Dear TVMA Members,

    Typically, the first thing that the members of any organization want to know about new leadership is the leader’s goals and how these goals impact the members.  I can honestly say that the actions of the TVMA are a team effort, and that this change in presidency is like the passing of the baton in a relay race to protect our veterinary patients, our clients, and our professional standards of care.  When I joined the TVMA executive board, I boldly and naively stated that I wanted to see our Veterinary Practice Act (VPA), which was written in 1967, changed to better reflect current standards of veterinary care.  I was idealistic and naïve, since I had no understanding of the legislative process and had never considered that while most veterinarians are focused on improving patient care, small but vocal groups of non-veterinary health care providers are trying to deregulate veterinary medicine for personal gain.  I learned that opening our VPA could also negatively result in deregulatory actions by non-veterinary political stakeholders.
    Over the past few years, legislative challenges to the veterinary profession have become increasingly more frequent, with the TVMA currently monitoring over 60 bills with potential impact on the veterinary profession.  Each year the TVMA has increased our focus on legislative action, and last year, President Mili Bass formed a task force to proactively plan for changes to the VPA.  The Chancery Court ruling on the Bonnie Cady v. Tennessee Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners case in August 2009 demonstrated weakness within the Tennessee’s VPA and dictated that the TVMA take immediate action upon the VPA task force plan.
    Like most heroes, when called upon, ordinary people perform extraordinary feats.  Our legislative committee and lobbyists have worked tirelessly in developing, promoting, and gaining support for our VPA Bill from Tennessee legislators and other animal stakeholders (e.g. The Farm Bureau).  During the month of March, our VPA Bill passed favorably through the House Agriculture Committee and subsequently passed in the State House of Representatives.  Last Wednesday, our VPA Bill passed through the Senate General Welfare Committee!

Dr. Stephen Galloway