A Message from the PVMA Executive Committee
Dear PVMA Members, As you are probably aware, the leadership of the PVMA has undergone some recent changes. In May, Ms. Jennifer Keeler, our Executive Director of the last two years, resigned to pursue a new opportunity. Shortly after this, our 2021-2022 President, Dr. Erica Wolbramsky, stepped down for personal reasons. We wish them both all the best in their future endeavors and thank them for their service to the PVMA. This rapid change in leadership combined with the large number of changes our organization has seen over the past few years has left some wondering where the PVMA is heading. As your Executive Committee, we would like to take this opportunity to update you on the new faces leading the PVMA and our plans for the future. Dr. Dawn Fiedorczyk will serve as President Pro Temp until the Member Meeting in July 2022, at which time she will officially move to the position of President. Dr. Kate Boatright was appointed to fill the Vice President position in the fall of 2021. Dr. Lloyd Reitz continues to serve as Secretary-Treasurer and Dr. Darcie Stolz as Board Chair. We are proud to serve the veterinary professionals of Pennsylvania and look forward to a stronger future together. The Board of Trustees continues to work hard in service to our Membership during this time of transition. The Board recognizes that the organization is facing challenges with the changes in leadership. Just as we recommend regular wellness examinations for our patients, we feel it is in the best interest of the PVMA to perform a “wellness check.” We have elected to bring in a third-party association consultant to help with this and our plan for the future. We are excited to work with Professional Management Associates (PMA) for this endeavor. PMA is familiar with veterinary association management and works with the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA), the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP), and our neighbors at the New Jersey Veterinary Medical Association. We would like to extend a special thank you to Dr. MJ McNamee, long-time PVMA member and chair of our Legislative and Regulatory Affairs 6 | Keystone Veterinarian
Committee (LRAC), who was appointed as our Interim Executive Director during the transition period for May and June. We wish her the best in her new role with the Animal Health Institute in Washington, D.C. Going forward, we will work with PMA to determine the best strategy for filling the Executive Director position. We would also like to thank our dedicated PVMA staff for their work during this transition time. They ensure that the PVMA continues to provide excellent Member services and programming. Our fall calendar will include ACPA’s Bark in the Park in October and the return of the in-person Three Rivers Symposium in November. Our organization’s legislative agenda remains strong. The PVMA Board has recently approved official position statements on the Veterinary Nurse Initiative (VNI) and Telemedicine, which were presented to the PA Board of Veterinary Medicine in late May. We continue to advocate for Senate Bill 907, an act that will create an Animal Welfare Board. This legislation was introduced by PVMA with the sponsorship of Senator Gene Yaw. We encourage you to contact your legislators in support of this bill, watch for legislative action alerts from the PVMA, and contribute to the PVMA’s Political Action Committee to support our legislative work in Harrisburg. We look forward to a bright future with the PVMA thanks to the hard work and dedication of volunteer leaders, staff, and Members throughout Pennsylvania. Please reach out to your local Trustee, the Executive Committee, or the office with any questions or concerns. This is your association and we want your input as we make plans for our future. Sincerely, The 2021-2022 Executive Committee Dr. Dawn Fiedorczyk, President Pro Temp Dr. Kate Boatright, Vice-President Dr. Lloyd Reitz, Secretary-Treasurer Dr. Darcie Stolz, Board Chair
