faq’s on the new board of veterinary medicine

mich igan veter inary med ical assoc iat ion

Mandatory Continuing Medical Education Has Now Become Law in MichiganOn March 15, 2016, Governor Snyder signed Public Acts 47 and 49 into law requiring continuing medical education (CME) for veterinarians and veterinary technicians. As of June 21, 2018 the Administrative Rules related to CME have now been approved by the Board of Veterinary Medicine.

When will mandatory CME take affect and how much CME will be needed?Beginning in 2020, an applicant for a veterinarian license renewal who held a license for the 3-year period immediately preceding the expiration date of the license shall have earned, within the 3-year period immediately preceding the date of the application, 45 hours of approved continuing education. Veterinary technicians will need 15 hours during that same time period.

How often will I need to renew my license?License renewals for veterinarians will occur every 3 years. Previously licenses were renewed every 2 years.

What will be counted as CME?Complete information with links to the full rules can be found on MVMA’s website at https://michvma.org/mandatory-ce. However, MVMA has tried to simplify it for members by providing the following.

OVERALL RULES FOR VETERINARIANS AND

VETERINARY TECHNICIANS:

nn No more than 12 hours can be earned during a 24-hour period.

nn Credit for a program or activity that is substantially identical to a program or activity

in this issue . . . 2 Call for Award Nominations

5 Michigan and Bovine TB: The Work Continues

6 How to Recruit and Retain Great Team Members

7 Power of Ten Leadership Academy

8 Exit Stage—Right! Success in Succession Planning

10 Tick Identification and Testing Program

13 Culture: Every Practice Has One... But is it the One You Want?

17 Members in the News

19 The Legal Risk of Veterinarians Prescribing or Dispensing Opioids in Michigan

22 Upcoming In-Person CE Opportunities

back cover IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS

volume xv · number 3 · fall 2018

continued on page 3 .

FAQ’S ON THE NEW BOARD OF VETERINARY MEDICINE

General Rules for Veterinarians & Veterinary Technicians

MVMA Distinguished Lifetime Achievement Award:Established in 1970 as the Distinguished Life Membership Award, it was retitled in 1992. The award is conferred upon only a few individuals of the highest professional caliber who have completed thirty-five consecutive years of active membership and have partaken actively in association obligations and otherwise served the veterinary profession in an exemplary fashion at the state and/or national levels. This is the highest award conferred by the Michigan VMA.

W. Kenneth McKersie Service Award: Established in 1956 as the MVMA Service Award, the award was renamed in memory of the late Dr. McKersie in 1989. It is con-ferred upon a member of the Michigan VMA for cumulative service and accomplishments benefiting the profession of veterinary medicine, the community, and the Associa-tion. Only the Distinguished Life Member-ship Award ranks above it in significance of recognition by one’s peers as members of the Michigan VMA.

MVMA Public Media Award: This award is to recognize a person or organization within the broadcasting or publishing professions for activities that benefit the veterinary profession or the ideals associated with it.

MVMA Business Service Award: This award is conferred upon a company that, by its efforts and activities, has promoted the profession of veterinary medicine in any of its many facets in a way that qualifies for an award.

MVMA Public Service Award: To qualify for this award, the nominee must be a political official or organization whose efforts have significantly benefited the veterinary profession.

MVMA Community Service Award: This award is to honor an animal-related organization or individual, who is not a veterinarian, for contributions that have significantly benefited society, MVMA or animal welfare.

MVMA Merit Award: This award may be presented to any person who has devoted an extraordinary amount of time and effort to a particular project or activity of benefit to the Michigan VMA and/or the veterinary profession.

Nominations should be sent to the MVMA office by November 1, 2018. Additional information and a nomination form can be found at https://michvma.org/awards.

Call for Award Nominations

the MVMA Awards Committee is requesting nominations for 2018 MVMA awards. This is the association’s opportunity to recognize someone who has contributed significantly to the veterinary profession

or the animals and clients it serves. Nominations should be accompanied by supporting information. MVMA awards include:

Professional excellence.Compassionate care.

2144 Commons Pkwy., Okemos, MI 48864-3986tel (517) 347-4710 · fax (517) 347-4666

email [email protected] www.michvma.org

facebook www.facebook.com/ilovemyvettwitter www.twitter.com/michiganvma

youtube www.youtube.com/michiganvmapinterest www.pinterest.com/michvma

instagram www.instagram.com/welovemivets

Published quarterly in March, June,September, and December.

Deadlines are the first of the preceding month.

editorsKarlene B. Belyea, MBA • Sheri Fandel

2018 mvma officers & directorsofficers

Dr. Lori Penman, PresidentDr. Mike Thome, President-Elect

Dr. Melissa Owings, 1st Vice PresidentDr. Christian Ast, 2nd Vice President

Dr. Bruce Cozzens, Immediate Past PresidentDr. Kathleen Smiler, AVMA Delegate

Dr. Stephen Steep, AVMA Alternate DelegateKarlene Belyea, MBA, Chief Executive Officer

directors representing districtsDr. Megan McQuade, (1) Southern

Dr. Kristin Knirk, (2 & 3) Michiana & SouthwesternDr. Erin Whalin, (4) Jackson

Dr. Larry Letsche, (5 & 9) Washtenaw & LivingstonDr. Tim Duncan, (6 & 8) Wayne & Oakland

Dr. Julie Sherman (7) MacombDr. Dana Tatman-Lilly, (10) Mid-State

Dr. Therese Burns, (11) WesternDr. Joseph Kline, (12 & 13) Saginaw & Thumb

Dr. Anne Shuff, (14) NortheasternDr. Marcia Izo, (15) Northern

directors representing associationsDr. Jeff Bunn, MI Equine Practitioners

Dr. Steven Bailey, Southeastern Michigan VMA

at-large directorsDr. Erin Howard, Food Animal

Dr. Srinand Sreevatsan, MSU CVMDr. Claire Hankenson, Lab Animal Medicine

layout / designCherie Morehouse/Morehouse Media, Lansing, MI

printing & mailingBRD Printing, Lansing, MI

n The Michigan Veterinary Medical Association represents the veterinary profession in Michigan, advances the knowledge and standards of its membership, and promotes the science, practice, and value of veterinary medicine for the benefit of animal and human health.

We know how busy you are and that every second of your day counts. You need practical information from real experts, and the MVMA is here to help!

The Young Professional Task Force and Membership Committee have created 2 discussion boards to help address your questions in both Practice Management and Personal & Professional Finance.

You can access the forums by visiting MVMA’s website at MichVMA.org and scrolling down to the bottom, or by typing https://michvma.org/forums into your browser.

You may view forum topics and discussions without subscribing to the forum. However, to participate you must click on the “Subscribe to Forum” link on the right side of the page. You will be directed to login using your MVMA login information. Please feel free to post questions or content related to the topic of the forum only. You can reply to a topic that has been posted by using the green reply button.

If you need your login information, please contact the MVMA office at 517/347-4710 or [email protected].

Participate in MVMA’s New Member Discussion Forums!

the michigan veterinarian · fall 2018 | 3

which the licensee has already earned during the renewal period will not be granted.

nn A minimum of 30 hours for veterinarians and 10 hours for veterinary technicians must be scientific in nature (includes the science of diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease as it relates directly to a patient or topics such as public veterinary practice, epidemiology, food safety, public health, animal welfare or antimicrobial stewardship).

nn A minimum of 10 hours shall be com-pleted in person for veterinarians or 5 hours for veterinary technicians.

nn Veterinarians will need a minimum of 1 hour related to medical records. *

nn Veterinarians will need a minimum of 1 hour related to state veterinary law and/or federal or state-controlled substance laws. ** Note that MVMA member, Sarah Babcock,

DVM, JD has created online courses that will satisfy these requirements at www.animalandveterinarylaw.com/courses.

ALL CE GIVEN BY THE FOLLOWING ENTITIES

WILL COUNT FOR BOTH VETERINARIANS AND

VETERINARY TECHNICIANS:

nn Michigan Veterinary Medical Association (MVMA)

nn American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)

nn AAVSB Registry of Continuing Education (RACE)

nn World Veterinary Association (WVA)nn Local, state or regional professional

associationnn Member Institutions of the Association

of the American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC)—This includes Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine.

nn AVMA constituent allied organizations and recognized veterinary specialty organizations

nn A state veterinary board of another stateFor veterinarians, all CE given by the

Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) will also count. For veterinary technicians, all CE given by the Michigan Association of Veterinary Technicians (MAVT) or an AVMA accredited veterinary technician program will count.

A MAXIMUM OF 5 HOURS OF CE FOR

VETERINARIANS OR 2 HOURS FOR VETERINARY

TECHNICIANS MAY BE COUNTED FROM

PROGRAMS GIVEN BY THE FOLLOWING ENTITIES:

nn American Medical Associationnn Michigan State Medical Societynn Accreditation Council for CMEnn American Osteopathic Associationnn Michigan Osteopathic Associationnn Educational courses offered by regionally

accredited college and universities relat-ing to the husbandry of food producing animalsFor veterinarians, CE given by the Michigan

Pharmacy Association or Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education will also count toward the maximum of 5 hours above.

OTHER CME ACTIVITIES THAT COUNT:

There are a number of other activities that count for CME. Please visit MVMA’s website at https://michvma.org/mandatory-ce for the detailed administrative rules.

What is considered proof of CE?A number of veterinarians and veterinary technicians will be randomly audited each year for proof that they have complied with the CME requirements. If audited, the licensee shall submit a copy of a letter or certificate of completion showing the licensee’s name, number of CE hours earned, the sponsor’s name or name of the organization that approved the activity and the date on which the program was held or the activity completed. If the CE is for presenting a CE program, authoring an article or chapter, acting as an instructor, participating on a group or providing supervision to a disciplinarily limited veterinarian see the full rules for specific information.

Will MVMA be providing additional CME options to help members comply?Absolutely! In addition to increasing the number of in-person educational opportunities, MVMA now has an online CE portal available exclusively to members. On our portal, there are approximately 1,000 courses you can choose from, with close to 250 that are completely free. In addition, the portal will track your CE and you can even enter it from external sources to track your compliance. If you have not already created an account and would like to take advantage of this member benefit, log into the MVMA website at https://michvma.org/. If you need assistance, please contact us at [email protected].

.n“FAQ's,” from front cover

4 | the michigan veterinarian · fall 2018


there are many disease issues we work with in the State Veterinarians office, most of which are specific and short-

term. However, this is not the case with bovine tuberculosis (TB), which Michigan has been battling since it was detected in free-ranging white-tailed deer in the northeastern lower peninsula and subsequently found in the first cattle herd in Alpena County in 1998. Since that time, bovine TB has been identified in more than 70 cattle herds.

Bovine TB also continues to occur in other areas of the U.S., including our close neighbor Indiana, where infection in roping cattle used for rodeo events recently caused bovine TB in two small Michigan cattle herds in southern lower peninsula. Most cases of bovine TB in the U.S. are caused by move-ment of infected animals from one herd to another, the typical way we tend to see disease move in the livestock industries.

Michigan is unique in that our free- ranging deer in the northeastern lower peninsula serve as a reservoir for the disease. MDARD, with the support of the Depart-ment of Natural Resources (DNR), recently approved a new zoning order updating Michigan’s cattle regulations. These updates

create new wildlife biosecurity strategies that farmers will have to implement to minimize the risk of bovine TB affecting their herds.

Considering the risk of deer activity around farms, MDARD has established the new Enhanced Wildlife Biosecurity (EWB) area. This area is located at the core of the Modified Accredited Zone (MAZ) (Alpena, Alcona, Montmorency, and Oscoda) and encompasses Deer Management Unit (DMU) 452. In the EWB, farmers will work with a team of experts to create customized wildlife biosecurity plans based on identified risk factors on their farms.

These efforts are being combined with DNR initiatives to manage deer numbers and bovine TB in the free-ranging deer herd. While the disease trends in the center of the DMU 452 have fluctuated over the past 10 years, there was a significant increase in the number of bovine TB positive deer adjacent to this area in 2017. In fact, the apparent prevalence of bovine TB outside of DMU 452 is now the highest detected since 1995.

Bovine TB is of such importance and still enough of a risk that the Michigan Legisla-ture has provided almost one million dollars in funding to help cost-share projects such

as feed storage or feeding site fencing. Additionally, as a part of the new zoning order, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services (WS), which works with farmers throughout the U.S. on domestic and wildlife animal interaction problems, will be doing intensive surveillance to see what deer are doing in and around each farm in the EWB. Studies have shown that deer in this area are very habituated to cattle farms and have little fear of human activity. If deer like this are seen on a farm, WS personnel will work with the farmer to develop a plan to remove them quickly and efficiently.

This ongoing work in the MAZ by MDARD, WS and DNR will move Michigan in the right direction towards reducing the number of bovine TB infected free-ranging deer and minimizing its spread into cattle herds. Even though we continue to see infected deer and cattle, Michigan has managed to keep the number of infected livestock herds to a minimum, as well as prevented the spread of it to other areas of Michigan and the U.S. Maintaining and building on this success will be key to main-taining a thriving cattle industry, not only in the MAZ but throughout the state.

Michigan and Bovine Tuberculosis: The Work Continues

Article contributed by MDARD


as an MVMA Board of Directors member, I know that MVMA receives frequent calls and emails

from members who are having difficulty recruiting and retaining team members, particularly if they are from a rural part of Michigan. I get it. That was me. I was strug-gling with this very issue at my two small clinics, North M-18 Veterinary Clinic in Gladwin and East River Veterinary Clinic in Essexville. I made some significant changes that weren’t easy and took time. It paid off though, and MVMA asked me to share what I learned.

HERE ARE SOME TIPS FOR RECRUITING AND RETAINING EMPLOYEES FROM MY OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCE:

nn Create a compelling job description which includes information on the loca-tion in which they would be working. Bullet point what benefits are included to make it easy to read. Highlight the geographic area, pointing out some of the great things about the location.

nn Emphasize that employees will be required to be responsible for their posi-tion; therefore, they must be qualified for the position.

nn Offer competitive wages—higher than average if you can. If you are charging appropriately for services, you should be able to afford these wages and benefits. I also offer benefits that I know they like: paid vacation, dues, uniforms, IRA,

and required CE. I offer a stipend for health insurance.

nn Have reasonable office hours if you can: 9am–5pm Monday-Friday. No emergencies.

nn Don’t require them to sign a contract. If they don’t like working for me, I refuse to force them. I am honest about what I expect. I expect them to use their degrees and be communicative with both the clients and myself. For instance, my LVT’s are used to their fullest extent. They do a lot of work for me and I believe delegation is important.

nn Make sure employees know that their opinions and skills matter. Give them bonuses and a lot of “thank-you” perks like lunches, Mother’s Day flowers, time off for children’s activities, etc. I value their personal and family time.

nn Have great communication skills. I keep communications very open with my employees and take notice when they are

having a tough day. If there is conflict, I address it immediately. I state these things clearly when I am interviewing and invite them to talk to my current employees about how I treat them.

In my opinion, the most important thing to remember is that the clinic owner/manager must decide what type of practice/client base he or she wants. Good employees are hard to find and harder to keep. How-ever, you can recruit highly qualified team members by offering good standards of care and a secure job. At both clinics, we strive to develop great relationships with our clients and want to make each visit a positive experience. I empower my employees to help educate clients, explain estimates and act as “case liaisons”. My employees enjoy this because it increases their connection to the pet and client.

.nFor more information on improving communications at your clinic, contact MVMA’s CEO, Karlene Belyea, at [email protected].

Anne Shuff, DVM

HOW TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN GREAT TEAM MEMBERS:

Suggestions from a Formerly Frustrated Practice Owner

10


designed to cultivate leadership skills and provide important real-world learning experiences, the Power of

Ten Leadership Academy will provide ten recent graduates (graduated from a college of veterinary medicine with a DVM degree in the years 2011–2018) with 4–5 leadership development sessions over a year-long period.

MVMA will provide topic experts, food and overnight expenses (if necessary) at no charge for participants to attend sessions that not only convey the key learning points

about leadership, but also deepen the un-derstanding of class members on a number of related topics. Likely topics/sessions will include:

nn Team building and staff leadershipnn Media Training—effective communica-

tions and public speakingnn Generational differencesnn Behavioral assessments—understanding

yourself and others to develop effective strategies to deal with different or dif-ficult people/colleagues

nn Best practices in human resources and practice management

nn Interpreting body languagenn Legislation affecting veterinary medicinenn Legal issues in veterinary medicinenn Work/life balance and personal wellness

FIRST: Get your practice owner to commit to supporting your involvement in this initiative since it means you will likely miss four days of work for these important sessions.

SECOND: Contact MVMA at mvma@ michvma.org or (517) 347-4710 for an application form or visit our website at https://michvma.org/POTL.

MVMA thanks Elanco Animal Health Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine for their partnership on this important initiative!

LEADERSHIP ACADEMY

10POWER OF

LEADERSHIP ACADEMY

HAVE YOU GRADUATED IN THE LAST 8 YEARS? If so, consider participating in MVMA’s

Power of Ten Leadership Academy!

Succession and exit strategies have become major buzzwords in the veterinary profession. That is not a

surprise since no matter where you live, vet-erinary practices are being bought and sold at an unprecedented rate. Michigan is by no means immune to this trend, as it seems every month or two long-standing practices are changing ownership. This wave of selling is being driven by a number of factors—the large one being Baby Boomer owners selling into a booming economy, and also younger sellers that no longer want the management and HR burdens that come with ownership. Who are the buyers? One would have you believe that larger corporate or group practices are “it” and that is true enough for many of the bigger practices. The $1.3–1.5 million dollar+, 2–3+ doctor practices prob-ably account for half of practice sales while the other half, the smaller practices, are being bought more typically by individual veterinarians.

The sale of veterinary clinics will con-tinue at a rapid clip for some time to come. There are nearly 30,000 veterinary practices

in the United States and it is estimated that about 20% of these will be owned by group practices by 2020. Currently this number is in the 15% range. Overall, and especially for larger practices, this is a great time to be a seller since practices are easily selling for more money. It’s definitely a seller’s market! For those who envision selling in the near future, it is often compelling to consider selling sooner rather than later since the market is hot.

Practice owners are often guilty of assuming what their practices are worth and have also historically relied on their practices as their retirement savings. Many a doctor has been devastated to learn that their prize jewel has little value or a lot less than they would have surmised. Up until the last 5 years or so, the “No-Lo” practice (the ones with little to no value) dominated the press versus today’s practices which often sell for top dollar. The end game for most owners is that the value of their practice is very important to their quality of life in retirement. There-fore, this value should not be a guessing game. In addition, a seller may be thrilled

with the price they get for their practice, but what if they could have gotten 10–20% or even more for their practice? Perhaps the buyer is the one that got the good deal.

In terms of practice value, who and what really determines the magic number that a practice sells for? And how do you maximize it? The key factor driving practice value is profit or as they like to say in the financial and accounting world EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, deprecia-tion, and amortization). Practice revenue plays a role too. As mentioned before, larger revenue practices garner a lot more interest among buyers because they have the potential for a larger bottom profit. The practice profit (EBITDA) is then multiplied by a capitalization rate (cap rate) or factor (these are in a sense risk factors). These rates historically have ranged between 3–6 times. The cap rate is then multiplied by the profit to derive the practice value. In the recent past, it was not uncommon for a practice to be 15% profitable and achieve a cap rate of 5 (meaning generally all things about the practice were fairly positive). This would

Jeff Rothstein, DVM, MBA and Janet Talbot

EXIT STAGE—RIGHT!

Success in Succession Planning


yield a value of 75% of the revenue. For example, a $1,000,000 revenue practice with a $150,000 in profit would conceivably sell for $750,000 inclusive of all equipment and inventory. This generally still holds true for the sub $1 million practice. Capitalization rates often move higher than 5 as the revenue exceeds $1,300,000, but there are other factors that impact the rate as well, such as practice location, growth, facility, number of doctors and quality of medicine.

Many owners have invested heavily in their practices, both financially and emotionally, and want to sell it for top dollar. The majority of sellers get the urge to sell and then they go on a 6–12 month journey to “Git’Er Done.” This is accomplished typically by getting the practice valued and then sell-ing to an associate, having a practice broker list it on the open market, or for larger practices the valuation step and broker are sometimes skipped since these groups do their own internal valuation and make an offer based on that. This process is OK, but in many ways it skips the “exit strategy” process. The strategy here is “I want out in a relatively short period and if I like the offer I’m done.”

Exit strategy and succession planning is somewhat of an art that should lead to the best-case scenario sale of your practice. By definition, it allows you the time to find the best buyer for your practice. Ideally the process starts approximately 3 years before you want to sell, which may be 5 years before you want to be finished practicing. A good example comes from a Metro Detroit practice. During the lean years 2008–2015, many practices were flat or down in profits and the values were not very motivating to potential sellers. This particular practice met with one of the large group practices annually to discuss an offer and each year the offer wasn’t appealing or feasible for the seller to accept. As the seller tells the story, each year they told him what he needed to do to enhance the value of his practice. They coached him in growing both the top line and bottom line of the practice and suggested having 2–3 doctors on staff in addition to himself if he wanted to leave the practice or cut his hours back. By year 5, the economy took off and the owner sold for almost twice what he would have received

if he had not taken the time to enhance the value. He ended up with an offer he could no longer refuse and now had enough doctors in the practice, allowing him to commit to just one year of practicing part time after he sold versus staying for 2–3 years. Bottom line—whether selling to an associate that you have groomed, an individual buyer, or group practice, take time to get it ready to achieve maximum value so that you can sell to buyer of your choice.

Buyers want a healthy practice, and it makes sense to hire a practice consultant to help evaluate the practice on a yearly basis for at least 3 years before you want to sell. Some may perform practice valuations themselves or can help find a practice appraiser. This does not have to be overly costly, as you can get a cursory appraisal with the knowledge that you will be doing this in the next few years to measure prog-ress and get in shape for a sale. The practice consultant can help you both grow the practice and focus on the bottom line. This is almost always well worth the cost, even if you are a frugal veterinarian. The dirty little secret lies in the capitalization rate. For example, if you improve your profit over a 3-year period by $30–50,000, that could amount to a selling price of $150–300,000 more at time of closing. With that in mind, here are some of the approaches that a consultant will use to get you pointed in the right direction.

As a practice owner, you are likely so immersed in your business that it may be difficult to see it from the eyes of a prospec-tive buyer. A consultant will examine your practice and help you develop a plan to attract the strongest offer possible. They will look at revenue, expenses, payroll percent-ages, accounts receivable, inventory, etc. An action plan will be developed to optimize those pulse points. A good consultant will work with you on each project and drive the

improvements with your team. Getting your numbers in the right ballpark and creating that upward trend of profitability is only a part of the program.

A consultant will also help you improve the environment in your practice. A pro- spective buyer will be more attracted to a business that is flowing well and has a well-trained, engaged team with clear expectations and positive attitudes. If the atmosphere is chaotic, team members are bickering, clients are grumbling and bad reviews are floating around review sites, you have some work to do. Give yourself time to put your business in the best possible posi-tion before you put it on the market.

Whether you are mid-career and want to continue practicing medicine without the management headaches or are moving on to your next adventure in life, this type of preparation will pay off when you decide to pass the baton.

A final piece of advice is that it’s no secret that some expenses running through the business may not be “true” business expenses. These are expenses that are more personal in nature (toilet paper, home supplies, etc.). These are often hard to verify, and you can’t expect the buyer to accept your word that these are not true business expenses. The best move is to “clean up” your books 2–3 years ahead of your sale, so you can clearly show your total profit and be appropriately rewarded for it. The net effect of being docked $10–20,000 of profit because of that “toilet paper” translates into $50–100,000 off the sale price! A steep price to pay!

When all is said and done, you only get one chance to sell your practice, so take your time and get it right! You deserve to be fully rewarded for the hard work and risk you took as a business owner. With the proper planning over a 2–3 year period, you can plan for your best and most rewarding exit. Good luck!

Dr. Jeff Rothstein, MBA, is the Founder and Co-President of Midwest Veterinary Partners (MVP). He frequently writes and presents on practice ownership and management related topics. He resides in Ann Arbor, MI.

Janet Talbot, Territory Manager for MVP. Janet has 30 years of experience in guiding Michigan veterinary practices. She spent the last ten years as a veterinary consultant working with more than 70 Michigan practices and has most recently and enthusiastically joined the MVP team. She resides in Prudenville, MI.

Midwest Veterinary Partners is headquartered in Novi, MI. Currently MVP has 28 locations throughout the Midwest. For more information visit midwestvetpartners.vet or call (248) 234-4375.



Tick Identification and Testing Program Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Disease Sectionmichigan department of health and human services (mdhhs)

did you know that Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has a Tick Identification and Testing Program? If you come across a tick, don’t get

ticked, MDHHS can help! MDHHS provides the following services for tick identification and testing at no charge to Michigan residents:

bnnAccepts ticks (any species) and photos of ticks for identification

bnnLive blacklegged ticks removed from people can be tested at MDHHS Bureau of Laboratories for the presence of the Lyme disease bacterium, Borrelia burgdorferi

Tick photos or questions about tick-borne diseases can be sent to [email protected]. For more information on how to

submit your tick and/or photos refer to www.michigan.gov/lyme.

NEW!

Ann Arbor 734.971.8774Auburn Hills 248.371.3713Grand Rapids 616.284.5300Southfield 248.354.6640

Please join our specialists for a Best PractiCE event in your area.Veterinarians will enjoy a full day of specialty specific presentations focusing on progressive clinical approaches to wellness and continued care.Highlights include a special guest presentation, luncheon and an opportunity for fun and fellowship.Please visit our website for more information and to RSVP for this exciting occasion!

©2018 BluePearl Veterinary Partners. All rights reserved.

Back to School

MI CE Ad 2018 07 30.indd 1 7/30/18 3:41 PM



THE MICHIGAN ANIMAL HEALTH FOUNDATION

was created to provide assistance for educational and

scientific studies designed to benefit the health and welfare of

companion animals, livestock, and wildlife. For over 30 years,

MAHF has made a difference in the lives of animals.

For more information, please contact the MAHF at

(517) 347-4710 | www.MichAnimalHealthFoundation.org


INTRODUCTION

the concept of actively crafting corporate culture has been the topic of many arti-cles and seminars over the years. In 2016,

the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) commissioned a study1 performed by the Daniels College of Business at University of Denver to examine how organizational cul-ture impacts veterinary hospitals. Key areas of focus included the different subcultures that exist in veterinary hospitals as well as evaluating how hospital metrics are impacted by culture. The study evaluated eight areas of sub-culture, ranked in order of importance by study respondents. Most important to culture was the relationship with veterinar-ians, followed by training and career develop-ment, teamwork and staffing, employee involvement and goal setting, supervision, leadership skills and contributions and institutional fairness and communication. The lowest ranked factor impacting culture was rewards and recognition.

Findings of the study indicated that three measurements were strongly associated with hospital metrics: Relationship with Veterinarians, Teamwork and Staffing and Leadership Skills. Relationship with veteri-narians was defined as “the degree to which veterinarians maintain collegial relations with staff and respect staff contributions to care”. Teamwork and Staffing concentrated on “the degree to which the practice encourages teamwork and cooperation, and coordinates efforts across departments.” Leadership skills focused on “practice man-agement promotes a commitment to high performance and quality.”

Metrics most impacted by team percep-tions of culture were identified as produc-tion per full time veterinarian, number of employees and gross income of the hospital. Key findings in this study were that staff in smaller veterinary hospitals reported more positive relationships with veterinarians, enjoyed enhanced teamwork and staffing and had more opportunities to be an active con-tributor to the hospital culture and success.

Interestingly, this study suggests that job function impacts the study scores relating to culture. Management and administration had higher aggregate culture scores than as-sociate veterinarians. Factors that negatively impacted the culture scores among associate veterinarians were training and develop-ment, opportunities to contribute, employee involvement, and teamwork and staffing.

Several conclusions and challenges can be extrapolated from this study, including the need to provide associate veterinarians with the ability to continually develop skills and to apply the skills in clinical settings, to provide opportunities for associates to meaningfully contribute to hospital suc-cess outside of production metrics and to evaluate how teams function. Challenges highlighted for hospitals with larger numbers of employees are to provide animal health care team members the opportunity to develop meaningful work relationships with veterinarians, where their contribu-tions are valued and to provide a pathway for enhanced teamwork.

Culture is the most often overlooked aspect of veterinary hospital operations in many hospitals. This has not been a priority

for management for reasons ranging from non-recognition of the impact of culture on all hospital functions to not understanding how to implement a healthy organizational culture. These proceedings will help to provide a roadmap for establishing a healthy culture in your practice.

WHAT IS CULTURE?Culture is defined as “the set of shared attitudes, values, goals and practices that characterizes an institution or organization.”2 This definition relates to the cognitive, or intellectual culture of an organization. Cognitive culture is the most frequently recognized form of culture, expressed and reinforced verbally.

Rarely acknowledged is the emotional culture that co-exists alongside cognitive culture. This culture helps to dictate what emotions are shared in the workplace, and which ones are curbed. Emotional culture is communicated primarily through non-verbal signals such as body language, eye contact and our voices (pitch, tone, volume and pacing). As 93% of communication is non-verbal, emotional culture influences teamwork, client relations and even impacts how our patients respond to us.

WHY IS CULTURE IMPORTANT? As seen in the AAHA study discussed above, a healthy culture is critical creating an environment in which all employees can grow and thrive. Every workplace has both cognitive and emotional culture; it

continued on next page .

CULTURE: EVERY PRACTICE HAS ONE…

But Is It the One You Want?Wendy Hauser, DVM Peak Veterinary Consulting—Parker, CO

don't miss dr. hauser

at the small animal series!

november 7—practice management


intrinsically exists! Both manifestations of culture must be actively managed in the workplace. Workplaces with healthy cultures report greater employee engagement, job satisfaction and more effective teamwork. When organizational culture forms implic-itly, it creates fertile ground for discord. This can lead to misunderstandings, confusion and resentment among animal health care team members. The impact on teams is often higher rates of absenteeism, turnover and burnout.3

ELEMENTS OF CULTURE PSYCHOLOGICAL SAFETY

Creating a work environment that feels safe to your animal health care team is the first step in creating a positive culture. Psychological Safety refers to the “shared belief by team members that the group is safe for inter-personal risk-taking.”4 In workplaces that create psychologically safe spaces, employees can learn, thrive and contribute, all cultural factors that rated high in the AAHA study. As discussed in the article Psychological Safety: a meta-analytic review and extension, Psychological Safety has a direct positive influence on task per-formance by lessening the potential negative consequences of making a mistake, which increases creativity and initiative. “In terms of attitudinal outcomes, when employees feel safe in their workplace they are more likely to want to continue in their current jobs, with their current co-workers.”5

Veterinary teams are focused on ac-complishing tasks, often many at one time. Proactive conversations about how our team members interact with one another are often overlooked and behaviors develop indirectly. “When divergent expectations are not explicitly discussed, we risk rupturing relationships. Unmet expectations and undeclared assumptions can cause the effectiveness of groups to unravel, resulting in irritation, distress and corrode transpar-ency, trust and safety.”4

Psychological safety can be consciously fostered in our veterinary hospitals by creating an environment that encourages

guidelines that help direct the way the group works together. These guidelines direct all relationship-based activities and are actively discussed and reinforced. One example of guidelines developed for the human nursing community is the CENTRE model,4 useful during group meetings and morning huddles. The acronym stands for:

CONFIDENTIALITY: What is said in the group stays in the group.

EQUAL AIR TIME: Everyone has the right to par-ticipate in the conversation and contribute to the final product/decision.

NON-JUDGMENTAL, RESPECTFUL LISTENING: team members don’t interrupt and seek to under-stand each other before being understood.

TIMELINESS: respectful of others’ time and schedules

RIGHT TO PASS: acknowledgement that the person in the group might not have anything new to contribute to the conversation or might need more time to think.

ENGAGEMENT: being fully present for the group, and the conversation.

TRUST

Once employees feel safe in the workplace, animal health care teams can build vulnerability-based trust. Being vulnerable can be uncomfortable for our animal health care team members. In exposing themselves, they fear being emotionally hurt, judged or seen as weak or lacking by their fellow team members. When vulnerability-based trust is fostered, the need to hide weaknesses or mistakes evaporates as each team member can be accountable for their performance without fear of shame or ridicule. Team-mates are completely comfortable being transparent and honest with each other and can freely admit mistakes, ask for help and say, ‘I’m sorry’. This shared belief leads to a deep bond between teammates, with the belief that each person has each other’s best interests at heart. This concept allows team members to focus on the collective good, which in turn creates a deeply positive culture.

Trust is built slowly and deliberately, in a non-threatening way. Trust can only truly form when members of the team really get to know and understand each other. One trust building activity is the hand exercise,6 seen below:

By learning about our teammates’ foun-dations, we can better appreciate some of the traits that manifest in their adult selves. Examples of other trust-based activities can be found on-line. Regardless of the activity, the importance of these exercises is to build common ground and develop a shared comfort level in sharing information within the group.

SHARED VALUES

Creating a unified culture requires an understanding of the team’s common values. These shared beliefs influence how we do our work and how we interact with one another. Defining shared ideals helps create a framework to guide our daily work, in a manner that is consistent with the group’s collective standards.

Below is an exercise that I have used with my own team, as well as with clients’ teams as a consultant, in determining the values that unite and define workplace culture:

1. In written and confidential format, every member of the team answers the following question: “What are the top 3 words YOU would use to describe the personality of ___________ Animal Hospital?”

2. The words are then combined into common terms (example: educator and teacher).

3. From these words, the team chooses the top 4−6 shared values that best describe the organization’s identity as shared by the team.

EACH TEAM MEMBER WILL TAKE ABOUT 5 MINUTES TO DISCUSS HOW THEY VIEW THEIR HAND IN LIFE:

THUMB .....Foundations

INDEX .......Vision for the future

MIDDLE .... Things that irritate others

RING .........Commitments

PINKY ........Vulnerabilities

.n"Culture: Every Practice Has One," continued from previous page


These ideals give a voice to qualities that define the organization. Shared values are used to govern every aspect of the hospital, from hiring and firing to personnel develop-ment and business strategy. This is a living document; as the business evolves variations might occur in the organizational core values. Leadership changes are one example of a catalyst that might result in a trans-formation of shared values. To ensure that the values are representative of the team, this exercise should be repeated after such changes or every 3–5 years.

ACTIVELY MANAGING CULTUREActively managing culture requires that the leadership team has a clear understand-ing of what they want their culture to represent and to accomplish. While the leadership team works to reinforce the desired culture, each team member has a responsibility in upholding the culture and being accountable to their role in creating a psychologically safe work environment where employees can be transparent with one another and stay true to the shared company values.

It is incumbent upon the leadership team to create opportunities that strengthen the team’s commitment to maintaining a healthy culture. Some ways that culture can be supported daily include:

nn Morning Huddles: These inclusive, all hospital huddles are not strategic in nature, but designed to provide space for management and team members to acknowledge the emotions that they are bringing to work that day. By asking each

team member “What emotions are you bringing to work today?”, management can understand and shape the daily emotional undercurrents present in the workplace.

nn When emotions are constructively wel-comed into the workplace, team mem-bers can seek to understand each other in more constructive ways. One example of this is ‘cognitive reappraisal’, a technique that can be taught to our teams to help them re-examine their views of a co-worker’s actions. By considering benign plausible explanations for a colleague’s behavior, they will be less likely to fixate on negative explanations that could send them into a negative emotional spiral. The upside of this is that they can then be more supportive of that individual, showing caring and compassion.

nn Talking about how the group will work together to accomplish needed projects throughout the day. This may be best ac-complished by quick morning meetings within each of the functional work units daily. For example, technicians, assistants and doctors responsible for surgery will have a brief meeting to discuss work flow, patient needs, client management and team member concerns. These meetings should follow the CENTRE guidelines discussed under psychological safety.

CONCLUSIONVeterinary hospitals that have embraced and cultivated healthy cognitive and emotional cultures understand that it is

transformational. In today’s highly competi-tive employment environment, offering a workplace that is free of drama, encourages collaboration, supports personal and professional growth while inspiring team members to be their best self is irresistible. A healthy workplace culture is the single biggest factor in creating a highly successful veterinary hospital. Is culture a priority in your hospital?

REFERENCES1 https://www.aaha.org/public_documents/

professional/resources/aaha_2016_state_of_the_industry_fact_sheet.pdf

2 https://www.merriam-webster.com/diction-ary/culture

3 Barsade S, O’Neill OA. Manage Your Emotional Culture. Harvard Business Review, January–February 2016, 58–66.

4 Cave D, Pearson H, Whitehead P, Rahim-Jamal S. (2016). CENTRE: creating psychological safety in groups. The Clinical Teacher,13(6), 427–431

5 Frazier, M., Fainshmidt, S., Klinger, R., Pezesh-kan, A., & Vracheva, V. (2017). Psychological Safety: A Meta‐analytic Review And Extension. Personnel Psychology, 70(1), 113–165

6 Kerry Plemmons, AAHA Executive Transforma-tions Workshop Florissant, CO October 2012

Wendy Hauser, DVM, established Peak Veterinary Consulting in January 2015 after working as an industry Technical Services Veterinarian. With a DVM from OK State in 1988, she has practiced for 30 years as an associate, owner and relief veterinarian. She is highly engaged in AAHA leadership having served as a member of the Board of Directors, as the Board Vice-President and currently serves as the AAHA Delegate to the AVMA House of Delegates. The co-author of “The Veterinarian’s Guide to Healthy Pet Plans”, her most recent career move is as Vice President, Veterinary Relations, Crum &Forster Pet Insurance Group. She may be reached at [email protected].


barr and kober new asst. state veterinariansNancy Barr, DVM, and James Kober, DVM, have been selected for the two Assistant State Veterinarian positions within the Animal Industry Division. Barr will lead the ruminant programs (cattle, sheep, goats, and farmed deer) within the division, which includes the Bovine Tubercu-losis Program. Barr has more than 21 years of combined veterinary experi-ence. After beginning her career at a small animal clinic, she began working at MDARD as a field veterinarian. Over the past 19 years, she has taken on many responsibilities within the department, such as program manager for the Poultry, Emergency Manage-ment, and the Swine Programs. In her most recent role, she was the Acting Field Staff Supervisor of 14 field staff members, including veterinarians and field inspectors.

Kober will lead the non-ruminant programs (cats, dogs, horses, pigs, and aquaculture). He has more than 30 years of experience in the veterinary field. He started at the Bergman Veterinary Medical Center in 1987 with a primary focus on swine. Since then, he has worked for Swine Health Services and Four Star Veterinary Service, which includes a partnership of six swine practices from the states of Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina. In his most recent role, he was the owner of Swine Veterinary Services of Michigan.

mdard director gordon wenk selects dr. james averill as new deputy director

Effective May 21, 2018, Dr. James Averill became MDARD’s Deputy Director. Averill joined MDARD in 2009 working in the Animal Industry Division (AID) as the Bovine TB Eradication Program Coordinator. In June 2011, he became the AID Director and then added the role of state veterinarian to his duties in 2013. Averill received his bachelor’s degree in veterinary science from MSU in

1999 and his doctorate of veterinary medicine in 2001 from MSU.

james w. lloyd, dvm, phd, receives the 2018 distinguished life member award from vetpartners

Dr. Jim Lloyd received the Distinguished Life Member Award VetPartners in rec-ognition of noteworthy and outstanding contributions to the practice of veteri-nary business consulting. A Michigan native, Lloyd became dean of the Uni-versity of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine in 2013. He received his DVM and PhD degrees from Michigan State University and spent most of his career as a member of the faculty and in

administration at the MSU College of Veterinary Medicine.Known as a key thought leader in the area of animal health

economics, Dr. Lloyd has also worked as an organizational develop-ment consultant, emphasizing strategic planning and leadership development with inclusion as a core element. He led the National Commission on Veterinary Economic Issues working group on Enhancing the Skills, Knowledge, Aptitude and Attitude of Veterinar-ians from 2000-2009. He works to progressively apply the disciplines of economics, management and business to the veterinary medical profession through research, teaching and service/administration.

dr. mary beth leininger named a germinder20 power of pink honoree

Germinder + Associates celebrated their 20th anniversary by naming individuals who have contributed to the firm’s suc-cess and are a great success in their own right. Dr. Mary Beth Leininger has a distinguished fifty-year career of service in veterinary medicine as a private practitioner, volunteer leader, industry executive and spokesperson for the profession including serving as the first woman president of the AVMA. She has

also been active in leadership roles in AAHA and MVMA. Dr. Leininger retired last year as Vice President, Veterinary Rela-

tions for the Hartville Group. She now plans to devote considerable time to volunteerism focused on the student debt issue. Prior to the Hartville Group post, Dr. Leininger held several other high-profile positions. From 2009 to 2011 she was project manager for the North American Veterinary Medical Education Consortium, (NAVMEC) an initiative of the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges, Washington DC. From 1999 to 2009 she was the Director, Professional Affairs for Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc.

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due to the well-publicized epidemic of opioid misuse and abuse, the State of Michigan recently implemented new

laws to further limit access to these drugs. These changes in the law affect veterinarians and other medical professionals alike. Since many veterinarians prescribe and dispense opioids in their treatment of animals, veteri-narians are seeking guidance on the state of the law and the potential for legal liability.

This article will outline the current state of the law concerning the issues related to veterinarians prescribing and dispens-ing opioids. It will further advise on the potential risk of legal liability in the event the veterinarian or a staff member fails to

As explained in more detail in this article, veterinarians can face serious legal consequences for failing to abide by the federal and Michigan controlled substance laws. If a veterinarian or a staff member under the veterinarian’s supervision fails to comply with these laws, the veterinarian can face possible licensing sanctions and civil liability.

The Legal Risks of Veterinarians Prescribing or Dispensing Opioids in Michigan

meet a requirement under the law. Finally, it will offer some general advice on methods to help avoid the licensing and liability risks associated with prescribing and dispensing opioids or other controlled substances.

This article is not an attempt to scare veterinarians away from prescribing or dispensing opioids or other controlled substances, when those medications are properly used in the practice of veterinary medicine. Rather, this article is an attempt to advise on the legal risks associated with handling opioids and provide some best practices to minimize the risks of legal liability and licensing sanctions.

Andrew J. Gordon, Esq.July 30, 2018

continued on next page .


BOTH FEDERAL AND MICHIGAN LAW IMPOSE

REQUIREMENTS ON VETERINARIANS WHEN

PRESCRIBING OR DISPENSING CONTROLLED

SUBSTANCES.

Federal law requires controlled substance prescribers to register with the Drug Enforcement Agency (“DEA”).1 A registered prescriber may only dispense controlled substances according to law, or the pre-scriber may be subject to possible discipline, fines, or criminal penalties.2

Under the federal Controlled Substances Act (“CSA”), all substances which are in some manner regulated under existing federal law are categorized into one of five schedules. Schedule 1 controlled substances cannot be prescribed by a medical practitioner, but controlled substances on Schedules 2 through 5 can be prescribed by a written prescription.³ If a veterinarian dispenses a controlled substance without a proper prescription, then the veterinarian can be sanctioned.

Federal law merely establishes a baseline. States are free to pass laws that place stricter requirements on the prescription and distri-bution of controlled substances. Michigan has passed additional controlled substance laws in the Michigan Public Health Code. Most notably, Michigan established the “MAPS” electronic system for tracking prescriptions of controlled substances on Schedules 2 through 5 of the Controlled Sub-stances Act.

As of June 1, 2018, the Michigan Public Health Code requires veterinarians (and other licensed prescribers) to obtain and review a MAPS report for patients being pre-scribed controlled substances.⁴ However, the law provides several exceptions that apply to veterinarians in certain situations.⁵

For example, the requirement to review a MAPS report only triggers when the veteri-narian prescribes or dispenses a controlled substance in a quantity exceeding a “3-day supply.” Further, the veterinarian need not review a MAPS report if the controlled substance is only being administered on an in-patient basis in a hospital or clinical facility. Lastly, if the controlled substance is prescribed by the veterinarian but dispensed

by a pharmacist, the veterinarian need not review a MAPS report.

IF A VETERINARIAN FAILS TO ABIDE BY

FEDERAL OR MICHIGAN CONTROLLED

SUBSTANCES LAW, THEN HE OR SHE CAN BE

SANCTIONED AGAINST THEIR CONTROLLED

SUBSTANCES LICENSE OR THEIR VETERINARY

MEDICAL LICENSE.

Should a veterinarian fail to abide by the requirements of either the federal Controlled Substances Act or the Michigan Public Health Code, the veterinarian can be subject to sanctions against either his or her license to prescribe and dispense controlled substances or license to practice veterinary medicine.

Under the Michigan Public Health Code, a veterinarian can face discipline against their license to prescribe controlled substances for a number of violations, but principally for “not maintain[ing] effective controls against [the] diversion of controlled substances to other than legitimate and professionally rec-ognized therapeutic, scientific, or industrial uses,” among other things.⁶ If a veterinarian violates this requirement, he or she can be subject to a fine, a reprimand, be ordered to perform community service, or the veterinar-ian can have his or her controlled substance license suspended or revoked.⁷

In addition, violations of federal and Michigan controlled substance laws and regulations can impact a veterinarian’s license to practice veterinary medicine.⁸ The first ground for possible discipline against a veterinarian for a violation of the general duty of a medical professional states:

“ Except as otherwise specifically provided in this section, a violation of general duty, consisting of negli-gence or failure to exercise due care, including negligent delegation to or supervision of employees or other individuals, whether or not injury results, or any conduct, practice, or condition that impairs, or may impair, the ability to safely and skillfully engage in the practice of the health profession. “9

A veterinarian’s failure to comply with federal or Michigan controlled substance laws can be construed as a violation of the veterinarian’s duty to exercise due care. Thus, the veterinarian can be sanctioned against his or her veterinary medical license.

Lastly, a veterinarian can be held responsible for Michigan Public Health Code violations committed by a staff member under the veterinarian’s supervi-sion. The Public Health Code obligates veterinarians to maintain effective controls and properly supervise other employees handling controlled substances. Should a staff member under the supervision of a veterinarian fail to abide by a MAPS re-quirement, the veterinarian can be subject to sanctions against his or her license to dispense controlled substances or license to practice veterinary medicine.

IN ADDITION TO LICENSING SANCTIONS, A

VETERINARIAN CAN BE SUED IN CIVIL COURT

FOR NEGLIGENTLY DISTRIBUTING CONTROLLED

SUBSTANCES IF AN INJURY OCCURS.

Beyond issues involving licensing, veterinarians may be sued in civil court for negligently dispensing opioids or other controlled substances. If a veterinarian neg-ligently prescribes or dispenses an opioid to a patient whose owner should not have access to opioids, and the patient or owner is injured as a result, the veterinarian may be subject to civil liability.

Under Michigan law, the violation of a statute creates a presumption of negligence for purposes of civil liability.10 If a veterinar-ian violates a controlled substance law in the process of prescribing or distributing an opioid or other controlled substance, the law will presume the veterinarian acted negligently.

A veterinarian can also incur civil liability for the negligent acts of the employees under the veterinarian’s supervision.11 If a veterinary technician, for example, fails to abide by a requirement of the federal Controlled Substances Act or the Michigan Public Health Code—any resulting injury to the patient or owner could potentially lead to civil liability against the veterinarian.

.n"The Legal Risks of Veterinarians...Opioids in Michigan," continued from previous page


WHAT CAN VETERINARIANS DO TO MINIMIZE

THE POTENTIAL OF LIABILITY AND LICENSING

PROBLEMS?

Veterinarians can take precautions to mini-mize the risk of running afoul of the con-trolled substance laws. Establishing certain practices for prescribing and distributing opioids or other controlled substances, may significantly minimize the likelihood of ac-cidentally violating the controlled substance laws:

nn Even if you believe an exception to the MAPS requirement may apply, always pull and review a MAPS report if you are prescribing or dispensing a controlled substance to a patient.

nn Always have the veterinarian personally involved in the whole process of pre-scribing and dispensing any controlled substance.

nn Administer the controlled substance on an in-patient basis in the veterinary clinic or hospital whenever possible.

nn Have the patient’s owner fill the prescrip-tion through a licensed pharmacist at another location whenever possible.

Some of the recent changes to the controlled substance laws in the Michigan Public Health Code are unclear as to whether they apply to veterinarians. Two of these recent changes include: (1) the re-quirement to share substance use disorder information when treating patients for opioid-related overdose symptoms; and (2) the requirement not to prescribe more than a 7-day supply of opioids for the treatment of “acute pain.”12

The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs has offered a verbal assurance it will not interpret these require-ments to apply to veterinarians. However, until the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs puts these interpreta-tions into writing, veterinarians should assume these requirements apply to them. Accordingly, veterinarians should adopt the following practices:

nn In the unlikely event a veterinarian treats a patient for symptoms related to an

opioid overdose, the veterinarian should share substance use disorder information with the patient’s owner. To fulfill this requirement, veterinarians can use the “Start Talking” form, which can be found at michigan.gov/stopoverdoses.com.

nn A veterinarian should not prescribe a patient more than a 7-day supply of opioids to treat patients suffering from acute pain.

In the absence of written rules from the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, veterinarians can better protect themselves by abiding by these practices.

HOW DOES THE HEALTH INSURANCE

PORTABILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT

(“HIPAA”) APPLY TO THE RECENT CHANGES TO

MICHIGAN LAW?

In addition to questions about licensing and liability, many MVMA members have asked specifically how HIPAA affects the new MAPS laws. HIPAA does not normally apply to veterinarians’ practice. However, the MAPS program shares sensitive information about animals’ owners’ health.

Veterinarians should treat MAPS infor-mation as highly sensitive health informa-tion. Accordingly, veterinarians should limit the information they receive through their MAPS account, avoid transmitting informa-tion electronically, and avoid printing out reports from MAPS or running inappropri-ate reports.

In addition, the only MAPS documenta-tion veterinarians should keep on hand are signed consent forms with notations indi-cating the date and time the veterinarian checked the MAPS program. While MVMA is constantly reviewing developments regard-ing MAPS and HIPAA, veterinarians should be able to avoid committing a HIPAA viola-tion by following these precautions. From a liability standpoint, it is also worth noting that an individual has no legal right to bring a private lawsuit for any violation of HIPAA.13

MVMA has received a great deal of inquiries on the new opioid laws and has additional information available at https://michvma.org/legalopinions.

Andrew J. Gordon is an attorney at White Schneider PC in Lansing. He represents veterinarians in licensing cases, general business matters, and employment

law. MVMA partners with White Schneider PC to assist our members. If a member has a legal question, they first contact MVMA at [email protected] or (517) 347-4710. If MVMA is unable to assist with the question, the member is referred to the law firm. Members receive free 15-minute telephone consultations as often as necessary. In addition, if a member decides to pursue legal action using the firm, they receive a 10% reduction on the attorneys’ customary billing rates.

SUMMARY

In short, veterinarians must be aware of the federal and state-controlled substance laws and the recent changes meant to target the opioid abuse epidemic. The failure to abide by these laws can result in licensing sanctions against a veterinarian. Veterinarians can also face potential civil liability for violations of the controlled substance laws and can be held respon-sible for the actions of the employees under their supervision. As a result, veteri-narians should be proactive in taking steps to abide by the controlled substance laws of the Controlled Substances Act and the Michigan Public Health Code.

REFERENCES1 21 USC § 822. 2 21 USC § 842(a). 3 21 USC § 829(a)–(c).4 MCL 333.7303a(4). 5 See MCL 333.7303a(4)(a)–(c). 6 MCL 333.7311(1)(e). 7 MCL 333.7311.8 See MCL 333.16221; MCL 333.18835. 9 MCL 333.16221(a). 10 Cassibo v Bodwin, 149 Mich App 474, 477;

386 NW2d 559 (1986) (citing Massey v Scripter, 401 Mich 385; 258 NW2d 44 (1977)).

11 See, e.g., Rogers v JB Hunt Transport, Inc, 466 Mich 645, 650-51; 649 NW2d 23 (2002).

12 MCL 333.16282; MCL 333.7333b(1). 13 See Frazier v United States, 2017 WL 1279382,

at *2 (Fed. Cir. Apr. 6, 2017) (recognizing that HIPAA “does not create a private right of action”); see also United States v Streich, 560 F.3d 926 (9th Cir. 2009) (“HIPAA does not provide any private right of action.”); Webb v Smart Document Solutions, LLC, 499 F.3d 1078, 1081 (9th Cir. 2007) (same).

as you know by now, continuing medical education (CME) for veterinarians and veterinary technicians is now the law in Michigan. Veterinarians will be required to have 45 hours of CME every 3 years and veterinary techni-cians will need 15 hours every 3 years. MVMA is here to help you obtain those credits through our in-person CE,

webinars and our online CE portal. We’ve expanded our in-person offerings and hope you can join us at some of the following sessions.

For all conferences, contact MVMA at [email protected] or (517) 347-4710 or visit www.michvma.org for additional information or to register online.

SMALL ANIMAL SEMINAR SERIES10:00AM–5:30PM • EAST LANSING MARRIOTT 6 HOURS OF CE PER SESSION!

nn september 12, 2018 Veterinary Forensics, Melinda Merck, DVM

nn october 10, 2018 Rehabilitation and Pain Management, Tara Edwards, DVM, DACVSMR, CCRT, CVPP, cVMA

nn november 7, 2018 Practice Management, Wendy Hauser, DVM

nn december 12, 2018 Surgery, Gary Thompson, DVM, Diplomate, ABVP Canine & Feline

nn march 13, 2019 Renal and Urinary, Joe Bartges, DVM, PhD, DACVIM, DACVN

nn april 10, 2019 Nutrition, Craig Datz, DVM, MS, DABVP, DACVN

GETTING THE MOST OUT OF YOUR CAREER: SUCCESS STRATEGIES FOR PERSONAL & PROFESSIONAL GROWTHOCTOBER 24, 2018 & APRIL 17, 2019 • MSU CVM 12 HOURS OF CE!

Are YOU ready to REFRESH—RECHARGE—RENEW YOURSELF & YOUR PRACTICE LIFE? Then “Getting the Most Out of Your Career: Success Strategies for Personal and Professional Growth” is just what you’re looking for. This program is modeled after our very popular Power of 10 Leadership Academy for recent graduates and is designed for veterinarians, technicians, assistants, practice managers and others who work in

the veterinary profession in any capacity and need a refresh, recharge, or renewal of their passion for veterinary medicine. It features two one-day sessions, two online video trainings and monthly links to leader-ship and wellness videos/content/tips to educate and inspire your career. In addition to the great content being offered, you will connect with colleagues and learn from them as well!

MICHIGAN VETERINARY CONFERENCEJANUARY 25–27, 2019 • LANSING CENTER 150 HOURS OF CE AVAILABLE!

COMPANION ANIMALnn Dermatology, Dr. Randall Thomasnn Infectious Diseases, Dr. Mike Lappinnn Emergency & Critical Care Medicine, Dr. Garrett

Pachtingernn Soft Tissue Surgery, Dr. Steve Mehlernn Internal Medicine, Dr. Michael Willardnn Complementary/Alternative Medicine, Dr. Mike Pettynn Hospice Care, Dr. Laurie Brushnn Internal Medicine, Dr. Daniel Langloisnn MSU Resident Sessions

EMERGING ANIMAL HEALTH AND DISEASE TOPICSnn Tick-Borne and Lyme Disease, Dr. Jennifer Sidgenn Hemoplasma & Disease in Production & Companion

Animals, Dr. Steven Bolinnn Rabies: New Compendium, Drs. Michele Schalow

& Kim Signsnn Bovine Tuberculosis in Michigan, Drs. Dan O’Brien

& Kelly Strakann Weird Things That Happen in National Parks,

Danielle Burkenn Surgical Tumor Pathology, Dr. Rebecca Smedleynn Molecular Genetics & Pathology, Dr. Tudd0w Thaiwongnn Dermatopathology, Dr. Erica Nolannn Harmful Algal Blooms & Effects on Domestic

Animals, Dr. John Buchweitz & Aaron Parkernn Feed Related Outbreaks/Problems, Drs. Jaimie

Strickland, Kent Refsal, John Buchweitz & Tim Lyonsc

e o

pport

unitie

sMARK YOUR CALENDAR!


up

co

min

g in

-pers

on

nn Pet Food Panel, Drs. Rebecca Smedley, Kent Refsal, John Buchweitz & Tim Lyons

FOOD ANIMALnn Dairy, Dr. Terri Ollivettnn Updates on Managing Subclinical Hypo-

calcemia in the Dairy Cow: Post-Partem Calcium Supplementation, Dr. Matt Kuhn

nn Update on Neonatal Dairy Calf Immunology, Dr. Angel Abuelo

nn Communications Training, Jolene Griffin & Jane Hillstrom

EQUINEnn Equine Topics, Dr. Marc Kinsleynn Equine Topics, Dr. Margo Macpherson

NONTRADITIONALnn Avian & Exotic Animals, Dr. Angela Lennox

PRACTICE MANAGEMENTnn Standing Out in a Saturated Market,

Mobile Tech to Build Loyalty, Top Tips on Electronic Tools/Apps, Eric Garcia

STAFF DEVELOPMENTnn Employee Engagement & Communication,

Robin Brogdon

VETERINARY TECHNOLOGYnn Alternative Medicine, Aaron Knappnn Shelter Medicine, Jenny Ottney, LVT &

Ellen Gratch, LVTnn Exotics, Jen Periatnn Nutrition, Dr. Veronica Whitesidenn Dentistry, Dr. James Moorenn Reproduction, Laura Byrd, LVTnn Diabetic Emergencies, Transfusion

Medicine, Gaining Venous Access, Acute Traumatic Coagulopathy and Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation, Amy Newfield, LVT

nn Pain Management and Medications, TBD

WET LABSnn Veterinary Technology—CPRnn Equine Lameness, Dr. Marc Kinsleynn Nontraditional, Dr. Angela Lennox

SPECIAL EVENTSnn New Exciting and Expanded Exhibit Hallnn Large Animal and Equine Receptionnn MSU CVM Alumni Receptionnn SCAVMA Auction

Will You Make a Difference by Donating to VET PAC?

VET-PAC is MVMA’s bipartisan political action committee whose purpose is to educate state legislators and candidates on issues of importance to the veteri-nary profession. A strong VET-PAC allows the MVMA the opportunity to share

our message with legislators, build relationships, and preserve the high quality of veterinary medicine.

As a veterinary leader, you know how important it is for our profession to impact public policy and awareness on animal health and welfare, zoonotic diseases and small business issues. As veterinarians we speak more effectively when we speak collectively.

VET-PAC has been working on a list of candidates for financial campaign support. Recommendations from VET-PAC contributors and MVMA members have proven valu-able in the past and are needed even more for state elections this fall. We look forward to building on the successful record of VET-PAC in investing in candidates with strong support for the practice of veterinary medicine.

WILL YOU “RUN WITH THE PAC” AND ENSURE THAT YOUR VOICE IS HEARD?

Email us at [email protected] with the names of the candidates you’d like us to support and visit MIVETPAC.org to make a donation or send a personal check to VET-PAC, 2144 Commons Parkway, Okemos, MI 48864.

Thank you for your support!

Run withfl PAC !

VET-PAC Michigan Veterinary Medical Association Political Action Committee


Congratulations DR. LORI THEMEL! The Dues winner for a free year of dues for the 2019–2020 dues year!

Stay Connected with MVMA!

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InMemoriamDR. AL STINSON passed away on August 13, 2018 in Lawrenceville, GA at the age of 92. He received his DVM degree from the University of George in 1956 after serving in the U.S. Army Medical Service Corp as a Food Specialist and Inspector during the Korean War. He had several teaching jobs throughout his career including Cornell and Michigan State University. Throughout his life, Dr. Stinson was very involved in dog breeding and protecting the rights of pets and dog owners. He was also the co-founder and one time Executive Director of the MSU Pure Bred Endowment Fund which provided financial resources to MSU students for research projects focused on health problems of pure-bred dogs. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Purebred Dog Endowment Fund at Michigan State University (https://givingto.msu.edu/stories/10m- supports-animals-by-supporting-vet-tech-students). Dr. Stinson is survived by his wife Mary Grace and several children and grandchildren.

JOSEPH A. WATKINS, DVM (MSU CVM 1966) passed away November 18, 2017 at the age of 76. After graduating in 1966, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and was part of the 76th Infantry deployed to Vietnam. He established and oversaw the building of the first canine veterinary hospital for military dogs. He chose to paint the building green and white—the school colors of his Alma Mater! Approximately 5,000 dogs served at the hands of about 10,000 military dog handlers. The K-9 units are estimated to have saved over 10,000 human lives. After being discharged, he owned and operated several small animal practices in Southfield, South Lyon and West Bloomfield. He retired from practice in 2003 and moved to northern Michigan. He is survived by his wife, Mary Jane and two children.

JEFFREY WESTHEIMER, DVM, died on March 18, 2018 at the age of 67. He graduated from MSU CVM in 1972. Dr. Westheimer formed Manistee Veterinary Hospital, was an active supporter of 4-H for over 40 years and founded the non-profit Hearts for Critters.

The MVMA extends its sympathy to the friends and families of

departed members. In memory of deceased members, the MVMA

contributes $50 to the Michigan Animal Health Foundation. Friends

of deceased members may send memorial contributions to the

Foundation. When contributions reach $500, the member’s name

is entered on a memorial plaque displayed in the MVMA office. The

MVMA staff thanks those thoughtful members who take time to no-

tify the office and send obituaries of our recently deceased members.

MVMA’S VETERINARY PRACTICE AFFILIATESDo you have practice managers, veterinary technicians, veterinary assistants or other veterinary team members that want to be a part of MVMA?

IF SO THEY CAN JOIN THE MVMA AS A VETERINARY PRACTICE STAFF AFFILIATE!

mVMA is one of the most progressive, passionate and dedicated veterinary

organizations in the country and our Board of Directors has opened our doors to other veterinary professionals. By becoming an MVMA affiliate, they will be connected with great ideas and incredible people using dynamic and creative solutions you can use in your practice. Have them join us and be inspired!

Did you know that 72% of people who belong to an association are very satisfied with their jobs compared with fewer than half of people who don’t belong to one? We can help your staff become shining stars in your practice with an extensive list of resources they can use TODAY!

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS EXCITING OFFER TO JOIN MVMA FOR AN ANNUAL RATE OF $79!

MVMA affiliates receive:nn Access to MVMA’s staff that works for you—Have a question

about Michigan Law or best practices? Call us!nn Opportunities to connect with and utilize the expertise of

over 2,350 MVMA members!nn Special invitations to attend MVMA events and targeted CE

at a discounted rate. nn FREE subscriptions to the MVMA Enewsletter and magazine,

The Michigan Veterinarian, as well as important email alerts to keep you informed of pet food recalls, disease outbreaks and other urgent issues!

nn Access to important information in the Member’s Only section of michvma.org as well as all of MVMA’s existing benefit programs!

MVMA is helping to drive the future of veterinary medicine. And we are here to make your life easier.

VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.MICHVMA.ORG FOR MORE INFORMATION!

.nPlease note that in order to become a Veterinary Practice Staff Affiliate you must have at least one MVMA veterinarian member at your practice.

ALL THESE BENEFITS & MOREFOR ONLY $79PER YEAR!


classifieds &relief vets

classified adsveterinarians wanted

Heritage Animal Hospital in Dundee, MI —Seeking an Associate Dr. AAHA Accredited hospital. We are a 6 Dr. small animal rapidly growing practice and have 1 Dr. retiring. Our staff is the heart of our practice and we continually strive to maintain a progressive, positive culture. We have a close-knit team oriented staff with many complimentary skills. We encourage staff education and the pursuance of special interests. Weekly staff and leadership meetings help to keep our focus on excellent patient care while being effective and efficient. We practice “best medicine” standards, but are quickly adaptable and sensitive to client resources. HAH is a clean and methodical work place where all opinions are considered and respected. Services offered: advanced soft tissue and orthopedic surgeries, laparoscopic surgery, rhinoscopy, Class 4 therapeutic laser, stem cell therapy, reproductive services, ECG, full service in house lab, ultrasound, digital radiography and digital dental radiography among others. Our ideal candidate will compliment and contribute to our practice’s special interests. Together we have fun, work hard, love the patients and serve the clients in a friendly family atmosphere. Competitive salary and benefits. Signing bonus for both experienced and new graduates (including class of 2019). Send resume to [email protected].

South Mill Veterinary Clinic in Boardman, OH and Doc-tors Park Veterinary Clinic in Canfield, OH are looking for a veterinarian to join our team and practice in both locations. We are busy, multi-doctor, full-service, sister hospitals that provide high-quality veterinary care for dogs and cats. Our doctors enjoy practicing in modern facilities equipped with digital x-rays, laser therapy, and veterinary acupuncture. The long-tenured and experienced support staff maintains an enjoyable work environment by being proactive to the needs of our doctors, patients, and clients. Get to know

us better here! New grads are encouraged to apply. This is the perfect opportunity for a new graduate to be successful under the mentorship and guidance of our collaborative team of doctors with a wide range of experience and areas of interest. To apply please send your resume to Farren Rice at [email protected].

Pytel Veterinary Clinic in Goodrich is seeking a motivated candidate with exceptional client com-munication skills for a full or part-time veterinary associate position to join the animal care team at our busy small animal practice. We have state-of-the-art equipment (digital x-ray, IDEXX in-house laboratory, GE Logic E ultrasound machine), and a full pharmacy. We provide all aspects of patient care—routine, diag-nostic, surgical, and dental. The ideal candidate is an experienced veterinarian, but recent grads may also be considered. Comprehensive benefits package, salary is commensurate with experience. If interested in joining our awesome team, please send cover letter and resume to [email protected] attention Anne.

Veterinary hospital in Bloomfield Hills is seeking a patient-focused, experienced, full or part-time associate veterinarian. Our AAHA accredited multi-doctor team practices high quality medicine to well-educated clients in a beautiful, well-equipped facility that is IDEXX/Cornerstone fully integrated. Equipment includes all digital radiographs, ultrasound, echocardiogram, and therapeutic laser therapy. We are a busy, fast-paced practice; doctors are paired with a licensed veterinary technician daily. We are a small animal practice and a member of the Association of Feline Practitioners, and a cat friendly practice; all of our veterinarians are Fear Free certified. Website: DePorreVet.com

Koprowski Veterinary Clinic is looking for a compassion-ate, motivated, and energetic F/T or P/T veterinarian to join our team. We are a well-established small animal practice in Lapeer, MI. Emphasis on client/patient relationship and communication is our standard. We have an experienced support staff, are equipped with IDEXX lab suite (Catalyst, Sedivue UA, Procyte), and Cuattro digital x-ray, and focus on quality medicine and service. Competitive salary and benefits package. New graduates and experience practitioners are welcome. Interested individuals please contact Dr. John Collins at 810/664-0349, or [email protected].

Associate veterinarian PT/FT wanted for a well-estab-lished small animal practice in the Detroit area. We are a progressive hospital that offers digital radiography, in-house laboratory, acupuncture, Avimark, and a well-trained staff. We offer a competitive salary and benefits package. Open to mentoring new graduates. Please email your resume to [email protected].

Sunrise Side Veterinary Hospital is seeking an associate veterinarian to join our progressive two doctor AAHA accredited practice in East Tawas, Michigan. We are a companion animal practice which focuses on quality medicine and client communication in a rural setting. Our hospitals amenities include a full lab including Heska Dri-Chem, Element HT and Element I machines, as well as IDEXX SediVue. We also have digital radiography, a rigid and flexible endoscope, ECG with blood pressure monitoring, Pulse Ox, a high speed dental unit, and therapy laser. We have a dedicated staff focused on maintaining high quality patient care. We do both soft tissue and orthopedic surgeries in house. Check out our hospital at SRSVH.com. East Tawas is located along Lake Huron and has a multitude of outdoor activities with many cross country ski and snowmobiling trails in the area as well

as a variety of summer activities including canoeing along the Ausable River, hiking, fishing and many other water focused activities. We are looking for a full-time veterinarian with a positive attitude and good personal skills to join our veterinary family for the long term. New graduates with an interest in learning and growth welcome. Signing/relocation bonus. Feel free to contact us at [email protected].

Seeking an Associate Veterinarian to join our small animal hospital in the Lansing/East Lansing area; P/T with possibilities for F/T. We have an experienced, full-time LVT and a great staff. Avimark, Rayence DR x-ray, digital intraoral x-ray, point of care lab systems, monitoring, etc. Close to MSU Veterinary Medical Center and Diagnostic Labs. Many parks and trails are close by and we are virtually walking distance from the MSU campus. Awesome clientele! Potential for partnership/ownership if interested. Salary/hourly/benefits package. Email resume to [email protected], or mail to PO Box 27601, Lansing, MI 48909.

MidMichigan Veterinary Hospital in Saginaw, MI is seeking a third small animal veterinarian to join our growing team. Our well established practice is equipped with digital radiology (including dental), ultrasound, in-house lab, and therapy laser, as well as a dedicated staff including two licensed technicians. Our ideal candidate is an enthusiastic team player with excellent communication skills and passion for caring for pets and their people. If you are interested in joining our team, please send a resume and letter of interest to [email protected].

Full or part-time veterinarian needed. Small animal practice in Canton, MI. Email resume to [email protected].

We are offering a generous signing bonus to qualified candidates. Looking for motivated, personable, high energy individuals for full-time associate positions. Haven Animal Hospital is a full service hospital with ultrasound, digital radiology, cold laser, digital dental radiology and up to date dentistry equipment, in-house laboratory and surgery. We have a large, well trained and fully leveraged support staff with a staff to DVM ratio of at least four to one. The hospital is located in Grand Haven, a beautiful small town on the shores of Lake Michigan. The area offers excellent schools and wonderful recreation opportunities. Salary is a guaranteed base commensurate with experience as well as a generous Prosal arrangement. There is a CME stipend, paid vacation, stipend for licenses and memberships and the possibility of insurance in the future. For more information or to apply, please contact Dr. Barbara Bytwerk, [email protected].

Veterinary clinic in Genesee County is currently seeking to add a part-time or full-time veterinarian to a long-established 2-doctor practice that has a great reputation in the community for serving its citizens and their four legged family members. This is a modern walk-in facility that offers an in-house lab, digital radiographs, k-laser, and a brand new IM3 dental machine among other equipment. We book a busy daily surgery schedule and have an excellent support staff, including 4 LVT’s. This is a family-owned business where we value our family and yours! The ideal candidate would work two full days a week and then rotate working two Saturday per month, but we are flexible in our scheduling. This would be a great job for a working parent to be able to balance their career with family! A competitive wage and benefit


package is offered. Please forward your cover letter and resume to our family so that we can meet yours! Attention please Kristy: [email protected].

Come join the team with the most laughs in the state! Genesee county hospital is looking to add an additional veterinarian to our team. Progressive and teaching environment for the eager learner, but also excellent caseload and clientele for the experienced, confident soul. What we have: digital x-ray, in-house lab, surgical/dental services, cheerful staff. What we don’t have: laser (ah...someday soon), bad attitudes, grumpy staff. Please provide interest and salary desire to [email protected].

Busy small animal, privately-owned three-doctor practice is seeking a full or PT veterinarian. We also see exotics and pocket pets. Located near the Oakland/Livingston County boarder. Email [email protected].

If you’re interested in a relaxed, professional, busy small animal hospital and enjoy working with a competent, skilled, and compassionate staff—look no further. Our hospital and staff hours compliment the life balance we strive for. We welcome any interest in specialty practice or career advancement to offer new services for our clients. Long-term employment outcomes are available for the right individual. For more informa-tion, please see our online ad in the AVMA. Contact [email protected].

Chelsea Animal Hospital is seeking a full or part-time veterinarian. Competitive salary and benefits including paid vacation, gym membership for your family, health insurance, life and disability protection, and 401K match. Our practice focuses on customer service, quality medicine in an environment that encourages problem solving and collegiality to care for patients and serve clients. The staff and doctors focus on low-stress handling for patients. Chelsea is a beautiful small town located 20 minutes west of Ann Arbor and 60 minutes from Detroit Metro Airport, surrounded by the Waterloo Recreation area (largest state park in Lower Michigan), offering hiking, biking, equestrian trails, camping and boating opportunities. Questions—email, call or text Dr. Paula Rode, [email protected], 734/260-9949.

Seeking licensed DVM for 20–25 hours per week, $60/hr. Located 25 miles southeast of Lansing, we are a well-established small animal clinic, in the community for 60+ years. Send resume to David at [email protected], or call 517/899-3903.

St. Joseph Animal Wellness Clinic in southwest Michigan is seeking a veterinarian. Live and practice in a beautiful vacation destination with sandy beaches and tourist attractions. We stress work/life balance. Our rapidly growing practice includes digital x-ray, digital dental x-ray, therapeutic laser, and an IDEXX catalyst. Winner of the Reader’s Choice award in 2017 for local veterinary clinic. Join Dr. Ed and his team, [email protected].

Part-time small animal veterinarian needed for busy, multi-doctor, AAHA practice in Livonia, MI. Excellent long-term support staff. Well-equipped hospital with in-house bloodwork, surgical and therapy lasers, digital and dental x-rays, and ultrasound. Well-established clientele. Please email resume to [email protected], fax: 734/464-7203, or call Nancy: 734/464-6281.

We are looking for a part-time veterinarian (possibly FT in near future) for our 2-doctor small animal and exotic hospital located in Brooklyn, MI. We are AAHA Accredited, cat friendly, and working on becoming a

Fear Free Certified Clinic. We pride ourselves in small town feel with big city quality of care. Our vision is to find an associate that will support our philosophy and become a part of our wonderful growing practice. Excellent opportunities exist for a compassionate individual to develop long-term professional relation-ships with an excellent team and clientele. We have an excellent and experienced team of licensed veterinary technicians, veterinary assistants, receptionists and a Certified Veterinary Practice Manager on staff. We have digital radiography (standard and dental), digital ultrasound, IDEXX in-house lab equipment, and surgical laser. We will be expanding the clinic in 2019, allowing more space to treat our patients. The successful candidate has great people skills, is focused on quality care and excels at assuring client satisfaction. M, W, F hours each week with Saturday work expected every third week. At least 4 years of experience is preferred, but is not required. Interest in orthopedics is a plus, but is not required. You can find us on the web at ColumbiaAnimalClinic.com. If you would like to work in our veterinary hospital and share our philosophy, please email your resume to [email protected], or fax to 517/592-4571.

Are you a DVM looking for a practice and team that remind you why you wanted to be a veterinarian? Are you looking for a practice that is family-friendly? Flexible? Fun? And located near all the great cities and towns that South East Michigan has to offer? Walled Lake Veterinary Hospital of Walled Lake, Michigan is looking for a FT or PT associate for our practice. We are an established hospital with state-of-the-art amenities and an amazing support team. The right candidate will have a passion for education, be customer service oriented, and work as part of a fast-paced team. No on-call or holiday hours. We provide PTO, CE allow-ance, licenses, and more. Salary is negotiable based on experience level. New grads welcome to apply. Resumes to [email protected].

Animal Hospital of Oshkosh is seeking a full or part time Associate Veterinarian to join our team. Our fast-paced, 8 doctor small animal practice is located in the Fox Valley. Bonded clientele base already established and continuing to grow. We practice progressive, high-quality medicine, low-stress handling, orthope-dics, and exotic medicine. Strong emphasis on client education and service. Must be adaptable, confident and highly-ambitious, with a positive work ethic. Basic computer skills necessary, as we are a paper-lite practice. Experience a plus. Opportunities for growth. Heavily staffed, educated team members to provide DVM support needed to practice the BEST medicine. Animal Hospital of Oshkosh Values: We provide excel-lent medical care and services. We are compassionate and empathetic. We put clients first. We are selfless, service-oriented team players. We value continuing education. We are accountable and teachable. We are willing to adapt and be flexible. We will do what needs to be done. Experience veterinarians and recent grads will both be considered. Please email cover letter and resume to [email protected].

Integrative veterinary house-call practice is looking for a part-time (with opportunity to quickly become full-time) practitioner to join our thriving practice in beautiful Ann Arbor, Michigan. We are looking for a veterinarian with excellent diagnostic and communication skills with a passion for helping further the bond between pets and their pet parents. The ideal candidate has certification in acupuncture, chiropractic or other alternative modalities and has experience or interest

in animal hospice. We have incredible clients who are dedicated to learning more about holistic veterinary medicine and want to treat their pet’s health as their do their own. Come join our amazing team committed to patient health and pet parent satisfaction. Please send resume to [email protected].

Pierson Pet Hospital is a large companion veterinary hospital located in Davison, MI. We have practiced in Davison for over 50 years providing full service quality care for our patients. Our 7,500 square foot facility has five exam rooms, a pharmacy & lab area, which includes in-house diagnostic equipment, a four table treatment area, a diagnostic imaging room with digital radiography, an intensive care ward, an isolation room, and surgery room. We also offer boarding & grooming services. Due to consistent increase in client and patient visits we are seeking another experienced Associate Veterinarian to add to our seasoned support staff. Please visit our website for more information, PiersonPetHospital.com. Resumes can be sent to [email protected].

We are a well-established, busy, 5 doctor practice located in west Lansing, MI, seeking a full-time/part-time self-motivated, enthusiastic doctor with excellent people skills to join our practice. New graduates are welcome and encouraged to apply. Schedule includes rotation through daytime, evening, and weekend shifts, with rotating after-hours on-call emergency respon-sibilities. We have up-to-date equipment to enhance the quality of care we offer to our patients, including in-house lab machines, endoscope, therapeutic laser, digital x-ray, pulse-ox/ECG, dental equipment and digital dental x-ray, and ultrasound. Our practice has a great clientele and a team-oriented staff. We practice high quality medicine and perform most soft tissue surgeries and select orthopedic procedures. Competitive salary and benefits package. For more information about our practice, please visit our website at MillerAnimalClinic.com. Please direct all inquiries to [email protected].

FT Associate needed for two doctor small animal practice one hour South of Lansing. 75% of our staff is Fear Free certified. Salary negotiable. Housing options


available. Buy-in potential. Please submit resume to Susan at [email protected] or call 517/767-3011.

VETERINARIAN needed ... A good one ... at Dandy Acres Small Animal Hospital in South Lyon. Part-time to full-time. Do you love cats, dogs, and sunny South Lyon? Looking for a high-quality practice where you can learn and grow? Where the work culture is healthy, positive, hard-working, and forward-thinking? If you are current and looking for an engaging place to expand your career, maybe you should give us a call. Call Terry McCarthy at 248/437-1765 (Dandy Acres), or call or text me at 248/790-6800; [email protected] in confidence.

Eastown Veterinary Clinic is a privately owned, AAHA accredited, small animal practice located in the hippest neighborhood in Grand Rapids, and we are looking to add another full-time associate veterinarian! Our mis-sion is to provide high quality medicine and outstanding client education to pet owners in our community. Our practice was established in 2011, and is rapidly growing. We are a fully equipped practice with state-of-the-art in-house lab, digital dental radiology, ultrasound, and surgical and therapeutic laser. We have just expanded and now have separate feline and canine entrances, five canine exam rooms, four feline exam rooms, a surgical suite, a dental suite, and a complete in-house pharmacy. We also offer grooming, puppy classes, and behavioral modification assistance for our clients. We have a fun loving, industrious, and highly motivated support staff who work as a team with the veterinarians to achieve our mission. The ideal candidate for this position is a doctor who has excellent client communication skills, the ability to work effectively with fellow team members, and is committed to providing the highest standards of care. New grads are welcome to apply and will be considered for the position. We offer a competitive salary and benefits, which include health insurance, a SIMPLE IRA, paid time off, CE, and professional license and membership fees. Please submit resume and cover letter to [email protected].

Livonia Veterinary Hospital seeks associate DVM, a people-person who is excited about veterinary medi-cine. Patient care, client education, and communication are strengths of our practice. Desired compensation package offered. Will consider part-time. Reply to [email protected].

The Care Center Hospital for Animals has a veterinary position open to fit your schedule. Whether you’re looking to do relief work, part time, or as a full-time associate, we may be what you’re looking for. We’re a busy small animal practice seeing 75% canine, 25% feline, and < 1% exotics in Coldwater Michigan. A fully integrated IDEXX computer system meshes with in-house and reference lab diagnostics, as well as digital radiography and digital dental radiography. We work closely with specialists for advanced diagnostics and procedures when needed, and provide the best care possible for our clients and patients. Licensed technician led support staff lets you concentrate on medicine instead of counting pills. Coldwater is a friendly, comfortable small town in southern Michigan, with two chains of lakes and many outdoor activities available. It boasts a great school system and is centrally located with an easy drive from many bigger cities. If interested, contact Ronald Lanford, DVM at 657 E. Chicago Rd, Coldwater, MI, 49036, [email protected], 517/278-5631 (office), or 517/462-6324 (cell).

OUTSTANDING OPPORTUNITY: Practice at a well-respected, busy and fun hospital. Wonderful schedule. Compensated for your gifts. No emergency. Part of 6-doctor team. Prefer veterinarian that enjoys surgery. Prefer ultrasound skills. We have a very low turnover rate, practice still growing. Contact Dr. Bill Patterson, Patterson Veterinary Hospital, 35115 Harper, Clinton Township, MI 48035, 586/791-6260, [email protected]. Check us out on Facebook.

We are a 4-doctor practice with two different locations in North Muskegon. We’re looking for an experienced associate veterinarian for a part time, with potential full-time, position in a well-established small animal practice with a strong client base. We are looking for a self-motivated individual, with exceptional client communication skills, to perform quality medicine with advanced diagnostic equipment. The schedule ranges between 2–4 days per work week with every 5th Saturday and emergency work. Salary commensurate with experience and then pro-sale wage options avail-able afterwards. Benefits include health and disability insurance, CE, 401K, paid vacation, professional fees, license and membership fees, journals and subscrip-tions and PLIT. Please email Eve with a resume and a cover letter at [email protected].

PT and FT Veterinarians sought for nonprofit preventa-tive health care clinics in Flint. Servicing both cats and dogs, All About Animals Rescue seeks to keep pets healthy and in the home by providing compassionate low-cost wellness care in line with our mission of No More Homeless Pets. Competitive wages; FT: paid time off, medical and dental benefits. Days and hours vary. Fast paced environment. Join the team! Please direct inquiries to Renee at All About Animals Rescue, [email protected], 586/879-1745, AllAboutAnimalsRescue.org.

Kimball Animal Hospital, Clawson MI: Our hospital is continuing to grow and expand. We need you to add to what makes us great: a harmonious, upbeat, positive team that is passionately dedicated to patient care, client education, and helping each other. Soon to be AAHA, Fear-Free, and Cat-Friendly certified. PT/FT, schedule is open to discussion with that right person. Position begins late summer. Please submit your resume to [email protected].

Seeking a small animal veterinarian to complement our existing 6-veterinarian team in West Lansing, MI. Welcome applicants with all levels of experience, having an obvious passion for service to patients and customers and strong interpersonal skills. Cats and dogs only, part-time or full-time employment. 1 to 3 week days per week (the specific days of the week are negotiable). Shared weekend work (currently 1/3 Saturdays, 1/6 Sundays). Commission based earnings. Full-time employee benefits include: Platinum Level Health Insurance (50% sponsored), also vision & dental; IRA with employer match; Continuing educa-tion allowance; Employee pet discount program. Facilities and Resources include: Digital radiography including dental (Idexx DR, Midmark Optimax DR); Ultrasonography (Logiq F6); Procyte DX, Catalyst, Sedivue; Cubex; Therapeutic Laser; and coming soon Certified Rehab LVT; Acupuncturist; & Underwater Treadmill. Expressions of interest, reference contacts (3), and resume to [email protected].

Seeking a full-time and/or part-time associate to join our team. We are a well-established small animal practice in Kalamazoo, MI that focuses on preventative health care and building lasting relationships with our

clients and their pets. Our staff practices high-quality medicine, surgery and dentistry, and our hospital is well equipped with in hospital lab, digital x-ray and digital dental x-ray. If you are interested in joining our team please send your resume to [email protected].

Growing progressive 3-doctor small animal/exotic/integrative practice southeast of Ann Arbor, MI seeks PT (moving toward FT) Veterinarian who is personable, enthusiastic and compassionate to join our hard-working team. Paperless, with digital x-ray, in-house Abaxis lab, ultrasound, Cardell Touch monitoring, video otoscope, Tonopen, Champion Cold Therapy Laser, digital dental x-ray and high speed illuminated dental drill. Genuine, educated/experienced support staff including 4 LVTs. Busy, fun, rewarding–come be part of our family. Competitive salary and benefits, new graduates or experienced. Please email cover letter and resume to Rocky Buehler at [email protected], or call 734/740-1878.

Seeking full-time mixed or small-animal veterinarian to join our 5-doctor team. New grads are welcome to apply and will be considered for the position. Our practice is located in mid-Michigan and consists of 60% small animal, 30% dairy and 10% equine, beef cattle, small ruminants, and exotics. On the small animal side our large support staff of 12, including 2 full-time LVTs, will assist with cases which range from yearly exams and vaccines to soft-tissue and orthopedic surgeries. Our small animal facility includes 5 exam rooms, a surgery suite with 3 gas anesthetic machines and full parameter monitors, full digital radiography including dental, ultrasound, in-house lab, Tonopen, and Avimark computer software. Our dairy work involves providing herd health, most using ultrasound, to dairies that range from 50 to 1,200 milk cows, along with individual sick cow cases, and troubleshooting herd-wide reproductive and metabolic issues. We will also supply a fully stocked truck and coveralls for farm call use. The practice does provide emergency services for both our large and small animal clients and these duties are split equally between all veterinarians. Our clinic believes in the importance of mentoring and new grads will be provided with back-up when needed for both routine cases and emergencies. Benefits will include competitive salary, paid vacation, licensing, health insurance and contribution to a retirement plan. Please send resume to Dr. Jon Schwab at Arenac Bay Veterinary Services, 4366 M-61, Standish, MI 48658, or email to [email protected].

Thorpe Animal Hospital in Lapeer, MI is looking for a FT or PT veterinarian needed to join a progressive, two doctor companion animal hospital. Candidate must have a confident, positive attitude with clients and hospital team, as well as possess a strong regard for animal welfare. Seeking an associate who enjoys practicing high quality medicine, working with LVT’s, loves to educate, is a team player, and values all team members. We utilize digital radiographs, surgical laser, therapy laser, and in-house IDEXX laboratory including Sedivue urine analyzer and integrated cornerstone software with electronic records. Must enjoy surgery and share our standards, which do not include cosmetic surgery. Experience in acupuncture, ultrasound or orthopedic surgery a definite plus. No emergency coverage required. Benefits include health insurance, paid time off, Flex time, CE, and professional license and membership fees. Please submit cover letter and resume to [email protected].

Seeking a full-time associate to join our team. Applicant


should have a good blend of medical, surgical, and people skills. Our well-established small animal practice has 2 locations in a very desirable area of southeast Michigan. We see a diverse caseload with a focus on preventative health care and lasting relationships with our clients and their pets. We offer extended hours to fulfill the needs of our clients’ busy schedules. Our practice is fully integrated with IDEXX (Cornerstone practice software, in-house chemistry and blood count analyzers, and CR digital radiograph systems). We also have ultrasound and dental imaging. We will offer a competitive salary and benefits package based on experience. Please email your resume and 3 references to [email protected].

Small Animal/Exotic: Want to own your own practice? Then join me in the growing city of Battle Creek, the little big city of SW Michigan. You can be my partner, and then take over in the next few years when I retire. This is a place where you can have your farm or live in the city and still be only 5 to 10 minutes from the practice. Affordable housing, great schools, all kinds of recreational options. Dr. David Rost, 269/788-2996, [email protected].

Strong Veterinary Hospital is looking for a full-time Veterinarian Associate. We are a very busy, well established facility that is a full-service veterinary hospital. We are looking for team players to join our amazing team. We offer a full in-house lab, digital x-ray, laser therapy, and full surgical unit. Our support staff has years of service and is full trained to assist in all aspects of the hospital. We offer full benefits. Please send resume to the Practice Manager, Eva George, at [email protected]. Our website is StrongVeterinaryHospital.com.

Part-time Associate—exclusively small animal hospital. AAHA standards practiced. Small hospital, big love for client education and passionate care. Laser surgery, advance dental procedures, orthopedic and ultrasound services. Digital radiographs, general and dental. No after-hour emergencies, flexible scheduling. Send resumes to [email protected], or call 586/598-1900.

Have you always wanted to practice in an exclusively feline clinic? We are looking for a part-time associate veterinarian. However, may consider full-time for the perfect candidate. We are located in Grosse Pointe Woods, have a great support team, practice high-quality medicine, great clientele, and no after-hour emergencies. If you are enthusiastic about working exclusively with cats, send resume to [email protected].

Cedar Animal Hospital (Cedar Springs, 15 miles N of Grand Rapids): We are seeking a dedicated, com-passionate pet and client advocate, FT/PT associate DVM to join our team. We are an AAHA accredited practice; we see small animals including exotics. Flexible scheduled includes Monday–Saturday am/pm. Our practice offers ultrasound, digital dental, and digital general radiography, in-house lab, and endoscopy. The ideal candidate must be a client-centered DVM with excellent people skills. Full-time benefit package available. Resume to [email protected].

South Shore Animal Hospital in Houghton Lake is seeking a FT companion animal veterinarian. Our well-established two-doctor hospital has been in operation for over 30 years and our loyal clients have come to expect quality medicine. We are equipped with digital radiographs, digital dental radiographs, state-of-the-art anesthesia and surgical monitoring

equipment. We offer a great schedule with 3-day weekends every other week, simple IRA, paid dues, paid CE, and signing bonus. Enjoy practicing in a beautiful four season setting. Please email [email protected], or fax to 989/366-7399.

veterinary technicians wanted

Licensed Veterinary Technician needed in north Oakland County: 20–30 hours/week; Surgery & dental skills necessary. Practice features full in-house lab, digital dental radiography, digital radiography. Competitive wage, good work environment with strong team. Send resume and cover letter to [email protected].

F/T or P/T LVT wanted to join our team. We are a progressive, busy, two doctor small animal clinic in Tecumseh, MI. Strong communication/client education skills desired, as well as proficient technical skills needed in surgery, dental, outpatient, and laboratory. Competitive salary and benefits based on experience. Please send resume to [email protected].

If you would like to live in a town full of outdoor activities and love a fast-pace clinic, Alpena Veterinary Clinic is the place for you. We are looking for someone to work with our current vet tech to service our 3 doctor practice. Duties include assisting with surgery, exams, ultrasound, and diagnostics. Competitive salary, retirement, vacation, and insurance benefits offered. Check us out at alpenavet.com and send resume to [email protected].

Highland Veterinary Hospital seeks a full-time and/or part-time veterinary technician. We are a busy, privately owned small animal/exotic practice. We fully utilize and value our technicians. We are proud of our compassionate, fun and dedicated team. The Highland/Milford area is a great place to live and work! Competitive benefits and wages. Please send resume to [email protected], or fax to 248/889-4255. We look forward to meeting you!

We are a fast paced, one-doctor small animal practice in Burton looking for an LVT and/or experienced vet assistant, full or part-time. Competitive pay, CE, uniform package, pet benefits, and IRA with 3% match. Please send resume to [email protected].

Family oriented, fun daytime practice is seeking an LVT or experienced vet assistant for up to 35 hours per week. Located in beautiful Richland Michigan, we offer great benefits including paid time off, health insurance, and care for your own pets. The ideal candidate will have a positive attitude and strive to provide the best possible customer and patient care. Please email resume to [email protected].

Our downtown Traverse City practice is looking to hire a full-time LVT. Competitive pay and benefits. Enjoy a view of the bay while working with a fun, friendly and self-motivated team. Digital Radiographs, ultrasound, IDEXX blood machines, etc. Send resumes to [email protected], or [email protected].

Sunrise Veterinary Services, located in Alpena, MI on the beautiful shores of Lake Huron is currently looking for a licensed veterinary technician to join our clinic. We are a 2-doctor practice specializing in small animals and exotics. Our patients receive only the highest quality of care in our clinic, offering puppy classes, nutrition and behavioral counseling, boarding, a private euthanasia room, digital radiography, full in-house laboratory, including the procyte, catalyst analyzer, and Sedi-Vue uranalysis analyzer. We offer vacation pay, 401(k), paid CE, employee pet discount,

and a great work environment. This position would be for both surgery and exam room settings. Candidates must be positive, energetic and enjoy working in a team environment. If you would be interested in this position, please email your resume and references to [email protected].

The Care Center Hospital for Animals has a veterinary technician position open that could fit your schedule. Whether you’re looking for part time or full time, we may be what you’re looking for. We’re a busy small animal practice seeing 75% canine, 25% feline, and < 1% exotics in Coldwater Michigan. A fully integrated IDEXX computer system meshes with in-house and reference lab diagnostics as well as digital radiography and digital dental radiography. We work closely with specialists for advanced diagnostics and procedures when needed, and provide the best care possible for our clients and patients. Licensed technicians are utilized to use their talents and education, rather than just counting pills and cleaning poop. Coldwater is a friendly, comfortable small town in southern Michigan, with two chains of lakes and many outdoor activities available. It boasts a great school system and is centrally located with an easy drive from many bigger cities. If interested, contact Angie King at 657 E. Chicago Rd, Coldwater, MI, 49036, [email protected], or 517/278-5631.

Hiring veterinary technician and veterinary assistant: Join our AAHA accredited facility in Traverse City where we love animal care and helping families’ pets live long, healthy, happy lives. We have a fully equipped hospital and rehabilitation center and a CCRT on staff to provide animals the care they need after a surgery, in old age, or just to keep them healthy. You’ll be able to enjoy beautiful northern Michigan while working 4 day weeks and half a day every other Saturday. Our staff is extremely supportive of one another, not only in the office but outside of work, creating a unique work environment unlike any other. We provide excellent pay and compensation to our team and you can be a part of it. To name a few perks of our compensation, we will provide a uniform package, CE, and an IRA with 3% match. If you are interested, email your resume to [email protected] or call Jeff LaCross at 231/631-0398 for questions. Check us out to learn more at LongLakeAnimalHospital.com, or find us on Facebook at Long Lake Animal Hospital and Animal Rehab Center of Northern Michigan.

Licensed Veterinary Technician Opening: Eastwood Veterinary Hospital in Eaton Rapids & Lake Lansing Road Animal Clinic in Lansing are searching for part-time or full-time Licensed Technicians. Both practices are busy small animal exclusive hospitals. Both hospitals were recently remodeled and have a full in-house laboratory, ultrasound, digital x-ray, dental radiography and many other diagnostic tools. We offer competitive wage, generous discount, continuing education stipend, 3% Simple IRA march, 50% health insurance contribution, paid holidays & accrued PTO. Please send cover letter and resume to [email protected]. You may learn more about the clinics at, EastVet.com and at LansingVetClinic.com.

office staff wanted

Cats Veterinary is seeking an individual to join our team as a full-time receptionist. We are a two-doctor practice serving only feline patients. Cats Veterinary is a team-oriented facility that has a positive work environment, supports the professional growth of employees, and provides productive communication


between staff members. The ideal candidate will have a shining personality who is comfortable educating clients, able to serve the individual needs of each client, and is able to work with other team members to provide excellent service. Candidates must have a high school diploma or equivalent, veterinary receptionist experience, computer knowledge and the ability to work in a fast-paced environment with a professional/friendly attitude. Job responsibilities include: answering phone calls, scheduling appointments/procedures, processing prescription orders, checking in clients, preparing patient records, creating invoices and pro-cessing payments. Schedule will include weekdays and rotating Saturdays with approximately 36–40 hours/week. Please submit cover letter and resume. Resumes will be accepted until the best candidate is found. Competitive salary based on experience. Full-time employment does offer benefits. Please email resume and cover letter to [email protected].

practices and equipment for sale

When buying or selling a veterinary practice, rely on the expertise of Total Practice Solutions Group. See display ad this issue. Even if you plan to sell your practice yourself, contact Dr. Kurt Liljeberg for a free consultation. We are happy to help: 800/380-6872 or [email protected].

Gogebic County, Michigan —Priced to Sell! This profit-able SA practice has established itself as the gold standard in healthcare. Providing quality, compas-sionate care, and a staff with integrity. The facility is approximately 1,400 sq. ft., including 2-exam rooms. Updated equipment. MI3. PS Broker, 800/636-4740, PSBroker.com, [email protected].

Well-established small animal practice (with large animal potential) for sale in the thumb area of Michigan. Practice priced to sell. Hospital approximately 3200 sq. ft. Contact 810/886-3031.

Well established small animal practice in western Oakland County, Michigan. Grossed almost $650,000 in 2017 and profitable. Owners motivated to sell, price reduced. Buy the business, furnishings and equipment, and assume lease of building. Were asking $425,000, now only $330,000. Call or text: Dr. Fred Zydeck, 248/891-3934, fzydeck@aol.

Well established small animal practice in northwest Genesee County. Grossed over $550,000 in 2017. Buy the beautiful hospital plus business with all the furnishings and equipment for only $525,000. Dr. Fred Zydeck, call or text: 248/891-3934, [email protected].

Are you ready to buy or sell a veterinary practice? Valuations, consultations. Buying or selling, I can help. Call or text Dr. Fred Zydeck, Broker: 248/891-3934 or email [email protected].

Well established small animal practice, with excellent newer equipment, located in Houghton, Michigan, the home of Michigan Institute of Technology. Grossed almost $1.5 million in 2017 and growing. Price including real estate only $1.2 million. Dr. Fred Zydeck, call or text 248/891-3934, [email protected].

Peak Practice Transitions facilitates your practice sale from start to finish, from valuation to legal. Our services represent the level of service you expect—full representation, practice valuation, and negotiations. Contact Bob Eberline at PEAK [email protected] or 888/477-7325 x333.

relief veterinarians Norman Bayne, DVM, MS, 248/506-1104. MSU 81. SA relief work in southeast MI. Will travel. Friendly, excellent client communications skills. [email protected].

Cari Bedore, DVM, 810/965-8350. MSU 99. SA relief and/or PT 1 hour from Flint. Enjoy working in a positive team atmosphere doing medicine and surgery.

Kirsten Begin, DVM, 616/446-3154. MSU 09. SA relief in Grand Rapids and surrounding areas. Will travel. Friendly, excellent client communication. References. Completed rotating and surgical internships. [email protected].

Sharisse Berk, DVM, 248/851-0739. MSU 95. Avail-able for SA relief or PT work in southeast MI.

Rhonda Bierl, DVM, 248/467-1987. MSU 00. SA/emergency relief within 1 hour of Pontiac. General medicine, soft-tissue surgery, ultrasound experience. [email protected].

Allison Birndorf, DVM, 248/459-8974. MSU 12. SA relief in SE Michigan. Will travel. Friendly and reliable. [email protected].

Tama Cathers, DVM, MS, 269/203-6800. NCSU 96. SA relief in SE Michigan/Kalamazoo area. Friendly, experienced, reliable. [email protected].

Courtney Chapin, DVM, 616/901-5660. MSU 02. Available for Grand Rapids area. 6 years’ experience in SA general practice, 3 years in emergency medicine; both routine and emergency surgery. Willing to travel. [email protected].

Amanda Charney, DVM, 313/212-9305. MSU 12. Southeast MI: SA medicine, routine surgery. Great com-munication skills, friendly, travel within approximately 1 hour of Dearborn. References and résumé available. [email protected].

Catherine Collins, DVM, 517/980-0528. (MSU 06, MVMA member) SA relief work in the Lansing area. Willing to travel up to one hour. Friendly, efficient, strong communication skills. References & resume available. [email protected].

Kenneth Corino, DVM, 248/217-5235. MSU 94. SA relief work. SE Michigan, medicine and surgery. [email protected].

Nichole Corner, DVM, 616/634-9777. MSU 99. SA relief work in Grand Rapids/Kalamazoo area. Excellent client communication skills. References available. [email protected].

Bryan Cornwall, DVM, MBA, 248/227-0562. MSU 89. SA medicine and general surgery in SE Michigan; practice owner for 24 years. Great with clients and staff. [email protected].

Jennifer M. Dec, DVM, 248/224-1990. MSU 04. Small-animal general practice and emergency relief. Surgery, ultrasound, and excellent communication skills, [email protected].

Lisa Harris, DVM, 616/204-2670. MSU 89. Available for relief in Grand Rapids/Lakeshore area. Experienced SA medicine and surgery, avian, exotics. Friendly, good communicator. [email protected].

Sean D. Hughes, DVM, 517/552-0993; 734/674-7061. MSU 76. SE Michigan SA relief since 1999.

Part-time. Prefer SE; will travel for right circumstances. [email protected].

Cindy Kalicki, DVM, 313/291-2466. MSU 94. Eight years FT, two years relief in SA general medicine/soft tissue surgery. SE Michigan, PT or relief.

Gurpreet Kaur, DVM, 248/519-3194. (MSU 15, MVMA Member) Providing service in small animal general practice and surgery in the southeast Michigan area. [email protected].

Selena Lucas, DVM, 734/330-5048. KSU 90. Flexible and friendly, excellent client communication skills. Proficient in surgery, medicine, and dentistry. Available in SE Michigan. [email protected].

Denise Jorgensen Montagna, DVM, 231/557-1536. CSU 90. SA relief or PT in western MI. Excellent client relations. References available. [email protected].

Katherine O’Connor, DVM, 248/207-3528. MSU 14. Exceptional medicine when you need it most. SA/exotics/emergency relief. Based in East Lansing, willing to travel. References available. MyReliefVet.com.

Kris Parnell, DVM, 517/881-2845. MSU 91. Available for SA relief or P/T. Will travel 1 hour of Lansing area. References upon request. [email protected].

Amy Peck, DVM, 231/557-4423. MSU 97. Available for relief in west MI/Grand Rapids/Lakeshore area. SA general medicine. Excellent communication skills, experienced and reliable. [email protected].

Bob Schleiffarth, DVM, 269/921-0570. SA relief. Over 30 years’ ownership experience. Coverage for western MI, based in Onekama. [email protected].

Jim Sharp, DVM, 810/533-3598. MSU 71. SA relief, SE Michigan. Former practice owner. Proficient in sophisticated dentistry and medicine. Excellent com-municator. [email protected].

Alan Sibinic, DVM, 734/922-3713, 231/547-6212. MSU 75. Relief or part-time anywhere in MI. Flexible, wide-variety practice experience. 5+ years relief work. References. SA/EQ/FA.

Margaret Sudekum, DVM, 616/676-2720 MSU 89. Available for part-time SA relief work in Grand Rapids and the surrounding areas. Good client communication skills. [email protected].

Connie R. Sveller, DVM, 517/388-3434. MSU 85. SA relief, works within 1 hour of Swartz Creek. Ex-perienced/reliable/former practice owner (16 years). [email protected].

Andrea Switch, DVM, 248/302-2255. MSU 84. Available for PT or relief work. SA general medicine/soft tissue surgery in SE MI. [email protected].

Linda Vanassche, DVM, 517/896-9086. MSU 90. SA medicine, surgery and emergency; excelling in dermatology and internal med. Travel negotiable more than 1½ hours from Lansing. Excellent written/verbal communication and record keeping. [email protected].

Amy Wildrose, DVM, 517/420-5891. MSU 00. Experienced, proficient, dependable, and convivial. Available for SA relief or PT. Based in Lansing. Willing to travel. [email protected].

Jennifer Zablotny, DVM, 517/896-9146. MSU 97. Experienced SA relief for southeast and mid-MI. Refer-ences available. [email protected].


MVMA GREAT LAKES VETERINARY CONFERENCE

nn July 21-23, 2019

Park Place Hotel & Conference Center,

Traverse City

MICHIGAN VETERINARY CONFERENCE

nn January 25–27, 2019

Lansing Center & Radisson Hotel, Lansing

MVMA SMALL ANIMAL SEMINARS

nn Veterinary Forensics (Melinda Merck, DVM)

September 12, 2018

nn Rehabilitation and Pain Management

(Tara Edwards, DVM, DACVSMR, CCRT, CVPP, cVMA)

October 10, 2018

nn Practice Management (Wendy Hauser, DVM)

November 7, 2018

nn Orthopedics and Surgery for the General

Practitioner (Gary Thompson, DVM, DABVP

Canine & Feline)

December 12, 2018

nn Renal and Urinary (Joe Bartges, DVM, PhD,

DACVIM, DACVN)

March 13, 2019

nn Nutrition (Craig Datz, DVM, MS, DABVP, DACVN)

April 10, 2019

Seminars 10:00 am–5:30 pm at the East Lansing Marriott. Contact

MVMA at (517) 347-4710 or register online at www.michvma.org.

.

PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCIES CERTIFICATION

nn Getting the Most out of Your Career: Success

Strategies for Personal & Professional Growth

MVMA/MSU CVM Professional Competencies

Certification (In-Person Sessions)

October 24, 2018 and April 17, 2019

MSU Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, Lansing

MVMA COMMITTEES

nn Animal Welfare (Dr. Marcie Barber, Chair)

September 20, 2018 @ 10:00 am

November 1, 2018 @ 10:00 am

nn Equine Practice (Dr. Don Ryker)

September 26, 2018 @ 5:00 pm

nn Executive (Dr. Lori Penman, Chair)

September 17, 2018 @ noon

November 28, 2018 @ noon

nn Leadership Development (Dr. Mike Thome)

September 12, 2018 @ noon

nn Legislative Advisory (Dr. Cathy Anderson, Chair)

September 19, 2018 @ 1:30 pm

November 27, 2018 @ 1:30 pm

nn Public Health (Dr. Joseph Kline, Chair)

September 5, 2018 @ 1:30 pm

December 19, 2018 @ 1:30 pm

Meetings held in the MVMA office unless noted.

MVMA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

nn September 26, 2018, 10:30 am–3:00 pm

University Club, Ballroom, Lansing In conjunction with the Annual Meeting.

nn December 12, 2018, 10:30 am–3:00 pm

University Club, Fireplace Room, Lansing

SAGINAW VALLEY VMA

nn 4th Wednesday of each month, February–May and

September–October, with occasional additional

meetings @ 7:00 pm / The Brewery, Frankenmuth

Contact the secretary at [email protected].

WESTERN MICHIGAN VMA

nn Veterinarian CE Seminars

3rd Thursday of each month, January–May and

September–November in Grand Rapids on various

topics. In addition, there will be a second meeting

each month, usually the 1st Tuesday or Wednesday,

February–May and October–December.

Contact Margaret Sudekum, DVM, to be added to the email list.

(616) 676-2720 or [email protected].

due to the number of requests for ce announcements, the michigan veterinarian limits listings to ce programs in michigan.

committees, meetings & events

important phone numbers

MI Board of Veterinary Medicine

(517) 335-0918

MI Board of Pharmacy

(517) 373-1737

DEA: Detroit office

(313) 234-4000

DEA: toll-free

(800) 230-6844

MDARD State Veterinarian

(800) 292-3939

MI Dept. of Health & Human Services

(517) 335-8165

State of MI Health Certificates

(517) 284-5767

USDA, APHIS, VS–Accreditation

& International Health Certificates

(517) 337-4700

michigan veterinary medical association2144 Commons Parkway, Okemos, MI 48864-3986

Presort Standard

U.S. Postage

PAIDLansing, MI

Permit #713Professional excellence.

Compassionate care.

faq’s on the new board of veterinary medicine

Documents