FROM THE PRESIDENT • KIMBERLY KRATT, DVM
Happy New Year WVMA friends! I’m so thrilled and grateful to be your new Board President. Because of all the hard work of our members, board and staff, 2025 is going to be an amazing year for all of us, and I can’t wait to get to work on what’s next. I’ve been asked what my goals are for my time as president. After thinking about it for a bit, I realize I don’t have personal goals because it’s not about me, it’s about you. What I do have is a great deal of optimistic anticipation about opportunities headed our way.
So Much to Look Forward To
I’m excited to have the governance changes in place. This has been a big body of work for the entire organization for two-plus years. Becoming a more efficient organization will help us move forward with confidence as we tackle new tasks—and there certainly won’t be a shortage of new tasks.
There’s a lot to take on this year, but a few things rise to the top of the list:
• I’m looking forward to finding ways we can help veterinary teams work more efficiently. The workforce shortage has stressed our practices, reduced pet owners’ access to care, and in some cases resulted in critical patients being without specialty care. We’ve had to re-examine what our practice act allows us to delegate to veterinary technicians and assistants, and work toward keeping excellent patient care within these boundaries.
• Food safety issues are another hot topic that’s not going away anytime soon. As a board, we can be even more involved in the conversation. Our delegates, Dr. Keith Poulsen and Dr. Danielle Mayr, have been on the ball as far as communicating timely info. I’m looking forward to diving in and helping them continue to get the word out.
• I’m ready to help maximize our association by keeping our eyes and ears open for new ways to connect. Meeting with other organizations, taking time to sit at other tables, and having tough conversations, will all go a long way in moving us forward.
That’s just a start to get your wheels turning. I don’t want us to lose sight of what might be around the corner by only focusing on what we know is already here.
Keep Asking Why
As Dr. Mueller and other past board presidents have proven, a good leader should be a good listener first. I might not always give my opinion right away, but that doesn’t mean I’m hesitant to share my thoughts. It just means making sure others are heard first will always be my priority. I want the board and every one of our members to feel empowered. Collaboration and conversation make us who we are as an association. Reminding ourselves that it’s ok to disagree makes us even better. Asking our peers for their point of view, even if it’s different from our own, will strengthen our personal perspectives, increase our empathy, and make us better people.
We’re a nimble board and organization, and we’re getting nimbler by the day. Our door is always open to new members not afraid to ask, “why do we do it this way?” I don’t ever want us to stop asking questions and making new connections. This requires reaching out in new and creative ways, but I know we’re up to the task, because I’ve been part of this association long enough to know that we’re capable of great things. So, hello 2025. We’re ready for what you throw our way. Let’s get to work and see what we can get done this year, together.