Committees

Join a MVMA Committee and become more involved today! 

Committees of the association are formed to address the many issues and concerns, which come before the veterinary profession. Members are invited to volunteer their time and talents to serve on committees of interest to them. Throughout issues of the newsletter, various committees will be highlighted including a listing of those serving on the committees. If you would like to serve on any committee, please call the MVMA and volunteer. Every attempt is made to accommodate your service to your profession. Come to a no obligation committee meeting or talk with the co-chair for more details.

Join a Committee!

2021 MVMA Committees and Committee Charges

View the complete listing of MVMA committees, committee charge and chair contact information below: 

1. Wellness and Peer Assistance Committee (formerly Chemical Impairment and Addictions Committee)

BOD Liaison: Nancy Peterson, DVM 
Committee Chairs: Marceen Hammer DVM 218-268-4038
Provides resource information to MVMA members on issues of suicide awareness, chemical dependence, mental health, professional burn-out and compassion fatigue. The committee members regard it as their responsibility to provide assistance to MVMA members in need and to help them resume a well-balanced and healthy life.  The committee plans a track at the MVMA convention around wellness issues annually.  The committee is not a regulatory agency and does not report to one. 

     Wellness and Gender in Veterinary Environments (WeGIVE) Subcommittee
     BOD Liasion: Joni Scheftel, DVM
     Subcommittee Co-Chairs: 
     Stacy Holzbauer, DVM,  651-201-5414
     Megan Schommer, DVM, 612-822-1545
Wellness and Gender in Veterinary Environments (WeGIVE) was formed group as a result of the MVMA’s Veterinarian Survey conducted spring 2017 and the Board of Directors strategic planning meeting in December 2017. Originally charged with planning a track at the Annual Meeting to help female members address challenges they face in the demanding veterinary profession; the group quickly acknowledged that many of the challenges affect veterinarians of all walks of life. In an order to be inclusive they adopted the name WeGIVE. Outside of the Annual Meeting, the group organizes activities that foster a welcoming and supportive environment for all in the veterinary medicine field.  

2. Continuing Education Committee

3. Finance & Operations Committee (formerly Finance Committee)

BOD Liaison: Heather Douglas, DVM 
Committee Co-chairs: Jerry Sprau, DVM, 651-208-2900
Rob Memmen, DVM, 952-545-9161
Develop a fiscal policy including budget analysis, separate convention budget, long-range dues increases, review of expenditures, recommendations for the expenditures of funds, increases and decreases of expenses. Annual review of policies and procedures for MVMA financial transactions.

4. Food Animal Committee

BOD Liaison: Matt Boyle, DVM  
Committee Chair: Joe Armstrong, DVM
To keep MVMA members apprised on food animal issues such as pharmaceutical use in food-producing animals, as well as other food safety and welfare practices that enhance animal agriculture and production. The FAPC will monitor current federal and Minnesota regulations for food animal practitioners will communicate new information to MVMA members through regular newsletter articles and will work to assist members with their efforts to be compliant with the current food animal and safety standards and best practices pertaining to food animal species. Contribute to the planning of all large animal CE. 

5. Governmental Affairs Committee

BOD Liaison: Jim Bennett, DVM
Committee Chair: Trevor Ames, DVM, 612-991-9665
Vice Chair: Jessica Koppien-Fox, DVM, 507-401-6592
Serve as liaison for the MVMA with the state legislature and various state agencies. Develop the annual legislative program for approval by the Board of Directors and in cooperation with the standing committees. Coordinate the activities of the lobbyists in support of the annual legislative program. Monitor legislation affecting veterinary medicine at the state and national levels. Serve as liaison for the MVMA with the Minnesota Agri-Growth Council, and livestock, commodity and companion animal organizations. Promote membership in VET-PAC and update yearly the Key Contact Network. Prepare and distribute the Legislative Alert Bulletins to the Key Contact Veterinarians during the legislative session.

6. State Fair - Miracle of Birth Center Committee

BOD Liaison: Matt Boyle, DVM
CVM Liaison: Jennifer Granick, DVM, PhD, DACVIM
Co-Chairs: 
Mary Olson, DVM, 320-679-4197
Holly Neaton, DVM, 952-240-2192
David Wright, DVM, 763-242-7535
Kevin Haroldson, DVM, 218-732-9866
Kathy Pjevach, 612-578-4591
Marjorie Schleper, DVM, 320-761-9598
Michaela Olson, DVM

To educate fairgoers about the birth process and about the care animals receive from producers and veterinarians. In addition, educate fairgoers about animal agriculture and how farmers will meet the challenge of feeding the world’s expanding population with limited resources.

7.  State Fair - Surgery Suite Committee  

BOD Liaison: Lukas Wallerich, DVM 
Committee Co-Chairs: Krista Walkowiak, DVM, 612-624-5156
Travis Anderson, DVM
Organize and coordinate all aspects of the State Fair Surgery Suite to educate the public on pet overpopulation and veterinary medicine in general.

8. Membership Committee 

BOD Liaison: Connie Sillerud, DVM
Committee Chair: Ann Brownlee, DVM, 
To promote and retain MVMA membership for the continued growth and advancement of the organization. The Nominations and Awards Subcommittee reports to this committee.
     Nominations and Awards Subcommittee
     Subcommittee Chair: Matt Boyle, DVM
Develop a list of nominees for positions to be elected to the Board of Directors and coordinate MVMA awards activities. 

9. Veterinary Practice and Management Committee

BOD Liaison: Gary Goldstein, DVM
Committee Chair: James Nelson, DVM, 952-934-0335
Reviews and studies veterinary practice and economic issues in the areas of practice management, tax, legal/regulatory, reimbursement, pet insurance, staff, practice guidelines, etc. Strengthen and enhance the practice of veterinary medicine. Contribute to the planning of annual convention and seminar practice management topics. 

10. Disaster and Emergency Preparedness Committee (https://www.mnvmrc.org/)

BOD Liaison: Ann Brownlee, DVM
Council Chair: Michelle Willette, DVM, 612-624-1353
Assist the MVMA to coordinate with local and state agencies to facilitate the development of a sustainable veterinary disaster and emergency preparedness program to protect and serve the people, pets and animal agriculture of Minnesota. 

11. Practice Ethics & Grievance Committee

BOD Liaison: Ann Brownlee, DVM
Committee Chair: Kathryn French, DVM, 651-601-8691
Review complaints from various concerned parties and confidentially mediate disputes between dissatisfied clients and veterinarians. (No regular meetings, complaint-based meetings)

12. Public Health Committee

BOD Liaison: Ann Brownlee, DVM
Committee Co-Chairs: Stephanie Yendell, DVM, 651-201-4894
Courtney Wheeler, DVM, 612-756-2810
Enhance the health and well-being of both humans and animals through education. Keep the veterinary community informed of public health/regulatory medicine issues and promote the human-companion animal bond.

13. Council of Senior Veterinarians  

BOD Liaison: 
Council Chair: Dick Olson, DVM, 651-238-6179
Provide a forum to discuss issues of interest to senior veterinarians, and to participate in projects beneficial to the profession. 

14. Small Animal Welfare Committee

BOD Liaison: Connie Sillerud, DVM
Committee Chair: Paul Anderson, DVM, 952-212-6109
Identify issues that affect small animal welfare in the state of Minnesota. Develop and monitor programs and policies to improve small animal welfare. For the purposes of this committee, small animal is defined as animals commonly managed by small animal veterinary practitioners. 

15. Veterinary Technicians Committee 

BOD Liaison:  Ned Patterson, DVM
Committee Chair: Allen Balay, DVM, 320-905-6423
Serve as a liaison between MAVT and MVMA. Promote credentialing and continuing education of veterinary technicians. Encourage veterinarians to fully utilize credentialed veterinary technicians as vital members of the veterinary health care team. Support the growth and advancement of the veterinary technician profession broadly, and as a career that can sustain the individual long-term.

Veterinary Technician Credentialing Subcommittee 
BOD Liaison: Ned Patterson, DVM
Subcommittee chairs, Allen Balay, DVM & Kim Horne, CVT, VTS (Dermatology) 
Review MVMA Continuing Education guidelines and MN Veterinary Technician Certification Renewal Requirements and revise as needed.  Evaluate certification renewals of current CVTs, provide feedback when requested for new applications with recommendations to approve/reject.

16. Industry Partners Committee

BOD Liaison: Chris Anderson, DVM
Committee Chair: Bill Butler 651-501-3759
Helping veterinarians feel supported by industry and providing feedback for MVMA/MVMF events while fostering industry relationships through collaboration and networking.

Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Task Force
Task Force Chair:  Ned Patterson, DVM

Opioid Task Force
Task Force Chair: Jessica Fox, DVM

Committees – Identified in the bylaws (standing) or task forces and ad hoc committees appointed as needed by the current president or board of directors.

Councils – On-going self-governing groups to engage diverse member interests.  They may take on projects or simply be a forum to unite and allow exchanges of like-minded members.

Task Forces – Small groups formed to address a specific need or project-based activity with a limited scope and duration. 

Want to become more involved? Join an MVMA Committee today