Pennell elected as next AVMA treasurer
Dr. Jon R. Pennell, a small animal practitioner from Las Vegas and a former chair of the AVMA House Advisory Committee, was elected this September as the Association’s next treasurer, a nonvoting member of the AVMA Board of Directors.
Dr. Pennell will succeed Dr. Arnold Goldman, the current AVMA treasurer, when Dr. Goldman completes his sixth and final year on the Board, his term ending July 2023.
“I am a proud and passionate supporter of the AVMA and our profession,” Dr. Pennell said. “The opportunity to serve on the AVMA Board of Directors as the treasurer next year is an opportunity of a lifetime. I intend to work diligently with the AVMA Board of Directors and AVMA staff, joining in their tireless efforts to meet our profession's challenges and continuing to provide value to all AVMA members.”
A second-generation veterinarian, Dr. Pennell has represented Nevada in the AVMA House of Delegates since 2009, first as alternate delegate and then as delegate. He was elected to the House Advisory Committee in 2016 and then as committee chair in 2020.
In 2013, Dr. Pennell was appointed by Brian Sandoval, then governor of Nevada, to the Nevada State Board of Health. Additionally, Dr. Pennell is a former president of what was previously called the Western Veterinary Conference and of the Nevada State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners.
The WVC was renamed for the 2021 conference as the WVC Dr. Jon R. Pennell 93rd Annual Conference in recognition of Dr. Pennell’s contributions to Viticus Group, which puts on the conference and offers other continuing education for veterinary and human health professionals in Nevada. Dr. Pennell is a former president of Viticus Group and has held a number of leadership positions with the organization.
Dr. Pennell graduated in 1981 from Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine. He has been practicing veterinary medicine in Clark County, Nevada, for over 30 years and has a special interest in veterinary dentistry.
He also volunteers with many disaster relief organizations and spent several years working part time as an advanced emergency medical technician.
A version of this article appears in the November 2022 print issue of JAVMA.