VIRGINIA VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION | SUMMER 2026
TOWN &COUNTRY CALL
2026 Mentor Program VVMA Open House 2026 VMF Research Projects Coastal VMA CE Event
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VVMA INFORMATION
Digital Newsletter | Summer 2026 | Official Publication
VVMA STAFF
VIRGINIA VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
Talya George
3801 Westerre Parkway, Suite D Henrico, VA 23233
Executive Director
(804) 346-2611
talya@vvma.org
(804) 346-2655
Victoria Staples
info@vvma.org
Associate Director
vvma.org
victoria@vvma.org
Samantha Teunis Association Coordinator admin@vvma.org
SUBMISSION DEADLINE The deadline for receipt of copy to be included in the next issue of Town & Country Call is:
September 14, 2026 MEMBER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM & WORK-LIFE SERVICES The VVMA partners with McLaughlin Young and offers a wonderful benefit for VVMA members. The Member Assistance Program & Work-Life Services are available to VVMA members and their immediate family. Reasons to use the MAP include: financial planning, marital difficulties, parenting, stress, depression, work-related concerns, alcohol and drug use/abuse, grief and loss, or preventative.
FREE AND CONFIDENTIAL ASSISTANCE is available 24/7/365 at 800-633-3353
NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION LIFELINE The Lifeline is a free, confidential, 24-hour hotline available to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. If you or someone you know is feeling desperate, alone, or hopeless, please call:
(800) 273-8255
STUDENTS
(540) 231-6557 If you are concerned about yourself or any Virginia Tech student being (or becoming) suicidal, please call the Cook Counseling Center. This number can be used during regular office hours or after-hours to speak with a counselor.
Publication of materials in this newsletter does not imply endorsement by the Virginia Veterinary Medical Association
OFFICERS Sherri Gard, DVM President Bret VanLear, DVM President-Elect Ed Fallin, DVM Vice President Courtney Conroy, DVM Secretary-Treasurer Brian Neumann, DVM Immediate Past President
DIRECTORS Rebecca Beamer, DVM Southwest VA OPEN POSITION Fredericksburg Jaclyn Clement, DVM Piedmont Caroline Eckstrom, DVM Northern VA OPEN POSITION Central Bom Harris, DVM VAFAP Kiel Hausler, DVM Prince William Christopher Hussion, DVM Loudoun OPEN POSITION Southside VMA Shelly McDaniel, DVM VAEP Nolan Prock, DVM Coastal Thomas Schudlich ‘28 Student Representative Allison Sparks, DVM Appalachian Jamie Stewart, DVM Blacksburg Area A’ndrea Van Schoick, DVM Shenandoah Ashley Nelson, DVM Blue Ridge Courtney Wiegard, DVM Roanoke Valley C. Garrett Wood, DVM Jefferson
AVMA REPRESENTATIVES Lauren Maxey, DVM Delegate Terry Swecker, DVM Alternate-Delegate
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President’s Message
Sh
err
i G ard, D V
M
Happy hurricane season to my fellow veterinarians! My trusty truck tag-along, Opha Mae, has informed me that summer is officially here, and she will be on hiatus until September. I have personally been preemptively treating human anhidrosis with black coffee and dark beer, along with watermelon electrolytes and cucumbers for the TCVM side of my brain. I do hope everyone has stocked up on their calming cookies before the fireworks celebrations and remembered to microchip their wandering pets. I know I stocked up on suture material…happy Laceration Weekend to the rest of my large animal counterparts! Spring was a blur, as it tends to be in the large animal veterinary world. I was blessed to spend most of it with my windshield as my office view, while caring for the hooved critters of the Hampton Roads area. I was also busy representing the Virginia Veterinary Medical Association as your President, highlighting our organization and the incredible people within it. In May, I had the honor of serving as a guest speaker at the VirginiaMaryland College of Veterinary Medicine Commencement Ceremony —exactly ten years after my own hooding ceremony. As I reflected on the past decade and the significance of the occasion, I realized how deeply the thread of the VVMA has woven itself into my career. I stood on that stage in front of the Class of 2026 as a transplant from the Midwest, alongside graduates from my own alma mater and many others. Virginia and Maryland have welcomed so many of us with open arms, guiding our growth within the veterinary community and organized veterinary medicine. My own journey began just months after graduation when I answered an email calling for participants in the Power of 10 Program, and I can't wait to see where that path continues to lead. Watching the Class of 2026 recite the Veterinarian's Oath for the very first time and welcoming them into our profession felt like a true full-circle moment for this horse doc. I am incredibly grateful to have represented the VVMA during such a meaningful ceremony. (continued on next page)
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President’s Message
Sh
err
i G ard, D V
M
Summertime is my favorite season, even as an ambulatory practitioner serving patients who don't always enjoy the best breeze. Sweat, storms, and skeeters can't dampen my delight in longer days. The threat of New World Screwworm (NWS) is certainly concerning; however, our federal and state veterinarians are doing an outstanding job monitoring the situation and communicating updates, while our farm veterinarians continue the daily battle against insect control. I think we’re all wishing we’d bought stock in Catron Spray! A special thank you to Dr. Charlie Broaddus and his team at the Virginia Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, as well as Dr. Julia Murphy and everyone at the Virginia Department of Health, for helping keep our Commonwealth informed and prepared. As summer transitions into fall, our family and business schedules inevitably become busier. I’m certain our small animal clinics are already overrun with “emergency boarding vaccine” appointments and last-minute flea medication requests. The VVMA would also like to remind you of several exciting events highlighted in this issue of the newsletter. All Virginia veterinarians are invited to join us at VVMA’s Open House at our newly renovated office in Richmond on August 18th from 4:00-6:30pm! This will be a wonderful opportunity to meet your executive committee, our amazing staff, and enjoy fellowship with colleagues from across the Commonwealth. Other upcoming events: August 6th: Virginia Board of Veterinary Medicine Webinar September 26th: Coastal VMA In-Person CE Event in Virginia Beach October 15-16th: Annual Mentor Program in Blacksburg—I hope to see all of you there! On the topic of mentorship, I again challenge each of my colleagues to continue supporting one another in every stage of our careers. Mentor our newest graduates. Encourage those entering their twilight season of practice. Invest in your assistants and receptionists. Celebrate your teammates. Above all else—have fun! If there is ever a way I can help you personally or professionally, my phone is always on.. because I’m an equine vet, and that’s just how we roll! Happy Trails,
Sherri Gard, DVM Sherri Gard, DVM 2026 VVMA President
Congratulations
to the Virginia-Maryland CVM Class of 2026!
Click here to view the 2026 Commencement Week gallery
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Mentor Program October 15-16, 2026 Virginia-Maryland CVM Blacksburg, VA
Learn More
Looking for more ways to support and connect with veterinary students? Signup to become a mentor for our upcoming 2026 Mentor Program!
Program Information Hosted by the VVMA, MDVMA, DVMA and WVVMA, this program provides mentorship opportunities between the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine’s DVM students and practitioners across surrounding states. It doesn’t matter where or when you graduated from veterinary school, your professional and personal experiences can, and will help guide current veterinary students.
Program Schedule In-person events will be held in the student commons at the Virginia-Maryland CVM. Thursday, October 15th: Welcome Dinner | 5:30pm-7:00pm Social Event at Bull & Bones Brewhaus with MDVMA | All are welcome! Friday, October 16th: Coffee & Snacks | 8:30am-9:30am Meet & Greet and Table Swapping | 9:00am-11:00am Breakout Sessions with Mentor/Mentee Q&A | 11:00am-Noon Lunch | Noon-1:00pm | Program concludes after lunch
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Classified Ads As a VVMA member, you can post classified ads FREE of charge! Click the buttons below to view our current classified ad postings
Veterinarians
Licensed Veterinary Technicians
Relief Veterinarians
Staff & Administrators
Equipment for Sale
Practices for Sale/Lease
Want to advertise with us? More information can be found at vvma.org/advertising-opportunities
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YOU’RE INVITED TO VVMA’S
OPEN HOUSE
Visit the VVMA team and connect with our officers, leaders, and staff! Door Prizes Snacks & Refreshments
Tuesday, August 18 4:00-6:30pm
The VVMA Office
3801 Westerre Pkwy, Suite D Henrico, VA 23233 Wrap up the day with dinner, great company, and some fun! Open House attendees are also invited to join us after the event. RSVP required. Details and registration coming soon.
All Virginia veterinarians are welcome!
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Upcoming Webinars AUGUST
6 OCTOBER
22
Veterinary Establishments Associated with Animal Control or Shelters 6:30-7:30pm | Zoom | 1 CE credit Register
Presented by: Virginia Board of Veterinary Medicine
Vaccine Clinics vs. Virginia Department of Health Rabies Clinics 6:30-7:30pm | Zoom | 1 CE credit Presented by: Virginia Board of Veterinary Medicine
Save the Date
2026 VMF Research Projects Study Title
Applicants
Quantitative Electroencephalography Go Togawa & Rell Parker Biomarkers for Predicting Antiseizure Small Animal Clinical Sciences Drug Response in Dogs with Idiopathic Stephen Werre Population Health Sciences Epilepsy
Award
$38,620.00
Joanne Tuohy
Pilot Feasibility Study to Evaluate Non- Small Animal Clinical Sciences Invasive Histotripsy Tumor Ablation for Eli Vlaisavljevich Biomedical Engineering Canine Thyroid Tumors Sheryl Coutermarsh-Ott
$40,000.00
Improving Platelet Quantification in Feline Blood Smears: AI-Based Estimation and Optimization of Amikacin-Mediated Platelet Disaggregation
$14,022.00
Biomedical Sciences & Pathobiology
Kurt Zimmerman & Christina Pacholec Biomedical Sciences & Pathobiology
Assessing the Capacity of a RapidSebastian Umana Sedo Blood Immune Test to Determine Large Animal Clinical Sciences Transfer of Passive Immunity in Calves
$8,279.20
Ashley Wilkinson, Stephani DeMonaco & Plasma ADAMTS13 Activity in Dogs with Audrey Keebaugh Small Animal Clinical Sciences Protein Losing Nephropathy Priscila Serpa
$13,752.80
Cornell University
Addressing Culture Bias in Transtracheal Wash Diagnostics to Improve Equine Respiratory Care
Jessica Gilbertie & Natalia Strandberg Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology
Sahar Abdelrazek
(Meta) Genomics Pathogen Identification Center
Nimet Browne
Hagyard Equine Medical Institute
$39,145.00
2026 Coastal VMA
CE Event
Earn 8.5 CE credits
Registration includes all CE, meals and happy hour
Saturday, September 26, 2026
8:00am-5:30pm CE | 5:30-7:00pm Happy Hour
Historic Pembroke Manor House
520 Constitution Drive, Virginia Beach, VA 23462
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Take the time to take care of yourself.
Free, confidential help for personal, work-related, and family concerns. Call your Member Assistance Program today to find out more.
704.529.1428 | 800.633.3353 mygroup.com
VIRGINIA VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION | SUMMER 2026
TOWN &COUNTRY CALL