This is an extended version of the interview in the Oct. 2023 issue of Veterinary Practice News.
If you had told Rena Carlson, DVM, 30 years ago she would one day lead the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), she would not have believed you. "I would have never dreamed [about it]," Dr. Carlson says. "It was beyond my wildest dreams." However, under the guidance of a mentor, Dr. Carlson embraced the importance of active participation in organized veterinary medicine.
In a span of three decades, Carlson's involvement in associations such as the Eastern Idaho Veterinary Medical Association and the Idaho Veterinary Medical Association, coupled with her dedication to the AVMA, led her to this pivotal role.
"Every step has been a process of being encouraged by others, battling my self-doubt and fear, finding my confidence, and eventually taking a risk," she says. "I'm so grateful and honored to have been chosen to serve in this important role, at this critical time."
We caught up with the association's new president at the AVMA Convention in Denver, Colo., in July to learn more about her leadership style, the changing landscape of the veterinary industry, and AVMA's current key areas of focus.
Tell us about how you came to this role and how your tenure as AVMA President has been so far.
Becoming AVMA president is the culmination of a career-long journey of reaching outside of my comfort zone with a passion for this profession and the people I have been privileged to work with. When I first entered veterinary medicine, I would have never dreamed I would one day become the president of AVMA. But early in my career, one of my mentors, Dr Linda Merry, instilled in me the importance of giving back to the profession and the importance of our participation in organized veterinary medicine. Over the years, I have been involved in the Eastern Idaho Veterinary Medical Association, the Idaho Veterinary Medical Association, and of course, the AVMA. At each step I was encouraged by colleagues and friends to move into different and even bigger roles. Now, 30 years later, I am honored to serve in this role. Every step has been a process of being encouraged by others, battling my self-doubt and fear, finding my confidence, and eventually taking a risk. I'm so grateful and honored to have been chosen to serve in this important role, at this critical time.
