In a little over a month, we will be in Aurora, CO for the 2025 AAVLD/USAHA Annual Meeting! Please join us for a week of collaboration, innovation, and networking at the forefront of animal health and diagnostics. Finalize your plans now so that you don’t miss what promises to be a fantastic meeting. The AAVLD room block at the Gaylord closes on October 7, and early bird registration closes on October 16.

This year’s meeting spans Halloween, so we have many treats in store for you (pun intended!). This year’s Foundation Banquet & Auction falls on Halloween and will be a festive and spooktacular event with a costume contest and other fun. The Keynote Session at the Presidents Dinner will feature six of our favorite AAVLD and USAHA veterans with tales straight from the trenches. Our Plenary Session will bring you up to speed on topics including AI-based image analysis, electron microscopy, value-added usage of LIMS data, synergy between classical and modern virology, new surprises from avian influenza, and more – all under the theme “What’s old is new again”.

The program committee has put together an outstanding program. Two emerging issues seminars are scheduled: one on new world screwworm (EEK!), and another on highly-pathogenic avian influenza. We have symposia on accreditation and quality assurance; best practices for submitting, reviewing, and publishing manuscripts in JVDI; international experiences with high-consequence animal disease outbreaks; navigating change through uncertainty; and technological solutions for microbiology nightmares. Pathology symposia will cover cytology for anatomic pathologists, diseases of horses, and poisons & pathology. You can also test your pathology skills at our Interpretative Pathology Mock Exam.

AAVLD exists to support our members by providing the latest in scientific information, training and networking opportunities, and laboratory accreditation. The BEST place to find all of the people and information is at the annual meeting.  And, the best way to meet other members and learn about the work they’re doing is in our committee meetings, where everyone is welcome to attend. If you are new to AAVLD and the Annual Meeting, sign up for a Meeting Buddy to help you navigate the sessions and determine where to go based on your interest. And reach out to your Executive Board Members if you have any questions – we are here to help you! I look forward to seeing you all in Aurora!!



Ashley Hill, DVM MVPM PhD

BACTERIOLOGY MINI SYMPOSIUM HAUNTING THE LAB: TECHNOLOGICAL SOLUTIONS FOR MICROBIOLOGY NIGHTMARES

GROSS PATHOLOGY MOCK EXAM

NAVIGATING CHANGE THROUGH UNCERTAINTY 

2025 PATH EMERGING ISSUES SEMINAR: HPAI

PATHOLOGY COMMITTEE SUNDAY SEMINAR: DISEASES OF HORSES

AAVLD PRE-MEETING WORKSHOP: CYTOLOGY FOR ANATOMIC PATHOLOGISTS

ULTIMATE DIAGNOSTICS: POISONS AND PATH-WHAT'S LURKING IN THE FEED?

BEST PRACTICES FOR SUBMITTING, REVIEWING, AND PUBLISHING MANUSCRIPTS IN JVDI

INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCES WITH HIGH-CONSEQUENCE ANIMAL DISEASE OUTBREAKS AND RESPONSE

LATIN COMPARATIVE PATHOLOGY GROUP PRESENTS: THE NEW WORLD SCREWWORM AN UNWELCOME RETURN?

Unfortunately, we have made the difficult decision to cancel the trip. We did not reach the minimum number of registrants required to cover the costs as only 13 members registered. Additionally, the National Park Service veterinarians who were scheduled to host the trip were recently informed that they will not be receiving the required federal clearance to travel to the AAVLD/USAHA meeting.

We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and hope to offer similar opportunities in the future.

Rocky Mountain National Park is a beautiful destination, and if you are still interested in visiting on your own, it is well worth the trip. The park is approximately a two-hour drive from the hotel. We are happy to provide travel guidance or answer any questions you may have about what to see and do on a trip to the park.

Sincerely,

The AAVLD Foundation Committee

📣 Ready to connect, collaborate, and be inspired? The countdown to the AAVLD/USAHA Annual Meeting in Colorado is on—and spots are filling fast! Join top minds in veterinary diagnostics for riveting symposia, exhibitor showcases, and story-driven presentations by the profession’s pioneers.

Secure your seat, swap insights with fellow experts, and experience the future of animal health diagnostics in motion.

Join us for an incredible lineup of speakers, compelling presentations, exhibitor showcases, and meaningful collaboration with fellow professionals. Secure your place today and be part of the conversation that’s shaping the future of veterinary diagnostics.

🕒 October 30 – November 5, 2025

🎃 Bonus: Don’t miss the Foundation’s Halloween-themed banquet and auction!



👉 Reserve your spot today and be part of the momentum.

Register today...

🗺️ Your AAVLD Adventure Awaits—Plan It Now! Time to lock in your schedule, book those flights, and reserve your room at the stunning Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center—our hub for this year’s AAVLD/USAHA Annual Meeting, October 30–November 5.

Rooms are going fast, and the agenda’s overflowing with can’t-miss events, including the Foundation Committee’s all-day tour of Rocky Mountain National Park on Thursday, October 30.

✨ Double booked? No problem—the AAVLD/USAHA Meeting App helps you track your schedule, save your favorite sessions, and message fellow attendees for meetups.

🎁 Plus, don’t forget to stop by the AAVLD Merchant Store to snag a gift or treat yourself to something special!

📍 Reserve today and explore the full schedule

🎃 Spirits, Science & Stories—The Auction Returns! The AAVLD Foundation Auction is hands-down one of the liveliest events of the year—and this time, it’s cloaked in Halloween flair! Costumes, curiosities, and a little spooky science? Yes, please.

Have you and your lab picked your donation yet? Whether it’s a clever lab-inspired item, handmade gift, or themed basket, it’s the perfect excuse to get creative, collaborate, and cackle a bit while you’re at it.

👻 Story spotlight: We’re collecting tales from across the diagnostic world—memorable moments, breakthroughs, and lighthearted lab life. Share yours with AAVLD and help us celebrate the vibrant personalities behind the microscopes. You might even see your story featured in an upcoming newsletter!

🛍️ Donations = laughs, support for young scientists, and bragging rights. 📧 Send your stories and auction item ideas to DZeman@aavld.org

Make your donation today...

Dear AAVLD members,

It is my privilege to announce the winners of the elections for Vice President, and Southcentral and Northcentral representatives.

Vice President

Jianqiang Zhang

Southcentral

Kiril Dimitrov

Northcentral

Jamie Retallick

The strength of our organization is our members, who volunteer their valuable time in supporting our efforts to advance veterinary diagnostic laboratory science. Congratulations to all, and thank you for your dedication to our mission!

Tanya

Tanya LeRoith, DVM, PhD, DACVP, MBA

Director, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, VMCVM

AAVLD President

🎉 You're Invited: AAVLD New Member Orientation Reception

📍 Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center 🗓️ October 30, 2025 |

5:30 PM – 6:30 PM | Redrock 2

Whether you're brand new to AAVLD or simply looking to deepen your connection, this reception is your gateway to the heart of our organization.

Join us for an engaging hour of introductions, insights, and inspiration.

🤝 Meet the AAVLD Executive Board

🧠 Connect with long-term members and Committee Chairs

🌐 Explore opportunities across diverse committees and initiatives

Let’s kick off the Annual Meeting with community, collaboration, and a warm welcome to all our new members!

Dustin Loy (left) and Scott McVey examine bacterial culture from a calf with pink eye on a blood auger plate in a lab in the Nebraska Veterinary Diagnostic Center. Russell Shaffer | IANR Media

The Nebraska Veterinary Diagnostic Center has received the Governor’s Excellence in Ag Partnership Award for its scientific excellence and support of Nebraska agricultural stakeholders. Gov. Jim Pillen presented the award at the 2025 Governor’s Summit in Kearney on Aug. 13.

“Family farm security equals food security, which equals national security. Having the ability to detect, research, and address animal disease is paramount,” Pillen said. “The Veterinary Diagnostic Center at UNL is critical to that work, and it’s a privilege to highlight the role it plays in keeping our food supply safe.”

Part of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, the diagnostic center provides “a scientific and technical anchor” for the university’s veterinary education and disease diagnostics, as well as research support. 

The center also supports all Nebraska citizens by enhancing the supply of available safe and secure food, and by improving the health of people and animals, said Scott McVey, professor and director of the School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. 

At 65,000 square feet, the laboratory annually analyzes 300,000 samples to monitor for common animal diseases, as well as high-consequence threats such as avian influenza. The lab’s work also supports high-level veterinary and disease research. 

For full article...

An individual that gave his heart and passion to the improvement of Veterinary Diagnostics under the oversight of AAVLD retires after 18 years of service on the Accreditation Committee, Dave Korcal. 

David joined the Accreditation Committee in 2007 and was a significant driver in improvements in AAVLD Laboratories, continued development and improvement of the accreditation process and strengthened our national laboratory network immensely. His drive for improvement of AAVLD laboratories was a significant factor in the AAVLD Laboratories being ready to respond to the CoVID pandemic by performing human testing. In his 18 years of tenure, he has visited most of the laboratories under the accreditation program contributing to their success. 

Dave always did this with a smile on his face and was a mentor to many of us! We hope to continue his passion and drive for continuous improvement in the Accreditation Program. He will definitely be missed but we are so excited for this next chapter in his life where he will be able to spend time with his wife, children and grandchildren. 

Thank you Dave for everything you have done for the AC and AAVLD!

Jamie Retallick

Joey Kellum

Cochairs, AAVLD Accreditation Committee

At the recent annual meeting of the South Dakota Veterinary Medical Association (SDVMA), Dr. David Zeman was awarded the association’s highest award, the SDVMA Distinguished Service Award.

The award is in recognition of distinguished support and contributions to the veterinary profession. He previously received the SDVMA Veterinarian of the Year Award in 2003. Dr. Zeman was a tenured professor, pathologist, diagnostician, department head, and laboratory director at the SDSU Animal Disease Research and Diagnostic Laboratory (now retired).  

David Zeman with his wife Colleen and family friend Ashley

Recently, the leaders of AAVLD and the American College of Veterinary Pathologists (ACVP) held discussions regarding the timing of each organization’s annual fall meeting. Historically, each of the two organizations holds annual meetings in the fall in October or November. Usually, these two events are separated by a few weeks. However, this year the meetings are separated by only a few days. It was agreed that this was not ideal since each organization has members who are active in both groups. Neither organization expressed a desire to compete with the other but would rather cooperate with one another to avoid scheduling difficulties for annual meeting attendees. The situation this year was a happenstance, and most years it is not a problem.  The bottom line, in a spirit of goodwill, AAVLD and ACVP leaders have determined to do better at seeking awareness of each other’s annual meeting plans in the future to avoid similar situations whenever possible. AAVLD leaders have now shared all future annual meeting plans to date with ACVP and intend to continue to do so whenever finalizing venue contracts. A similar response from ACVP is likely.

For our member’s information, annual meeting dates and locations that are currently secured by contract:

2026 October 14 – 21, Madison WI

2027 October 6 – 13, Providence RI

2028 October 25 – Nov 2, Nashville TN

Thank you, Committee Chairs

Committee Annual Meeting Agendas Submission due September 15

Please use the provided link within this PDF Portfolio to access:

• Committee Chair reporting instructions and URL links to electronic forms
• A letter from the AAVLD meeting coordinator, Kaylin Taylor
• AAVLD Committee SOP

'2025 AAVLD COMMITTEE CHAIR PACKAGE'

Please download the PDF Portfolio to your computer->Save->Open PDF saved on your computer->

Four documents are enclosed.

Pre-Annual Meeting: A heartfelt thank you to all of the Committee Chairs and Co-Chairs who attended the AAVLD Pre-Annual Meeting!

Your time, insights, and dedication are the backbone of our organization. Whether you joined us to share updates, troubleshoot challenges, or help shape the future of veterinary diagnostics, your leadership continues to drive AAVLD forward.



We’re grateful for your commitment and collaboration—and we look forward to the impactful work ahead at the Annual Meeting in Denver!

Stay Connected:

"We are not apart from nature; we are a part of nature." 

~ Jane Goodall

"The important thing is to never stop questioning."

 ~Albert Einstein

"The most beautiful thing we can experience is the

mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science." 

~Albert Einstein 

Functions of AAVLD Committees

Committees serve multiple functions that are essential to the AAVLD mission. This includes dissemination of the latest scientific information that will advance the many disciplines engaged with diagnostic medicine, including:

AAVLD Committee enrollment form

Click here for full article:

Thank you to those of you who have submitted your committee enrollment form interest. The deadline has been extended for the AAVLD committee until September 1, 2025.

The Joint AAVLD/USAHA committee open enrollment is now closed.

• Annual Meeting Proceediings
• View all abrstracts and Posters
• View notes from Plenary Sessions
• See student Testimonials

Click here for full article:

Veterinary Jobs - American Association of Veterinary...

The American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians offers the top jobs available in Veterinary diagnostic labs. Search and apply to open positions or post jobs on the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians now.

Contact: rozuna@aavld.org

AAVLD membership is open to any individual interested in the disciplines and activities of veterinary diagnostic laboratories. Membership terms are by calendar year (January-December) and membership dues are payable by November 15th of the preceding year (to ensure inclusion in the annual membership directory, eligibility for committee involvement, and receipt of all six issues of the JVDI). Note: In order to receive a discounted rate for the Annual Meeting registration, you are required to be a current AAVLD Member.

See Winners of the 2024 Student Travel and

Student Competitive Awardees

 click here

Go to AAVLD Foundation Auction More details ...

THANK YOU AAVLD members for your generous support of the AAVLD Scholarship Banquet and Auction. Last year, we raised $15,350.00. These funds allow us to sponsor student/staff travel and other organizational awards. We expose many young lab scientists to exciting career opportunities at animal health diagnostic laboratories. Thank you, thank you, thank you.  

News Editor:

Dave Zeman

dzeman@aavld.org

Produced by:

Reda Ozuna

rozuna@aavld.org