary practice. There will also be ample opportunities to interact with your peers -- often the most valued.
The Education Committee is putting the finishing touches on the program now. Look for the brochure in your mailbox shortly or check online at www.mdvma.org.

Ocean City to Host 2011 Summer Conference
June 25-28, 2011 • Clarion Resort Fontainebleau Hotel

MVMA’s 2010 Summer Conference boasted the meeting’s best attendance in years, so MVMA is heading back to the beach in 2011. The Clarion Resort Fontainebleau Hotel will also host next year’s event, scheduled for June 25-28, 2011.

“Our members sent us a clear message that they prefer Ocean City as a venue for the Summer Conference and we are happy to accommodate them,” says MVMA Executive Director Ron Sohn. “We are committed to Ocean City for 2011 and 2012 and will continue to offer top-notch continuing education, business and networking opportunities.”

MVMA’s leadership and staff are working on the event now. Look for registration materials in the mail early next year. Information will also be available online at www.mdvma.org.

VMRCVM Represented at Summer Conference

The Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine had a significant presence at MVMA’s 2010 Summer Conference. Representatives from the school met with MVMA’s board of directors and hosted an open house, while the alumni society hosted a reception.  DETAILS

Summer Conference in Ocean City a Success

MVMA’s 2010 Summer Conference showed increased attendance, top-notch educational sessions and outstanding networking opportunities to bring a successful close to MVMA’s year.  DETAILS

Zaun D. Kligge, DVM Receives 2010 Good Doctor Award

Zaun D. Kligge, DVM received the 2010 Good Doctor Award in recognition of his distinguished service, outstanding leadership, dedicated veterinary medical care and years of providing compassion and kindness towards his clients, patients and the community reflecting the meaning of “good doctor.” DETAILS

Chris Runde, DVM Named 2010 Maryland Distinguished Veterinarian

Chris H. Runde, DVM has been selected to receive The Maryland Distinguished Veterinarian Award in recognition of and in appreciation for his outstanding leadership, dedication and continued commitment to the Veterinary Profession.  DETAILS

John P. O'Mara Receives MVMA Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award

John P. O’Mara, DVM received the 2010 Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award. This award is being given in honor of Dr. O’Mara’s years of dedicated and outstanding service to the Maryland Veterinary Medical Association. DETAILS

FROM THE LEADERSHIP

Tipping the Scales in Our Favor

by John A. Kable, DVM - MVMA President

We face many challenges as an organization. Communication to our members must evolve in an era of rapidly changing electronic media. We strive to provide relevant continuing education in a changing sea of local, national and Internet offerings. We must be a pro-active and ever vigilant watchdog in our state and national legislatures — representing your interests and livelihood while weathering a tough economy and a litigious society. DETAILS

MVMA Finishes an Active Year

by James Reed, DVM - MVMA Immediate Past President

The board of directors of the Maryland Veterinary Medical Association has been very active this past year. Our Summer Conference in Ocean City was a large success and provided a suitable finale to our work as a group.  DETAILS

EDUCATION

Almost 200 Stakeholders Attend Final NAVMEC Meeting

The final of three national meetings to discuss the future of veterinary medical education concluded Friday after three days of presentations and discussions about licensing, testing, accreditation and implementation. The North American Veterinary Medical Education Consortium, or NAVMEC, was launched by the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) in collaboration with its partners in 2009 to ensure that veterinary medical education meets the changing needs of society. DETAILS

News from the Center for Public and Corporate Veterinary Medicine

by Valerie E. Ragan, DVM, Director

It has been an exciting and busy spring for us as we have wrapped up our center assessment activities and are moving into implementing some new things. DETAILS

REGULATORY NEWS

2010 Maryland General Assembly Legislative Wrap-Up

by William E. Erskine, Esquire

In accordance with the Maryland Constitution, the Maryland General Assembly met again this year in Annapolis for 90 days to act on more than 2300 bills including the State’s annual budget. The 427th Session began on January 13, 2010 and adjourned April 12, 2010. As has been the case in recent years, budgetary issues dominated the 2010 legislative session. In comparison to past years, relatively fewer animal related bills were introduced this year – perhaps due to the focus on the budget. DETAILS

2010 Legislation and Regulatory Proposals Affecting Maryland Veterinarians

by Laura C. Downes, Executive Director, Maryland State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners

In April 2010, Governor O’Malley signed into law Senate Bill 81. This bill provides the State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners (SBVME) the authority to increase the civil penalty for a licensee from $5,000 to $10,000 for any violation of the SBVME’s laws or regulations. DETAILS

INDUSTRY NEWS

Disaster Planning - An Important Insurance Against an Unpredictable Future

Recently, Maryland experienced a magnitude 3.6 on the Richter Scale earthquake in a state that normally does not experience earthquakes. We were fortunate in that the damage was minimal to non-existent, although this event did highlight an important point about disasters – they occur at anytime, anywhere and often when you least expect them. DETAILS

Panciera Named Anne Hunter Professor of Veterinary Medicine

Dr. David Panciera, professor of internal medicine in the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech, has been named the first Anne Hunter Professor of Veterinary Medicine by the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors. DETAILS

Resolution Calls for 2011 to be World Veterinary Year

Congress has been asked to mark the upcoming 250th anniversary of veterinary medicine by proclaiming 2011 as World Veterinary Year. DETAILS

USDA May Accredit 60,000 Veterinarians in Revised NVAP

Veterinarians who haven’t signed up with the Department of Agriculture’s revised accreditation program by early August can expect their existing accreditation to expire. DETAILS

Letter to the Editor

It would seem that “alternative medicine” has become a catch-all phrase for questionable practices formerly labeled quack and fraudulent. The FDA defines health fraud as, “Articles of unproven effectiveness promoted to enhance health, appearance or well being.”  DETAILS

BUSINESS GUIDES

The Importance of Informed Consent in Veterinary Medicine

by David Handel, DVM

There are many practitioners who still remember when a handshake and a promise to do their best was an adequate contract for services. Unfortunately, this is no longer sufficient or appropriate. While we may miss the good old days, the reality is that, as veterinarians, it is our responsibility to inform our clients of available treatment options, prognoses, and associated costs. In our litigious society, this is best done both orally and in a written format. DETAILS

MVMA NEWS

MVMA Endorses Helfat for District II

The MVMA board of directors has endorsed New Jersey’s Mark Helfat, DVM in his bid for the position of AVMA District II Representative. Helfat owns Larchmont Animal Hospital in Mt. Laurel, NJ. He is a 1977 graduate of the N.Y.S. College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell University. Helfat has volunteered extensively in the profession. He served on AVMA’s Executive Board in 2007-08 and chaired its House Advisory Committee. He continues to serve on the committee today and has also been the Alternate Delegate from New Jersey since 2002. Helfat is a past president of the New Jersey and Central Jersey VMAs, and served on the Executive Board of the South Jersey VMA. He is a member of the AVMA, as well as the New Jersey, South Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Delaware and Maryland VMAs.

Membership Discount for Practices with Multiple Veterinarians

On July 1, 2010, MVMA sent letters to all members announcing the new Multiple Veterinary Practice Discount Program. In the first 15 days, MVMA received 47 requests for practice quotes.

A reoccurring question was, “what if one of our veterinarians paid their dues prior to this new program?”

“We take that prior payment into account and provide a pro-rated credit off the Group Practice final invoice.” said MVMA Executive Director Ron Sohn. “I know the first year of this program will add a major burden to our staff and generate member questions, however; we are committed to helping our membership transition to group membership billing.”

If you have questions, just call MVMA headquarters at 443-507-6500 ext. 109 and speak to Ron Sohn. ”

Welcome New Members

MVMA welcomes the following members who have joined since our last newsletter was published.

Peter F. Beron, DVM
Maria A. Ciaravella, DVM
Terry R. Corkran VMD
Kelsie Cron, RVT
Aradom Debretsion, DVM
Rebecca Fraser-Hand, DVM
Kelly L. Gellasch, DVM
Scott N. Gounaris, DVM
Kathryn J. Hamilton, DVM
Tamela Haskin, DVM
Tara Klimovitz, DVM
Juliana E. Lee
Nancy Lou Little, DVM
Heather A. Lowenthal, DVM
Mark Thomas Lutschaunig, VMD, MBA
Anne M. MacLarty, DVM
Tanya S. Miller, DVM
Francis Neuberger, CVSc, MRCVS
Michael Parker, DVM
Tina M. Parker, DVM, MS, RN
Mohana G. Ramappa, BVSC
Alisha M. Schucker, RVT
Kanwaldeep Sharma, DVM
Megan Snyder, VMD
Caitlin Sullivan, RVT
Janet B. Weistock, DVM

MVMA Holds Strategic Planning Meeting

The Strategic Planning Committee held their first meeting on Saturday and Sunday, July 24th and 25th at the Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC) Essex campus. The following stakeholders attended:

• John A. Kable, DVM - MVMA President

• Thomas J. Armitage, DVM - MVMA President-Elect

• Thomas J Bauk, DVM - MVMA Vice President

• Jan V. Ginsky, VMD - Government/Corporate/Academic Practice Representative

• Jack E. Stewart, RVT - Technicians Committee Chairperson (CCBC)

• Maryellen Reek - Merial, LTD - Industry Council Representative

• Krista Evans, DVM, DACVS, CCRT - Board Certified Representative

• Sherman O. Canapp, DVM, MS, DACVS - MVMA Director-at-Large

• Edward W. Jendrek, VMD - AVMA Delegate

• Megan Giebel, DVM - 2005 VMRCVM graduate

• Brittany Carr - Third Year Student attending  VMRCVM

• Ronald H. Sohn - MVMA Executive Director

The committee developed short and long term goals, value and mission statements. All committee recommendations will be added the Executive Board’s agenda for review. Once the final Strategic Plan is approved, it will be announced to the membership.

CCBC 2010 Vet Tech Graduates The Community College of Baltimore County’s Veterinary Technology graduating class of 2010. Front row from left to right: Melissa Marion, Jennifer Tress, Amalie Castanon, Sarah Spears, Ashley Shirk, Elizabeth Norman Back Row: Sheila Frank, RVT, Jack Stewart, RVT, Kelly Loftus, Joanna Barth, Jamie Owens, Dr. Jeff Hess, Dr. Jack O’Mara.

Three MVMA Members Pass Away

Hugh Elliot Binks, DVM, Francis J. Bertozzi, Jr., VMD and Edward M. Gofreed -- all former MVMA members -- passed away in recent months. DETAILS

Maryland Veterinary Technician Association Formed

Sheila Frank, RVT announced the formation of the Maryland Veterinary Technician Association. The MVTA held a successful meeting at MVMA’s Mid-Atlantic States Clinic which aided in the establishment of the new association. During the open forum several technicians expressed interest in the association and were open to offering their help in launching the MVTA.

Frank has set up a Facebook account for the association and named it MVTA. She encourages technicians to join the group on Facebook so that they can receive information regarding meetings.

MVTA will hold its meetings in conjunction with MVMA conferences. This will allow us to keep everyone informed of the association’s progress.

MVMA Classifieds

MVMA's most recent job listings and listings for practices and equipment for sale. DETAILS

News from MVMA

Here is the Summer 2010 issue of The Maryland Veterinarian. You can find an archive of MVMA's newsletters in the members-only section of our web site

Coming Events

November 10-11, 2010

MVMA Fall Conference

Timonium, Maryland

January 13, 2011

MVMA Winter Conference

Doubletree Annapolis Hotel

Annapolis, Maryland

March 29 - April 3, 2011

MVMA Ski Seminar

Camel's Garden Hotel

Telluride, Colorado

March 31 - April 1, 2011

Mid-Atlantic States Conference for Bovine Practitioners

Hagerstown, Maryland

May 12, 2011

Mid-Atlantic States Veterinary Clinic

Howard County Fairgrounds

West Friendship, Maryland

June 25-28, 2011

MVMA Summer Conference

Clarion Resort Fontainebleau Hotel

Ocean City, Maryland

MVMA Leadership

Board of Directors

Executive Director

Ronald H. Sohn

Association Coordinator

Brittany Sohn

MVMA Headquarters

8015 Corporate Drive, Suite 5

Manchester, MD 21102

443-507-6500 ext. 107

Fax: 443-507-6519

mvma@ managementalliance.com

www.mdvma.org

Relief Veterinarians

Click here for MVMA's List of Relief Veterinarians

Contributions

The Maryland Veterinarian is the quarterly publication of the Maryland Veterinary Medical Association.

Editorial Contributions

Editorial contributions are welcome. Click here to submit an article.

The opinions expressed by the authors published in The Maryland Veterinarian are not necessarily those of the MVMA, its officers, directors or members and should not be construed as legal advice, medical advice or a recommendation of conformity.