Many faces, one profession
More than 400 positions exist on AVMA councils, committees, and task forces. To showcase the diverse backgrounds and expertise of the volunteers who serve on them and to inspire even more AVMA members to participate, JAVMA News will feature a few entities each month. To be a candidate for one of the current vacancies, click here, or contact officeevp
avma [dot] org (officeevp[at]avma[dot]org).
Council on Biologic and Therapeutic Agents
Charge/mission: Act as an information and advisory resource to the Executive Board and other agents of the Association on issues pertaining to biologic and therapeutic agents.
Members:
Dr. Christopher Chase (ISU '80), chair, South Dakota Sate University Department of Veterinary Science; representing immunology
Dr. Mark Wood (AUB '83), vice chair; Bogart, Ga.; member at-large
Dr. John Edward Branam (MSU '77), Sacramento, Calif.; representing industry, exclusive
Dr. Richard Forfa (PAR '80), Monocacy Equine Veterinary Associates, Beallsville, Md.; representing private clinical practice—predominantly equine
Dr. John Gay (WSU '78), Washington State University Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences; representing epidemiology
Dr. Edward Javorka (PUR '82), Gary, Ind.; representing private clinical practice—predominantly small animal
Dr. Vernon Langston (MIS '81), Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine; representing clinical pharmacology
Dr. Dorothy Lisa Parshley (COL '03), VCA Raleigh Hills Animal Hospital, Portland, Ore.; member at-large
Dr. Lionel Reilly (KSU '70), Professional Veterinary Products Ltd., Elkhorn, Neb.; member at-large
Dr. Donald Sawyer (MSU '61), Okemos, Mich.; representing pharmacology
Dr. John Waddell (IL '81), Sutton Veterinary Clinic, Sutton, Neb.; representing private clinical practice—predominantly food animal
Ching Ching Wu (TAI '80), Indiana Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory; representing microbiology
What current project(s) are you most excited about?
Assistant director of the AVMA Scientific Activities Division, Dr. Lynne A. White-Shim, said COBTA continues to provide in-depth scientific opinions to the AVMA for reference documents, communications, and federal correspondences, including topics such as the need for continued availability of antimicrobials for animal patients.
A recent meaningful accomplishment:
Recently the Food and Drug Administration withdrew its previously published Order of Prohibition on extralabel use of cephalosporins in food-producing animals.
"COBTA contributed significantly to AVMA's correspondence with the FDA regarding its assertion that such an order would be deleterious to animal health and that there is a lack of scientific evidence showing significant risk to human health by extralabel use of cephalosporins in food-producing animals," Dr. White-Shim said.
How is your entity addressing the profession's pressing issues?
New questions and concerns arise from various levels of government surrounding issues such as disposal of drugs, prescription writing, availability of veterinary drugs, vaccine efficacy and vaccine use recommendations, and controlled substances inquiries. At its meetings, COBTA evaluates these and other timely issues.
How is the entity addressing the strategic or operational goals of the AVMA?
Chair Christopher Chase said COBTA is committed to advocacy for veterinary medicine in the areas of therapeutics and biologicals. Along with the Clinical Practitioners Advisory Committee, COBTA interacts directly with representatives of the animal health industry and the federal government. This allows the veterinary profession, through the AVMA, to have a major advocacy position with government and industry. COBTA also provides an educational component for the membership by developing materials on biologics and therapeutics.
Clinical Practitioners Advisory Committee
Charge/mission: To serve as an advisory committee to the Council on Biologic and Therapeutic Agents and ensure wide species-based, veterinary practitioner input on issues of biologic and therapeutic agents.
Members:
Dr. Mark Wood (AUB '83), chair; Bogart, Ga.; representing the Council on Biologic and Therapeutic Agents
Dr. Lisa Becton (NCU '94), National Pork Board, Harris, Mo.; representing the American Association of Swine Veterinarians
Dr. John French (GA '84), Bogart, Ga.; representing the American Association of Avian Pathologists
Dr. Karl Gingrich (OSU '95), Keystone Veterinary Services, Ashland, Ohio; representing the American Association of Bovine Practitioners
Dr. Justin Janssen (KSU '72), Alma, Kan.; representing the American Association of Equine Practitioners
Dr. Lorraine Jarboe (OSU '79), Fort Walton Beach, Fla.; representing the American Association of Feline Practitioners
Dr. Charles Lemme (ISU '75), Blairs Ferry Pet Hospital PC, Cedar Rapids, Iowa; representing the American Animal Hospital Association
Dr. Kurt Sladky (WIS '93), University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine, representing the zoo and wildlife medicine
Dr. David Wallace (KSU '75), Sunflower Veterinary Service, Minneapolis, Kan.; representing the American Association of Small Ruminant Practitioners
What current project(s) are you most excited about?
The Clinical Practitioners Advisory Committee, along with other entities, has advised the AVMA to develop management tools for veterinary clinicians to use as a reference. The CPAC believes veterinarians already have environmentally sound business practices that limit waste, including tight inventory control and transfer of unused pharmaceuticals back to distribution companies. Moreover, veterinarian implementation of the management tools is expected to further decrease wastes contributed by veterinary facilities, said Dr. Lynne A. White-Shim, an assistant director of the AVMA Scientific Activities Division.
A recent meaningful accomplishment:
Recently the CPAC contributed substantial guidance incorporated into correspondence that AVMA shared with the Environmental Protection Agency regarding the minimal contribution of drug wastes and hazardous wastes by veterinary facilities, according to Dr. White-Shim.
How is your entity addressing the profession's pressing issues?
The CPAC has the opportunity to provide practical clinical expertise on the profession's pressing issues. As COBTA's advisory committee, the CPAC serves as an initial sounding board on critical and timely issues. The COBTA closely considers the advice shared by the CPAC on these issues regarding biologic and therapeutic agents used in veterinary medicine, Dr. White-Shim said.
How is the entity addressing the strategic or operational goals of the AVMA?
Chair Mark Wood said the CPAC serves to routinely provide broad, species-based veterinary practitioner input to the COBTA regarding biologic and therapeutic agents. "This diverse and clinically relevant input assists the AVMA to be a more effective advocate for the veterinary profession by helping to address emerging local, state, and federal issues that can potentially impact the availability and/or use of these products," Dr. Wood said.