Becoming the President of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) is a prestigious goal that requires years of dedication, strategic involvement, and leadership at both the state and national levels of the veterinary community. If you start your journey immediately after graduation, here's a breakdown of the steps you’ll need to take, the time involved, and what each stage looks like along the way.

1. Start at the State Level: Building Foundations (Years 1-5)

Year 1-2: Becoming a Voting Member and Getting Involved

The journey begins the day you graduate. At age 25 or 26, you should immediately become a voting member of your state veterinary association. This is the foundation of your path to AVMA president.

• What to do: Attend local meetings, network with colleagues, and get familiar with the issues affecting your state’s veterinary community. The sooner you start, the better your chances of becoming a well-known and respected member.

• Timeline: Start your state involvement in your first or second year after graduation.

Year 2-5: Serving on State Committees

Within the first 2-5 years of your career, you should begin to get involved in state-level committees. Many state veterinary associations have specialized committees that focus on areas such as education, ethics, and policy. Volunteering for one of these committees will help you build leadership skills and show your commitment to advancing the veterinary profession.

• What to do: Volunteer to serve on a state committee. Some states also offer leadership programs where you can quickly gain exposure to the inner workings of your state association.

• Timeline: By year 5, you should be an active member in at least one state committee.

2. Building Leadership Experience at the State Level (Years 5-10)

Years 5-7: Running for Leadership Roles

By the time you reach your mid-30s, you should be well-established in your state association, having gained significant experience. This is the time to run for leadership positions such as state board member, president-elect, or chair of a committee.

• What to do: Consider running for State Board of Directors or president-elect of your state veterinary association. Leadership roles at the state level will help you demonstrate your capability to lead, manage budgets, and influence the direction of the profession.

• Timeline: Aim to secure a leadership position between years 5 and 7. If you are president-elect of your state association by year 7, you're setting yourself up for even greater success.

Years 7-10: Serving as State Association President

This is a key milestone on your way to the AVMA presidency. Serving as state association president is a significant leadership accomplishment, demonstrating your ability to manage large teams, represent the veterinary profession, and navigate complex policy discussions.

• What to do: Become the president of your state veterinary association. This role often lasts one year, but it’s a critical stepping stone.

• Timeline: Serving as state president should be accomplished by year 10. If you’ve served as president of your state association, you will have demonstrated strong leadership skills and extensive knowledge of both local and national issues.

3. Gaining National Exposure and Experience (Years 10-15)

Years 10-12: Becoming a Delegate or Alternate Delegate

At this stage, you will be eligible to run for a delegate or alternate delegate position to the House of Delegates (HOD), the AVMA’s primary decision-making body. Being a delegate is a significant responsibility, as it involves representing your state at the national level and voting on key policies, bylaws, and leadership matters.

• What to do: Get elected as a delegate or alternate delegate to the AVMA House of Delegates. Your state association will likely nominate you, and you’ll need to campaign and gain support from your peers.

• Timeline: Serve as delegate or alternate delegate from years 10-12. If you start as an alternate delegate, you may eventually transition into a full delegate role.

Years 12-15: Serving on AVMA Councils or Committees

While serving as a delegate, you should also consider serving on AVMA councils or committees. These councils focus on specific aspects of veterinary practice, such as education, science, and public policy. By becoming active on these national bodies, you will begin to influence national policies and help shape the AVMA's strategic direction.

• What to do: Seek out opportunities to serve on AVMA councils, such as the Council on Education or Council on Public Health. Committee work will increase your influence and demonstrate that you can work on high-level, policy-driven initiatives.

• Timeline: Aim to serve on national councils or committees by year 12-15. By this stage, you should have a broad understanding of both state and national issues.

4. Leadership Development and Exposure (Years 15-20)

Years 15-18: Serving on the AVMA Board of Directors

At this point, you will have accumulated substantial experience both locally and nationally. Serving on the AVMA Board of Directors is an ideal next step. Board members are responsible for overseeing the organization’s operations, making decisions on policy matters, and ensuring that the AVMA meets its strategic goals.

• What to do: Work your way onto the AVMA Board of Directors. You’ll need a deep understanding of the AVMA’s mission, goals, and operations. Board members typically serve multiple terms, so it’s important to establish a strong leadership presence.

• Timeline: You should aim to be on the Board of Directors by year 15-18.

5. Becoming AVMA President (Years 20+)

By this stage, you will have spent 20+ years building a career focused on leadership within the veterinary community, both at the state and national levels. When the time is right, you can run for AVMA president.

• What to do: Now that you’ve served on the Board of Directors, the House of Delegates, and national councils or committees, you’ll have the experience and support necessary to run for president. The presidency requires significant backing from your colleagues, a comprehensive understanding of the AVMA’s role in the profession, and the ability to lead change on a national scale.

• Timeline: You can aim to run for AVMA president after about 20-25 years of leadership experience, with substantial involvement at both state and national levels.

The Journey Takes Time, But the Path is Clear

The journey to becoming AVMA president is a long one, but with careful planning, strategic leadership, and persistent involvement, it is achievable. If you start right after graduation at age 25, by your mid-40s you could be ready to run for AVMA president. Focus on gaining leadership experience at the state level, serving in various roles such as committee chair, state president, delegate, and board member, and eventually gaining national influence through the AVMA’s councils and committees.

Every step you take brings you closer to leading the AVMA, where you can make a lasting impact on the future of the veterinary profession. Patience, resilience, and vision are key components of this journey, and if you stay committed, you’ll be ready to lead the AVMA and inspire change when the time comes.

Do you think it should take that long to rule the AVMA? What can you do about it? Let us know your thoughts—how can the AVMA better support and accelerate the path to leadership for future veterinarians? Share your ideas and let's start a conversation about how to make a real impact in the profession! Read the rules here: https://www.avma.org/membership/volunteering-avma/nominations-president-elect#:~:text=Candidacy%20materials%20and%20requirements&text=Extensive%20experience%20in%20a%20principal,or%20regional%20veterinary%20medical%20association.