Externs on The Hill

During the second week of my externship with the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Government Relations office, I had the privilege of meeting with members of the AVMA Board of Directors during their visit to Washington, D.C., attending congressional committee hearings, and attending multiple receptions (including Pet Night on Capitol Hill!) During the AVMA Board of Directors meeting, the AVMA’s advocacy team provided updates to the Board of Directors on the status of state and federal legislation important to the veterinary profession and shared the many advocacy-related accomplishments over the past year (including the AVMA Congressional Advocacy Network, the AVMA Ambassador program, and the AVMA Political Action Committee.)

Additionally, I had the opportunity to attend a congressional briefing on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) hosted by the American Society for Microbiology, where global stakeholders shared their perspectives on AMR detection, treatment, and prevention as key global health security priorities. While AMR is a growing animal and public health concern, it was great to hear about the commitments the United States has made to help address AMR and the opportunities for the United States to be a leader in supporting AMR countermeasures globally.

Meeting with veterinarians who work in a diverse range of public-facing roles has been such a valuable experience and an interesting contrast to the veterinarians I have worked with in clinical practice settings. A significant portion of our training in veterinary school is focused on developing the skills necessary for careers in clinical practice but many of the skills we develop translate to careers in public practice as well. As individuals trained to protect animal and human health, veterinarians possess knowledge and skills in a range of areas, including scientific communication, food safety and security, zoonotic and transboundary diseases, emergency management, and many more. Additionally, veterinarians are trained to manage the political, ethical, legal, and social challenges that present in all fields of veterinary medicine. It is this unique training that equips veterinarians with the skills necessary to play a significant role in public practice settings. This week I met with veterinarians working with the American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges and the United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.  

A portion of my week was also spent tracking technology-related legislation that could impact veterinary medicine, public health, or animal agriculture. As technology advances, veterinary professionals must have a seat at the table when legislation is being considered that could negatively impact these key areas. By staying engaged with public policy leaders, the AVMA can take appropriate action when the time is right and ensure the voice of the profession is heard and taken into consideration.

I am excited to see what the next two weeks of my externship hold. I look forward to learning more about the skills that veterinarians bring to public policy, the opportunities to advocate for the veterinary profession, and the career opportunities for veterinarians in public practice.  

The second week of my externship with the American Veterinary Medical Association’s DC office was filled with meetings from veterinarians working in public policy. Throughout my time in veterinary school, the focus is preparing veterinarians that plan on going into clinical practice. Refining your ability to manage pancreatitis or efficiently spay a dog or detect a heart murmur are skills most fourth year students are trying to soak up with only two months left until graduation. Meanwhile, I am getting lost on the metro and meeting every veterinarian involved in policy I can. And I love it. In the clinical setting, I can only treat one animal at a time, but in policy I can create a lasting impact that might prevent the disease from needing to be treated in the first place.  

I did not realize how many different jobs a veterinarian could do outside the clinical setting.

With the U.S. House of Representatives being out of session this week, a different genre of meetings filled my calendar. This week I met with veterinarians working with United States Agency for International Development, National Institute of Health, United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, and more! Yes, it is a lot of acronyms, but luckily vet school prepared me for that (I’m looking at you PTE, HCM, and GDV). Meeting with these veterinarians made me realize all the skills I learned in veterinary school I developed unknowingly. As veterinarians we are trained to negotiate, communicate, budget, compartmentalize, and how to use our instincts when responding to emergency situations. Veterinarians working in the government or other non-traditional roles have taken these transferable skills and built upon them. Other skills needed to work in this field include strong writing skills. Science communications in the form of writing and speaking is essential to be an effective advocate of important public health, food security, and food safety issues.   Another large portion of my week was spent following up with veterinarians across the United States to gauge their interest in advocating for veterinary issues with their state representatives. There is a strength in numbers when it comes to advocating for what our profession needs moving forward. So, while sending letters and making calls to your local representative may feel like a small drop in the pool, it is very meaningful when we all pitch in. This weekend I am going to take a trip out to explore the US National Arboretum and spend some time wandering around!