Barbara Schwartz, Assistant Vice President, AKC

AKC’s Veterinary Outreach program is a way to share information and ideas with veterinarians, veterinary technicians, and veterinary students. The goal is to provide resources that can assist the veterinary profession in providing the best of care for dogs, whether through background information for practitioners and their clients, support for research, or through scholarships for future practitioners and researchers.

AKC’s Veterinary Outreach Department has developed a proposal and is seeking sponsorship for a revamped Student Seminar Program to be presented at each of the 28 veterinary schools. The program consists of seminars for both first and third year vet students.

Content is under development based on previous surveys of the vet schools and input from practicing veterinarians in the fancy. Likely topics include, but are not limited to:

The many facets and resources of the AKC (AKC, CAR, CHF)
Breed identification
The value of the purebred dog and their breeders
Canine reproduction
Allowable surgeries for show dogs
Health aspects of individual breeds

Veterinary Outreach will recruit Veterinarians who are in the fancy to present these seminars. With sponsorship, these seminars will begin on a limited basis in 2004 and ramp up to reach all US vet schools over a three-year period.

Quick Reference Electronic Tool

As part of the Veterinary Outreach program, and pending sponsorship, we will develop an electronic tool to be used as a reference for the veterinary community. This software would be designed for use on either a computer or PDA. Included will be background information on each breed, temperament, genetic and medical health issues, and a color picture and material relevant to our sponsor’s interests. The intent is to have these in the hands of every vet student for quick reference material prior to graduation.

Contact Lists

Our summer intern developed a contact list at all the vet schools as well as the vet tech schools. In addition, she helped develop a student representative program that will be implemented upon getting sponsorship.

Scholarships

Twenty-three scholarships were awarded to veterinary students at the end of May. There were 3- $15,000.00, 3- $10,000.00, and 17- $5,000 awards. Nineteen schools had recipients with 4 schools having two. Recipients were called individually to apprise of their award. Many of the students have strong ties to the fancy or have done research in the purebred dog area. Selections are based on academic achievement, activities with purebred dogs or related research, and need.

AKC Presence at the AVMA

Veterinary Outreach, AKC Pet Healthcare, Canine Health Foundation and CAR had adjoining booths at this year’s annual convention in Denver. By combining these four areas, the AKC enjoyed an unprecedented presence at this important event

2 Awards were presented through the AVMF during the convention.

AKC Career Achievement Award in Canine Research – to Dr. Christopher Murphy

AKC Excellence in Research Award – to Dr. Larry Glickman

Ongoing Activities

Vet Outreach will continue to have a presence at all major Veterinary Conferences; and at Veterinary Colleges via presentations to students in conjunction with SCAVMA meetings, conferences and other opportunities.

Web Happenings

We continue to add additional names to our email list. To date we have 2989 Veterinarians, 1431 Vet Techs/Office Managers, and 465 Students are on lists. We also have continued to send emails to the pertinent lists including announcements from the CHF.

Biographical Profile:

Barbara Schwartz is the Assistant Vice President of Support Services, Veterinary Outreach, and Pet Insurance Coordination for the American Kennel club. During her five years of employment with the AKC, Barbara has also served as first Director and then, Assistant Vice President of Show Operations and was the Show Chairman for the first AKC/Eukanuba Invitational Dog Show.

Barbara is a breeder-owner-handler of Lhasa Apsos and German Shorthaired Pointers. She is a member of both parent clubs and served as the National Specialty Show Chairman for the German Shorthaired Pointer Club of America in 1995 and 1998. She also chaired Huntingdon Valley Kennel Club’s all breed events for several years prior to being hired by the AKC.

Barbara is Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors for North Carolina’s State Animal Response Team and along with husband, Don, continues to enjoy breeding dogs and encouraging novices to get involved in the sport.

AWS Partners’ recommended resources:

http://www.akc.org/vetoutreach/index.cfm