Follow Veterinary Practice News on Twitter at @vetpetnews. The American Veterinary Medical Association has chosen two new graduates and a longtime veterinarian to serve as scientific advisers to Congress on animal and public health policy. From top, Drs. Elise Ackley, Chase Crawford and Carolyn La Jeunesse. Serving in the 2014-15 AVMA Congressional Fellowship Program are Elise Ackley, DVM, of Shreveport, La.; Chase Crawford, DVM, of Houston; and Carolyn La Jeunesse, DVM, CT, CCFE, of Port Orchard, Wash. Mark Lutschaunig, DVM, director of the AVMA's Governmental Relations Division, called the program "a unique way for veterinarians at all stages in their careers to learn about the legislative process and take part firsthand in developing public policies that will have a national and global impact." "Not only will Drs. Ackley, Crawford and La Jeunesse serve their country by providing advice on a wide range of pressing scientific, national issues, but they will also be able to network with officials in all branches of the federal government, which will hopefully open up new career opportunities for them," Dr. Lutschaunig added. Dr. Ackley, a 2014 graduate of the Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine, previously worked for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. She also served as a student extern in AVMA's Governmental Relations Division and as president of the Student American Veterinary Medical Association. Dr. Crawford, a 2014 graduate of the Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, spent time with WHO and the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization. Dr. La Jeunesse, a 1983 graduate of the University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine, is past president of the Washington State Veterinary Medical Association and is an emergency and critical care veterinarian. She is a certified thantologist (CT) and a certified compassion fatigue educator (CCFE). Twenty people applied for the 2014-2015 fellowship program, which also is sponsored by the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Previous: AVMA Seeks Input on Report Outlining Next Decade Want more Veterinary Practice News? Go here. <HOME>
