December 2014 - American Association of Veterinary State Boards

December 2014
American Association of Veterinary State Boards
Veterinary Regulation News
Volume 20, Issue 2
Free Continuing Education Tracking Now Available for Veterinary Professionals!
VCET launched for all Member Boards
If there was a place where veterinarians and veterinary technicians could record their
continuing education courses that jurisdictions require for re-licensing, would that be
valuable? We think the answer is “yes,” especially if it is free to licensees and member
boards.
We are pleased to announce that the American Association of Veterinary State
Boards (AAVSB) has released the new Veterinary Continuing Education Tracking
system or simply called VCET.
It’s easy. It’s fast. It’s standardized.
VCET is the newest program launched by the AAVSB. In January 2014, the Board of
Directors developed strategic priorities for the next few years including the development and implementation of VCET. It is an online location for licensed veterinarians
and credentialed veterinary technicians to log their continuing education credits required
for license renewal. VCET users record CE credits and organize them into a standardized
report to be sent to one or more of their regulatory boards.
Continuing education offerings approved by the AAVSB’s RACE program are automatically and intricately linked to VCET providing a
“one-click” selection for the user. Licensees can enter information for non-RACE approved continuing education programs manually.
How it works: VCET users login to their MyAAVSB account and in a couple clicks, select or enter the CE classes attended, upload
the certificate of attendance (or other proof-of-attendance documents), and confirm the jurisdiction requiring the information. Multiple
jurisdictions can be selected. When the licensing jurisdiction asks for a record of CE, the user can either print the report to mail in or, if
the jurisdiction accepts CE by email, the user can send the email directly from the VCET system.
The AAVSB member regulatory boards benefit by receiving licensee’s continuing education information in a standardized format.
VCET is free to veterinary professionals and the AAVSB member organizations. Visit www.aavsb.org/vcet, for more information.
Inside This Issue:
The Legal Corner
2-3
Election & Voting Results
4
Meet the new Directors
5
Annual Meeting Recap
6
News & Program Updates
7-9
Member Board Profile Survey
10
Remembering Robyn
11
If you have questions about the program, contact Vic Cook, Director of Program Operations & Special Initatives, at [email protected].
VCET is:
• FREE to veterinary professionals & the AAVSB
Member Boards
• Easy to use
• Standardized
• Links directly to RACE-approved programming
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The Legal Corner with Dale Atkinson
The 19th Letter
The importance of language is consistently emphasized
in educational sessions at meetings of the American
Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB). The
language contained in the enabling statute (practice
act) creates and empowers the veterinary board and
sets the parameters of the scope of board authority. As
readers are aware, veterinary boards can only exercise
the authority granted to them through these practice
acts. Using the expertise of both its professional and
consumer members, the boards promulgate rules/regulations to add specificity to the regulatory structure.
Once duly promulgated under applicable administrative procedures, these rules have force of law, subjecting persons to enforcement by the board.
performed a second spay operation to remove the
remaining part of the ovary. A complaint was filed and
the Virginia Board of Veterinary Medicine (Board)
pursued administrative action against the Licensee.
The Board alleged the Licensee was subject to action
against her license for unprofessional conduct. The
statute authorized the Board to define unprofessional
conduct through the promulgation of regulations. In
so doing, the Board defined unprofessional conduct
to include practicing veterinary medicine “in such a
manner as to endanger the health and welfare of his
patients or the public....” In addition and according to
the regulations, unprofessional conduct also includes
“performing surgery on animals...not in accordance
with...accepted standards of practice.”
Persons who apply for and are duly issued a license by
the board possess a property interest in such license.
The Board held a hearing on June 3, 2013, and issued
This governmental issued authority to practice a proits ruling at the conclusion of the proceedings. In its
fession is recognized as a property interest entitling
final order, the Board found that the Licensee violated
licensees to due process rights before an adverse action the referenced regulations and, accordingly, commitcan be taken against the license. These due process
ted unprofessional conduct as defined. As a result of
rights are based in the
its findings, the Board
state and federal conimposed sanctions on
stitutions and include a
“This case addresses multiple critical issues, the Licensee including a
right to notice of allegaperhaps most importantly the right of the reprimand and a $1,500
tions, the right to present
monetary penalty. The
Board
to
use
its
competence
to
interpret
the
evidence and cross exam
Licensee appealed the
accusers, all before a fair
regulatory language.” - Dale Atkinson, JD matter to the Circuit
and impartial tribunal.
Court which reversed
Formal notice of alleged
the Board order and diswrongdoing by a licensee
missed the matter with
will contain a citation of the practice act and/or rules
prejudice. The Circuit Court held that the plain meanas a part of the due process rights. To the extent the
ing of the statute required multiple acts of wrongdoing
language in the practice act is subject to interpretation, because the regulations referred to the need for the
licensees may seek judicial review of an adverse action. Licensee’s acts to endanger patients or have performed
Consider the following.
surgery on animals not in accordance with accepted standards. After some procedural nuances over
In February 2011, a veterinarian (Licensee) perwhether the arguments of the Licensee were clearly
formed an incomplete spay on a canine leaving a large set forth in her brief, the Circuit Court considered
portion of the right ovary as uncovered through a
the regulatory language interpreted the use of plurals
later performed ultrasound. A second veterinarian
to require multiple acts, rather than a singular act.
The 19th Letter (cont’d from page 2)
The Board appealed the matter to the Court of Appeals
of Virginia. On appeal, the Board argued that the lower
court erred in not affording deference to the Board in
interpreting its own regulation but wrongfully applied
its own interpretation. The Board cited a previous Virginia Supreme Court opinion that held the following:
Where the question involves an interpretation which
is within the specialized competence of the agency and
the agency has been entrusted with wide discretion by
the General Assembly, the agency’s decision is entitled
to special weight in the courts. “The rationale of this
statutory scheme is that the [administrative agency]
shall apply expert discretion to matters coming within
its cognizance, and judicial interference is permissible only for relief against the arbitrary or capricious
action that constitutes a clear abuse of the delegated
discretion. The reviewing authority may not exercise
anew the jurisdiction of the administrative agency and
merely substitute its own judgment for that of the body
entrusted by the legislature with the administrative
function.”
Accordingly, the Court of Appeals focused the issue
on whether the regulation falls within the specialized
competence of the Board. The court noted the public
protection aspects of regulating a profession, the fact
that veterinary medicine has inherent qualities that
distinguish it from ordinary labor, and practice requires specialized knowledge, skills and training. The
Board interpreted its regulations to require only a single act to constitute conduct subjecting a practitioner
to administrative action. Conversely, the Licensee
would be allowed a single act of wrongdoing, no matter how egregious, without administrative consequences. As determined by the court, “whether or not to protect all animals or only subsequent animal patients is
within the specialized competence of the Board. Again,
its charge is to protect the health, welfare, and safety of
the public, including animal patients. It is inconceivable that the Board would ignore the safety of the first
animal subjected to unprofessional conduct.”
The court also noted the existence of a regulation
that states that “a word used in the singular includes
the plural and a word used in the plural includes the
singular.” It held that previous case law has held that
this interpretative regulation does, indeed, apply to
agency regulations. Based upon the strength of these
two arguments, the appellate court concluded that the
lower court erred in reversing the Board order. The
appellate court reversed the lower court and reinstated
the decision of the Board.
This case addresses multiple critical issues, perhaps
most importantly the right of the Board to use its competence to interpret the regulatory language. Further,
this case illustrates the importance of language and the
mere inclusion of an s on words can trigger debate as
to its application.
Virginia Board of Veterinary Medicine v. Leonard,
2014 Va. App. LEXIS 370 (App. Ct. VA 2014)
Mr. Dale Atkinson, JD
Atkinson & Atkinson
1466 Techny Road
Northbrook, IL 60062
1-847-714-0070
[email protected]
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2014 Election & Voting Results
AAVSB 2014-2015 Board of Directors
2014 Bylaws Amendments Results
President-Elect: Tom Kendall, DVM (CA)
Director: Roger Redman, DVM (OH)
Director: Michael Gotchey, DVM (CO)
Director: Chris Runde, DVM (MD) (1-year term)
Proposed Amendment #1: The proposed amendment removes language that unconditionally forces the termination
of membership for non-payment dues. Passed.
A complete list of the 2014-2015 AAVSB Board of Directors is located
on the back of this newsletter.
AAVSB Representatives to NBVME
Jay Hedrick, DVM (KS)
The other AAVSB representatives to the NBVME include Jon Betts,
DVM, Joyceanne Fick and Bruce Louderback, DVM
2014 AAVSB Nominating Committee
Darrell Dalton, DVM (AB)
The other members of the Nominating Commitee include Ms. Nicole
Oria (TX), Chair and Ms. Lisa Lampley (TN).
2014 Practice Act Model Results
The Delegate Assembly voted to approve modifications to the AAVSB’s Practice Act Model (PAM). The
AAVSB’s PAM was developed and is available to the
AAVSB Member Boards as a resource containing
contemporary language regarding the regulation of
veterinary medicine and veterinary technology. The
modifications to this comprehensive document were
the result of a two year effort of the PAM Task Force to
update and revise the model act.
Modifications include but are not limited to:
•
Overall formatting
•
Definitions
•
Special provisions
•
Faculty licensure
•
Registration of veterinary facilities
To view or download the updated document, visit:
www.aavsb.org/MemberServices.
Proposed Amendment #2: This amendment clarifies that
only one Affiliate Member may represent their Member
Board at the AAVSB. Passed.
Proposed Amendment #3: This amendment clarifies that
an Affiliate Member’s status ceases with that individual’s
change in status. Passed.
Proposed Amendment #4: This amendment expands the
Board from 8 to 10 members with the election in 2015, and
sets the criteria for staggering the terms of the new members. Passed.
Proposed Amendment #5: This amendment acknowledges that the Association is cognizant of the governing law.
Passed.
Proposed Amendment #6: This amendment defines a limit
of 3 candidates of each open position and provides that the
Nominating Committee will solely determine the 3 candidates if more than 3 are received. Not passed.
Proposed Amendment #7: This amendment deletes language which is re-inserted in Proposed Amendment #8, the
next proposed amendment, and provides that all committees may meet in person or by designated electronic means.
Passed.
Proposed Amendment #8: This is a new section to the Bylaws that formally allows any committee may meet in-person or by designated electronic means. Passed.
Proposed Amendment #9: This amendment allows the
Executive Director to send a copy of the latest audit to any
requesting Member Board. Passed.
Meet the AAVSB’s President of the Board of Directors
At the 2014 AAVSB Annual Meeting & Conference, John Lawrence, DVM, moved from his position as President-Elect
into the President position and will serve a one-year term in this role. Dr. Lawrence joined the
AAVSB Board of Directors in 2007. In the past, he has served as the organization’s Treasurer
and Chair of the Finance Committee as well as a member of the PAVE Committee, VIVA Task
Force, and as Board liaison for the Conference and PAVE Committees.
In 2010, Dr. Lawrence was appointed to the Board of Directors of the North American Veterinary Medical Educational Consortium (NAVMEC) as one of the AAVSB’s representatives.
Over the course of three national meetings, 400 stakeholders convened to discuss core competencies and societal needs in veterinary medicine.
Dr. Lawrence is a veterinarian at Smith Veterinary Hospital in Burnsville, Minnesota, and has a special interest in endoscopy, cytology and general surgery. He has served on the Minnesota Board of Veterinary Medicine for the last 12 years, most
recently as its President. In 2009, Dr. Lawrence was appointed to the AVMA CVTEA (Committee on Veterinary Technician
Education and Activities) subcommittee. This committee reviews veterinary technician programs throughout the United
States and Canada for AVMA accreditation.
He has been honored with the Louisiana Academy of Veterinary Medicine’s Outstanding Service Award. Dr. Lawrence
graduated from Iowa State University and is currently licensed in good standing in Mississippi, Louisiana, Iowa and Minnesota. He is a member of the Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association, the American Veterinary Medical Association and
the National Association of Underwater Instructors.
Newest Member of the AAVSB Board of Directors
Joining the AAVSB Board of Directors is Chris H. Runde, DVM, who has served most
recently as Chair of the AAVSB Bylaws and Resolutions Committee since 2011. Dr.
Runde has also served on the Maryland State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners
since 2003 and as its Chairman since 2004. Currently, he is the Secretary of the Maryland Veterinary Foundation, the Maryland Veterinary Medical Association’s Scholarship Committee.
Dr. Runde graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Maryland College
Park and received his veterinary training at Virginia-Maryland Regional College of
Veterinary Medicine in Blacksburg, Virginia. He has been a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association since 1981 and a member of the Maryland Veterinary Medical Association since 1985.
Dr. Runde started his career as an associate Veterinarian at Squire Veterinary Clinic in Upper Marlboro before purchasing
Tidewater Veterinary Hospital in Charlotte Hall, Maryland with partner Dr. Michael Parks in 1987.
His interests are broad, but he has always enjoyed the challenges of equine medicine. More recently, he has taken an interest
in treating cancer in small animals. Dr. Runde currently lives on Briarpatch Farm in Mechanicsville, Maryland with his wife
of 21 years Karen Kraft Runde, and his children Kristina and Brendan. They raise horses and Labrador retrievers on their
50 acres in beautiful St. Mary’s county. He spends his leisure time fishing, enjoying the Chesapeake Bay, and watching his
labradors retrieve ducks.
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2014 AAVSB Annual Meeting & Conference Recap
September 11-13, 2014 ~ St. Petersburg, Florida
The 2014 Annual Meeting & Conference was held in St. Petersburg, Florida this summer from September 11-13.
Attendance was at all all-time high with 150 participants including 15 first-timers. There were 43 Voting Delegates,
which included 36 Funded Delegates. Attendees and guests enjoyed a sunset dinner cruise aboard the Yacht StarShip on
Thursday evening. The meeting commenced Friday morning when Beckey Malphus, DVM, AAVSB President welcomed
everybody and introduced the AAVSB Board of Directors. The slate of Board of Directors candidates was presented to the
delegates and elections were held during the Saturday morning business session (see election results on pg 4). The AAVSB
staff and Committee chairs reported on the year’s program activities, and speakers from all over North America provided
educational sessions addressing topics relevant to veterinary regulation. Dr. Malphus presided over the meeting and on
Saturday afternoon, during the closing ceremony, Immediate Past President Ms. Anne Duffy, RVT, installed the newly
elected officers. President Dr. John Lawrence spoke to the group about the upcoming year.
Thank you for all of the effort put forth by the attendees, committee members, and the AAVSB Board of Directors to make
the conference a major success. The 2014 Annual Meeting & Conference summary, photo gallery, and video recap are
posted on the AAVSB website.
In The News
The AAVSB Administers First Qualifying Science Exam (QSE) of the Program
for the Assessment of Veterinary Education Equivalence (PAVE)
The American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB) is pleased to report the first
administration of its Qualifying Science Exam (QSE) took place in September of 2014. Taking
and passing the QSE represents the third step in a PAVE candidate’s journey through the
program.
Launched in 2002, the Program for the Assessment of Veterinary Education Equivalence, more
commonly known as PAVE evaluates the education equivalence of foreign veterinary graduates
(graduates of non-accredited veterinary programs outside the U.S. and Canada) on behalf of
the AAVSB membership. In September of 2013 at the AAVSB’s Annual Meeting & Conference
in Kansas City, Missouri, the AAVSB Board of Directors announced the plan for the evolution
of the PAVE program which included development of the new Qualifying Science Exam (QSE).
This plan built upon the solid foundation of the program and introduced elements allowing
for further growth. Since that time, a team of subject-matter experts, an examination services
vendor, and the AAVSB staff developed the exam which was completed spring of 2014.
The QSE is wholly owned by the AAVSB and is administered three different times in the
calendar year. PAVE is accepted as part of the licensure process in 40 states and in the countries
of Australia and New Zealand.
Search for the New AAVSB Executive Director
The Board of Directors of the AAVSB announced in the
fall of 2014 that it began a search for the next Executive
Director of the Association. The Board of Directors engaged a Kansas City-search firm, Tryon and Heideman
LLC, to conduct the nation-wide search.
THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR MEMBERSHIP, VOLUNTEERS, AND STAFF!
SAVE THE DATE! WE ARE HEADING TO MILWAUKEE, SEPT 17-19, 2015
It’s not too early to start planning for next year. The 2015 AAVSB Annual Meeting & Conference will be held in
Milwaukee, Wisconsin on September 17-19. The location is the InterContinental Milwaukee. Watch the AAVSB website,
Facebook page, and Twitter updates for more details.
See you in September!
The Board of Directors has approved a six-person Executive Director Search Committee to assist the search
firm with the job specifications, search criteria, and candidate interviews. The AAVSB will keep its membership and allied groups up-to-date on the search through
press releases and other communications.
The new Executive Director is expected to be named in
mid-2015. Until then, Ms. Daphne Tabbytite, Assistant
Director, and Mr. Vic Cook, Director of Program Operations and Strategic Initiatives, will continue to serve as
Acting Co-Executive Directors.
Work on the strategic initiatives of the Board of Directors and the organization’s day-to-day business activities will continue as normal during this time. The
Member Boards of the AAVSB can expect consistency
from the Association during the interim period.
Are you accessing the secure online forums
through your FREE MyAAVSB account?
Communicate with other Member Board
members and administrators today! Email us
at [email protected] to set up your account.
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AAVSB Program Updates and Highlights
The three most recent administrations of the VTNE tested a total of 7,660 candidates as
compared to 7,006 candidates for the same administrations in the previous year. The pass rates
for the criterion group of first time test takers for the last three VTNE administrations are as
follows: Mar/Apr 2014 – 68.6%; Jul/Aug 2014 – 73.8% and Nov/Dec 2014 – 71.75%.
Dr. Rich Flora, VTNE Committee Chair, and Ms. Nancy Grittman, VTNE & PAVE Program
Manager, attended the AVMA CVTEA Joint Stakeholders Meeting in Schaumburg, Illinois on November 8, 2014.
Dr. Flora provided a VTNE program update and answered questions regarding the VTNE program.
The AAVSB staff continue to assist boards and agencies with changes to credential requirements. The Texas Board
of Veterinary Medical Examiners transitioned to regulating veterinary technicians effective September 1, 2014.
The Washington State Veterinary Board of Governors announced the current law allowing people to apply for
veterinary technician licensure based on experience is scheduled to expire in 2015.
For more information about the VTNE, please contact Carol Sparrow at [email protected] or 1-877-698-8482, ext.
228; or Nancy Grittman, at [email protected] or 1-877-698-8482, ext. 226.
The RACE program is seeing an increase in new provider applications and providers
renewing their status. Through November 2014:
58 new providers were approved by the RACE Committee (2013 = 57)
146 providers renewed their status (2013 = 120)
The RACE program has received 1,791 applications for programs through November 2014 as compared to 1,567
through November 2013. The RACE Committee has approved 1,749 program applications this year as compared
to 1,491 for the same period in 2013.
To date in 2014 (and for the same period in 2013), the RACE committee has denied 35 program applications either
fully or in part (2013 = 11).
Of those jurisdictions that require continuing education for re-licensure, the RACE Committee continues to be
acknowledged in most of the U.S. (except North Carolina and New York) and by four Canadian provinces (Alberta,
British Columbia, Ontario and Prince Edward Island).
AAVSB Program Updates and Highlights
The first administration of the new Qualifying Science Examination (QSE) for Step 3 of the
PAVE Program occurred on September 17, 2014. There were 19 PAVE candidates who took
the exam. The pass rate was 63.16%. In comparison to previous QE administrations, the
average pass rate from January 2012 to May 2014 was 46.08% with a May 2013 pass rate of
63.6% as the highest pass rate in that time period. The next QSE administration is January
14, 2015. Please see page 7 for more information on the QSE.
The most recent QSE Item Writer and Review workshop was held January 10 – 11, 2015 in St. Petersburg, Florida
at St. Petersburg College of Veterinary Technology.
Through December 2014, there have been 45 PAVE certificates approved by the PAVE Committee. This is a 28%
increase compared to 2013. Since the program’s inception in 2002, a total of 2,047 PAVE certificates have been
granted.
For more information about PAVE, please contact Carol Sparrow at [email protected] or 1-877-698-8482, ext. 228;
or Nancy Grittman, at [email protected] or 1-877-698-8482, ext. 226.
The VIVA database has received license updates from 15 boards through November 2014
as compared to submissions by 18 boards in 2013. Discipline updates have been received
from 27 boards through November 2014 as compared to submissions by 30 boards in 2013.
The VIVA score transfer service is utilized by a veterinarian or veterinary technician
usually to fulfill a licensure requirement by a Member Board. Through November 2014,
5,848 score transfer service requests have been received compared to 5,657 in the same 11
months in 2013.
Along with score transfers for veterinarians and veterinary technicians, the VIVA program offers a Credential
Service for veterinarians. Through November 2014, 198 credential service requests have been received compared
to 190 during the same 11 months in 2013.
As a Member Board service, the AAVSB evaluates the qualifications of candidates who apply to take the NAVLE.
Currently, the AAVSB is the designated agent for NAVLE eligibility for the California Veterinary Medical Board.
In 2014, AAVSB evaluated 371 applicants for the NAVLE, compared to 353 in 2013.
For more information about VIVA, please contact Monika Whitmore, at [email protected] or 1-877-698-8482, ext.
231.
For more information about RACE, contact Jess Klein at [email protected] or 1-877-698-8482, ext. 224.
Are you following the AAVSB on social
media? Connect today!
facebook.com/aavsb
twitter.com/aavsb
Would your regulatory board benefit from having the AAVSB perform
NAVLE eligibility review? Contact Vic Cook at [email protected] today!
Page 10
Summary of AAVSB Member Board Profile Survey
The AAVSB carries out programs designed to assist and facilitate the public protection mission of its Member Boards. These programs
and services are developed through the collective, organized effort that occurs via membership in the AAVSB. One such member service is the Member Board Profile Survey. This survey was initially conducted in 2012 and will be updated annually. The objective of the
survey is to provide comparative data across the 59 jurisdictions in broad areas such as board composition, fees, board authority, and
scope of practice.
The most recent survey was completed in September of 2014. Survey questions were included from the 2012 and 2013 questionnaires as
well as discussion items that have been considered by the AAVSB committees and task forces over the past year. The survey was distributed to all 59 jurisdictions via Survey Monkey on July 18, 2014. The deadline for response was originally July 31, 2014 but was extended
to garner greater participation. By the end of August, all but one jurisdiction had completed the survey.
Below is a summary of some key findings from the survey.
Board Composition. The typical board (using the statistical mode value) has five (veterinary members, no veterinary technicians and
one public member.
Legal Counsel. Nearly half of the responding jurisdictions use their Attorney General’s office as their primary form of legal counsel.
Type of individual licensees regulated. All jurisdictions regulate veterinarians with most also regulating veterinary technicians.
Renewal Fees. The following is an average of the fees reported by all jurisdictions.
Online Renewal. 38 of the 58 responding jurisdictions provide online renewal of licenses.
Authority to take action against unlicensed activity. 38 of the 58 responding jurisdictions have authority to take action against unlicensed activity.
Annual number of individual license complaints, individual licensee investigations and disciplinary actions. The following is the total
for all reporting jurisdictions.
Telemedicine. Regarding the issue of telemedicine, a majority of responding jurisdictions are not considering ways for veterinary medicine to use telemedicine to practice across state lines. However, four (4) jurisdictions have addressed the issue and already included in
it in their Practice Acts. Nine (9) jurisdictions are considering the issue but have not included it in their Practice Act and eight (8) are
unsure.
Page 11
Remembering the AAVSB’s Executive Director Robyn Kendrick
“There’s not a word yet for old friends who’ve just met.” Those
words from a Muppets song written by the late Jim Henson illustrate my difficulty in defining the late Ms. Robyn Kendrick.
When I was elected to the AAVSB Board of Directors in 2009,
Robyn had been the organization’s Executive Director just short of
three years. At that first Board meeting, I did what most “newbies”
do: I watched and I listened, and I learned. What I remember most
from that meeting was the certain knowledge that Robyn was clearly committed to the organization as well as the world of veterinary
regulation. Others at the table that afternoon made up the leadership of the AAVSB, and though they may have been
driving the AAVSB bus, Robyn was clearly the navigator, and an expert one at that!
As I came to better know the organization and its people, it became evident that Robyn was passionate about football,
the AAVSB, her family, and her dogs. I may not have these things rank-ordered correctly, but those who knew her are
probably smiling and nodding right now.
In much the same way that she immersed herself in all things football, Robyn dove into the AAVSB and learned all
there was to know about the teams, the players, the strategies and the plays of veterinary regulation. Like all great
coaches, she built and guided an increasingly successful team, celebrating victories and re-grouping after defeat. You
see, Robyn saw the potential in all of us and was skilled at getting each one of us to be a little brighter, a little smarter,
a little nicer, and a whole lot more productive than we might have been without her influence.
During my tenure on the AAVSB Board of Directors, Robyn and I had the opportunity to spend quite a bit of time
together strategizing, talking, laughing, and getting to know each other professionally as well as personally. We talked
about owning dogs and raising sons, about being single moms, and about dreams for the organization both big and
small. Much to my delight, we became good friends somewhere along the way. Robyn was a wonderful blend of passion, energy, professionalism, and focus spiced with an appreciation of the absurd and a mind so quick that it was a
little intimidating at times!
Robyn was quick with praise when it was earned, and so ready to coach when one fell short of the goal, and because
she was the consummate diplomat, most of us never realized we were being coached.
All who have had the opportunity to serve on the Board of Directors, as a Committee Chair, or on the AAVSB staff,
who have in some way interacted with Robyn have been the beneficiaries of her professionalism, her vision, and her
enthusiasm. Robyn believed that the best and finest people in the world were the Member Boards and individuals that
make up the AAVSB.
How lucky to have had such a wonderful old friend that we had just met!
Written by Anne Duffy, RVT, Former AAVSB President
Veterinary Regulation News
Newsletter of the AAVSB
380 W 22nd St, Suite 101
Kansas City, MO 64108
www.aavsb.org
AAVSB MISSION
To reliably provide quality resources
and accurate information for veterinary
regulatory agencies and professionals
and allied groups in the interest of public
protection.
AAVSB VISION
To inspire active participation of all
veterinary regulatory agencies in North
America and to be their collective voice.
AAVSB VALUES
Responsive
resourceful
service
while striving for continuous quality
improvement.
AAVSB Board of Directors
President
John Lawrence, DVM
Minnesota
Directors
Michael Gotchey, DVM
Colorado
President-Elect
Tom Kendall, DVM
California
Mark Olson, DVM
Kansas
Treasurer
Frank Walker, DVM
North Dakota
Immediate Past President
Beckey Malphus, DVM
Georgia
Roger Redman, DVM
Ohio
Chris Runde, DVM
Maryland
Acting Co-Executive Directors
Vic Cook
Daphne Tabbytite
AAVSB Veterinary Regulation News is a publication of the American
Association of Veterinary State Boards, 380 West 22nd Street, Suite
101, Kansas City, MO 64108. The opinions and views expressed in this
publication do not necessarily reflect the official views, opinions, or policies
of the AAVSB or any Member Board unless expressly so stated. Copyright
by the American Association of Veterinary State Boards. All rights reserved.