Brain Drips Thoughts from Jen Quammen
Leadership doesn’t always begin with a title. Sometimes, it begins with a campfire conversation. Or on a dock overlooking still water. Or over a plate of freshly baked cookies shared with people you just met — who somehow feel like lifelong friends by the end of the week. It’s hard to capture what the Veterinary…
Read MoreVeterinary professionals across the country are watching closely as Colorado creates rules and regulations for a new role in veterinary medicine: the Veterinary Professional Associate (VPA). Colorado is meant to have rules and regulations created by January 2026 and there are pages and pages of public comments received already. With a series of public hearings…
Read MoreFrom Vet Tech to Candidate: Why I’m Running for AVMA President-Elect (And Why the Non-Traditional Path Might Be Exactly What We Need) Not long ago, someone asked me — genuinely, not critically — “Why you?” Why you, Jen? Why not wait? Why now? I smiled, because I knew they weren’t questioning my intentions. They were…
Read MoreThe Kind of Leader Veterinary Medicine Needs in 2025 (Spoiler: It’s Not About Checking Boxes) Veterinary medicine is evolving faster than ever before. From advancements in AI and digital tools to shifting client expectations, changing team dynamics, and growing legislative complexity — the profession we love is in motion. And with change comes challenge… but…
Read More🗣️ You Spoke. I Listened. What I’ve Heard from the Veterinary Profession — and What We Can Do About It If there’s one thing I’ve learned while campaigning to be AVMA’s next President-Elect, it’s this: Veterinarians and veterinary teams aren’t short on opinions — they’re short on opportunities to be heard. So I’ve made it…
Read MoreWhat Does the AVMA President-Elect Actually Do? (Spoiler: It’s Not a Solo Show — And That’s a Good Thing) If you’ve been following the AVMA 2025 election journey, you might be wondering: “What does the President-Elect actually do?” Is it a figurehead role? Is it all speeches and handshakes? Or is it more like being…
Read MoreHow the AVMA Election Works — and Why Your Voice Matters (Even if You’re Not the One Casting the Vote) Every year during AVMA convention, the AVMA elects a new President-Elect — someone to help represent veterinary medicine across the country and beyond. If you’ve been following along with this election cycle, you may have…
Read More🐾 Why Organized Veterinary Medicine Matters: A Call to Get Involved 🏥 The veterinary profession is built on a foundation of care—not just for our patients, but for our colleagues and the future of the field itself. While it’s possible to practice veterinary medicine without being involved in organized medicine, doing so means missing out…
Read MoreProtecting Veterinary Technicians: Why SB 1658 is a Step Backward Veterinary technicians are the backbone of our profession. They provide critical patient care, ensure efficiency in veterinary hospitals, and allow veterinarians to focus on what only they can do—diagnosing, prognosing, prescribing, and performing surgery. Yet, across the country, credentialed veterinary technicians (CrVTs) continue to fight…
Read MoreWhy I Love Vet Med – and Why It Still Inspires Me 🩺💙🐾 🎯🔥💡 Veterinary medicine isn’t just a job—it’s a calling. From the moment I stepped into my first clinic, I knew this profession would shape my life in ways I never imagined. It’s a blend of science and heart, resilience and teamwork, challenges…
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