VOICE
WVMA
Member Spotlight – Dr. Rheba Mabie Zimmerman
WHAT’S
INSIDE 2
From the President
Show Lamb Tail Docking An Animal Welfare Issue
3
From the Executive Director
4
In the News
5
Legal Briefs
7
WVMA/OSHA Alliance
It’s Not Black and White Dr. Sarah Novak Elected to WVMA Executive Board
Q&A Session with the Wisconsin Onsite Consultation Program
11
Employee Handbook Guide
14
Marketing Beat
Who Needs to Hear Your Message?
16-19 Classified Ads
-ANNUALOCTOBER 11-13, 2018 - ALLIANT ENERGY CENTER, MADISON WI -CONVENTION-
JANUARY
TWENTY EIGHTEEN
The road to becoming a veterinarian for Dr. Rheba Mabie Zimmerman took a detour during her junior year as an undergraduate when she was forced to take a medical leave of absence from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. Once her health stabilized, she was able to obtain her undergraduate degree through an extended degree program. During the following years, she acquired a diverse occupational background including grooming and showing Old English Dr. Rheba Sheepdogs across the country, working as a newspaper journalist Mabie Zimmerman and photographer, managing cases for Big Brothers and Big Sisters, teaching tap dancing, tutoring, coaching numerous sports and substitute teaching. Her final job before attending the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine was teaching high school science and agricultural education. “My journey to becoming a veterinarian has been a long one,” says Dr. Mabie Zimmerman. “But it has allowed me to look at the profession through a different set of eyes than many of my classmates.” During her years in veterinary medical school, Dr. Mabie Zimmerman enjoyed being involved in organized veterinary medicine through her position as the UW delegate in the SAVMA Hall of Delegates. This position also opened countless opportunities for her to network with others and obtain additional knowledge by attending other events such as the SAVMA Symposium, AVMA Convention, Veterinary Leadership Experience, AAVMC Conference and Iverson Bell Symposium. “Being involved in these has showed me that individuals have a strong voice when they work together to encourage change,” she says. “I look forward to being actively involved at the state and national level in the WVMA and AVMA.” As a May 2016 graduate, Dr. Mabie Zimmerman has continued to learn while practicing small animal medicine at Dodgeville Veterinary Service. “Since starting to practice, I have been amazed at how many product names there are,” she says. “In veterinary school we didn’t get exposure to brand or generic names. It has been a learning curve remembering what each drug does on top of learning the drug names that clients know.” Fortunately, the daily and continuous learning involved in veterinary medicine is what excites Dr. Mabie Zimmerman about practicing veterinary medicine.
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