Learning and Leadership with PVMA By Kate Boatright, VMD
Power of 10 is a national leadership development program for early career veterinarians that has been adopted by many state veterinary medical associations and is run at the state level. It is designed to cultivate leadership traits in PVMA Members and provide learning that will enrich them both personally and professionally. P10 is designed to develop skills in leadership, communication, and business. The Power of 10 Scholarship has also been made available to Certified Veterinary Technicians in the Commonwealth. The P10 Program provides 10 PVMA Members with leadership development sessions over the course of 2 years. Sessions will include face-to-face and virtual roundtable discussions and attendance to PVMA continuing education programs. The “Learning” component includes team communication, veterinary finances, animal welfare, legal and ethical topics, networking, and legislative and advocacy issues. The “Leading” component provides a variety of opportunities to use the recently acquired knowledge in PVMA, such as writing for the Keystone Veterinarian magazine, serving on the Board or with a committee, mentoring, volunteering with ACPA or other event, and mentoring new PVMA Members. More information is available at bit.ly/PVMA-P10.
Meet the Class of 2021-2023 Korin D’Ascenzo, BVetMed, grew up in Penn Township, Westmoreland County. After graduating from high school, she attended Delaware Valley University earning her bachelor’s in Large Animal Science. After a year working in the equine industry, she was accepted into the Royal Veterinary College in London, UK, and graduated in 2005 with her veterinary degree. After returning to the United States, she worked in various practices in Eastern Pennsylvania, until taking a Chief of Staff position for Lawrence Animal Hospital in Princeton, NJ. Eventually, her family brought her back to Western Pennsylvania where she started work as a relief veterinarian. She has since committed to working with two AAHA hospitals while raising her family. During this time as well, she has earned her Fear Free elite status and certifications in the Human-Animal Bond, Nutrition, and AAHA Hospice and Palliative Care.
16 | Keystone Veterinarian
Savannah L. Gibson, VMD, attended Delaware Valley College where she earned her B.S. in Biology. She completed her graduate studies at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine in 2019. She returned to her hometown and joined Highland Animal Hospital immediately after graduate school. She has a passion for end-of-life care, diagnostic imaging, and her feline patients. Savannah’s hobbies include horseback riding, kayaking, and yoga, and she is adventurous in trying new foods and restaurants. She loves her Quarter Horse, Levi, and two dogs, Dawson and Red. Savannah hopes to eventually visit all of the National Parks in the USA. Ashley Klein, VMD, graduated from PennVet in 2016 and went on to work at various general practice and emergency hospitals until she found her true passion for leadership. She now works as a Medical Director at Aston Veterinary Hospital, both seeing appointments and working to support a growing business while ensuring a positive culture and work-life balance for her coworkers. During her time outside the hospital, she loves to spend time outdoors with her family! Tiffany Ruiz Dasilva, VMD, CVA, received her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Brown University. Following graduation in 2011, she lived in Africa, working in wildlife conservation and rehabilitation. She attended veterinary school at the University of Pennsylvania and graduated in 2017. Since then, she has worked in general practice and on telehealth platforms, and received her Fear Free certification, which aims to prevent and alleviate anxiety and stress in the animals she cares for. In 2021, Dr. Ruiz Dasilva became certified in acupuncture and began working at a rehabilitation practice. She is passionate about veterinary behavior,
