Author: Christpina

I have an early memory of our family Cocker Spaniel named Candy who developed diabetes. Our family couldn’t afford to treat her and I remember how upset my mother was when she made the decision to euthanize. I was too young to fully understand the medical or financial side of things, but the emotional piece definitely resonated with me and sparked my curiosity about the veterinary field.

The UC Davis ophthalmology service manages a diverse caseload of small and large animals. Fellows are exposed to a wide spectrum of ocular diseases, including cataracts, glaucoma, corneal ulcers, neoplasia, and eyelid abnormalities. The diversity keeps each day exciting and interesting. During the fellowship, I was involved in exams from patient intake up to their final discharge. Each case included a minimum of three ocular exams performed by the student, resident, and faculty. This allowed for repetition that increased my confidence in performing a comprehensive ophthalmic exam. I received training in using various diagnostic tools, primarily slit-lamp biomicroscope and indirect retinal lenses. I had the added benefit of seeing advanced diagnostic techniques, such as CT, MRI, ocular CT, and ocular ultrasound, to name a few.

The new VISC logo was designed to better represent VISC’s mission and essential value to the veterinary profession. We wanted the logo to directly indicate VISC’s relationship with veterinary practitioners; thus, we decided early on to incorporate animals into the design.

I am one lucky President. Why, you say? Well, the CVMA Board of Governors has decided to change the Board year term from a business year (July 1 to June 30) to a simple calendar year (January 1 to December 31). We have made that change for several reasons. First, this aligns with the legislative year. State Senate and Assembly Bills are filed in February, run through committees over the next several months, finish off on each floor in the summer, and then end up on the governor’s desk by October. So, for bills we support, the Board can see those bills through their whole journey. For the legislation that we hope to stop, the same team stays locked in to fight them.

In April, the CVMA conducted its annual membership survey, reaching member and non-member veterinarians, registered veterinary technicians, practice managers, and veterinary staff across California. The results help us understand what’s working, where we can improve, and how to better serve the veterinary community. Thank you to all who participated. Your feedback is invaluable! The clearest takeaway from our member surveys is that the vast majority of CVMA members are satisfied with their membership and plan to renew—a strong affirmation that the core value of membership is resonating.

CVMA members now have access to Upnotch, a free networking and mentorship platform built around professional conversations with no long-term commitments and no pressure.
Upnotch is flexible by design. A connection might be a single career conversation, a handful of check-ins, or an ongoing mentorship relationship—whatever works for both people. You set the terms. And because Upnotch is available online and through its mobile app, your CVMA professional community is always within reach.