CVMA's Official Monthly Newsletter | | Note from Michele Cohen, New CVMA Executive Director | | |
Hello. I am excited and honored to be the new Executive Director of the CVMA team. With more than twenty years of leadership experience in the non-profit sector, I look forward to guiding CVMA to position for a strong future that meets the needs of professionals in the veterinary field. We are prepared to bring fresh and relevant benefits and information to veterinarians.
VETConnect is the new CVMA monthly newsletter. It will connect readers with special honors and achievements received, education opportunities, member value-added benefits, events, programming, articles, government affairs updates…and more. Enjoy this inaugural edition. Kind regards, Michele
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CVMA is proud to spotlight Dr. Emil Baukert. His dedication to shaping the veterinary profession has had a lasting, impact to the field of animal care.
Through his service, innovation, and leadership, his accomplishments include the development of a comprehensive program to provide boarding and veterinary care for pets of Gulf War soldiers during deployment; the co-founding and implementation of the CVMA Pet Loss Helpline, the first veterinary association-operated helpline; and the launching of WINGS, CVMA's pet-loss support group. Dr. Baukert helped establish SEVNET, a statewide disaster response system to aid animals in emergencies, and founded the ACTS Award which honors contributions of animals.
Thank you to Dr. Baukert for his commitment to animal care. More
| | | New Value-Added Benefits for Members | | |
Thank you to those who completed our survey earlier in the year. You told us what you wanted, and we have new value-added member benefits to support you. Our members have access to discounts from attorneys who have professional experience with veterinarians. Further, CVMA pays—at no extra cost to our members—for mental health assistance for the member and his/her family. Partnerships have also been arranged for lower pricing for business services, travel costs, tickets for events, technical tools, and more--including access to current forms for practices. We will continue to add to these member benefits to bring you what you need.
We hope you use these member benefits. Access to them is through the member portal. If you need assistance, contact us at cvma@chicagovma.org or call 630.325.1231
| | Excellence in Continuing Education | | |
CVMA’s Continuing Education (CE) program offers best-in-class courses facilitated by subject-matter experts on relevant topics. We take pride in offering and presenting relevant high-quality education. Participants completing the courses earn a certificate of completion for six CE hours.
CVMA Members receive a deep discount on these unique courses. Two more courses are offered in 2025. See the available 2025 courses and register today. NOTE: The October Dental Wet Lab is FULL.
The 2026 course schedule will be rolled out in October 2025. Stay tuned for more information.
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Congratulations to Kelly Cairns, DVM and the President-Elect of CVMA, who authored an article published in DVM360 on THE ICETERIC CAT: Diagnosis and treatment of common feline hepatopathies. Dr. Cairns is dedicated to education and is an active instructor while serving on several animal care boards.
CVMA has included other relevant articles for members. Take a look. If you would like to submit an article for consideration to be shared with our membership, contact Michele at mcohen@chicagovma.org or call 630.325.1231
| | Volunteers Make a Difference | | Volunteers make a difference. You make a difference. CVMA welcomes our members to apply to be on committees covering Continuing Education, Governmental Relations, Membership, and Public Education. Other areas for volunteering include social media development, assistance at the 130th CVMA anniversary event, and the Pet Loss Helpline. To learn more about volunteer opportunities, contact Michele at mcohen@chicagovma.org | | |
The Healthy Dog Importation Act (HDIA): HDIA seeks to provide the USDA with tools to monitor and safeguard the health of dogs being imported into the U.S. This would ensure that all dogs entering the country are healthy and not at risk of spreading dangerous diseases that could adversely impact animal and public health. More.
Veterinary Technician Title: Starting January 1, 2026, a new amendment to the Illinois Veterinary Medicine and Surgery Practice Act of 2004 goes into effect regarding titles used for a "certified veterinary technician" or "veterinary technician." These titles are to be used only for graduates of a veterinary technology program accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association's Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities and for those who have successfully passed the Veterinary Technician National Examination. More.
Nurse Title Use: The title of "nurse" is a protected title in Illinois and cannot legally be used for a veterinary staff member. Misuse of this title may result in disciplinary action and fines. More.
If you have information regarding government affairs and the field of veterinary medicine, please contact us at cvma@chicagovma.org. Working together is a key to being heard.
| | CVMA offers complimentary public education programming events to educate and engage the public regarding the veterinary profession. Earlier this month, people of all ages attended Tails on the Trails at the Morton Arboretum to learn how to best care for their pet family members. Included was a program on “Be a Vet for a Day” to capture the desires of all ages. Thank you to the CVMA members who volunteered their valuable time to work at this event. Our volunteers make a difference. To find out about opportunities to be a valuable If you would like to be a CVMA volunteer, please contact Marcy at cvma@chicagovma.org or at 630.325.1231 | | CVMA has a robust Pet-Loss Support Program to which veterinarians may refer their clients needing assistance. Clients can be referred to a toll-free number that is manned by volunteers who are vets and/or therapists. We also have sympathy cards for practices to send to those who lose their animal family members. Once a month, support groups convene. See more. | | National Veterinary Technician Week | | During the third week of October each year, credentialed veterinary technicians are honored for their vital role in animal health, recognizing their skills, empathy, and crucial support in veterinary practices. In 2025, from October 12-18, pet owners and veterinary professionals show extra appreciation for the dedication and hard work of these essential team members. | | 130 year CVMA Anniversary in 2026 | | We are excited to share that CVMA has a big anniversary coming up in 2026. We are planning to celebrate yesterday, today, and tomorrow in Fall of 2026. This event will be a wonderful recognition of the veterinary profession in Chicago. Be on the lookout for more information. | |
Our Mission:
The Chicago Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) is a 501(c)6 non-profit organization that advances the veterinary profession through advocacy, engagement, and enrichment while protecting animal welfare and public health.
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