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Top 11 Reasons to be in the AVMA 

Top 11 Reasons to be in the AVMA Flyer

Joining the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and maintaining your annual AVMA membership offers numerous benefits and opportunities for poultry veterinarians. Here are the top 11 benefits for AVMA members: 

  1. Representation in the House of Delegates: The AVMA House of Delegates (HOD) is composed of members representing 70 veterinary groups (state, territorial, and allied veterinary organizations). Each organization has a delegate and an alternate delegate. As a constituent allied veterinary organization, AAAP delegates have a seat at the table to influence and provide important input on AVMA governance, needs of the veterinary profession and policy decisions. 

  2. Impact and Influence on AVMA Committees, Councils and Task Forces: As an allied constituent organization of AVMA, AAAP has volunteer leaders representing the poultry sector on various AVMA committees, councils and task forces. Members provide expertise on the Committee on Antimicrobials, Food Safety Advisory Committee, Animal Welfare Committee, Legislative Advisory Committee, Committee on Environmental Issues, Council on Biologic & Therapeutic Agents, and many more. AAAP members ensure that the poultry sector is represented during the creation and review of national veterinary policies, position statements and recommendations that impact the practice of veterinary medicine.

  3. Guidance on AVMA Panels: AVMA has various humane ending guidance documents including euthanasia, humane slaughter and depopulation. The creation and review of these comprehensive documents is conducted by members on appointed panels that provide guidance and direction on these topics. AAAP is fortunate to have members representing poultry production on the Panel on Depopulation, Panel on Humane Slaughter and Panel on Euthanasia. AAAP provides expertise on these panels to deliver meaningful guidance and recommendations as it pertains to humane killing techniques for poultry in these three critical areas. 

  4. Advocacy and Representation at the State and National Level: AVMA Legislative Advisory Committee (LAC) represents the interests of veterinarians at a national level and advocates for policies and legislation that affect the profession. This advocacy includes issues of importance to AAAP so we can get our members and positions in front of regulatory agencies (USDA, FSIS, FDA, etc.) and legislators. In addition to AAAP members attending the annual AVMA legislative fly-ins in Washington, DC, AAAP has representation on the Animal Agriculture Liaison Committee (AALC) that aims to strengthen the relationship between AVMA and animal ag organizations. AAAP members on AALC participate and advocate on issues of mutual concern to the veterinary profession and the producers of food products derived from animals. AALC is integrally involved in developing animal agriculture policy and recommendations for submission to the AVMA Board of Directors. 

  5. Access to AVMA Member Only Insurance: Through AVMA PLIT and AVMA LIFE, the AVMA Trust provides insurance coverage and retirement solutions for veterinarians, team members, and your families. Designed by veterinarians for veterinarians, these programs provide protections for your career, business and personal needs. 

  6. Collaboration with Veterinary Colleagues within the Barnyard Group: Each year, AVMA meets with executive leaders of AABP (bovine practitioners), AASV (swine veterinarians) and AAAP (poultry veterinarians) to ensure concerns and issues are addressed. This important coalition of food animal veterinarians, within the barnyard groups, allows AAAP to have additional conversations with AVMA executive leaders and to be proactive in communicating the needs of the poultry sector and AAAP at the national level. 

  7. Influencing Poultry-Specific Continuing Education: AVMA looks to AAAP for poultry guidance, education and support for practitioners who might need small flock education. As professionals for poultry health and welfare, we have an opportunity to help inform and educate peers within the profession about what we do, the safety of poultry products, and how to identify, diagnose and/or prevent poultry diseases in small flocks. 

  8. Access to Educational Resources: AVMA offers a wealth of resources including publications, journals, and online tools that can enhance the knowledge and skills of AAAP members. AVMA’s AXON online portal also offers convenient, easy-to-use veterinary CE courses for members in topics such as One Health, depopulation, telehealth, etc. and webinars related to leadership, DEI, economics, and retirement. For AAAP members that need insurance, AVMA PLIT is available for members and provides veterinary-inspired professional liability and business solutions, personal insurance, risk-management resources, and access to veterinary specialists for insurance liability concerns. 

  9. Career Development: AVMA provides career development courses, AVMA certificate programs, job listings, opportunities for mentorship and professional development, which can be valuable for AAAP members at all stages of their careers. 

  10. Professional Recognition: AVMA membership signifies a commitment to professional excellence and adherence to high ethical standards, enhancing the credibility and reputation of AAAP members within the veterinary community and beyond. While poultry veterinarians are a small portion of the 100,000+ AVMA members, AAAP still has an important voice within AVMA as a constituent veterinary organization. 

  11. Voice in Veterinary Medicine: Through AVMA, AAAP members have a collective voice in shaping the future of veterinary medicine, influencing policies, standards, and initiatives that impact the profession as a whole, including avian medicine and pathology. For example, AAAP members provide insight for AVMA’s efforts to improve veterinary school recruitment and exposure for careers in food animal practice, support efforts for veterinarians working in regulatory and food inspection roles, reinforce the need to have federal support for veterinary loan repayment initiatives, and encourage the use of innovative technology to augment veterinary oversight for the health of large herds and flocks.