“Leading the Veterinary Innovation Council is an opportunity to shape something new – to take my experience with all levels of associations and organized veterinary medicine and create something meaningful, exciting and of benefit to both veterinarians and consumers,” said Hochstadt.
The Veterinary Innovation Council is a non-profit 501(c)(6) association with the mission of convening the brightest minds in the profession and industry together to tackle innovation opportunities that lift up all animal health care segments including caregivers, academia, suppliers and consumers.
This project-driven, collaborative industry body is aimed at three primary goals:
- Convening talent from across the profession to tackle global challenges facing the animal health industry; challenges that require collaboration and innovation
- Developing realistic, innovative solutions capable of transforming areas of critical value to the veterinary profession and animal health industry
- Collaborating with professional organizations, companies and non-profits to implement the innovations and reforms.
In a press release, NAVC CEO Thomas M. Bohn, MBA, CAE stated, “Existing veterinary trade organizations perform vital roles in protecting and advancing the interests of their members. But we saw an unmet need for a veterinary organization that works industry-wide to focus on positive change and push the envelope for innovative solutions across professional boundaries. Initially, VIC initiatives will include enhancing the value of veterinary technicians as well as telemedicine standards.”
NAVC President Christine Navarre, DVM, MS, DACVIM (LAIM), added, “We’re proud to initiate this exciting development for our profession. The VIC will carefully leverage the breadth and depth of the NAVC and its relationships within the profession to build the foundation for a long-term engine that drives innovation and reform.”
Hochstadt has significant association management and veterinary advocacy experience. For the past 10 years, he served as the AVMA Assistant Director of State Relations. His background also includes roles at the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care, the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons and the American Bar Association.
He is equally pleased to help associations through his role as Senior Director of Industry Services. The Industry Services Division will include association management, strategic planning and professional conference management services exclusively for the veterinary industry.
The NAVC is one of the only veterinary not-for-profit Association Management Companies (AMC) in existence and it’s backed by decades of experience in the veterinary profession as well as conference and event planning, management and execution. Commenting on his role, Hochstadt said,
“I’ve worked with associations of all sizes and grappled with many complicated issues in veterinary medicine. I look forward to working with the NAVC team to help associations take advantage of the vast network of services the North American Veterinary Community can offer today’s veterinary associations.”
The NAVC Industry Services Division provides:
- initial discovery and strategic planning
- all aspects of association management, including membership management, governance and accounting
- complete conference/live-event management including site selection, contracts, marketing, registration, exhibit halls and more
- ancillary services such as scientific program development and custom publishing
The NAVC has worked with veterinary organizations such as the Association of Reptilian and Amphibian Veterinarians (ARAV), The Pet Nutrition Alliance (PNA), the American Academy of Veterinary Nutrition, the Southern European Veterinary Conference (SEVC), the British Small Animal Veterinary Congress (BSAVA Congress) and VetFolio.
In addition to the NAVC leadership appointments, Hochstadt was elected to a volunteer position as president of the American Society of Veterinary Medical Association Executives (ASVMAE), a one-year term. ASVMAE is composed of executives who manage and serve various veterinary associations.