Connecting members with the latest news from USAHA, and with each other.

August 2025

Are You Ready for the Mile High City, USAHA?

You may be receiving extra emails from your committee chairs reminding you of the need to share draft resolution language ASAP. You may now have a perpetual reminder at the top of your to-do list to make your Gaylord Rockies hotel reservation. You may have toggled on the Expedia price alerts to track flight options into Denver International Airport. And some of you may still be waiting anxiously for that much anticipated notification from your employer known as the “travel approval.” Regardless of where you are along this continuum, one thing is for sure: USAHA’s 129^th Annual Meeting is right around the corner, October 30 – November 5, 2025, and it is time to act!

This edition of Connection will mix a little bit of Annual Meeting necessary with a little bit of fun, and we’ll share a behind-the-scenes look at the creator and curator of one of USAHA’s most beloved member benefits that keeps us all in the know between our Annual Meetings. But before you read further here, take a look back at your August 2024 for top 10 lists for new and seasoned Annual Meeting attendees and best practices for crafting and shepherding resolutions through the approval process. Those tips are still valid and couple nicely with this edition’s content. We will see you soon in Denver! 

The USAHA executive committee (EC) is a seven-member group comprising the association’s elected officers and immediate past-president. In conjunction with the office of the executive director, this esteemed group of colleagues manages USAHA’s financial, administrative and internal affairs when our association’s Board of Directors is not in session, and they ensure perspectives from all regions of the country are considered during USAHA decision making. So, when we want USAHA members to benefit from the best advice possible, we turn to the USAHA EC for the scoop. We asked them for words of wisdom for 2025 Annual Meeting attendees, and here’s what EC members wanted to make sure you remember in Denver:

“I would encourage new and returning members to attend the New Member Orientation as an opportunity to network. For seasoned members, it is a chance to meet and greet the new members over a glass of wine. Additionally, I encourage new members to be proactive in networking, as everyone is there to share ideas. Finally, in Denver, beyond the formal committee meetings which will be filled with great topics, USAHA has social events in the form of evening receptions – the Awards Luncheon and Presidents’ Dinner with keynote speakers, to name a few. I look forward to meeting you in Denver.” -USAHA President Peter Mundschenk 

“Go to meetings that sound interesting, whether you are a committee member or not. If it is a closed meeting, someone will tell you. If it is not, be a participant. If you have questions, ask. If you have concerns, share them and offer solutions. Be a problem solver, not just a problem identifier.” -USAHA Immediate Past President Steve Crawford

“I try to get outside of the conference building for a run to experience my surroundings - my most interesting one was a run to the Pacific Ocean from the meeting venue in San Diego.” -USAHA President -elect Charlie Broaddus

“The USAHA Annual Meeting is a packed week filled with valuable meetings, activities, and conversations that offer a wealth of knowledge and insight. For first-time attendees, it can feel a bit overwhelming—but it’s a short week, so lace up your shoes, dive in, and make the most of it. Embrace the activity, and engage in as many discussions as you can fit in.” -USAHA 1^st Vice President Justin Smith

“Enjoy the opportunity at the annual USAHA meeting to network with your colleagues who are working to protect US animal health and engage in the resolution process to advance priority issues in animal health and veterinary diagnostics.” -USAHA 2^nd Vice President Kathy Simmons

“Wear comfortable shoes, layers, and bring snacks! Also, this is a meeting where every block has at least one, but often multiple presentations of interest and the venue is big. If this is your first time, it is easy to become overwhelmed. Many of the agendas are posted in advance either on the website or the app, and it can be worth it to review and strategize before starting each day. And last but not least, use the buddy system! There are too many meetings and too many people to try to get to everything yourself. Find someone who can be a familiar face when you need a break from networking and who can help divide and conquer sessions of interest. Share notes; share a drink. You can make a friend, develop a colleague, and get more out of the meeting as whole!”

-USAHA 3^rd Vice President Kate Levine

A few themes materialize in these words of wisdom – networking is key (and fun), utilize existing relationships and forge new ones, and be sure to take time for yourself in the middle of this busy meeting schedule. This excellent advice, coupled with the resolution recommendations and Top 10 list in your 2024 pre-meeting Connection edition should put you in good shape before you arrive in Denver. But if you still have questions about anything concerning the 129^th Annual Meeting, visit USAHA.org or contact Executive Director Ben Richey or Executive Assistant Kelly Janicek for additional information.

Like clockwork and with VERY few exceptions over the past 21 years, USAHA members have received the association’s News Alert Summaries in their inboxes every workday morning. In the era of automation and AI, you might be surprised to learn that one woman has been responsible for researching and compiling this much-loved member benefit for more than two decades, and she is still going strong. USAHA member surveys and informal discussions have ranked the daily News Alert Summaries at the top of the member benefits list with startling regularity. USAHA members look for them, read them, discuss them, and question their own IT equipment on the rare occasion the Alerts don’t arrive in their inboxes. We were privileged to communicate with Karen Conyngham, the USAHA Life Member who creates the News Alert Summaries that pop into your inbox every weekday morning, to learn a bit more about her and the history of the Alerts.  

Bob Frost,

USAHA Past President

Upon her return home from that 2001 meeting, Karen began watching national and international news for articles on large animal health topics that might be of interest to Bob and helpful to him when representing USAHA. She forwarded him titles, brief abstracts, and URLs almost daily. Karen also assisted Bob with some of the articles he wrote by serving as a researcher, proof-reader, and editor. This symbiotic relationship continued through Bob's progression to USAHA president, and he asked to be kept "in the loop" even after that. By early 2004, Bob suggested to his fellow USAHA executive committee (EC) members that the animal health news and information Karen was collecting for him could benefit the entire USAHA membership, and the rest, as they say, is history! The EC agreed Karen’s compilation was a worthwhile endeavor. In March of 2004, Karen created the template that continues to this day as the daily News Alert Summaries, and it was launched as a service to members. Bob's untimely passing in 2011 due to cancer left a big gap in Karen’s life. She remembers him as a good friend to her and an advocate for all US camelid owners.

Karen’s career has included a position as a technical librarian for Motorola Semiconductor Products Sector located in Austin, and later she worked in libraries at two different medical device research companies. She emphasizes that Information - its importance and where to find it - has always been a focal point for her. As time has progressed, "hot topics" for the Alerts have expanded to include West Nile virus, PEDV, EEE, EHV-1 and more recently, African swine fever, One Health, HPAI and New World screwworm.

Karen shared that words that often catch her attention in articles are "first", "new", and "unique", and that anything referring to large animal health that could be affecting all states is worth a close look. Lately, Nature magazine has been picking up salient articles from journals that used to be accessible only to subscribers and making them available to the public. Karen sets aside at least 2 hours each weekday afternoon to search for articles for the Alerts since that is when most news items are posted. When she receives breaking news items via email from USDA, she updates the Alerts accordingly. Karen posts the next day's Alerts online between 9:30 and 10:00 PM CT five days per week, and the USAHA office sends the Alerts out via email to the membership each workday morning. Karen was honored to be awarded USAHA Life Membership at the 2020 Annual Meeting, and she shared with us that even after researching and compiling the Daily News Alert Summaries five days per week for 21 years, “it sure doesn’t feel like that long!”

So, the next time those Daily News Alert Summaries show up like clockwork in your inbox, send a thought of gratitude out to Karen for a job well done over an exceptionally long time. It is remarkable that one professional connection and one set of conversations over shared interests at one USAHA Annual Meeting can result in a development that has benefited tens of thousands of animal health colleagues over more than two decades. Karen, we are grateful to you for your contributions to USAHA members on an individual basis and to USAHA as an association, and we know that Bob would be immensely proud of your accomplishments.

We told you we were going to mix in a little bit of fun along with the Annual Meeting work so here goes! We asked each USAHA EC member to share with us one honest and unembellished photo of the view they have when they look up from their computers. And now your job is to match the member with the view that inspires them, or in some cases, may not. The first person to send the correct match list to the Connection team at kscoach@gmavt.net gets bragging rights and a highlight in an upcoming Connection newsletter. Contests are not for everyone – we get that, but we do want to add some light heartedness to your otherwise busy workdays, so give it a go!

Here are the EC members you have to match (in no particular order):

• Pete Mundschenk      
• Justin Smith    
• Beth Thompson                        
• Kate Levine                 
• Kathy Simmons
• Steve Crawford           
• Charlie Broaddus

Here are some hints:

• All photos were taken during the month of August 2025
• Knowing the part of the country each EC member is from will absolutely help!
• If you think, “well, they wouldn’t make it that obvious, would they?” Yes, we would and we did in one photo so don’t second-guess yourself too much.
• Knowing the work-related focus of or sector represented by at least one EC member also will help.
• In one instance, enlarging the photo to read words will help
• One photo contains an image of a building we all depend on

And here are their photos (in no particular order):

Alrighty, take a break from that thing you have to get done, take your best (educated) guess, and send it in to kscoach@gmavt.net.

And for the benefit of those of you who did in fact complete USAHA’s inaugural crossword puzzle in the April 2025 edition of Connection but were too shy to submit your answers, here is a screenshot of the winning words to inspire you for crossword puzzle round 2, coming soon:

We certainly hope so because in addition to being immersed in educational and inspirational committee discussions by day and enjoying the camaraderie during the 129^th Annual Meeting’s social events by night, you have a chance to be part of the first audience to ever experience the USAHA/AAVLD Keynote Address in “Fireside Chat” style. Whether you are brand new to USAHA or consider yourself a seasoned member, we urge you to take advantage of this unique opportunity because it might not come around again. USAHA President-elect Charlie Broaddus has worked tirelessly with his AAVLD counterpart Ashley Hill to put together this first-ever event. Their logic is simple but brilliant: sometimes the best sources of valuable association information and entertaining rhetoric come from within.

When budgets are tight and travel allowances are unpredictable, the best way to create an enjoyable evening filled with fascinating discussion is to call to the stage our most experienced and entertaining USAHA and AAVLD members who have helped mold these two associations into the successes they are today. Please join your USAHA colleagues on Sunday November 2^nd at the USAHA/AAVLD Presidents’ Dinner and Keynote Address to hear USAHA and AAVLD history, stories, and successes as told by a panel of highly respected member colleagues. Our red-carpet panelists include Alex Ardans, John Clifford, Jerry Saliki, Valerie Ragan, and Don Lein. These characters are entertaining, their moderator, Bruce Akey, is top-notch, and this “Fireside Chat” Keynote Address is a can’t miss. Get ready to be entertained, and we look forward to seeing you there!



(Editor’s Note: for those of you new to this world, AAVLD refers to the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, USAHA’s “sister” organization and Annual Meeting partner.)      

Alex Ardans

John Clifford

Jerry Saliki

Valerie Ragan

Don Lein

Bruce Akey

We certainly hope this Connection edition has put you in the mood for our upcoming gathering in the Mile High City. The Annual Meeting is a place to reconnect with friends and colleagues, and equally enjoyably, to make new ones. To make your experience as low-stress and enjoyable as possible, remember to check your logistical boxes well in advance. Here are a few key dates to remember and links to help you take care of logistics in easy fashion.

• Early meeting registration rates end at midnight on Friday, October 17^th. After that, on-site registration will be available in Denver starting at 6:45 AM on Thursday, October 30^th at a higher rate. Please also note that your registration is not considered complete until the funds are received by the USAHA office. USAHA has a new cancellation policy, effective this year. Scroll to the bottom of this page to familiarize yourself with important policy dates.

• The hotel reservation cutoff date is Tuesday, October 7^th. Make your hotel reservations here.

• Although there is not an association-wide cutoff date for submitting resolutions within committees before the Annual Meeting, committee chairs may establish their own deadlines for draft or topic submission. Please respect your chair’s deadlines and use the USAHA resolution template when drafting these important work products.

• Remember to download the meeting app, which will be available through the App Store or Google Play Store starting closer to the meeting. The app puts meeting schedules and agendas at your fingertips, allows you to customize each meeting day, and ensures you receive just in time notifications about important events and last-minute schedule changes.

For more information about the 2025 Annual Meeting, visit the USAHA website.

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