Volume V2 | February 2021

YOUR MONTHLY NEWS & UPDATES

Laboratory Diagnosticians' News Matters

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Shuping Zhang, BVSc. MS, PhD, DACVM AAVLD President

AAVLD President's Message AAVLD Winter Meeting Executive Board Highlights  Greetings AAVLD Members. I hope everyone is doing fine. The AAVLD Executive Board met Wednesday February 3rd for their annual extended winter meeting. The meeting was a little over 4 hours and held by Zoom this year due to COVID issues. Here are some highlights from the meeting:  ·

First, NAHLN funding and NAHLN Coordinating Council. AAVLD leaders have worked tirelessly to improve the infrastructure funding via FARM Bill funding mechanism, and additional funding to VDLs as part of the CARES packages. For 2021 Farm Bill funding priorities, we have encouraged members to make suggestions, either through the AAVLD board or directly to the NAHLN Coordinating Council. The NAHLN Coordinating Council has one vacant position for Level 1 labs and two vacancies for level 2 labs. The announcement has been sent to lab directors and multiple members have been nominated. The board will evaluate the nominations and make our recommendations to NAHLN. The AAVLD board also discussed the potential format of our 2021 annual meeting; well as potential themes for the plenary session. We encourage members to provide their ideas to Dr. Jerry Saliki, President Elect and Program Chair. The Board approved the Foundation’s recommendation for the JVDI Editor to utilize $1,000 of AAVLD Foundation funds for special waiver of page charges. The goal is to get good science published out of areas of the world that are financially challenged. The board approved 2 new awards sponsored and funded by the Laboratory Technology Committee; the molecular diagnostic or bioinformatics awards at the annual meeting; one for best oral presentation and one for best poster presentation on those subjects. The award can go to students or lab staff. AAVLD is also exploring ways to further collaborate with ACVP and EAVLD. Again, I hope you are all fine and that your work goes well. Dr. Shuping Zhang AAVLD 2021 President

Board Member News

Bylaws Update

At our last annual meeting, 3 changes were authorized by the House of Delegates. In summary these changes were: The Strategic Planning Committee is now a “Standing Committee” rather than a special committee of the AAVLD. Standing Committees are mandated by the organization and have increased communications and interactions with the Executive Board. Procedural clarifications were made for nominating individuals for Life Membership. Nominations can come from others or via self-nomination sent to the Executive Board, and then voted upon at the next House of Delegates meeting. Changes were made to the old category of Affiliated Industry Membership, which is now Affiliated Industry Sustaining Member. The category was simplified and clarified with the hope of getting usage by our industry friends. For Details, of these changes see the links below or the entire new bylaws via our website.

For a complete full Bylaws review select below: Bylaws final read more... Bylaws change request regarding Life Membership read more... Proposed Change in Bylaw To Make SPC a Standing Committee read more... Proposed Change in one Membership Category read more... 

AAVLD Labs in the News

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MSU Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory providing CWD testing for Michigan hunters

Oct. 15, 2020 The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) recently announced big changes for deer check stations and chronic wasting disease, or CWD, testing for the 2020 deer seasons. The MDNR will accept deer for testing from certain areas of the state, during specific dates. Outside of those areas and/or timeframes, hunters who wish to have their deer tested for CWD can collect and submit their own samples for testing. In support of Michigan hunters and MDNR, the Michigan State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, or MSU VDL, developed a system to allow hunters to submit samples directly to the VDL. Hunters wishing to submit samples can find instructions and more information at animalhealth.msu.edu and at Michigan.gov/CWD. Chronic wasting disease is a fatal central nervous system disease found in captive and free-ranging cervids like deer, elk and moose. The MSU VDL’s ability to test for CWD has proven valuable to MDNR’s surveillance since a free-ranging, white-tailed deer was positively confirmed with CWD in 2015. “As the incidence of CWD increased, we responded by amplifying our test capacity,” said MSU VDL interim director James Averill. “When we learned about the changes for this year, we began developing an online system to make it possible for Michigan hunters to order and pay for testing, submit samples, and receive the results.” There are two USDA-approved test methods to detect CWD. Nationwide, 28 laboratories are approved by the USDA to test for CWD. Of those, the MSU VDL is one of only 10 laboratories approved for both methods and is the only USDA-approved lab for CWD testing in Michigan. Between July 1, 2018 and June 30, 2019, the MSU VDL performed nearly 28,000 tests for CWD. “The Laboratory was established more than 40 years ago to protect human and animal health in Michigan, and this is one more way we can live up to our mission,” Averill said. The VDL facility, south of the main MSU campus, also houses the MDNR Wildlife Disease Laboratory. VDL and MDNR experts regularly collaborate on disease investigations impacting Michigan’s wildlife populations.  The MSU VDL, a service unit in the College of Veterinary Medicine, is a premier, full-service, fully accredited veterinary diagnostic laboratory for all species. On average, the lab performs one million tests per year on approximately 200,000 cases for more than 300,000 animals. The MSU VDL is a member of key federal networks charged with protecting human and animal health, and their core diagnostics, innovative solutions, and expert service have earned them clients in all 50 states, U.S. territories, and more than 20 foreign countries. The lab serves approximately 9,000 clients per year. By: Courtney Chapin Website article: Click here

The University of Nebraska–Lincoln Ever wonder where your saliva sample goes after you leave the test site? Watch the process ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/2LBgWGuzjx Read more twitter.com

Alec Lee February 9, 2021

PARTNERSHIP CREATES VALUABLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS ACROSS SOUTH GEORGIA

The University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine (UGA CVM) in partnership with five South Georgia universities and colleges, was recently awarded a $150,000 USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture Higher Education Challenge Grant. This grant will fund critical educational support for South Georgian students seeking baccalaureate or associate degrees in pre-veterinary medicine, food safety, agriculture, biological, animal, and human sciences. This multi-institutional partnership between the UGA College of Veterinary Medicine and College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences, Fort Valley State University, Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, and Valdosta State University is the first of its kind in South Georgia. Per capita, South Georgia is home to some of the poorest counties in the state. It is no secret that the cost of post-secondary education can be a huge barrier as students plan their futures, and without funding, many of these students will graduate high school with little experience in laboratory sciences. Over its three-year lifetime, the grant will support a series of workshops designed to educate students on career options and expose them to the skillsets necessary for these careers with a special emphasis on laboratory sciences. 300 students will be able to attend these workshops over the life of the grant. The grant will also fund 26 eight-week student internships at partner institutions. Student interns will have hands-on learning experiences with various diagnostic platforms in the Tifton Veterinary Diagnostic and Investigational Laboratory (TVDIL), which is part of the UGA College of Veterinary Medicine, giving them direct access to board-certified microbiologists, pathologists, and other experts and agricultural leadership. Through this program, the grant team hopes to aid in the diversification of the field and inspire students from underrepresented rural communities to pursue advanced graduate studies in the sciences. The program will also further strengthen collaborations between the five participating institutions—which could lead to more partnerships in the future. “This project is the first of its kind,” explains TVDIL director Hemant Naikare and principal investigator of the grant team, “As soon as we are able, we are excited to open our doors to these students, and it is my sincerest hope that we can make a difference as they begin to plan their futures.” The team hopes to document their successes during the grant period for use as an “exploratory academy” model that can be used in rural communities around the United States. Naikare also acknowledges the UGA Office of Institutional Diversity’s New Approaches grant awarded 2018 to 2021 that enabled his laboratory to initiate student engagement activities in rural South Georgia communities. In the coming years, the team also hopes to develop new laboratory operations and management certificate and degree programs that will provide further career opportunities. Website article: Click here

Generational shift: What does it mean for the veterinary profession?

Published on January 25, 2021

Did you know that millennials are about to surpass Generation X as the leading age group in the U.S. veterinary workforce? It’s true, as today’s Chart of the Month shows. This generational shift gives us a framework to explore how we can leverage the change to strengthen our veterinary practices and the profession.

What the data show As the chart shows, four generations are represented among U.S. veterinarians. In 2021, millennials (born 1981-1996) comprise 35.1% of the workforce, Generation X (1965-1980) 34.6%, baby boomers (1946-1964) 29.9%, and silents (1928-1945) 0.4%. Most new veterinarians entering the work force are millennials, while baby boomers and the remaining silents are moving toward retirement. What does this mean? We can expect this generational shift to bring significant changes to the profession. Each generation has its own cultural tendencies and characteristics, so we can anticipate that behaviors and attitudes of veterinarians will shift along with the age of the workforce. Here are a few areas in which we can expect change, and ideas for how each might present growth opportunities for practices and the profession: WORK-LIFE INTEGRATION Millennials as a group prioritize wellbeing and a healthy work-life balance. As millennials make up a larger portion of jobseekers, it will become even more important for employers to offer a supportive work culture, engage the whole team in decision-making, and offer opportunities for individual growth and community impact. We can use this as an opportunity to examine our clinic environments and explore how to build a healthier work culture. MENTORSHIP Especially as they’re entering the profession, millennials will be looking toward their more experienced peers for guidance and support, and as a group they value mentorship. Baby boomers and Generation X can fill this critical role, offering insight on everything from clinical skills to bedside manner and running a business. Practice owners and managers can foster this mentorship by building a strong, cohesive team. AVMA’s tools to strengthen the veterinary team are a great place to start. TECHNOLOGY Millennials comprise the first digitally native generation. They have a lot to offer when it comes to implementing new apps or adopting technology that can make our work easier, faster, and more efficient. Listen to their ideas and explore their suggestions. You may be surprised to discover new ways to improve practice efficiency along with work-life balance. CLIENT INSIGHT Millennials aren’t just increasing in the workforce. They’re also a growing segment of the client population. That means our millennial colleagues hold critical insight into the needs and expectations of these clients, and can be an important asset in building and strengthening relationships with them. If we empower our millennial team members to contribute insights and ideas, they can help our practices grow. Explore more with AVMA resources AVMA’s chief economist, Matt Salois, Ph.D., addresses these issues in greater detail in an article published in the February issue of DVM360 magazine. These AVMA tools also can help you build stronger connections with millennial jobseekers and employees: Tools to strengthen the veterinary team Workplace Wellbeing Certificate Program Webinar: Student anxiety among millennials and Gen Z Telehealth Resource Center Webpage article: click here

JVDI in Focus

The goal of JVDI in Focus is to bring attention to an interesting article appearing in the Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation. This month’s focus is on our upcoming March issue: “Special issue on applied next-generation sequencing in veterinary diagnostic laboratories,” with guest editors Laura Goodman, Kevin Lahmers. J Vet Diagn Invest 2020;33(2). This issue of the Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation, the Special issue on Applied Next-Generation Sequencing, includes a series of 10 papers that represent the application of NGS to veterinary testing. These range from the most common, genome sequencing, using PCR and viral culture for enrichment, to detect and/or subtype various viral pathogens, to less but increasingly common applications such as shotgun metagenomics for virus detection in clinical samples. Deep amplicon sequencing is presented for targeted detection of multiple pathogens with a single NGS assay. There is an example of an analysis pipeline for viral pathogens of pigs. We thought it important to highlight applications in cancer treatment in addition to the infectious disease approaches. Characterization of canine osteosarcoma using single-cell sequencing is an excellent illustration. Scattered within these papers are discussion of the ongoing challenges of NGS and approaches to validation of assays as well as discussions of future applications. Finally, a description of the NGS capacity within the National Animal Health Laboratory Network is presented. This group, along with the FDA Veterinary Laboratory Investigation and Response Network (Vet-LIRN), has provided critical NGS capacity support for the veterinary diagnostic community. JVDI News Tired of JVDI emails going directly to your Spam/Junk folder? Ask your IT person to greenlight the 2 domains listed below: amazonses.com; manuscriptcentral.com

AAVLD New Member Benefit Coming Soon!

AAVLD is bringing you a new membership benefit that is sure to peek your interest. The MC l LMS is a Learning Management System. The MC l LMS will keep certification and training materials in one place. Members can view training videos, scientific presentations and much more. AAVLD will determine the packages, availability, and pricing soon.  Some of the MC l LMS features: Single-Sign-On (SSO) with Oasis Content Upload and Management Customized Certificates Continuing Education Tracking Group-based Permissioning Progress and Usage Reporting We have captured most of the 2020 AAVLD Annual Meeting and will launch the program by featuring recorded scientific sessions and other speakers soon. Information will be sent to you via AAVLD communication emails, so look out for the latest updates.

AAVLD Membership Drive Competition – Earn a Free Lunch for yourself or your Lab!!

Eric Burrough, DVM, PhD Debra K. Royal, BA

Dear AAVLD Members: We hope you and your loved ones are staying safe during this unprecedented crisis. We want to reach out to you on behalf of AAVLD as co-chairs of the membership committee. The strength of AAVLD as a corporate body largely depends on the commitment of its members and we want to heartily thank you for support of the organization over the years. Our vibrancy as an organization depends on a strong involved membership base. In this regard, we remind you of the ongoing membership drive competition which due to COVID issues, we have now extended the competition to September 30, 2021. Competition Timeframe: January 2020 through September 30, 2021. How to submit: The competition is open to individual members and to Laboratories. The goal is to grow our organization’s membership through the recruitment of new members and bringing back previous members whose membership has lapsed by two or more years. Each time you successfully sponsor a new member who subscribes, send your name (personal or institution) and the name of the new member to rozuna@aavld.org and burrough@iastate.edu. Prizes: Winners will be selected based solely on the number of new or renewing (after ≥ 2-year lapse) members recruited. The winners will be recognized at the AAVLD annual meeting during the Foundation Auction. There will be two prizes – one individual and one Lab: ·        Individual prize: $100 Visa debit card: treat yourself for being an outstanding supporter! ·        Laboratory prize: $500 Visa debit card: use these funds to celebrate with your lab mates! We wish you continuous safety during the months ahead and look forward to meeting you online at the October annual meeting. Debra Royal & Eric Burrough Co-Chairs, Membership Committee

Events Foundation Auction Accreditation Committee Committees

AAVLD Announcements

2021 Hybrid AAVLD / USAHA Conference

Worth Quoting

There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow men. True nobility lies in being superior to your former self. ~ Ernest Hemingway

AAVLD Job Board

Take advantage of the terrific AAVLD resources offered to our members

Veterinary Jobs - American Association of Veterinary... We use cookies on this site to enhance your experience. By using our website you accept our use of cookies. Yes, I agree More Information Cookies YourMembership uses cookies for your convenience and security. Cookies are text files stored on the... Read more aavld-jobs.careerwebsite.com

Veterinary Jobs - American Association of Veterinary... The American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians offers the top jobs available in Veterinary diagnostic labs. Search and apply to open positions or post jobs on the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians now. Contact: rozuna@aavld.org

Read more aavld-jobs.careerwebsite.com

2022 Renewals are due by November 15! 'Membership is January to December'

AAVLD membership is open to any individual interested in the disciplines and activities of veterinary diagnostic laboratories. Membership terms are by calendar year (January-December) and membership dues are payable by November 15th of the preceding year (to ensure inclusion in the annual membership directory, eligibility for committee involvement, and receipt of all six issues of the JVDI). Note: In order to receive a discounted rate for the Annual Meeting registration, you are required to be a current AAVLD Member.

Did your membership Lapse?

Please select 'Renew Now' to access the Lapsed Membership renewal form. www.aavld.org ->Quick Links->Renew Now->here you can access the Lapsed Membership Form.

Renew Now!

Frequently Asked Questions Regarding AAVLD Membership:   When are my dues fee due?  They are due November 15 for the next calendar year. Many members pay for the next year when they register for the annual meeting. Lead time is needed to finalize committee appointments for the new year.   Does it matter who pays for my dues? No. Your status will be the same with their respective privileges whether you pay, your employer pays, or your Uncle Vinny.   Are Lab Accreditation dues different than Institutional/Agency membership dues? Yes ·    Laboratory Accreditation dues are different and separate and are related to accreditation only and go to fund the accreditation program only. ·    Whether accredited or not, a Laboratory (or Institution/Agency) may additionally become an Institutional/Agency Member. By doing so they are supporting the broad mission of the AAVLD and these funds go to support CE and training and all other activities of the AAVLD. Institutional/Agency Members are highly valued members and are demonstrating leadership and belief in our organizational purpose.    Do Institutional/Agency Member labs have to pay for their employees individual dues? No. A laboratory, institution, agency or department can become a member under this category even without signing up their employees. They are simply supporting the AAVLD mission with their dues payment. Some states are not allowed to pay for employee dues; and some states have budgetary restrictions.

2021 Committee Appointments

ARE YOU ENGAGED?

If you wish to serve on a particular committee in 2021, contact the committee chairs now and express your interest. Thank you! Committee Dashboard: Click here

AAVLD & News Worthy Events

Up and Coming! ·     USAHA/AAVLD Government Relations Committee Meeting, March 8-11, 2021- VIRTUAL Executive Board Hybrid Meeting, August 4, 2021-VIRTUAL Accreditation Committee, Meeting August 2-3, 2021-VIRTUAL  AAVLD/USAHA Hybrid Annual Conference, Gaylord of the Rockies, Denver, Colorado, October 21-October 27, 2021 (Due to the uncertainty with Covid-19, their may be updates to the details of the meeting.)

Do you have ideas to improve the AAVLD annual meeting? Contact David Zeman dzeman@aavld.org Would you like to sponsor an event? Contact Kaylin Taylor kaylin@taylormadeeventco.com Would like to make a year-end donation to the AAVLD Foundation?  Make your donation today! What ever your contribution to the AAVLD mission, we need you!   AAVLD Events page

Thank You to our Exhibitors and Sponsors of the 2021 Annual Conference!

The generous contributions and participation by our Exhibitors and Sponsors is a huge part of our conference success year after year. On behalf of the AAVLD, we would like to thank these companies for their commitment to our organization and helping us to achieve our mission.

Thank you 2021 Meeting Sponsors

AAVLD Foundation Committee   Brett Webb- Cochair Francois Elvinger- Cochair   John M. Adaska Donal O'Toole Tim Baszler David Zeman Bruce Akey Jerry Saliki Christie Mayo Kristy Pabilonia Beate Crossley François Elvinger Pat Halbur Brett Webb Jamie Henningson Kerry Sondgeroth Foundation Donation The AAVLD Foundation is a non-profit foundation that raises funds for the advancement of veterinary diagnostic laboratory disciplines through scholarship programs, student travel support to our scientific meeting, guest lectures, seminars, professional awards and research programs. Contributions to the Foundation are tax-deductible 501(c)(3), and can be paid when you renew your AAVLD membership. Thank you for remembering your AAVLD Foundation! Make an end of the year donation today!

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