American Veterinary Medical Association Hosts Leadership Conference

 


As professor and director at West Virginia University’s School of Medicine, Jeffrey Wimsatt, DVM, PhD, DACLAM, oversees all animal welfare issues pertaining to the university. Heavily involved in animal care and research, Jeffrey Wimsatt, DVM, PhD, DACLAM, maintains membership to numerous professional organizations, one of which includes the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).

Established in 1863, the AVMA is a nonprofit organization that represents more than 80,000 veterinarians that work in academia, private or corporate practice, government, or uniformed services. It strives to protect, promote, and advance the veterinary profession in an ethical manner.

The AVMA hosts several conferences and meetings during the year to keep members connected. The 2016 AVMA Veterinary Leadership Conference, which occurred January 7 through 10 at the Hyatt Regency Chicago. Geared toward veterinarians, AVMA delegates and representatives, veterinary technicians, and other industry professionals, this conference highlighted ways for members to become leaders within their profession. Attendees had an opportunity to garner continuing education credit on select educational sessions. The 2017 Conference is scheduled for January 12 through 15, also at the Hyatt Regency Chicago.

Identifying Common Tick-Borne Illnesses

West Virginia University Professor and School of Medicine Animal Director Jeffrey Wimsatt ensures the well-being of the animals used for research and learning within the West Virginia University system. Jeffrey Wimsatt often studies topics related analgesics and infectious agents such as those associated with ticks, and the way they impact local wildlife.

Tick bites can cause dangerous diseases in both humans and pets. Most of these can be identified early on by the distinctive rashes that tend to accompany them.

Rashes caused by Lyme disease and by southern tick–associated rash illness (STARI) appear anywhere between three and 30 days after a bite. The ring-shaped rash occurs at the site of the tick bite and is usually red and warm to the touch, but not painful. Rocky Mountain spotted fever rashes begin as small pink spots on arms and legs that later develop into red and purple splotches. People with this disease often come down with a fever before a rash occurs, and some patients will not develop a rash at all. Nevertheless, understanding what the rashes associated with these diseases look like can lead to early recognition of and treatment for the disease.