By Tracie Luedtke, Marketing and Communications Specialist, Wisconsin Veterinary Medical Association
Dr. Howard Ketover, of Sauk City, Wisconsin, has been nominated for WVMA president-elect.
A 2002 graduate of the Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Ketover practices at Irongate Equine Clinic in Madison where he has been a partner/owner since 2008. In addition, he is the director and lead for Wisconsin Large Animal Emergency Response, a 501(c)(3) organization that trains veterinarians and first responders to manage large animals safely in emergency and disaster scenarios.
“The time I have spent in training, planning and responding to emergency situations involving animals has shaped my thinking into realizing that the effort that goes into foresight, planning and mitigation pays back with dividends when situations arise that are outside of the normal daily operations,” says Dr. Ketover.
Dr. Ketover joined the WVMA in 2002. He is a past WVMA convention speaker and student wetlab organizer and instructor and was a presenter at the equine firearm euthanasia continuing education event held earlier this year. He has also served on the WVMA Legislative Committee and was part of the Rendering Working Group. He received the Meritorious Service Award in 2017.
Outside of the WVMA, Dr. Ketover is a past president of the Wisconsin Equine Practitioners Association and a past vice president and president of the Wisconsin Horse Council. For many years he has served in a supporting role to organizations requesting input and assistance. The past six years, Dr. Ketover has been a lead in creating and offering a 5-day “selective” class at the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine that instructs and equips new graduate veterinarians with skills and knowledge to handle animal emergencies like recumbent animals on ice, animals in confined spaces, cattle in slurry pits and overturned trailers.
“I am looking forward to continuing to serve the WVMA in a much more engaged capacity, starting with the president-elect position,” says Dr. Ketover. “My background and training in emergency response and the opportunities I have had to interact with candidate veterinarians has given me a unique perspective that will benefit the WVMA in the future.”
Looking at issues facing the industry, Dr. Ketover recognizes the impact the COVID-19 health crisis is having on Wisconsin, the U.S. and the world. He says organized veterinary medicine must continue to seek out experts and solutions to inform and help the WVMA membership manage potential issues that may arise.
“While acknowledging the current crisis, organized veterinary medicine must also not lose focus or give up any advancements we continue to make toward issues such as mental health/wellness, burnout and the empathy gap,” says Dr. Ketover. “Our debt-to-salary ratios for our new graduates and staff continues to be a significant issue of veterinary medicine that cannot be understated or mismanaged as this issue will ultimately result in a personnel crisis that will affect our industry regardless of outside influences.”