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WAVMA Leadership: Executive Board and Committees

WAVMA Executive Board

Matthijs Metselaar

President
United Kingdom

Bartolomeo Gorgoglione

Past-President
United States

Nelly Isyagi

President-Elect
Kenya

Wes Baumgartner

Treasurer
United States

Claudia Venegas Morales

Secretary
Chile

Stephen Reichley

Director for North America
United States

Stephen Pyecroft

Director for Oceania
Australia

Win Surachetpong

Director for Asia
Thailand

Kunda Ndashe

Director for Africa
Zambia

Simon Doherty

Director for Europe
United Kingdom

Farah Gonul Aydin

Director for Middle East
Turkey

Paola Barato

Director for Latin America and Caribbean
Colombia

 

Executive Board Responsibilities: The Executive Board has the responsibility for charting the general course and direction of WAVMA. They have fiduciary oversight of all issues and provide the oversight and approval for all WAVMA programs and services that fulfill the Mission and Objectives of the organization. The EB generally meets once a month to discuss and approve WAVMA programs, services, and policies that drive the organization and issues that affect aquatic veterinary medicine.

WAVMA members may submit items for discussion at the next Executive Board meeting by contacting the WAVMA Secretary.

Executive Board Elections: Executive Board elections occur annually. Self-nominations are typically utilized and highly encouraged. All Full Members are eligible to run for an Executive Board position and are able to vote in the Executive Board elections. Individuals elected participate in Executive Board discussion and meetings for the remainder of that calendar year and begin their term as voting members on 1st January of the following year.  

 

Volunteer Opportunities

As a member-driven organization, WAVMA relies on volunteers to help set the direction and implement programs useful for all members. Any WAVMA member can volunteer for a leadership role on the Executive Board or any Committee to help shape the direction of the Association, meet new colleagues, forge valuable and lasting relationships, and help address key issues affecting aquatic veterinary medicine.

Executive Board members are elected annually, but any WAVMA member can request serving on a Committee at any time by contacting the WAVMA President, or directly each Committee Chair.

 

WAVMA Committees

Communications Committee 
The Communications Committee oversees WAVMA official social media (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn) to ensure communication with members and others involved with aquatic veterinary medicine (see full description). 2023 Chair: Claudia Venegas. 

Credentialing Committee
The Credentialing Committee oversees and administers the Certified Aquatic Veterinarian (CertAqV) and the Certified Aquatic Veterinarian Nurse/Technician (CertAqVNT) programs (see full description). 2023 Chair: Matthijs Metselaar.

Education and Student Committee
The ESC Committee promotes aquatic veterinary education and fosters networking amongst student members. The Student Support subcommittee coordinates the WAVMA Student Chapters to foster new opportunities for aquatic veterinary medicine students (2023 Leader: Maribel Escobedo). The Education Resources subcommittee administers the Pitts Aquatic Veterinary Education Awards and the Student Chapter Mini Grant programs (2023 Leader: Robert Martinez). The WebCEPD subcommittee support education programs for aquatic veterinarians and para-professional, administering the continuing education and professional development (CEPD) programs (2023 Leader: Claudia Venegas). See full ESC description. 2023 Chair: Bartolomeo Gorgoglione; Vice Chair: Rachael Feeney.

Fellows Committee
The Fellows Committee coordinates the nomination and the activities of the WAVMA Fellows, and their communication with the Executive Board (see full description). 2023 Chair: Laura Urdes.

Meetings Committee
The Meetings Committee oversees and coordinates logistics for WAVMA-organized or sponsored symposia, conferences, and other aquatic veterinary educational meetings (see full description). 2023 Chair: Julius Tepper. 

Membership Committee
The Membership Committee oversees the listservs, membership lists and oversees membership issues at the request of the Executive Board to optimally serve members and the organization (see full description). 2023 Chair: Christopher Walster.

Publications Committee 
The Publications Committee coordinates the publication of the WAVMA quarterly journal The Aquatic Veterinarian, and other occasional WAVMA publications. 2023 Chair: Nicholas Saint-Erne.

Past Presidents

2023: Bartolomeo Gorgoglione (United States)
2022: Gillian Taylor (South Africa)
2021: Stephen Reichley (United States)
2020: Jena Questen (United States)
2019: Devon Dublin (Japan)
2018: A. David Scarfe (United States)
2017: Laura Urdes (Romania)
2016: Nicholas Saint-Erne (United States)
2015: Christopher Walster (United Kingdom)
2014: Richmond Loh (Australia)
2013: Mohamed Faisal (United States)
2012: Dusan Palic (Germany)
2011: Julius Tepper (United States)
2010: Fotini Athanassopoulou (Greece)
2009: Hugh Mitchell (United States)
2008: Ronald Roberts (United Kingdom)
2006,2007: Peter Merrill (United States)