Honoree Story Celebrates Over Fifty Years of Service
From Private Practice to the First Woman President of the AVMA to
Industry Leader & More
New York – July 26, 2018 — Germinder + Associates has named Mary Beth Leininger, DVM, a veterinarian for more than five decades and the first woman president of the American Veterinary Medical Association as the seventh #Germinder20 #PowerofPinkHonoree to receive the award. Leininger has designated the student scholarship fund at Purdue University’s College of Veterinary Medicine to receive the $1,000 Germinder Honoree donation.To read more about her story, click here.#Germinder20 #PowerofPinkHonoree
“Dr. Leininger is beloved by her colleagues, she excels at everything she does, and her love of veterinary medicine knows no bounds. My gratitude to this amazing Honoree deepens with every passing year. She epitomizes all that is right with veterinary medicine, never wavering from her core beliefs. We all still have so much to learn from her,” said Lea-Ann Germinder, President, of Germinder + Associates, Inc.
Germinder and Dr. Leininger first met when Dr. Leininger was the President-Elect of the AVMA and Germinder presented “Pets Need Dental Care, Too!” to the AVMA PR Council. Later they worked together on dozens of media interviews during Dr. Leininger’s tenure as AVMA president, as the spokesperson for National Veterinary Month, and later as Dr. Leininger oversaw the Mark Morris and Leo Bustad Award programs for Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc.
“It is so generous of Lea-Ann to include me as one of her Germinder20 Power of Pink Honorees! I have treasured the many years we have worked together and am grateful to call her my friend,” said Dr. Leininger.
Dr. Leininger retired last year as Vice President, Veterinary Relations for the Hartville Group. She now plans to devote considerable time to volunteerism focused on the student debt issue.
Most recently, Dr. Leininger served on the American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education, from 2012 to 2018. She was President of the AVMA from 1996 to 1997. She served on the AVMA Board of Governors from 1995-97 and was on the AVMA Executive Board from 1995 to 1998. She served on the Council on Public Relations from 1985 to 1994 and was Chair from 1987 to 1988.
Prior to her post as Vice President, Veterinary Relations for the Hartville Group, Dr. Leininger held several other high-profile positions. From 2009 to 2011 she was project manager for the North American Veterinary Medical Education Consortium, (NAVMEC) an initiative of the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges, Washington DC. From 1999 to 2009 she was the Director, Professional Affairs for Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc. From 1971 to 1999 she was a companion animal practitioner and co-owner of the AAHA-accredited Plymouth Veterinary Hospital with her husband Dr. Steve Leininger.
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#Germinder20 #PowerofPinkHonorees are announced and are given the opportunity to designate a $1000 donation to be made in their name through Germinder’s 20th Anniversary Fund Giving Back program to a not-for-profit organization of their choice. To date Honorees named and their designated donations include Debra Horwitz, DVM, DACVB (donation to Missouri Humane Society), Heidi Lobprise, DVM, DAVDS (donation to Lutheran Church Charities K-9 Comfort Dogs), Elizabeth Colleran, DVM, MS, DABVP (donation to Winn Feline Foundation), Dan Richardson, DVM, DACVS (donation to Stormont-Vail Foundation Care Line), Manolita Moore (donation to The Pixel Fund) and Jen Reeder (donation to Green Dogs Unleashed). Additional Honorees will be named throughout 2018. Links to personal interviews with each honoree are also featured here.
#Germinder20 #ThePowerofPink was announced in January 2018 as part of the celebration of Germinder’s 20th Anniversary Year. The women’s storytelling initiative highlights the founder’s story of breast cancer survivorship and also shines a spotlight on 20 leaders whose stories have touched and inspired Germinder to succeed. Initial donations have been made to The Weill Cornell Breast Center at the Weill Cornell Medical College/New York Presbyterian Hospital, an integrated, multi-disciplinary care center where Germinder was treated for breast cancer five years ago. Another recipient is the Clara Goy Foundation in memory of Germinder’s brother-in-law, Gene Melleno, a girl’s high school basketball coach who passed away on Jan. 1, 2018. Other donations have been made to the Jan Hus Community Outreach Program in honor of Germinder’s immigrant great-grandmother Marie Therese Kacin and to the News Literacy Project.
Germinder + Associates provides communications services for the pet/vet sectors and other niche industries. The woman-owned company was founded by Lea-Ann O’Hare Germinder, APR, Fellow PRSA in Kansas City, and has offices in New York City and Kansas City. The company connects and consults with executives in both established companies and organizations interested in entering the vet and pet industries in the U.S.
Goodnewsforpets.com™ combines an award-winning website and social media channels to curate news of interest and importance to pet parents, veterinary professionals, and the pet industry. Editorials, contests, sponsored content distribution, and advertising are available.
GNFP Digital™ provides a wide range of digital services including digital audits, standard or custom infographics, topic-specific modules, and branded content implementation. Custom digital content development and distribution services are offered for national brands, veterinary practices, and other niche markets.
Contact:
Lea-Ann Germinder, APR, Fellow PRSA
Lgerminder@germinder.com
212-367-2170 WK
917-334-8762 Cell
Twitter @Lgerminder or Instagram @leagerm
