In
Grateful Appreciation
for
F V M A 20 1 5 AWARD H o no r ees distinguished service to Veterinary Medicine
Senator Jack Latvala PRESIDENT’S AWARD
Senator Jack Latvala was bestowed with the FVMA President’s Award on April 10, at the FVMA Annual Awards Ceremony and Officer Installation which took place at the Association’s 86th Annual Conference held at the Buena Vista Palace Hotel & Spa in Lake Buena Vista. The State Senator for District 20, Senator Latvala has been a steadfast friend to the veterinary profession, and has championed veterinary medicine’s causes in the Senate. He has given unwavering support over the years through sponsorship and advocacy as a legislator, for issues that are important to Florida’s veterinarians. FVMA President Don Morgan made the presentation on behalf of the FVMA Executive Board and membership, pointing out that the award honors Senator Latvala for his support of the profession, his service to the Citizens of Florida, and for his commitment which safeguards the health and welfare of the animals of Florida. He said the senator was a true advocate for small business and “had opened many doors for veterinarians and the FVMA in Tallahassee.” In accepting the award, Senator Latvala expressed appreciation to the FVMA for the recognition, and he thanked the Association for its friendship and support. “Veterinarians are a great group,” said the senator, concluding that he is “happy to help anytime.” Senator Latvala’s relationship with the FVMA and support
Russell J. Snyder, VMD
distinguished service Award
Dr. Russell J. Snyder is two-time recipient of the FVMA Gold Star Award, and the 2001 FVMA Lifetime Achievement Award. He is also a past president of the Jacksonville Veterinary Medical Society (JVMS) and has been closely affiliated to the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine (UFCVM). Dr. Snyder has been a member of the FVMA since the early 1960's, and served on the Executive Board as the District 2 Representative, and on the FVMA Finance Committee. He was instrumental in the planning of UFCVM, and today remains an active advocate for the school. He has undertaken 6 | FVMA ADVOCATE
Representative Kathleen M. Peters
go back 20 years, when he helped to achieve a major milestone for veterinarians with the repeal of records exemption, which prevented vaccination, license and rabies certificate records from being harvested by marketers. Recently, in 2014, the senator was the driving force behind the passage of legislation which reinstated tax-exempt status for therapeutic veterinary diets. He is currently championing SB1189, the Pharmacy Compounding Bill, which allows veterinarians to dispense compounded medications to patients, a practice that had been in place for many years until a new rule by the Board of Pharmacy last year required Florida veterinarians to sign an agreement with compounding pharmacies when ordering compounded medications, not to dispense said medications to their clients. A veterinarian’s ability to dispense compounded medications to clients is a critical aspect of the practice of veterinary medicine which. Dispensing, which is allowed by Florida Statute, had been unintentionally disallowed by this Pharmacy Board rule of October 2014. Senator Latvala was first elected to the Senate in 1994, when he served until 2002. He was reelected in 2010 and in 2014. He was awarded FVMA Legislator of the Year in 2012. He is the Chairman of the Pinellas Legislative Delegation, and serves on the Pinellas Sports Authority and the Palm Harbor Community Services Agency. As the member for District 20 in the Florida Senate, his committee assignments include: Chair, Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development; Appropriations; Commerce and Tourism; Government Oversight and Accountability; Regulated Industries; and Rules.
various committee appointments, including the Long Range Planning Committee, UFCVM Admissions Committee and UFCVM Advisory Committee on which he now serves, 25 years and counting. Dr. Snyder operated Snyder Animal Hospital, P.A. in Jacksonville for 43 years. He also served in active duty as a Captain in the Veterinary Corps of the United States Army. Dr. Richard Sutliff nominated Dr. Snyder along with the JVMS, and described the example set to the veterinary profession by his distinguished service, saying: “Each meeting of the JVMS saw Dr. Snyder offering guidance either in parliamentary procedure, Robert’s rules, community perception, and other areas that allowed his wisdom to be shared throughout the North East Florida Veterinary Community.”
PRESIDENT’S AWARD
Representative Kathleen Peters was awarded FVMA Legislator of the Year on April 10. She was presented with the award at the FVMA Annual Awards Ceremony and Officer Installation which took place during the Association’s 86th Annual Conference held at the Buena Vista Palace Hotel & Spa in Lake Buena Vista, Fldorida from April 9 – 12, 2015. Representative Peters is the FVMA 2015 champion in the Florida House of Representatives. She is the sponsor of HB 1049, the companion bill to a Senate bill being considered during the present legislative session, which will allow veterinarians to administer and/or dispense a compounded medication to patients. In presenting Representative Peters with the Legislator of the Year Award, FVMA President Don Morgan thanked her for sponsoring the bill in the House and for appreciating the importance of this aspect of veterinary care to veterinarians in the state of Florida.
Denise Reed Team Member of the Year Award Denise Reed is a valued technician at the Animal Clinic at Kelly Crossing in Fort Meyers, Florida. Her employers describe her as having a joyous personality with great people skills. As an “invaluable” member of the team at Kelly Crossing, Ms. Reed participates in all aspects of the operation of the practice. She has worked in the veterinary field since 1998, as a veterinary assistant technician. She is credited with having great people skills and was commended by Clinic Director, Dr. Richard Carpenter for her commitment to the best care and treatment of patients. Assuming a role as teacher and mentor, she shares with other staff members, and she assists the local CVT veterinary technology program as a mentor to students who frequent the Animal Clinic at Kelly Crossing as part of their course of study.
Amanda Bouton, CVT
CVT OF THE YEAR AWARD
Amanda Bouton of Jacksonville, Florida is the practice manager at Hidden Hills Animal Hospital of Jacksonville. She also functions as a Staff Information Meeting Specialist, and meets and shares regularly with other hospital staff members throughout Northeastern Florida. Mrs. Bouton has practiced as a CVT for 10 years. As practice manager at Hidden Hills, she handles the day-to-day operations of the practice, maintaining and motivating the healthcare team to provide the best in patient care. She provides leadership at her workplace and in her profession. She has served on the Board of SanfordBrown Veterinary Technician Program, and currently sits on the Board of Directors of Heritage College of Veterinary Technicians. She also shares her talents working for children. Since 2013, after a mission trip through her church to an orphanage in Haiti, she has lead another mission trip to Haiti, and currently sits on the Mission’s Board of Directors. She and her husband Chris are foster parents to four children, who along with their two sons, make life at home as busy as her professional one.
Donald A. Thompson, J.D., CVPM CITIZEN OF THE YEAR AWARD
Donald “Don” Thompson lives in Valrico, Florida, and works as a practice manager and as Executive Director of the Hillsborough Animal Health Foundation (HAHF). His work engages him in issues relating to the health and welfare of animals in Hillsborough County, the education of the pet owning public about caring for their pets, and advocacy on behalf of the veterinary profession. Don Thompson has been very involved in the Trap Neuter Release (TNR) debate on a local level, but he has also represented veterinarians on the state level for the FVMA in Tallahassee on multiple occasions. He was instrumental in creating the AWAKE! Campaign that included TENVAC (Trap-Evaluate-Neuter-Vaccinate and Contain) as an alternative to traditional TNR. As the Executive Director of HAHF, he organizes and assists with HAHF’s “Pit Bull Vaccination Day” where hundreds of pit bulls from low income areas are examined, vaccinated and micro-chipped. He recently headed a new pilot charitable hospital project, Vets 4 Pets, which opened in January. The charitable hospital provides spays, neuters and basic veterinary services to low income verified citizens and rescue groups in Hillsborough County. Its focus is on decreasing pet overpopulation, and education for low income citizens in the community about zoonotic diseases that can affect their health. www.fvma.org | 7