EXTERNs ON THE HILL

Submitted by Megan Lacy, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine

As I wandered through the maze of the Longworth House Office Building in Washington, DC seeking out the coffee shop that I used to frequent a mere four years ago in my former career, I swiftly realized that while the layout of Capitol Hill had not changed, I had changed drastically throughout my four years in veterinary school back home in Southwest Virginia. Now, as an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Government Relations Division (GRD) extern, I enter U.S. House and Senate Office Buildings to advocate for legislation on behalf of the veterinary medical field as a soon-to-be doctor with a scientific outlook on public policy. Though I have different priorities now, I have noticed two common threads throughout my education and career: the importance of perspective and the value of relationships, both of which have been put to extensive use during my first two weeks as an extern. 

My perspective is likely quite different from those who typically work on Capitol Hill, which allows me to speak personally about issues that are imperative to the veterinary profession.  A top legislative priority for the AVMA is to secure proper funding for the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP) and the Veterinary Service Grant Program (VSGP), both of which address rural veterinary shortages across the country. Growing up in rural Southwest Virginia, I have witnessed the decline in the number of large animal veterinarians and their practices and the impact this has had on herd health and the economic vitality of local farms. As an extern, I have realized the effect both programs have had on rural communities and the exceptional programs these funds are used to support. I have never felt prouder to be a member of the veterinary field and to come from a rural community. 

Through that community, I have learned to consider different perspectives, but I have also learned the value of relationships. Coming from a close-knit community drove home the importance of connections with other members of the community at an early age. Although I wasn’t aware of it then, I was honing a skill that would serve me greatly in my eventual career. In my previous career as a liaison between different entities at the House of Representatives, relationship-building and finding common ground were vital to my career. These skills are, of course, also essential for veterinary students and veterinarians. As an extern, I have been able to meet with congressional staff, representatives and senators, former coworkers, and amazing veterinarians involved in policy and government. The experience thus far has been enriching and fun and has allowed me to marry different experiences and skills that I have gained over the years – it has somewhat felt like home. 

After I finally found my coffee in Longworth, I headed toward another meeting in which I would meet someone new, find common ground, and share my perspective on the importance of the veterinary profession and the legislation that will continue to support and advance it.  

EXTERNS ON THE HILL

Submitted by Tannaz Zafarnia, Long Island University

We arrived right on time–which is perhaps early in DC-speak–and lingered outside on a quiet block lined with houses and blooming cherry blossoms just south of the Capitol. Dr. Lindsey Hornickel, veterinarian and the Assistant Director of the Government Relations Division at the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), and I were about to attend a Pennsylvania congresswoman’s celebration for her new chief of staff. 

We saw a few others stroll up to the entrance of the unassuming white house (of smaller and more humble stature compared to the White House) and decided to make our way into the cozy living room repurposed into a cocktail bar. Upon entering the soiree, we were greeted by none other than the congresswoman herself. Her welcome was warm as if we were longtime friends, and she offered to hang up my coat and get me a drink. The congresswoman is offering to hang up my coat? Disarmed by her modesty, I complied.

After more people had joined, the congresswoman began her welcoming remarks honoring and celebrating her trusted former scheduler now chief of staff. They reminisced on their momentous victories in Congress and discussed the challenges ahead. Someone in the crowd had asked what we (a mixed group of individuals representing a variety of organizations and causes), could do to help them and their office, and their answer was simple–they want us to keep them informed about key issues affecting our respective groups. For the AVMA– that's currently preserving veterinary access to legitimate uses of xylazine and recruiting and retaining veterinarians in rural areas, along with other critical issues that could define the future of our profession—reasons why maintaining positive relationships with congressional members on Capitol Hill is imperative. A few more stories between the congresswoman and her chief of staff were shared and a toast was made, then mingling began. 

The congresswoman approached me and emphasized her respect for veterinarians and wanted to learn more about my interests. The member of Congress wants to learn more about me? Completely softened by her affable disposition (again), I told her about my time in graduate school and then how I managed a women’s health non-profit. We talked about my journey to and through veterinary school and my plans for after. She complimented my objective to bridge my two worlds and hopefully assist in meaningful policy. She made me feel like a valuable stakeholder with importance.  

My two weeks at the AVMA as a Government Relations Veterinary Extern have been defined by similar moments. Between the team at the AVMA’s office to the lawmakers and their staffs on Capitol Hill, the policy experts I’ve engaged with have emphasized that my knowledge and expertise as a soon-to-be-veterinarian is valued, and important. I encourage every vet student to consider this opportunity during veterinary school. Your skills and education are of merit–and if you have something to say–to even a celebrated representative in Congress, you will be heard.

EXTERNS ON THE HILL

Submitted by John La Bonte, University of Arizona

Endless Opportunities in a Lifelong Career

The process of applying and gaining experience before veterinary school is not the same path for all students, but we all have the same singular goal - getting accepted. While applying, most of us have an idea of what we want to do after getting those three letters behind our name without ever thinking of the other opportunities out there. Then, we get to school, and that easy straightforward path gets all jumbled with the number of opportunities presented to us. If you are anything like me and my friends, you go back and forth on internships versus mentorship, pursuing a residency versus CE applicable to our interests, and making more money in small animal GP versus pursuing a passion in equine/bovine medicine, but making less money. 

What I have learned from my four weeks as an AVMA Government Relations Division Extern in Washington D.C. and meeting with roughly 18 veterinarians in public service is that there are endless opportunities for us as veterinarians in the public policy world and the experience you gain is valuable toward our career. The veterinarians I spoke with worked in the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) – Food Safety and Inspection Service/Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) , Food and Drug Administration (FDA), AVMA, Congress, U.S. Department of State (DOS), U.S. Agency for International Development, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The skills we have as veterinarians are transferrable and valued in areas outside of the hospital or field. Again, more options may seem overwhelming like they are in school, but it is also freeing to know we are not stuck if we want to change directions career-wise. 

At the VBMA Western Summit last year, Dr. Kristina Yee cited a study where on average people graduating from veterinary school were ready for a career change after seven years. For her, that meant opening and running her own practice. This stat has really stuck with me because I want to continue to be a postive voice in veterinary medicine that encourages people to join the profession. . While I love being in the clinic, educating clients, and getting to help people every day, I have taken opportunities in school to explore different career options beyond the traditional path most of us will pursue. For me, this has meant exploring opportunities in One Health and seeing how I can incorporate my interest in epidemiology into my career. 

The veterinarians I have met with are extremely passionate and have a desire to make an impact on a large scale. Dr. Lindsey Hornickel, an Assistant Director with the GRD, advocates on Capitol Hill on behalf of the veterinary profession to help Congress better understand the legislative needs of veterinarians. Dr. Chelsey Shivley works at USDA-APHIS as the Antimicrobial Resistance Coordinator and works to monitor antimicrobial resistance in the food and companion animal sectors. Dr. Steven Rekant, a former CDC Epidemic Intelligence Service officer, also works at USDA-APHIS as a One Health and SARS-CoV2-Coordinator. He monitors zoonotic disease reports in the U.S. and coordinates the response to those events. Dr. Jacob Merryman, a former AVMA Congressional Fellow and policy advisor at the US DOS, works on the office’s response to mosquito-borne diseases internationally. Lastly, Dr. Carmen Stamper works at the FDA-Center for Veterinary Medicine as the Health Communications Specialist where she gets to educate the public and veterinarians on newly approved drugs, general safety information, and food recalls. 

The diversity of roles that I saw veterinarians in was amazing and has encouraged me to look beyond the confines of the hospital. I graduate in August 2024, and I plan to work in a small animal GP clinic. I now plan to pursue an MPH and keep my eyes open to public service in the future. I encourage everyone to keep an open mind about their future and to know that networking with veterinarians can only benefit you. Virgina-Maryland CVM has great resources on public health veterinary medicine for any stage in your career. While I don’t know where my life will lead me, I am very excited to be a part of the profession with you all and will always keep my favorite quote in mind by Dr. Kate Baker, “you do not need to be unhappy to make a change.”

EXTERNS ON THE HILL

Submitted by John La Bonte, University of Arizona

Inside the PAC: Advocacy at All Levels 

With one ousted Speaker of the House, three Speaker hopefuls, and now a newly elected Speaker, navigating the legislative channels of Washington is difficult.  However, after two weeks as an extern at the American Veterinary Medical Association’s (AVMA) Government Relations Division (GRD) in Washington D.C. and meeting with members of Congress on Capitol Hill, I’ve witnessed firsthand that lawmakers are pushing to advance legislation that betters all aspects of our wide-ranging profession.  

During the first half of my externship here, I have attended two day-long meetings with the AVMA Political Action Committee (PAC) Board and a joint meeting between the American Association of Bovine Practitioners (AABP) and American Association of Swine Veterinarians (AASV). While the goals of these meetings were different, they both had the same objective - to advocate on behalf of the veterinary profession.

While working with the AVMA PAC board, I met with both Democrats and Republicans and saw how valuable it is to make personal connections with the elected officials supporting the AVMA’s legislative agenda. These members of Congress are supporters of AVMA-endorsed bills and on congressional committees that deal with legislation related to veterinary medicine. The conversations we had with the lawmakers attending included casual conversation to get to know them personally, the most pressing issues facing the profession such as the Combating Illicit Xylazine Act, and talking about their animals and pets. The great thing about advocating for our profession is that pets are nonpartisan, and everyone always wants to show pictures of their pets – a casual segway to how lawmakers can help veterinarians treat their patients.

I won’t lie, it can be a bit surreal to meet these people in real life that I have read about and watched on TV for so long now. Walking into an elevator and unexpectedly having Senator Bernie Sanders say, “hello” to me while I stare and struggle to find any words to respond with has made this externship a memorable experience, to say the least. 

However, you don’t have to be in Washington or an AVMA GRD extern (although you should apply) to advocate for bills that strengthen our profession. The advocacy team has recently launched a new points-based program through the AVMA’s Congressional Advocacy Network (CAN) where you can easily earn points and qualify to win prizes by “taking action.” “Taking action” through the AVMA CAN includes sending a letter to your members of Congress or signing up for the AVMA Advocate newsletter to learn about current legislation and events veterinarians are doing with lawmakers in their district. 

From what I have seen firsthand and have learned from the staff here, is that while policy can move slowly, it can also move very quickly in Congress, and we need veterinary advocates at all levels to help educate elected officials about what is best for our profession so there are no unintended consequences passed into law. We, as students and soon-to-be veterinarians, are preparing to educate our clients daily about how to help their animal or herd. We would never walk out of a new puppy exam room and not bring up pet insurance because we know that the unexpected will happen, and we want to be able to do everything we can to help. And just like our puppies, we need to ensure that our voices are heard on the federal and state levels by “taking action” and giving a strong voice to what we need legislatively as veterinarians. 

EXTERNS ON THE HILL

Submitted by Jacey Cerda, Colorado State University (AVMA Government Relations Division extern)

Where it Happens

Amid fire hose style didactic learning in the classroom that transitions to long days in the hospital, where even remembering to eat can be a challenge, few of us have time to think about policy and politics. However, as my month in Washington D.C. working with the AVMA’s government relations division (GRD) draws to a close, I reflect on how important it is for more of us veterinary students and veterinarians to be, as Hamilton told us, “in the room where it happens.” 

I recently attended a congressional committee “markup” wherein members of Congress debate the precise wording and amendments of proposed legislation. The specific bill under scrutiny pertained to the regulation of xylazine due to rising public health concerns over its illicit use as an additive agent in illegally trafficked fentanyl. The AVMA’s advocacy team has worked tirelessly over the last 18 months to make sure that any regulation of xylazine will still protect its use in veterinary medicine. They have done this by meeting with members of Congress and their staffs to educate them on the importance of xylazine across the veterinary field, creating documents on the topic for congressional offices to reference, and engaging veterinarians to speak with their representatives and during the annual AVMA Legislative Fly-In.

There are currently no veterinarians elected to Congress; therefore, the advocacy efforts of the AVMA and other veterinarians who have thus far participated in the legislative process are essential to amplifying the voice of the profession in Washington. For the first time ever, a bipartisan Veterinary Medicine Caucus was formed in the Senate to raise awareness of veterinarians’ contributions to society and help advance legislation that is critical to veterinary medicine. This represents another advocacy opportunity for the veterinary community and emphasizes to Congress that we need to be involved in the policy-making process. 

It may seem scary or outside our normal veterinary school training to be an advocate and speak with policymakers at the local, state, or federal level. This simply is not true, in fact, I would argue the opposite. To be a successful advocate you need to be able to break down a complex issue into easily understandable parts. We are already trained in and practice this skill set in veterinary school. We break down highly technical medical processes into easily understandable bits of information that our clients can use to make important decisions for their pets. We also need to be able to think about complex systems and how they interact in the minds of our policymakers and develop arguments that help policymakers navigate those complexities and yet help the veterinary field. Again, we are trained to think in complexity; we work with multiple species and understand how biological, social, and environmental factors affect our patients’ lives and health. Finally, we need to be well-respected experts in our field so that policymakers will find us credible. Luckily, we have that going for us too, we are experts in veterinary medicine and recent research suggests that society considers the veterinary field as one of the most respected professions out there. 

We have all the training and ability to be good advocates for the veterinary field; however, if we want the people in power to seek us out as resources when important legislation is before them, then they need to meet and hear from us. Thus, I encourage all veterinary students and veterinarians to take more time to understand policy and politics and get involved with the veterinary issues they care about. In that way, we can all make sure that veterinary medicine is represented in the room where policy happens.