Connecting members with the latest news from USAHA, and with each other.

April 2024

Welcome to April! Whether you call it “stick season,” "mud season,” or just plain old beautiful “spring,” we hope the month and the change of seasons has been good to you so far. Your USAHA Connection team is pleased to bring you another edition of our member newsletter, and we hope this information gets you excited for district meetings, colleague engagement, and all the good stuff USAHA has to offer during this busy season. How fortunate we all are to be part of such a dynamic organization comprising a diverse and inspiring membership. We look forward to continuing to connect you through the words that follow and in future editions.

Kelly and Kristin

The GRC = Success in DC

In your February 2024 Connection newsletter, we offered a teaser for the 2024 Government Relations Committee (GRC) meeting, and we are pleased to provide you with a wrap-up of that prestigious gathering now, provided by USAHA President Steve Crawford. Last month, the USAHA GRC met with over a dozen federal agencies and private sector partner organizations during a busy 2 days in Washington, DC. The aim of these discussions is to advance USAHA’s mission through discussion of resolutions and related matters.

The GRC visit to DC each March is USAHA’s opportunity to follow up on the highest priority issues that come out of the prior October’s Annual Meeting, as well as raise any late-breaking topics for discussion. The GRC comprises the Executive Committee, District Presidents, and Committee Chairs. The First Vice President chairs the meetings; Charlie Broaddus this year. USAHA GRC meets in conjunction with the AAVLD GRC as many of the issues discussed are inseparably intertwined. Charlie and Ben Richey solicited agenda items from committee chairs and others ahead of the sessions and put together a robust 2-day session, in coordination with AAVLD leadership. Nearly 2 dozen USAHA and AAVLD members attended the 2024 GRC meeting. 

USAHA was once again incredibly fortunate to have the session begin with recorded comments from House Agriculture Committee Chair, Congressman GT Thompson. Recall that the Congressman provided comments to the USAHA Annual Meeting in October 2023 during the last general membership meeting. Senior Staffer for the House Ag Committee, Justina Graff, met in-person with the GRC following the Congressman’s comments. She displayed an impressive range and depth of knowledge on the topics of interest to the broad group, answering questions and sharing updates on the status of certain initiatives (e.g., Farm Bill). USAHA very much appreciates their work and engagement. 

The meeting docket included primarily old favorite meeting partners, most in person…USDA APHIS Veterinary Services and NAHLN/NVSL; USDA APHIS FSIS; APHIS Wildlife Services; USDA NIFA; USDA ARS; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Allied Industry groups in a roundtable discussion; AVMA; FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine; DHS Customs and Border Protection; NASDA; and the FBI Weapons of Mass Destruction Directorate.    

Consistent themes arose over two days, whether meeting with government agencies or private sector allies…what will the structure look like for navigating challenges (current and unforeseen) presented by forever chemicals to animal health and one health; how will government continue to get done what is expected – and necessary – with growing concerns about budget and workforce boundaries; will there ever be full resolution to some old, familiar struggles (cooperative agreements; international trade negotiations; traceability and funding); how do we ensure adequate response to new and emerging diseases (avian metapneumovirus) while not ignoring other work; and how do we best implement and refine policy (depopulation v. partial site depopulation v. vaccination) within the world of animal health.    

GRC has served USAHA well for decades. The meetings are productive and important in terms of the content and the relationships they establish and maintain with USAHA’s partners. In the interest of process improvement, this year’s GRC incorporated a few new concepts. Historically, attendees arrive Monday evening and see each other for the first time while walking to the initial meetings on Tuesday morning. This year, USAHA hosted a Monday evening reception for attendees who were in town. In addition to a pre-brief on the sessions from the chair, this was a nice opportunity for members to chat with friends and colleagues they might only see a time or two each year.

Prior to the in-person meetings in DC, the GRC Chair and the USAHA president met virtually with USDA VS leadership to discuss the best approach for covering all the material and topics asked of USDA VS in the 4 hours on the GRC agenda. This appeared to improve meeting flow and efficiency without limiting discussion and debate (there is always plenty of debate). During discussion of one of the resolutions with USDA VS, USAHA Foreign and Emerging Diseases committee chair Karyn Havas asked exactly the right question, “What is our role in helping get this resolution complete?”

President Crawford responded that USAHA needs to take ownership where it can since USAHA resolutions are not demands or directives. Instead, they serve as organizational positions and requests for specific advancement toward those positions. Asking for action on 20 – 30 or more unique resolutions and anticipating satisfying progress toward all of them in under a year is not realistic based on current processes, competing interests, and confounding factors. Some ideas for process improvement were offered during the response to the question, but more importantly, this led to a post-GRC discussion between the VS leadership team and USAHA EC. See the article entitled GRC - Resolution Recap at the end of this newsletter for the outcomes of those discussions.

Fortunately, the time in DC is not all work. This year, the cherry blossoms were in peak bloom. This was reported to be the second earliest peak bloom ever. Good timing for attendees considering the weather was pleasant (maybe a little windy) for a walk around the Tidal Basin and that 158 of the nearly 3700 trees are scheduled for removal this spring. The cuts are part of the work to reconstruct a seawall around the Tidal Basin, fortifying the area against future damage.

In our long-standing tradition (well, OK, only a burgeoning tradition since this is just the second iteration of this series) of highlighting a USAHA executive committee (EC) member in each edition of Connection, we present to you USAHA President Elect Pete Mundschenk (NV), who will be assuming the role of USAHA president at the conclusion of the 2024 Annual Meeting. We appreciate Pete’s willingness to share a little bit about himself with USAHA members. Here are Pete’s answers to the serious and not-so-serious questions we pitched his way! 

What are you most looking forward to about becoming USAHA president?

I am really looking forward to attending as many regional meetings next year as possible. I hope to understand the various concerns around the country and how USAHA can be a voice for all sections of the country.

What do you hope to accomplish during your term as USAHA president?

One of the goals outlined in USAHA’s 5-year strategic plan is increased technology. The organization now has a new database in place which will give committee members a secure space to communicate on a topic. I encourage committee chairs and members to utilize this resource throughout the year to facilitate ongoing collaboration and connection (yep, pun intended) between the Annual Meetings. One area that I would like to improve on as an organization is to better enable USAHA members to contact state organizations and get them involved in USAHA. Many local, state, and regional organizations contemplate issues that need to be heard in an influential national organization like USAHA, and for which USAHA can be a unifying sounding board and advocate.  

As the Nevada state veterinarian and a Las Vegas resident, what is your favorite way to lose money at the casino? Or if you don’t gamble, then do you enjoy other money-losing (or winning) activities you are willing to share?

While I do not gamble, I do have hobbies like owning horses and scuba diving. Although these are expensive hobbies, they are a great way to relax and not focus on work for short periods of time. 

If you were gifted with a do-over in life, where would you be today?

For me, being a veterinarian was a dream from growing up in a rural community. Life has its funny twists and turns. After looking back on all the peaks and valleys in life, I am fortunate to be where I am today. This profession has given me the opportunity to be involved in clinical practice, work with associations, engage in disaster preparedness, and now enjoy regulatory medicine. I would not trade the journey I have had and the places and responsibilities that journey has taken me to. No do-over needed!

Why would you recommend USAHA membership to colleagues who are not already involved with our organization?

An organization like USAHA brings together individuals from various backgrounds and with unique perspectives on livestock issues. In doing so, USAHA allows various opinions to be presented and heard. The resolutions generated by USAHA through its committees help shape and influence federal policy that feeds up to the World Organization of Animal Health. I would encourage state livestock associations to actively engage with and become a part of USAHA to ensure that the needs and priorities of industry in every state are reflected in the resolutions that come out of USAHA. 

If you were the recipient of an all-expenses paid vacation, where would you go/what would you do, and why?



If I were to get an all-expenses paid vacation, I would love to take a trip to Egypt and the Red Sea. This area is supposed to have some of the world’s best coral reefs and marine life. Then I would explore one of the 7 wonders of the world by visiting the ancient pyramids of Egypt.

Thank you, Pete, for sharing that information with us, and we look forward to welcoming you as the next USAHA president next October! Perhaps we should initiate another organization-wide contest, the winner of which will be allowed to stow away in Pete’s luggage when he does take that trip of a lifetime – stay tuned for more on how that is likely to not happen 😊… And remember, those of you involved with district meeting planning, take Pete’s advice and be sure to invite your local, state, and regional industry representatives to your meetings. District meetings are a great way for aspiring new members to get their foot in the USAHA’s proverbial door in a meaningful way.   

Dr. Pete enjoying some time out of the office with his dogs.

Speaking of District meetings…

The time of the year is upon us for USAHA district meetings, and in keeping with an unwritten tradition (and your northeast colleagues’ attempts to frugally secure “off-season” hotel rates), the Northeast USAHA (NEUSAHA) meeting is first out of the gate on the spring/summer calendar. If you are schedule-flexible, spontaneous, and looking for a fun, delicious, and downright productive gathering to start off the USAHA district meeting season, join us in Philadelphia, PA April 21 – 24 for a small but mighty conference. Has NEUSAHA been accused of trying to fit too much into 2.5 days? Yes, of course. Is NEUSAHA going to keep pushing the scientific meeting agenda and the hospitality suite to the next level? Yep, you bet! The NEUSAHA meeting not only brings together northeast USAHA and AAVLD colleagues, but it also has the honor of featuring on the agenda national leaders in rabies control. One Health is alive and well in the northeast as the agenda brings together regulatory, diagnostic, and wildlife partners for candid discussions. And not all discussions happen in the classroom.

NEUSAHA 2023 meeting attendees, Portsmouth, NH. From left to right and front to back:

a lot of good people who live, work, and play in and around the northeast.

Dual USAHA Past Presidents, USAHA Medal of Distinction awardees, USAHA Life Members,

and all-around-world-class story tellers, friends and colleagues, Don Hoenig (left) and Don Lein (right) spending some quality time in Biddeford, Maine, August 2023.

If making travel plans and attending the NEUSAHA district meeting on such short notice is not your cup of tea, keep the remainder of the 2024 district meetings in mind! Here are meeting dates and a link to more information and registration - https://www.usaha.org/district-meetings:

• NCUSAHA (North Central USAHA) - May 21-23, 2024 - Lincoln, NE
• SAHA (Southern Animal Health Association) - June 3-6, 2024 - Wheeling, WV
• WSLHA (Western States Livestock Health Association) - June 2-6, 2024 - Modesto, CA

Student Spotlight – Kyrstin Cramer, MPH-VPH

‘Tis the season for reminders to engage students at every level of USAHA planning – state, district/regional, and national. In honor of that premise, we are pleased to include in this Connection edition a Student Spotlight on Kyrstin Cramer because she, like so many students, values the professional networking opportunities USAHA has provided her, and USAHA members and leadership teams can learn a lot from Kyrstin’s USAHA experiences. Having attended 3 USAHA Annual Meetings (2021 – 2023) during her student career, Kyrstin has officially moved beyond the USAHA rookie ranks! We are grateful to former Ohio State Veterinarian Tony Forshey (1952-2021) for helping cement Kyrstin’s commitment to a public service career. Dr. Forshey spoke to Kyrstin’s undergraduate animal science class at The Ohio State University in the spring of 2015, and she has kept her eye on that prize ever since. In fact, when we asked Kyrstin how she felt during her first USAHA meeting in 2021, she responded with “I felt like I finally had found my people.”

Kyrstin enjoys some quality networking time with Samantha Holmes, DVM, North Carolina State University, during the 125th USAHA Annual Meeting in Denver, CO in 2021.

Kyrstin’s first USAHA meeting allowed her to experience the “transition from school-brain to real-life brain” – that aha moment or series of moments when every student gets a first-hand look at how the information they are learning in school translates in the real world, through the eyes and words of inspiring colleagues – and that moment was memorable for Kyrstin.

Kyrstin presents “A Qualitative Impact Evaluation of the Ohio Disease Diagnostic Laboratory” during the 2022 AAVLD/USAHA Annual Meeting in Minneapolis, MN. Kyrstin’s 2015 interaction with Dr. Forshey allowed her to forge additional professional relationships in subsequent years that connected Kyrstin

with the unique opportunity during her academic career to complete the impact assessment that

helped inform the decision to build a new and improved Ohio Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory

– wowza, what a legacy for Kyrstin and her connection with Dr. Forshey!

Kyrstin further recalls that some of her favorite USAHA meeting moments have included being able to absorb the open session discussions of the National Assembly of State Animal Health Officials and reconnect with colleagues she has met and bonded with during each Annual Meeting. Back at home, Kyrstin works hard to ensure student colleagues unable to attend the USAHA meeting benefit from the experiences, too. As the president of her OSU Veterinary Public Health Club, a robust group comprising 33 members and boasting 121 Instagram followers, Kyrstin hosts regular topic-specific meetings and has even coordinated “Instagram Takeovers” to bring USAHA meetings and events back to her Ohio classmates in real time. Become a “follower” of the OSU Public Health Club by searching “@vphcosu” on Instagram or using this QR Code:

What is better than being the beneficiary of a virtual Instagram Takeover focused on the USAHA meeting? Attending the meeting in person, of course! Kyrstin made sure her OSU classmates (left to right) Magdalen Ringley and Elizabeth Ohl (both class of ’26) could join her in person at the 2023 USAHA meeting in National Harbor, MD.

Kyrstin provided some enlightening feedback when we asked her how USAHA can better serve students. Here are her top recommendations for us:

1) prioritize student scholarships and support the work of USAHA member Valerie Ragan and the Center for Public and Corporate Veterinary Medicine at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine. This successful USAHA scholarship program developed in 2011 by Valerie has allowed hundreds of students to attend the USAHA meetings over more than a decade at reduced cost. Contributions from USAHA districts, member organizations and individuals to this scholarship program help usher the students of today into the USAHA members of tomorrow. Think for a moment about the collective benefit of more than 150 student - aha moments over 12 years – this is a worthy cause!

2) Carry USAHA’s message into your communities by engaging with animal health/agriculture and veterinary students in all stages of their academic careers. Students often have limited opportunity to connect in meaningful ways with professionals in the public, corporate and industry sectors. We can help with this, and Dr. Forshey and others have proven that sometimes all it takes is one meaningful interaction to influence a student’s career choices and get USAHA’s name into the collective student psyche.

3) Ensure students have the opportunity to attend the USAHA district meetings and consider incentivizing them to do so. District meetings are often easier and more affordable for students to attend, they focus on issues that are specifically meaningful to animal health and agriculture colleagues in a particular geographic territory, and they provide more intimate professional environments for student mentoring and networking.

Kyrstin takes part in the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion special session

hosted by AAVLD during the 2023 Annual Meeting.

4) At your next USAHA meeting, take the initiative to engage a student. They are enthusiastic but everyone’s 1^st (or 2^nd and 3^rd) USAHA meetings can be overwhelming. A friendly hello or smile-laden conversation is a great icebreaker for a student trying to soak it all in and look for “their people” at the same time. Since the students of today are the USAHA members of tomorrow, these seemingly small efforts can literally make a world of difference. Just look for the gold student badges on those meeting name tags and strike up a conversation – easy-peasy. We appreciate Valerie Ragan for connecting us with Kyrstin, and we are grateful to Kyrstin for providing USAHA with such an important perspective and congratulate her on her accomplishments to date. We know she is not even close to being done!    

The Annual Meeting Student Luncheon is always well attended by the USAHA, AAVLD, and USDA leadership teams and provides an opportunity for students in attendance to rub shoulders with animal agriculture VIPs. More than one employment wish has come true because of the networking at this annual mixer. Kyrstin is in the front row far right, and Valerie Ragan is on the far right of the group.

These are the puppies that carry Mindy across hiking terrain of all types and allow her to exercise her self-proclaimed preferred superpower of “Flawless Restoration,” which is to heal and mend mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical wear-and-tear. As a Washington Department of Agriculture Field Veterinarian and Reserve Veterinary Corps Coordinator committed to doing the right thing for the greater good in support of animal and human health, personal resets are critical. Once rejuvenated by some down time out of the office, Mindy can fully appreciate the most rewarding part of her job when she returns to work, which in her own words is to be able to interact with some of the most pragmatic, empathetic, intelligent, and truly unique veterinary and emergency professionals out there.  

An avid trail runner, Mindy “mountain-goats” the terrain before summiting Mount Hood during a 28K trail race as part of Wy’East Trailfest. Mindy loves the sport of trail running and notes it is a great equalizer over age and gender.  

For those of you who submitted votes to this inaugural contest but either weren’t fast enough with your typing finger or didn’t recognize the person who donned the spectacular socks, there will be other opportunities to shine as a future winner and thank you for playing along with our quirky sock contest.