Make a Difference in Your Profession Through the RVT Committee and RVT Delegation

If you are a registered veterinary technician (RVT) and CVMA member who is looking to get more involved and make a wider impact on the direction of your profession, applying for a position on the CVMA’s RVT Committee is a great option.

The primary responsibility of the RVT Committee is promoting career enhancement, encouraging RVT certification, and furthering the development of the delivery of veterinary care. This committee makes recommendations for RVTfocused CVMA member benefits. Furthermore, annually, the committee reviews nominations for the RVT of the Year in Private Practice Award, the RVT of the Year in Non-Private Practice Award, and the RVT’s Outstanding DVM of the Year Award and relays their recipient recommendations to the Board of Governors.

RVT Committee Members

Listed below are the current members of the RVT Committee. They are here to offer information and answer any questions you may have.

• Dist. I Representative

Heather Ryan, RVT

• Dist. II Representative

Sharon Burns, RVT

• Dist. IV Representative

Bryson Plater, RVT

• Dist. V Representative

Angela Duenes, RVT

• Dist. VI Representative

Cindy Savely, RVT

• Dist. VII Representative/RVT Representative at VMB Meetings

Marie Ussery, RVT

• Dist. VIII Representative

Jo Woodison, RVT

• DVM Member at Large

Dr. Samantha Musa

• RVT Member at Large

Kristi Pawlowski, RVT

• Allied Industry

Teri Adamson, RVT

• Education

Leah Shufelt, RVT, RVT Chair

RVT Delegation to the House of Delegates

• Research/Shelter Representative

Nicole Dickerson, RVT

• UC Davis Veterinary Student

Maggie Gardea

• Western University Veterinary Student

Samara Schreier

• RVT at Western University Rep

Annette Chavarria-Marron, RVT

Vacancies

The RVT Committee has several open spots for interested RVTs. The following positions are currently vacant and need to be filled.

• Dist. III Representative (Imperial, Kern, Riverside, and San Bernardino Counties)

• Dist. IX Representative (San Mateo, San Francisco, and Santa Clara Counties)

• RVT at UC Davis Representative

• Southern California RVT Student

• Northern California RVT Student

Interested in filling a vacancy and helping support your profession? Email Laura Phillips, Membership and Student Services Manager at the CVMA, at lphillips@cvma.net for more information on the appointment process.

The CVMA House of Delegates (HOD) meets twice yearly in January and June to advise the CVMA Board of Governors on prevalent issues in the veterinary profession. It plays a significant role in determining the CVMA’s position and activity on emerging and ongoing topics. It is composed of representatives from local veterinary medical associations, as well as members from non-geographic delegations that represent specialized areas of veterinary medicine. One such non-geographic delegation is the RVT delegation. The CVMA’s RVT delegation is relatively large when compared to others in the HOD and carries a weighted vote based on the CVMA’s approximately 1,000 RVT members. Currently, the delegation has six votes (six seats), with each seat also allowing for an alternate delegate. Therefore, up to 12 RVTs may attend a HOD meeting, with six votes counting. This delegation provides valuable RVT perspectives and is greatly respected in the HOD. RVT delegates are appointed by the RVT Committee. If you are interested in potential appointment to the HOD RVT Delegation, contact Laura Phillips at lphillips@cvma.net.