The Membership Committee is chaired by Dr. Christal Pollock. Dr. Pollock is a veterinary consultant for Lafeber Company. She completed an internship in small animal medicine and a residency at the University of Tennessee in avian and zoological medicine before working as a clinical instructor in the zoological medicine service at Kansas State University. She is board-certified in avian medicine and serves as an associate editor for the Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery. Christal currently works as editor and technical writer for LafeberVet and she is also co-manager of the Lafeber Company Veterinary Student Program. Other Membership Committee members hail from all across the United States, Canada, Latin America, and the Mideast. We would love for you to join us! Contact us today!
Committee Activities:
The AAV Membership Committee works to promote and expand the benefits of AAV membership, the growth of AAV membership numbers, as well as any activities that support a sense of community among AAV members. Towards that end, committee activities are extremely diverse, ranging from renewal/membership drives to promotion of the AAV Member Spotlight.
Member Spotlights are designed to feature AAV’s most valuable asset, our members, by highlighting our diverse backgrounds, professional activities, experiences, and geographic locations.
The Membership Committee also has recent projects that have expanded the benefits of AAV membership. The Golden Egg is a recent Membership Committee project that has expanded the benefits of AAV membership. The inaugural issue of The Golden Egg features a collection of online content focused on a common and frustrating clinical problem: feather destructive behavior. The latest Committee project is the Bird-Friendly Practice Toolbox, a collection of resources designed to address the essential needs of a bird-friendly clinical practice. Although originally designed for the “fledgling” avian veterinarian, these tools can benefit a variety of AAV members. From clinicians adding birds to an existing practice, to those working to make their practice more “bird-friendly” or planning to open a new avian-focused practice.
How Can You Get Involved?
The Membership Committee is working to create a pilot mentorship program for a select, limited number of young avian veterinarians. Have you served as a mentor or been mentored in the past? Please share any tips or suggestions for success. Are willing to serve as a mentor in 2020? Please contact us at membership@aav.org.
“Toot” your own horn or encourage a colleague to do so! Complete the Member Spotlight questionnaire or create a BRIEF video or photo diary that showcases your experiences as an avian veterinarian.
Check out the AAV Bird-Friendly Practice Toolbox Designed to serve as a “work in progress,” our hope is the tools provided will grow and evolve. Can you provide feedback on the current documents? Or perhaps you have additional tips for what it takes to make a “bird-friendly” practice? Contact us at membership@aav.org.
Help AAV members stay connected The Membership Committee currently has liaisons on the AAV International and Technician Committees, but we need more liaisons to stay connected with other AAV Committees. Are you an AAV Committee member willing to liaise with the Membership Committee?
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your community.
Get to know our featured member this month.