> Articles by: ChristpinaSince 1994, the California Veterinary Medical Reserve Corps (CAVMRC) has provided critical emergency veterinary care to animals impacted by disasters across the state. What began as a small group of dedicated volunteer veterinary professionals has grown into the largest medical reserve corps in the nation, now boasting over 3,000 volunteer members.
As a practicing veterinarian in New York and Houston, two of the most diverse cities in the United States, I saw firsthand the disparities in veterinary patient care due to language barriers and cultural differences. Often, I was the only doctor—and the only person of color— in the practice. This disconnect with clients who were people of color directly changed patient care and the veterinary client- patient relationship.
California Health and Safety Code section 121690(b) requires dog owners to obtain a rabies vaccination for dogs between three and four months of age, and then in accordance with the vaccine label instructions thereafter, unless granted an exemption by local rabies health authorities.
In 2007, the United States successfully eliminated canine rabies transmission. Globally, however, dogs remain the principal source of human rabies infections, killing about 60,000 people annually. About 95% of human cases of rabies are transmitted by domestic dogs. Controlling dog rabies transmission through periodic mass vaccination reduces human exposure.
On January 9–11, 2025, CVMA leadership attended the American Veterinary Medical Association’s (AVMA) Veterinary Leadership Conference in Chicago. Representing the CVMA as California’s “emerging leader” was Dr. Elizabeth Grant, a small animal associate veterinarian at Community Veterinary Hospital in Garden Grove, California. Dr. Grant graduated from UC Davis with her DVM degree in 2023. Her parents, Drs. William Grant II and Dayna Wiedenkeller, are both past-presidents of the CVMA.
Working in a veterinary practice often involves handling a variety of animals, each with their own temperament, size, and potential for unpredictable behavior. Implementing best practices for safe handling minimizes stress for the animals and reduces the risk of injury for veterinary staff. Below are a few essential strategies to follow.
Throughout the 2025 California legislative session, the CVMA has intensely lobbied in opposition to two scope of practice expansion attempts by human health care practitioners to work on animals without veterinarian supervision. The CVMA is pleased to report that both “scope creep” bills have been put on pause for the year.
The only occupation I ever remember wanting to do as I grew up other than a veterinarian was dolphin trainer. After I got a few more years under my belt, I realized that swimming with porpoises might not be the career for me, and instead I went to my “backup” career plan of veterinary medicine.
In the summer and fall of 2024,I surveyed over 500 veterinary professionals from all corners of veterinary medicine on the topic of allyship, inclusion, and leadership within their workplace. This article focuses on some of the responses to this survey, exploring what allyship and inclusion mean in the veterinary profession,
and how leadership can support team members from all backgrounds.
The California Environmental Protection Agency (Cal EPA) is one of several government agencies that has legal
authority over the veterinary profession. Cal EPA is responsible for protecting,
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