IVMA
Communiqué 
"Serving veterinarians for the benefit of animal and human health"
January 10, 2017
In This Issue
Dates to Remember
January 19
IVMA Executive Board Meeting, Ames

February 8-9
IVMA Winter Conference, Altoona

February 22
Legislative Day, Des Moines
For more information on any of these events visit www.iowavma.org.

   
 IVMA 2016 Annual Report Now Available
The 2016 IVMA Annual Report is now available!  Check out our shorter, more graphic format this year!

Clink here to view the 2016 Annual Report. 
You must log-in as an IVMA member to view.

Click here if you would like to read the details behind the statistics in the Annual Report. 

Try the IVMA CE Portal for Online Continuing Ed  
technology-header.jpg The IVMA is teaming up with the World Veterinary Association and the World Continuing Education Alliance to offer online CE courses to its members.

The IVMA Continuing Education Portal is part of a global education network with over 1,000 continuing education courses from over 80 CE educators, with new education content added every week. IVMA members will be able to study online from a wide range of CE courses according to their needs. A large number of courses are available for free, with others available at a cost. Most courses are RACE approved and before taking the course, members can make sure its RACE approved.

The IVMA CE Portal is now available to all members on the IVMA website -  www.iowavma.org .  (You must be logged in to see the option.)

Members received a registration email in mid-December with instructions on how to register for this great new educational resource. If you didn't receive the email, or have questions about registering, feel free to call the IVMA office at 800-369-9564. The IVMA staff would be happy to walk you through registration.
VMLRP Requests Input on Veterinary Shortage areas for 2017
The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is soliciting suggestions from rural practitioners on rural veterinary shortage (food animal) areas in Iowa for the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP) in 2017.

The group is identifying areas of need, in either a single county or groups of counties, in Iowa. These areas 1) may have inadequate veterinary service coverage, or 2) may be served by recent graduates considered "at risk" for retention due to student loan debt.

The program awards veterinarians up to $25,000 per year for three years to those serving in the shortage areas. 

Suggestions of shortage areas can be sent to Dr. David Schmitt at   david.schmitt@iowaagriculture.gov or 515-281-8601.

More information can be found at http://nifa.usda.gov/program/veterinary-medicine-loan-repayment-program . Click on "VMLRP Shortage Situations" on the left side of the page to view a map of the shortage situations in Iowa for 2017.
Could Your Clinic Use an Intern this Summer?
The Student Summer Employment Database at Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine was developed to provide first and second-year veterinary students with a resource to locate summer employment and gain valuable clinical experience. This program also aims to provide practitioners with a means to efficiently advertise their employment opportunities.

IVMA Members are needed to make this program a success! If you are considering hiring a summer intern, now is the time to post the position on the database.   Click here for more information or to post a position.

The database will be on-going; therefore there is no deadline for submissions. However, for summer employment it is suggested that ads be placed by March 1, 2017.  

If you have any questions about the form or the program, please contact the Iowa State SCAVMA IVMA representatives at ivmarep@iastate.edu .
YOU are Invited to Attend IVMA Legislative Day 2017!
The Iowa Legislature began its 2017 session on January 9. The IVMA a nd their lobbyists will be tracking the session to keep its members informed about potential bills that would affect the veterinary profession. Some issues that may come up this session include:
  1. Scope of practice - maintaining veterinarians as the sole providers of veterinary services
  2. Roles of Veterinary Assistants - defining the roles of veterinary support staff.
  3. Commercial Kennel and Breeders Bill- regulation and inspection of USDA kennels in Iowa.
 Advocate for the veterinary profession at the 2017 IVMA Legislative Day on February 22. Join with other IVMA members from around the state to represent the veterinary profession, deepen your understanding of the policymaking process and help shape future legislation.
 
We need you to help make a strong showing of veterinarians . The more IVMA members participate in this effort, the stronger the voice the IVMA will have.

The day will begin with a breakfast and opening remarks at Embassy Suites Hotel in Des Moines. After breakfast the contingent will head to the Capitol to meet with legislative leaders from the Iowa House and Senate.

Legislative Day (including breakfast and lunch) is free for IVMA members and ISU CVM students. Register online at www.iowavma.org  or call the IVMA office at 800-369-9564.

YOU can make a difference!
PQA Plus 3.0 Advisor Certification Session Offered
Iowa Pork Industry Center at Iowa State University is offering a Pork Quality Assurance Plus 3.0 advisor certification session on Tuesday, Feb. 7 at the Hansen Ag Student Learning Center at Iowa State University .

Participants must attend the all-day session and pass of an exam at the end of the session. No walk-ins are allowed and no individual spot is guaranteed until the application is approved and specific payment is accepted by IPIC. Applicants are encouraged to submit their application as soon as possible because there are a limited number of spots. The cost is $75 per person and includes refreshments and the noon meal.

The Iowa Board of Veterinary Medicine has approved seven hours of CE credit for the session.

More information and the application form can be found on the IPIC website .

If you have additional questions about the program, contact Chris Rademacher at the Iowa Pork Industry Center, 515-294-8792, cjrdvm@iastate.edu  .
Beef Conference to be Offered
On January 26 and 27, 2017, Extension specialists in Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin will present the 5th annual Driftless Region Beef Conference at the Grand River Convention Center in Dubuque, Iowa.

This conference brings together beef producers for an educational program that focuses on the needs of this production region.
  • Attend breakout sessions and select from a menu of different workshops to find topics for your operation.
  • Visit sponsor exhibits and learn about the products and services they offer.
  • Visit with fellow beef producers from the region.

For more information and registration visit the conference website at  http://www.aep.iastate.edu/beef/homepage.html . Registration before January 19 to take advantage of early registration fees. 
Join the AVMA's Council on Education (COE)
Applications are now being accepted to serve on AVMA's Council on Education (COE)! The AVMA Council on Education (COE) accredits DVM or equivalent educational programs. The AVMA COE assures that minimum standards in veterinary medical education are met by all AVMA-accredited colleges of veterinary medicine, and that students enrolled in those colleges receive an education which will prepare them for entry-level positions in the profession.

The deadline for receipt of applications for the COE is February 15, 2017. The application form and more information about the Council is available here on the AVMA website.

Please feel free to contact DBanasiak@avma.org with any questions. We look forward to receiving your applications!
 Are you struggling to help cash-strapped clients?
chocolate_lab_face.jpg Clients' inability to pay is a problem for everyone (especially pets).

Dr. Andy Roark is offering a FREE webinar TONIGHT on how to talk to your clients when they don't have the resources to pay for medical care for their pets.


Tuesday, January 10
8:00 PM -9:00 om (Central Time)

The webinar is sponsored by Pet Plan Insurance and is RACE approved for 1 hour of CE (restrictions apply).  You must register for the webinar. 

IVMA Winter Conference Registration Now Open 
The 2017 IVMA Winter Conference will return to The Meadows Conference Center at Prairie Meadows in Altoona on February 8-9. You can register online at www.iowavma.org, call the IVMA office at 800-369-9564 or send in the registration form found in the registration book you received in the mail.

Take advantage of the Early Bird Discount by registering by January 24 to save $50 on your registration.
 
It's Iowa's favorite place to stay!
A reduced room rate is available at the Prairie Meadows Hotel for IVMA members during Winter Conference.  Go to www.prairiemeadows.com or call 515-957-3000 and use group code 02072017IOW. The cutoff for the reduced rate is Tuesday, January 24!


We hope to see you there!
  The IVMA Communiqué is published bi-monthly by the Iowa Veterinary Medical Association.
1605 N. Ankeny Blvd Suite 110
Ankeny, IA 50023
515-965-9237 or Toll Free 800-369-9564
Visit our Website at www.iowavma.org