IVMA
Communiqué 
"Serving veterinarians for the benefit of animal and human health"
April 18, 2017
In This Issue
Dates to Remember
April 27
IVMA Executive Board Meeting, Des Moines

May 12
Spring Practice Management Session, Ankeny

September 13
IVMA Sports & Field Day

September 21-22
IVMA Annual Meeting

For more information on any of these events visit www.iowavma.org.

   
Spring Practice Management Seminar 
Good news! The Early Bird deadline for the IVMA Practice Management session has been extended through today, April 18!

Join us at this one day workshop as two nationally recognized speakers show you the roadmap to market your veterinary clinic in the digital age. You and your team will also learn how to minimize the drama and maximize your clinic's profitability through expert training dealing with common human resource issues.  
 
Marketing & Managing for Veterinary Clinics -
A Roadmap to Profitability

Friday, May 12, 2017
8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Ankeny Courtyard by Marriott
6 Hours of CE  

Register today and save $25! Visit the IVMA website or call the IVMA office at 800-369-9564.  

Are you an IVMA I-Vet PAC Sustaining Member? Your registration is FREE! Call the IVMA office for details!
2017 Legislative Update  
Today, April 18 marks the 100th calendar day of the  87th General Assembly of the Iowa Legislature and the last day expenses will be paid to Legislators although Legislators could agree to continue the session.

Click here to see a summary of bills that are of interest to the veterinary profession and their current status.  You must be logged into the IVMA website to view the document. 
Bring your Friends on ScholarSIps! 
wine.jpg
Join us for a fun afternoon of wine tasting in Central Iowa while supporting the IVMA Foundation. Proceeds from this event will go towards providing scholarships for deserving Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medical students.

This inaugural event will include:
  • Wine tasting at three Iowa wineries
  • Winery Tours
  • Logo Wine Glasses
  • Transportation to all wineries
  • Box lunch
  • Snacks/water
  • Wine tote
  • A great time networking with fellow IVMA members and their families!
Tour starts and ends in West Des Moines. Noon-6 pm on June 3, 2017.

Cost: $125/person ($50 is tax deductible)
Everyone welcome! Open to all IVMA members, their friends and family!

Register Today!
Visit
www.iowavma.org or call the IVMA office at 800-369-9564.
Spring Clean-up at Living History Farms
Spend a few hours on the farm tomorrow, Wednesday, April 19 joining IVMA officers and members to help clean up the Heck Veterinary Infirmary at the 1875 Town of Walnut Hill at Living History Farms in Urbandale. Volunteers will spend 2-3 hours sprucing up the interior of the historic veterinary clinic. Lunch will be provided. To register, call the IVMA office at 800-369-9564 or email at [email protected] .
VMLRP Shortage Areas Announced - Applications Being Accepted
  Seven Iowa counties and their adjacent counties (53 total) have been designated as veterinary shortage situations for 2017 for the USDA's Veterinary Medical Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP). Approved applicants who commit to provide veterinary services for at least three years in one of these areas, may be repaid for up to $25,000 of your student loan debt per year by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).
 
The 2017 counties for Iowa selected include Henry, Cass, O'Brien, Tama, Clarke, Jones and Wapello and their adjacent counties.  See a map here.  
 
To apply, visit the USDA's Applicants Page (https://nifa.usda.gov/vmlrp-applicants) and use the   Application Guide (https://nifa.usda.gov/vmlrp-application-guide) as a good resource. All applications must be received by the USDA by MAY 19, 2017 to be considered. Faxed and emailed applications are not accepted.
 
If you know of an eligible veterinarian in a food animal practice who may qualify for the VMLRP, please have them contact Iowa State Veterinarian, Dr. David Schmitt at 515-281-8601 or [email protected] .

Webinar: Beekeeping and the Veterinary Fee Directive 
honeybee.jpg Understand how the Veterinary Feed Directive impacts honey producers, backyard hives and veterinarians during this webinar sponsored by the Wisconsin VMA.

Beekeeping and the Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD) - Veterinarian's Roles and Responsibility.
April 28, 2017
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM (CST)
$30 VMA member / $40 Non-VMA member / $10 VMA student member
1.5 hours, scientific CE for IA, IL, MN (1.8 hours, scientific CE for WI)
Speaker: Christopher Cripps, DVM

For more information or to register visit wvma.org/beekeepingVFDwebinar .

Note: Valid email address needed to send webinar link. The webinar link does not work well on iPads and Macs. 
Prescription Mandate Legislation Reintroduced
It's back - Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) has reintroduced prescription mandate legislation into Congress. Misleadingly named the "Fairness to Pet Owners Act" (H.R. 623), this legislation would force veterinarians to provide written copies of all prescriptions they issue for companion animals, regardless whether clients request or want them.

Visit the AMVA's Congressional Advocacy Network page and use the online form there to send your lawmakers a letter asking them to oppose this bill. This action is quick and easy, and goes a long way in helping to build opposition to this legislation.

Thank you for helping protect the veterinary profession! 
Agricultural Safety and Health Course June 12-16, 2017
The Great Plains Center for Agricultural Health will host Agricultural Safety and Health: The Core Course, June 12-16 at the University of Iowa.

The course is designed to provide the information and skills needed to enable safety and health professionals to anticipate, recognize, and prevent occupational illnesses and injuries among members of the agricultural community. The course is appropriate for safety and health managers, physicians, nurses, veterinarians, graduate students, and anyone interested in the unique safety and health needs of rural and agricultural communities. The course includes classroom instruction, farm tours, safety and rescue demonstrations, and a networking reception. Continuing education and academic credits are available.

Course information is available at http://cph.uiowa.edu/gpcah/education/iowa-ag-med-course . 
Join the 34th Annual SCAVMA Scamper This Saturday
 
The 34 th Annual SCAVMA Scamper will be held this Saturday, April 22 at ISU CVM.  Runners are encouraged to bring and race with their dogs.

The proceeds of the run go to the ISU Veterinary College's Student Chapter of the American Veterinary Medical Association to support student involvement and raise community awareness about the OneHealth mission which ties together human and animal medicine. OneHealth's mission, in recent years, has focused on obesity awareness, both in companion animals and their owners. This race offers an opportunity for community members to get excited about their health as well as their pets'.

Join the fun!  
April 22, 2017 @ 10:00 am
1600 S. 16th St. (ISU Vet School)

Before April 22nd 
-        ISU Student $25 (must present ID at packet pick up)
-        Non ISU Student $30
Same Day Race Registration April 22nd!
-        ISU Student $30 (must present ID at packet pick up)
-        Non ISU Student $35

Fee entry includes chip timing, race t-shirt, post-race refreshments and entry for door prizes.
 
Heartworm Protocol Workshop
Midwest Veterinary Supply is sponsoring a Heartworm Protocol Workshop.
May 10, 2017
Lavender Crest Winery
5401 US-6 Colona, IL (20 miles East of Davenport)

By attending this event you will:
  • Gain the most recent and cutting-edge information on heartworm prevention.
  • Increase clinic revenue while decreasing heartworm incidence in your area.
  • Earn 6 RACE CE credits for $329/team of 4
  • Receive a full social media toolkit
  • Get scripts and tips for confident client conversations.
For more information and to register (by May 5, 2017) visit:  www.midwestvet.net/souble-defense 
  The IVMA Communiqué is published bi-monthly by the Iowa Veterinary Medical Association.
1605 N. Ankeny Blvd Suite 110
Ankeny, IA 50023
515-965-9237 or Toll Free 800-369-9564
Visit our Website at www.iowavma.org