NVMA Veterinary News - Spring 2022

VETERINARY NEWS A publication for members of the Nebraska Veterinary Medical Association

Back in the Groove

2022 - The year we get back to a new kind of normal.

SPRING ISSUE 2022

>>SAVE THE DATE<< NEBRASKA VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION

TOURNAMENT 2022 JUNE 16, 2022

$60/golfer

8 am Registration 9 am Tee Time Start Lunch to Follow

PLACE Meadowlark Hills Golf Course 3300 30th Avenue Kearney, NE 68845

CONTACT Dr. Ron Wallman 402-641-1480(c) ronald.wallman@gmail.com Annette Wallman 402-641-5008(c)

PRESIDENT’S LETTER

Getting Back in the Groove

by Shari Sandoz, DVM

I would like to thank Dr. Jeremy Young for serving as past president and Dr. Steve Krull for serving as president on the Executive Board in 2021. These last two years have been a whirlwind with some unprecedented times. It is an honor to serve as your 2022 president, and I am looking forward to all the opportunities this year.

The year began with our Annual Winter Conference at the Crowne Plaza in Kearney, Nebraska in January. We had a great turnout for our hybrid meeting with 168 in-person attendees and 131 virtual attendees.

It was great to see everyone in person finally, to gather as colleagues and friends for a productive meeting, and to get back to some sense of normalcy. Due to Covid and canceling previous meetings, this year the winter and summer meetings happened to fall back-to-back in Kearney; however, many of those in attendance noted a very positive experience at the Crowne Plaza. We look forward to seeing you at the summer meeting, which will take place in Kearney at the Crowne Plaza, June 16-18.

The winter meeting will take place in Omaha (La Vista) in January 2023. We hope to see you there. A big thank you for all who serve on the CE Committee for their continued commitment of putting together fantastic CE meetings for the association. Stay tuned for some exciting news for future meetings with the NVMA. Through the years, we have realized that we face many issues in both our individual lives and the profession of Veterinary Medicine. You may ask, how do issues get resolved? The answer? Get involved. How can you get involved in your association? 1) Join and/or keep your membership to the NVMA current. 2) Volunteer: volunteer for something you are passionate about and approach each day with passion! For example, volunteer for the CE committee, the Legislative committee, the Finance committee or even the board and represent your district.

Do you want to see a certain change in your association?

It starts with you and your feedback and input. I can assure you, that you will receive far more in return, than what you contribute.

The Board has been very busy already this year with the first board meeting-taking place on March 17 in Grand Island. Most members wore green; however, I was disappointed corned beef and cabbage did not make the menu! Some of the important information addressed during the board meeting included the: NVMA health insurance, P10 Program, graduation gifts, budget review, renewing the contract with Zulkowski/ Weber (our lobbyist), updating bylaws, policies and procedures, and increasing involvement for various committees.

The board received updated reports: Nebraska State Veterinarian Dr. Roger Dudley, spoke on current issues of EHV and Avian Influenza and Dr. David Ylander and Dr. Theresa Kelliher shared the AVMA delegates report. Dr. Scott McVey presented information from the UNL School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences and Dr. Liz Farrington shared a report from the Nebraska Board of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery.

Dina Michael, our previous executive director, is joining MK Strategies and will be championing the Power of Ten Program, after the program ceased previously due to Covid in 2020. This spring, the Class of 2020 will start classes in the program again. This is a program that Dina is very passionate about and we are excited to have her working with this program.

As your 2022 President, I will be traveling a lot this spring to represent the NVMA. Stops will include: in person to the Nebraska FFA convention, ISU/UNL White Coat Ceremony, abd PPVM graduation reception to name a few.

I am excited to welcome the new graduates to our wonderful, yet challenging profession on behalf of the NVMA. I will also be attending the AVMA Convention and House of Delegates meetings July 27-Aug 2, 2022 in Philadelphia.

In closing, your NVMA association is here for you! We are trying to do our best to get back in the groove of “normalcy.” We ask that you join us: volunteer. Let us work together to make our association and our Veterinary profession the best that they can be.

Shari Sandoz, DVM

NVMA 2022 President | Dr. Sandoz may be reached at sandozshari@gmail.com

SUMMER CONFERENCE SPEAKERS JUNE 16-18, 2022 | KEARNEY, NE

FRIDAY, JUNE 17 SMALL ANIMAL - TOXICOLOGY Renee Schmid DVM, DABT, DABVT

FRIDAY AM, JUNE 17 LARGE ANIMAL - EQUINE Amy Cook DVM

FRIDAY, JUNE 17 LARGE & SMALL ANIMAL - AVIAN Don Reynolds PhD, DVM

Dr. Renee Schmid is the Manager, Veterinary Medicine and Professional Services, Pet Poison Helpline and Senior Veterinary Toxicologist for Pet Poison Helpline/SafetyCall International. She has been with the organization since 2013 during which time she has had the opportunity to lead the team of veterinarians that span across the country and contribute to the management of the daily operations of Pet Poison Helpline. Dr. Schmid graduated from Kansas State University with a BS degree in Agriculture/Animal Science as well as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree.

Dr. Cook grew up on a farm near Gretna, Nebraska. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and spent the next 10 years pursing various animal science careers encompassing equine nutrition, feedlot work and race horse management. In 2013 she received her DVM from Iowa State University, receiving the Large Animal Clinical Excellence Award. Following graduation she completed a rigorous one-year hospital internship at Kendall Road Equine Hospital in Elgin, Il.

Dr. Don Reynolds is a poultry veterinarian and professor in the School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.

Dr. Cook is familiar with many western and English riding styles and has an appreciation for performance horses of all disciplines. She enjoys riding, raising and showing working cow horses in her free time. Dr. Cook is a member of the American Association of Equine Practitioners, American Veterinary Medical Association. She and her husband and son reside near Ashland, Nebraska with their horses and dogs.

Dr. Reynolds received his B.S., D.V.M. and Ph.D. degrees from The Ohio State University. His academic qualifications include studying under the mentorship of Dr. Y. M. Saif, perhaps the most renowned poultry disease expert in the world today. Dr. Reynolds began his academic career at Iowa State University in the College of Veterinary Medicine in 1986 as an assistant professor performing research in the area of poultry diseases with emphases on enteric viral diseases of poultry and Newcastle disease. He moved through the faculty ranks to become a tenured professor and is nationally and internationally known for his work in poultry diseases.

While at Pet Poison Helpline, Dr. Schmid has managed over 25,000 cases involving animal poisoning and has presented on leadership and various toxins at both regional and national conferences. Dr. Schmid has published scientific book chapters on the topics of thyroid supplements, diuretic drug intoxication, xylitol intoxication, general poisoning therapy, strychnine toxicosis, Compound 1080 toxicosis, anticoagulant rodenticide poisoning, cholecalciferol rodenticide poisoning, toxicities from human drugs – cardiovascular and poisonous plants:

Dr. Reynolds recognized that the poultry industry is growing rapidly in Nebraska. In response, developed the Big Red Biosecurity Program to help producers have the greatest opportunity for success by protecting their flock from disease and their investment from the associated economic losses.

FRIDAY PM, JUNE 17 LARGE ANIMAL - FEEDLOT MGMT Dan Thomson DVM, PhD, MS

SATURDAY, JUNE 18 SMALL ANIMAL - ONCOLOGY Rachel Venable DVM, MS, DACVIM (Oncology)

SATURDAY, JUNE 18 LARGE ANIMAL - TOXICOLOGY Scott Radke DVM, MS, DABVT

Dr. Dan Thomson is a third-generation bovine veterinarian from Clearfield, IA. Dr. Thomson received his BS in Animal Science and DVM from Iowa State University. Dr. Thomson completed an MS in Ruminant Nutrition from South Dakota State University and a PhD in Ruminant Nutrition from Texas Tech University.

Dr. Venable is Board Certified as a medical oncologist from the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.

Dr. Venable has always been surrounded by animals growing up on a farm in the Midwest. She obtained her veterinary degree from the University of Missouri and graduated cum laude.

After veterinary school, Dr. Venable pursued further training as a small animal intern at the University of Georgia. She then completed her 3 year medical oncology residency at the world renowned Colorado State Flint Animal Cancer Center.

Dr. Radke is a 2016 graduate of the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine. He is originally from northwest Iowa where he grew up on his family’s farm. He completed his post-doctoral residency training and MS in toxicology at Iowa State University in 2018.

Dr. Thomson was an associate veterinarian with Veterinary Research and Consulting Services in Greeley, CO. He then served as the Director of Animal Health and Well-being for Cactus Feeders in Amarillo, TX. He was the veterinary consultant for their 10 commercial feedlots that fed 1.2 million head of cattle per year and directed their animal health research at the Cactus research facility. Dr. Thomson still practices feedlot medicine in Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, and Texas.

Thomson is an owner/partner in PAC veterinary and research services which oversees the veterinary care, health, and well-being for 20% of the U.S. cattle of feed.

Thomson is the founder and host of Doc Talk, a nationally aired beef cattle health veterinary show on television.

He has hosted over 400 episodes of the show in its ninth season that reaches over 45 million homes world-wide.

She is the founder of Pet Cancer Care Consulting a cutting edge teleconsulting service which consults with the family vet and pet owner together to give personalized responses and needed information to make an informed decision on treatments. Her oncology philosophy is one of a team-based approach with the family and referring veterinarians for compassionate, individualized care, and optimal quality of life for cancer patients and their families.

He joined the faculty at Iowa State University as a clinical assistant professor in 2019 within the Department of Veterinary Diagnostic and Production Animal Medicine and currently serves as a diagnostic veterinary toxicologist. He coordinates diagnostic cases while also teaching veterinary toxicology as part of the core veterinary curriculum. In 2021, Scott became a Diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Toxicology.

2022 NVMA SUMMER CONFERENCE

Full conference schedule and registration will be posted on the NVMA website - nvma.org on or before May 1, 2022.

BACK FOR 2022

TEAM

ROPING

FRIDAY, JUNE 17TH

BUFFALO COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS KEARNEY NEBRASKA SIGN-IN BY 5:30 PM | ROPE AT 6PM NVMA MEMBER ROPING 3 Head Progressive Pick a Partner $20 a roper | $40 a team OPEN ROPING - NO CAP 3 Head / Progressive on 1 Pick 1 / Draw 2 or Draw 3 $120 entry 3x NEW for 2022  Friday evening roping  Cash payout based on number of teams  Buckles sponsored by Zoetis  Roper eligibility includes: Any veterinarian, veteirnary practice staff, veterinary industry representative, or family of a veterinarian/veterinary practice staff  Stalls available June 16-18 @ $25/day PREREGISTRATION STRONGLY ENCOURAGED BY JUNE 16 Questions and Registration - call or text Dr. Barrett Huneke 402-821-7487 Stock contractor - Stewart Huneke

Highlights from State Veterinarian Dr. Roger Dudley The Nebraska Department of Agricultures continues to look for a Deputy State Veterinarian. The position is based out of Lincoln supervising our 5 field veterinarians and managing several programs in the department. To learn more about the position go to Deputy State Veterinarian | Job Details tab | Career Pages on www.governmentjobs.com.

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza – HPAI  Nationally over 22 million birds have been affected in 24 states with 72 commercial sites and 46 backyard flocks. Wild birds have been the main cause of disease in most cases. To date there has not been much evidence of the virus spreading farm to farm.

 In NE, our first detection:

Wild birds was on March 4th in Lancaster County. To learn more about the wild bird detections nationally, visit USDA website: www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/animal-disease-information/avian/avian-influenza/

 Captive birds was on March 15th in a backyard in Merrick county. We have had 2 backyard flocks in Merrick and

Scottsbluff counties and 2 commercial flocks in Butler county. With a total of almost 1 million birds affected in NE.

 Please visit our website Avian Influenza | Nebraska Department of Agriculture to learn more about Avian Influenza and the current outbreak.

Fonner Park Equine Herpes Myeloencephalopathy (EHM)  On March 10th NDA learned of an EHM case at Fonner Park in one horse barn.

 NDA quarantined 800 horses until April 1st when the majority of the horses were able to be released following 21 days

from their last exposure. All the affected horses have been out of one barn at the track and those horses (Approx 100) remain under quarantine.

 USDA and Anicell Biotech have been doing a trial at Fonner Park with an Equine Amnionic Tissue Extract that has

antimicrobial activities. So far the product has shown promise in healing EHM affected horses as well as reducing shedding of other horses. The hope is to get enough information out of this trial to demonstrate this product can be used in EHM incidents in the future to reduce the amount of time that horses have to remain quarantined.

Emergency Preparedness  FMD vaccine plan development – NDA is working on an FMD vaccine plan to assist us in making decision during an FMD incident where we would likely have limited vaccine available. This plan will help determine which animals are the priority for vaccine and how we can distribute the vaccine while maintaining control of who can administer the vaccine.

 NDA along with UNL continue to work on the Secure Beef Supply plans by reaching out to primarily feedlots to develop plans that will help the feedlot be prepared to deal with an FMD outbreak. The plans are made to help continuity of business while not spreading the disease during an FMD outbreak.

 NDA along with NE Pork Producers continue to do outreach on Secure Pork Supply plans.

As with the Secure Beef Supply Plans the goal is to have business continuity during an African Swine Fever, Classical Swine Fever or FMD outbreak while not spreading the disease.

FDA issues final guidance on animal drug compounding from bulk drug substances

On Wednesday, April 13th, the FDA published final guidance clarifying when the agency does not intend to take enforcement action against those who compound drugs for veterinary patients from bulk drug substances.

This guidance—Guidance for Industry #256 (GFI #256), Compounding Animal Drugs from Bulk Drug Substances—clarifies the parameters within which veterinarians may use compounded drugs that are prepared from bulk drug substances.

FROM WWW.FDA.GOV This guidance is intended for veterinarians, State-licensed pharmacies, and Federal facilities interested in compounding animal drugs from bulk drug substances for use in nonfood-producing animals, as antidotes in food-producing animals, or as sedatives or anesthetics in free-ranging wildlife under limited circumstances when no other medically appropriate treatment options exist.

Under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act), the compounding of an animal drug from bulk drug substances results in a “new animal drug” that must comply with the FD&C Act’s animal drug approval, conditional approval, or indexing requirements (sections 512, 517, and 572 of the FD&C Act). In addition, all animal drugs are required to, among other things, be made in accordance with current good manufacturing practice (cGMP) requirements (section 501(a)(2)(B) of the FD&C Act) and have adequate directions for use (section 502(f)(1) of the FD&C Act).

Animal drugs that are compounded from bulk drug substances do not meet the FD&C Act’s new animal drug approval, cGMP, or adequate directions for use requirements. However, FDA has generally exercised enforcement discretion with regard to animal drug compounding from bulk drug substances under certain circumstances. This guidance is a continuation of this practice and is intended to provide additional information and clarity to veterinarians and pharmacists about FDA’s current thinking on this matter. The guidance identifies FDA’s enforcement priorities regarding animal drugs compounded from bulk drugs substances and describes the circumstances under which FDA, at this time and based on our current understanding of the risks of animal drugs compounded from bulk drug substances, does not intend to take enforcement action for violations of the FD&C Act with respect to the compounding of animal drugs from bulk drug substances.

For more information on compounding animal drugs, please visit the FDA webpage on Animal Drug Compounding.

Are you a member of the AVMA? As an AVMA member, you play a critical role by letting AVMA know your thoughts on the final FDA guidance and by identifying bulk drug substances that you believe should be available for compounding for office stock and dispensing. Contact the AVMA at compounding@avma.org.

If you are not an AVMA member, please email the NVMA and we will communicate with the AVMA on your behalf.

Contact the NVMA at nvmaorg@gmail.com

Are you prepared for a cyberattack?

How to keep your data and patient files safe

A regular day at the clinic turned into a potential nightmare when Dr. Matt Croskery, practice owner at Oakpark Pet Hospital in Oakville, Ont., couldn’t access a digital X-ray. “We tried to access another X-ray, but again, we couldn’t access it, so we called Idexx and it confirmed it wasn’t an issue on their end,” he says. Eventually, the problem was identified as ransomware.

Ransomware is malicious software designed to block access to a computer system until a sum of money is paid. Paying the ransom doesn’t guarantee your data will be restored.

After unplugging all 24 of their computer stations, Martin Brassard, an IT professional from Progressive Thinking, advised the clinic not to use any of their computers due to the risk of the virus regenerating and freezing Oakpark’s files and data.

“If you believe your computer or server is infected by a virus, malware or ransomware, the first thing you should do is unplug the network cable, turn off all wireless connections and don’t connect any of the connected USB memory devices to another computer until they’ve been scanned for the virus,” Brassard explains.

Why it could happen to you

Nancy Dewitz, a veterinary technology consultant with Beyond Indigo Pets, says veterinary practices are often easy targets. “The programmers behind ransomware see veterinary clinics as easy targets because they know how valuable the patient files are to a veterinarian, and they also know most veterinarians don’t think anyone would be interested in their data,” she says.

Most veterinary teams might think their client and patient information wouldn’t be valuable to a hacker, but it’s really about how valuable the information is to the clinic. How much are veterinarians willing to pay to get their patient files back?

Ransomware can linger in the background on a computer network until it’s triggered. “The hacker doesn’t care when it happens, since they’re doing this to multiple people or businesses,” says Dewitz. “They just look to have it triggered to take over the system, so the owner/user can’t get any access to their files.”

For Dr. Croskery, it was tempting to pay the ransom, so he could continue operating for the day. “We had a fully booked schedule for the day,” he says. “Shutting down the entire server meant we couldn’t call clients. We didn’t know which clients had appointments booked. We had clients coming into the clinic, but we didn’t know what they were here for. I had 15 staff scheduled, but there was nothing they could do. I just thought, ‘That’s it, we’re done because we’ve lost everything’.”

After Brassard screened all computers, he was able to determine only the hard drive was infected, not the backup drive. The process of getting an IT team to the clinic to “clean” the computers and download the backup took eight hours. It ended up being a costly day. Luckily, the ransomware was discovered first thing in the morning, so Oakpark only lost 90 minutes of data.

Prevention

Prevention is key when it comes to protecting your data and patient files. Whether it’s preventing viruses and ransomware or a fire or a flood, prevention of data loss is important. Dewitz has witnessed significant data loss in a veterinary practice and knows how expensive it can be for a hospital. She says most clinic teams are unaware of what information is being backed up sufficiently.

“Often, hospitals will purchase auxiliary systems such as a digital X-ray, plug it into its existing network and assume it will be backed up with the rest of the hospital’s digital information,” she says. “But it doesn’t work that way.” Radiographs and ultrasound images are especially important because they’re a snapshot in time and can’t be duplicated once lost.

It’s important to take inventory of the types of data you store. Go through every computer in the hospital to see what kind of files are on each computer. Determine if the data is: 1. Mission critical: Practice management data, medical record data, images, accounting data, lab data 2. Critical: Client documents, document templates, employee records 3. Noncritical: Newsletters, past calendars, anything that may never be needed again but is important to have on file 4. Personal: Staff pet pictures, vacation pictures, funny videos, etc.

Once you’ve collected inventory of the data stored, you can determine what needs to be backed up to off-site storage. Mission critical and critical information should be backed up both on site and off site automatically.

Dewitz strongly recommends backing up everything on site because it provides immediate access to data, it’s less expensive and Internet access isn’t required.

However, in the event of a catastrophic event, on-site

data storage can be destroyed. By having both on-site and off-site backup, a problem with one can be offset by data recovery from the other.

On-site vs. off-site storage

Consider your on-site and off-site options for backing up your hospital’s information. Off-site back up means using cloud-based storage.

“Storing data in the cloud means you send data over the Internet to a secure server (the cloud) where it’s stored,” says Dewitz. When considering cloud storage, Dewitz says it’s important to research and choose the right company. “Be sure it is a reputable business where everything sent to the cloud is encrypted, including the information from your practice management software,” she says.

On-site storage entails storing important data on a regular basis on local storage devices, such as network attached storage (NAS), removable hard drives or tape storage. NAS drives connect to a router via ethernet or Wi-Fi and are visible to any computer connected to that network. Because they operate over your network, NAS drives centralize backup for all the computers in the hospital.

Removable hard drives allow for easy transfer and better connection from your computers’ internal to external hard drive. The main disadvantage is they can be easily damaged if dropped or shaken, and removable hard drives can be affected by heat, magnetism and sunlight.

Tape storage is one of the least expensive forms of storage, allowing you to store more data for less money than other options, but it can be slower to access the data.

Educate, protect and backup

In Dewitz’s experience with vet clinics, a computer virus is usually traced back to a staff member “unintentionally opening the door and giving the hacker the key.”

Sometimes staff are contacted over the phone by a person posing as a Microsoft representative who will walk the staff member through a few steps that allows the hacker to gain remote access to infect the computer.

“There tends to be a misconception that the younger generation knows technology and therefore they will be careful not to infect a computer by clicking on an infected link or giving a hacker access to the computer network, but that’s not the case,” says Dewitz. “This can happen to any of your staff.”

While most clinics have a version of anti-spy and anti-virus software, which is still imperative in keeping computer files protected, many clinics don’t keep it updated. “It’s really important to work with a good IT group to keep up-to-date with protective software,” says Dewitz. “The programmers who create these viruses or ransomware are constantly working on how to get around anti-virus software, so it would be easy for them to infect a vet clinic’s computer system if its anti-virus software has lapsed.”

Separate Wi-Fi for staff and guests is another protective step. Staff, clients or industry representatives may innocently request Wi-Fi access, making it easy for anything infected on their device to get onto your computer network.

A separate computer in the clinic is recommended for times when a device, such as a USB stick or mobile phone, is needed to upload or transfer files. “Sometimes staff will upload pet pictures from their phone or a USB stick, and end up infecting the clinic computers because of a virus on their device,” says Dewitz.

Dr. Croskery used to back up his hospital’s data once a week, but now it’s backed up three times a day to an off-site server. He also unplugs the external hard drive.

“We would have to start from square one if the backups were infected, so we’re doing everything possible to ensure that doesn’t happen.”

Brassard recommends regular testing and maintenance of back-up servers. He says it’s also important to know where all your disks are to reinstall your software and to know your passwords. “It will help save time if you must rebuild your system,” he says. “With a good backup and disaster recovery strategy, you should be back up and running within a few hours with minimal data loss.”

Dewitz says veterinary hospitals need to make data protection a priority to prevent expensive, unnecessary loss of patient files, images and other documentation. “A clinic is only as good as its last back up,” she says. Everyone on the team needs to understand the importance of backing everything up and understand the consequences of data loss. Dewitz recommends talking about it at every staff meeting so it’s top of mind for everyone.

“Making sure that data is constantly backed up is just as important as locking the door at night, and it needs to be part of the regular routine in running a hospital,” she says.

This article is shared by Trista Shastri, OVMA Director of Business Development and Strategic Initiatives

In the moment: short-term wellness strategies We all face times when we feel stressed, anxious, or uneasy. Try some of these strategies to help anchor yourself in the present. Take yourself from “mind full” to “mindful” by finding a strategy that helps remove distractions and emotions. Here are a few examples: Grounding. Grounding techniques help bring yourself back to the present by focusing on the senses (sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch). Things you can do, include: Breathing exercises to increase your vagal tone o 4-7-8 technique: breathe in for four seconds, hold for seven seconds, out for eight seconds. o Belly breathing: place your hand on your belly just below your ribs and push it out as you inhale deeply through your nose. Breathe out again through pursed lips, as if you were whistling.

Try the 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 method to reduce anxiety o Name five things you can see around you. o Name four physical items you can feel at this moment (i.e. the chair you are sitting on, the floor under your feet). o Name three sounds you can hear right now. o Name two things you can smell in the air right now. o Name one good thing about yourself.

Trace the outline of an object with your eye o Notice every detail, on every surface you can access. o Describe the object as you would to someone who is trying to reproduce the object and has never seen or heard of it. o Consider colours, shapes, textures, size.

Exercise mindfulness. Similar to some of the grounding techniques, mindfulness is a practice that can help with short and long-term stress reduction and improve your mental health. Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, which is meditation-based, has been shown to help reduce symptoms of both anxiety and depression. Mindfulness meditation practices can improve attention, memory capacity and executive function. It’s all about having an increased awareness and acceptance of living in the present moment.

Meditation doesn’t have to be formal or overly complicated. In fact, some of the grounding exercises above are simple forms of meditation. Mindfulness meditation is focused on what you experience during meditation, such as your heartbeat or breathing. Some of the keys include a quiet setting, comfortable position, focused attention, relaxed breathing and an open mind.

There are many mobile apps that can walk you through short and simple exercises to improve wellness. A few of the most popular apps are Headspace, Journey, Calm and Insight Timer.

Short physical activity. If you prefer a more concrete approach, physical activity can act not only as a distraction, but also halt some of the hormonal pathways that are activated with stress. Stretching or yoga can be very relaxing and improve your range of motion. Even a 10-minute walk during a break can help.

Asking for (and accepting) help. Speak with a coworker you trust or phone a colleague when you need advice. If they can’t help you directly, they may be able to help you brainstorm solutions. Recognizing that expressing emotions isn’t unprofessional and acknowledging that your work affects you will help you move forward.

-I Matter is a platform to equip veterinarians with knowledge and strategies to help them better cope with and respond to the challenges they face in their professional and personal lives. For more wellness resources, visit i-matter.ca.

Behind the Scenes of the NVMA Meet the team at MK Strategies

MEGAN KILGORE President/CEO

TESHA HOFF Director of Member Experience

DINA MICHEL P10 Program Coordinator

Megan Kilgore, president/CEO, started MK Strategies in 2017 while serving as the executive director for the Kansas Veterinary Medical Association. Megan serves as the executive director for the NVMA providing association management services and strategy development.

Tesha Hoff, director of member experience, started with MK Strategies in December 2020. She provides all IT support for the NVMA - from website updates, overseeing the membership database, and directing all virtual access to NVMA conferences.

Dina Michel, P10 program coordinator, is no stranger to the Nebraska Veterinary Medical Association having served as the executive director for 17 years. In March 2022, Dina joined MK Strategies to provide program coordination for the Power of Ten program.

An Animal Sciences and Industry graduate from Kansas State University, after career paths in marketing and communications, economic development, fundraising, and event planning, Megan found her passion with the veterinary profession. She worked for Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine as director of Alumni Affairs and Events for a number of years before becoming executive director for the Kansas VMA in 2014.

Megan was recognized by the Veterinary Medical Association Executives and nominated to the board of directors in 2016, serving as the president in 2020. Her leadership experience, as well as a strong understanding of state and federal advocacy, provides a strong foundation for the NVMA. Megan lives on her family farm in Lyndon, KS with her husband, an Ag teacher, and her son, an incredibly active middle-schooler. Their family spends plenty of time at sporting events and love to show livestock both locally and nationally.

Tesha has been in the veterinary association industry for 20 years. She began at the Colorado VMA in 2002 serving as their project manager. She left the Colorado VMA in 2004 to work from home as an independent contractor while raising her family.

She joined the Veterinary Medical Association Executives 17 years ago as their Association Manager and continues to serve with them. Along the way she has previously provided services to the Association of Shelter Veterinarians and the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation.

Tesha now lives in the Pacific Northwest in Camas, WA with her husband, two teenage boys, and two cats

Dina brings an unbelievable passion for leadership development to the team as one of the founding members of the VMAE Power of Ten program. She has seen firsthand how important it is to bring individuals together early in their career to foster a sense of community.

The Power of Ten program has been a huge success for the Nebraska Veterinary Medical Association. After a nearly two year hiatus, the program will kickoff again this summer.

NVMA OFFERS TWO GREAT WAYS TO ADVERTISE NVMA Classifieds and the Veterinary Career Center

The NVMA Classifieds provide a complimentary posting for members to advertise position openings, practices for sale and equipment for sale. The listings are intended to be posted for 90 days or until the positions have been filled or practices and equipment has been sold. Non-members are allowed to post in the NVMA classifieds for a fee.

Another way for members to advertise open positions is through the Veterinary Career Center. The Career Center provides an opportunity for members to advertise on a nationwide, searchable on-line website. Advertising costs due apply however NVMA members receive a discount. As a part of the Veterinary Career Network, your Association receives a commission for each advertisement an NVMA member places. These non-dues revenue opportunities assist in program development and added member benefits.

NEW OPPORTUNITY! The NVMA is developing a list of relief veterinarians for Nebraska. Do you provide relief services and would like to be added to the list? Simply visit nvma.org/career-center/relief-veterinarians/ and click on “add your name as a relief veterinarian” tab and the NVMA staff will do the rest. Relief veterinarians will be listed in the Veterinary News each publication.

Are you interested in placing a classified listing with the NVMA? Simply email your ad to tesha.hoff@gmail.com. We ask that classifieds are kept to approximately 75 words with no special formatting.

NVMA CLASSIFIEDS

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES Full Time Veterinarian at Animal Clinic West O Street [Ogallala, NE] Animal Clinic is seeking an enthusiastic veterinarian to join our fast-paced and progressive mixed-animal practice. Nestled in the beautiful sandhills of Ogallala, NE, our established hospital offers the perfect opportunity for motivated individuals to pursue high quality patient care while utilizing premier technologies and facilities. With four veterinarians, four technicians, and several support personnel on staff, our team is well equipped to foster success and mentorship in any new additions.

- Practice caseload 50% small animal/50% large animal (comprised mainly cow-calf and equine) - Service area spanning over a 100 mile radius with additional satellite clinic location - Access to novel diagnostics and therapeutics in both hospital and ambulatory settings - Near proximity to referral services at Colorado State and Kansas State Universities - Competitive compensation with benefits including paid CE, 401K, paid vacation/holiday/sick - Personal fully stocked service vehicle utilized for field work and business related travel - Minimal emergency load with on call hours split evenly between veterinarians Ogallala itself is well known for a small town feel while still offering plenty of attractive amenities. Located just minutes from Lake McConaughy, the area’s recreation and leisure activities are second to none no matter the season. Driven individuals can expect professional development, lifestyle fulfillment, and career success in this unique practice environment.

Full Time Associate Veterinarian at Ridgeview Animal Hospital [Omaha, NE] We are growing in 2022! Join our team! We have 4 clinics in the Omaha suburbs that work together and share resources to make work-life balance achievable. Our great reputation with employees and the community are earned through our focus on compassion, family, teamwork, and trust. We are progressive – always looking to improve in all aspects. Our vets get to practice high quality medicine and surgery, supported by an amazing technical and management team. Each location operates independently, so no rotation between clinics, but a network in the community for resources and support. Our hours are great. Pay and benefits are competitive. Quality of life is unbeaten. We are currently planning to add an associate at Walnut, Ridgeview, and Skyline this year to accommodate growth. We have staffed our facilities for this growth. Grow with us! Must be licensed or able to get licensed in Nebraska, play nice in the sandbox, be a relationship builder with clients, and practice excellent medicine, surgery, and dentistry. We have an on boarding process for new grads that we are very proud of. We encourage applicants to interview our team. Email: drgaines@theridgevet.com Call: 402-699-5105 Full Time Associate Veterinarian at Sunrise Hill Veterinary Hospital, PC [Creighton, NE] We are a well-established (est. 1980) progressive mixed animal practice located in Creighton, NE (Creighton.org). Our city boasts an excellent public and parochial school system. We have excellent fishing and waterfowl, turkey, deer hunting opportunities. We are a compassionate, family-oriented team that is dedicated to the well-being of our employees’ families, and to the well-being of our clients and their families. We desire to add an associate veterinarian to our team that is motivated and has a passion for excellence.

Our practice consists of 60% large animal and 40% small animal. Our facilities consist of excellent haul-in facilities that include a heated indoor surgical area and double garage, C & S hydraulic chute, dedicated calf care unit and SA isolation area. We have a portable Powder River manual chute and two portable Silencer hydraulic chutes. We offer grooming and boarding services.

Equipment and instrumentation to support our LA & SA practice include in house bloodwork capabilities (VetScan 2), Cornerstone electronic/digital records, CR digital portable Ultra HF X-Ray, ultrasonic scaler/polisher dental unit, isoflurane gas anesthesia, digital IV pump, Shoreline hydraulic surgical table, two ultrasound units (PIE medical Answer 456 and Easiscan: GO) and phase-contrast binocular microscope. Salary: Competitive ($72,000-108,000), is negotiable with experience. Practice vehicle provided. Benefits: Two weeks paid vacation, sick days, PTO, continuing education stipend to maintain NE licensure, paid NVMA and AVMA memberships, mentoring environment great for experienced veterinarian or new graduate, future ownership opportunity. Lynn A. Guthmiller, DVM, 402-360-4232 (Cell), 402-358-5631 (Vet. Hosp),drlguth@gmail.com

EQUIPMENT FOR SALE Utrecht Fetatome Set – includes gigli wire passer with brush, wire handles and Hauptner saw wire introducer. $275.00; Rice Pelvimeter. $125.00; SPE Bovine ejaculator: Bull and ram probes, bull probe slightly cracked but functions well, includes cords, handle for collection, charger and case - This unit will hold a charge all day plus. $750.00 Call or text (308)631-0028 or email: eqdrchc@earthlink.net

“NEW RESOURCE” - RELIEF VETERINARIANS Mark Tracy, DVM | Large Animal, Mixed | Franklin, NE | 308-962-6445 Nathan Kotschwar, DVM | Small animal, Large animal, Mixed animal, Emergency | Statewide | 308-737-9033

MEETINGS, COMMITTEES, & EVENTS NVMA BOARD OF DIRECTORS May 19, 2022 - Virtual Meeting

September 15, 2022 - Virtual Meeting December 15, 2022 - Grand Island, NE March 16, 2023 - Grand Island, NE

NVMA CE COMMITTEE MEETINGS May 18, 2022 - Virtual Meeting June 15, 2022 - Kearney, NE September 14, 2022 - Virtual Meeting September 15, 2022 - Virtual Meeting December 14, 2022 - Grand Island, NE December 15, 2022 - Grand Island, NE January 25, 2023 - Omaha (La Vista), NE March 16, 2023 - Grand Island, NE

UPCOMING EVENTS

ISU/UNL PPVM GRADUATION May 6, 2022 | 11:00 am | Ames, IA 2022 NVMA MEMORIAL GOLF TOURNAMENT June 16, 2022 | 8:00 am | Meadowlark Hills Golf Course | Kearney, NE 2022 NVMA SUMMER CONFERENCE June 17-18, 2022 | Crowne Plaza Hotel | Kearney, NE NVMA TEAM ROPING June 17, 2022 | 5:00 pm | Buffalo County Fairgrounds | Kearney, NE NEBRASKA STATE FAIR BIRTHING CENTER August 26 - Sept 5, 2022 | Nebraska State Fairgrounds | Grand Island, NE NVMA WINTER MEETING January 25-28, 2023 | Embassy Suites | Omaha (La Vista), NE