AMC Donor S ociety News SPRING 2020
Thank you! The outpouring of support in response to AMC’s Covid-19 Emergency Appeal has been incredibly heartwarming as we have heard from both longtime supporters and first-time donors, whose commitment to AMC came through loud and clear. At the time of this writing, over $500,000 was raised to assist AMC in overcoming this challenging time and continue our path to a brighter future. Throughout AMC’s 110-year history, we have weathered many storms without ever compromising our commitment to providing the best possible care, and this time is no different. Comments from some of our clients who recently received care from AMC demonstrate this best:
sewing homemade masks, delivering cupcakes, protein bars, and coffee, as well as providing lunches for the entire staff.
Generous Donors provided masks for AMC staff
• “The staff is so diligent and professional and are running the facility to the best of anyone’s ability and it shows. If I could, I would personally thank each and every one of the dedicated staff.” • “I visited during the Covid-19 pandemic and the staff were very accommodating, and I felt safe while bringing my pet in. I only talked with the veterinarian over the phone (due to distancing requirements) but she was so nice, and we felt well taken care of.” • “AMC has been amazing during this very tense and uncertain time; we’ve been working with the team virtually to continue our beloved Roxy’s care and the team has been very supportive.”
Maria Correa distributing donated masks
• “During this very stressful time for all the staff and doctors, AMC went above and beyond; well organized from start to finish.” Our thanks to the many generous donors who provided much needed financial support and to the others whose compassion for our staff was expressed in many thoughtful ways including
Donated cupcakes were a treat for essential workers
A Message from Our President and CEO Dear Friends, As an essential service, AMC has remained open throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, never straying from our commitment to provide life-saving veterinary care for animals in the New York metropolitan area and beyond. The commitment and dedication of our staff during these most challenging weeks has been truly honorable and inspiring. Over these past two months our three main goals have remained the same: • Keep our employees and clients safe • Adhere to our mission of providing care to animals in need, and • Ensure the long-term financial stability of the AMC Our management team has kept these goals at the forefront of our efforts when adjusting operations and protocols to meet changing needs. From the outset, we ensured that our staff had the proper protective equipment to maintain their safety; created an outdoor waiting area to protect clients and staff, while providing essential veterinary care; right-sized operations to preserve financial resources; applied for appropriate grants and loans to secure our financial standing; and launched a successful emergency fundraising appeal, to which our donors and clients responded with tremendous generosity and zeal. As we look ahead, we know we will need to adjust to a “new normal.” This will require new ways of conducting our work and interacting with clients. Numerous scenarios are being considered so that we are prepared to implement the best practices at the appropriate time. While I know that life at AMC and elsewhere will be different after this crisis, our vision for the future and commitment to our mission remains. The veterinary industry is undergoing major changes and AMC needs to be at the forefront of these changes while maintaining our competitive advantage. The senior management team, in conjunction with the medical staff and other stakeholders, has been devising a recovery plan tied to our strategic plan, some of which has already been put in place. Importantly, we look forward to the time when we can reinstitute the work on our building expansion and renovations, which is an essential component of AMC’s continued and future success. With warm regards,
Kate Coyne President and Chief Executive Officer AMC Development Department can be reached at 212-329-8660 or Development@amcny.org.
Special Events Update Earlier this spring, AMC postponed both our Ellin Prince Speyer Legacy Society Luncheon and our Living Legends Luncheon, with plans to reschedule both events for later this fall. While we continue to plan for these events as well as our annual Fall gatherings--Golden Paw Society Reception, President’s Council Dinner, Chairman’s Circle “Cocktails and Conversation,” and the Top Dog Gala--, we are doing so in a way that allows us to reimagine how each of these events might take place. We will keep you apprised of the dates, times, and all the particulars as our plans develop, but for now, please mark your calendars for our Top Dog Gala, which is scheduled for Tuesday, December 8, 2020. Details to follow!
Anna-Maria Stephen Keller Institute for Postgraduate Education Late spring is always a very special time at AMC as we say goodbye to our class of graduating interns and residents, while welcoming a new group of young veterinarians who have secured coveted spots in our renowned postgraduate education program. While the schedule has changed slightly due to the ongoing pandemic, we are still on track to celebrate 23 rotating interns, four specialty interns, and 11 residents at a virtual graduation ceremony on June 18th and to welcome a new class of interns and residents later this summer. We are extremely grateful to our graduates for their unwavering commitment during these last few unexpected months of their training.
Usdan Institute for Animal Health Education During this pandemic, AMC and the Usdan Institute have served as a reliable and trusted resource to pet owners around the world. Dr. Ann Hohenhaus and other AMC staff have been featured in stories across all media platforms. Catch up on these stories by clicking the links below: https://1010wins.radio.com/articles/featurearticle/pets-and-coronavirus-what-you-need-toknow https://1010wins.radio.com/articles/featurearticle/pets-and-the-virus-new-recommendationsfrom-amc? https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/24/realestate/ youre-quarantined-is-it-time-to-get-a-puppy.html https://www.marthastewart.com/272075/puppypotty-training-tips For the most up-to-date information, please visit the special Covid-19 section of our website at https://www.amcny.org/COVID-19-and-Pets. Finally, please make sure you don’t miss any of our upcoming online lectures. The full schedule can be found at https://www.amcny.org/meet-amc/ events/#event=usdan-events
Our graduating residents recently presented their resident research projects, which are a required component of their training. Their work included a retrospective study of proliferative urethritis in dogs; evaluation of efficacy, tolerability and adverse effects of high gabapentin in dogs treated for neuropathic pain; and the use of MRI in differentiating cats with otitis media/ internal and neoplasia affecting the middle and inner ear. Hats off to all these veterinarians who bring so much to AMC during their years of training with us and who take a wealth of knowledge and experience with them to advance the field of veterinary medicine.
Graduating Resident Dr. Jennifer Repac
Urgent Care Fast Track To ensure that AMC clients never have to choose between their own safety and their pet’s health, AMC has developed an Urgent Care Fast Track process, which provides access to excellent, contact-free urgent care from our ER Specialists, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Our urgent care team, supervised by board certified specialists in emergency and critical care and experienced ER staff doctors, is committed to getting pets home safely and swiftly, without clients ever needing to enter the building. Because AMC is both a Level 1 Trauma Center-fully equipped to handle any type of emergency, as well as a specialty hospital, our patients have on-site access to experts in numerous veterinary specialties, to ensure quick and collaborative multi-disciplinary care, if necessary. Before heading over to AMC, our doctors are here to answer any questions you have on our Urgent Care Hotline at 212-329-8608.
For Your Consideration While AMC is here to take care of your pets, we also want to make sure that you take care of you during this time of isolation and uncertainty. Judith Harbour, AMC’s clinical social worker, suggests the following activity to help ease emotional and psychological stress, and keep you healthy and well during this time: Create A “Finding Joy” Vision Board • Make a list of activities, memories, and furry or human loved ones that bring you joy and peace. • Assemble pictures, word prompts and/or drawings into a collage. You can tape items onto a board or directly onto a space on your wall. • Place your collage in a prominent location to remind you of things that bring positive feelings in a challenging time. Although we are unable to gather in person, AMC’s pet loss support group continues to meet virtually. For more information, visit https://www.amcny.org/pet-loss-support-group
Find Us on Social Media: facebook.com/theanimalmedicalcenter twitter.com/amcny instagram.com/amcny linkedin.com/company/the-animal-medical-center To learn more about the Usdan Institute for Animal Health Education, visit: amcny.org/usdaninstitute