Help lead and promote the veterinary profession

No time or experience needed. Your local, state, and national organizations are always looking for fresh ideas that come with new people getting involved. Getting involved in organized veterinary medicine doesn't require a large time commitment or previous experience. There are a variety of ways for veterinarians to volunteer that are all adaptable to your individual needs.

Dr. Rene Carlson, Immediate-Past President of the AVMA, provides her top 10 tips on how to "make your mark" on the profession of veterinary medicine.

Personal leadership stories of young veterinarians

Everyone's path to leadership is unique. Below are two videos of AVMA Future Leaders who have served as Presidents of their state veterinary medical associations. In watching these videos, you will see that Libby and Chris's paths to leadership are incredibly different. Regardless if you are a born leader, like Libby, or just happen to stumble into leadership as Chris did, we hope you find your own path.

AVMA opportunities

The AVMA is primarily a volunteer-driven organization. The AVMA members that give of their time and energy to organized veterinary medicine primarily do so through work on AVMA committees, councils, and task forces. Please take a moment to look at the positions that are currently open in these entities and find a place where you can contribute to YOUR AVMA!

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be a scientific advisor to a member of Congress? The AVMA offers annual opportunities to participate in the Congressional Fellowship Program in Washington, D.C. This is a unique opportunity to represent the veterinary profession in the legislative branch of our government.

Your AVMA is continually providing opportunities to improve your skills both as a veterinarian and as a leader in all aspects of your life. The Veterinary Leadership Conference, the Future Leaders Program, and the Veterinary Leadership Experience are all examples of these kinds of opportunities. Let the AVMA help you be the leader you want to be!

State and allied veterinary organizations

Consider getting involved at the local level in organized veterinary medicine. For example, you could participate in a local chapter of your state veterinary medical association or get involved with an allied organization of the AVMA.

Reading materials

Thousands of books have been written about leadership, and choosing the right ones can be overwhelming. Below are some personal favorites of the AVMA Future Leaders Class of 2011-2012.

	Title: The Perfect Board Author: Calvin K. Clemons Description: A quick read. The Perfect Board is a primer, rather than an encyclopedia or textbook. It describes what it takes to be an effective member of any Board. A must read for anyone new to serving on a Board of Directors, but also a great refresher for veteran board members.
	Title: Race for Relevance Author: Harrison Coerver and Mary Byer Description: A must read for anyone involved in organized veterinary medicine at any level. Race for Relevance presents the radical change required to maintain influence and avoid challenges associated with old association models. Read by many in AVMA leadership, it is very relevant to veterinary medicine.
	Title: First things First Author: Stephen R. Covey, A. Roger Merrill, Rebecca K. Merrill Description: Recurring themes in the Future Leaders Program are compass and navigation. First Things First provides you with a compass that will help you create balance between your personal and professional responsibilities.
	Title: The Leadership Challenge Author: Jim Kouzes, Barry Posner Description: The Leadership Challenge is a gold standard for research-based leadership and a premier resource on becoming a leader. All of the inaugural AVMA Future Leaders read this book and found it useful in our leadership journey.
	Title: The Slight Edge Author: Jeff Olson Description: The Slight Edge provides a way of thinking that enables you to make the daily choices leading you to the success you desire. It shows you how to create powerful results from the simple daily activities of your life.
	Title: The Will to Govern Well Author: Glenn H. Tecker, Paul D. Meyer, Bud Crouch, and Leigh Wintz Description: The Will to Govern Well presents research into associations that have shifted to knowledge-based governance systems, which can more reliably function in a world characterized by rapid change. Another feature of this edition is an emerging theory about the value proposition of associations in the 21st century.
	Title: Our Iceberg is Melting Author: John Kotter and Holger Rathgerber Description: Compared to the other books on the list, Our Iceberg is Melting is unique. It describes how to manage the necessary change that surrounds us by telling the fictional story of an anthropomorphized Antarctic penguin colony. This is a delightful book.