Oh, What Wonders Do I See!!!

So, most of you probably frequent this site to learn more about GRD Extern’s experiences lobbying Congressmen and visiting with various federally employed veterinarians.  However, with this post, I want to draw attention to another benefit of this externship—the opportunity to visit many of the treasurers residing in our nation’s capital.  This particular addition is a romanticized accounting of just some of my experiences over the past few weeks.  I hope you enjoy my feeble attempt at communicating the wonders I perceive when exploring all that DC has to offer.  Also, don’t forget you can leave comments or questions when visiting this site!!  I will be sure to address them in as timely a manner as possible.

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I’m a history buff!  I love spending days reading through the annals of biography and general history to explore our past and speculate on where we are going.  So trust me when I say a day spent wandering amidst the edifices and bastions of liberty are truly one of the highlights of my life.

During my first weekend I spent Saturday slowly roaming through the National Archives, marveling at the course of history providentially chosen (or randomly depending on one’s world view) to produce the nation we compose today.  For those who have yet to experience viewing the founding documents allow me to set the scene: the room one enters is dimly lit and cavernous in scope.  Magna Carta greets you as a document that has escaped the grasp of time’s deterioration, and rests as an inspiration to those three pillars proceeding.  You move timely to enter line for a large gate blocks the entrance to the three altars, with numerous citizens eagerly await a glimpse of history.  Upon admittance by security the floodgates are opened and everyone moves in their direction of choice, with the Declaration of Independence on the left, the Constitution center, and the Bill of Rights to the right, all directions are equal.  Two large murals, one representative of the Declarations acceptance with dark clouds ominously announcing trying times ahead, and the other of our Constitution’s signing, timelessly observe the fruits of a transcendent cause.  It is remarkable to witness with my own eyes the documents that announced to the world that not only would we no longer be subject to tyranny, but that we guard the product with the founding of a new government protective of it’s citizens rights.  Truly something to keep in perspective!

After a few more hours lingering through the public vault I emerged on the DC sidewalk with no particular destination in mind.  Yet, I found myself pulled along the National Mall to the central obelisk of our nation, the Washington Monument.  Cast against the backdrop of overcast clouds the monument was stunning.  In my minds eye I began to conceive of it as an ethereal lighting rod, capturing the energy that fires our nation and transferring it into the very soil.

Compounding on these sights, I also had the good fortune to attend a performance of 1776 at Ford’s Theatre just this past Saturday.  I’ve always been a fan of the movie, and in the flesh it’s even more enjoyable.  Though a farcical account of the events preceding the development and eventual adoption of the Declaration of Independence, it’s still a visceral reminder of what times must have been like for the men and women living during that period.  The most moving of the pieces, “Momma Look Sharp” (here’s a Youtube version that’s pretty good, but not quite as moving as in person: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XlwlMuSGMqU), brings to heart the costs incurred for our country’s birth and the constant sacrifice required in safeguarding.  I don’t believe I could have chosen a more suitable place to witness such a performance than the intimate and historical Ford’s Theatre.  Everyone should attend a performance here when visiting DC!

The opportunity to participate in this externship has been a profound event.  Not only have I been provided the time to experience all that’s mentioned above, but I’ve actively participated in a process that countless humans over the course of history, and even now, have been denied.  Never before has it occurred to me how special is the right to dissent or inform those who make decisions without fear of recompense.  It’s something we have been taught and observe on a daily basis, but perhaps it’s not an element we consciously identify.  So when I sat down and contemplated the words you now read, and reflected on the past two weeks, my hopes were to arouse and bring attention to how powerful each of you are, with a heart to be heard and a mind to give it voice.  In all issues, whether they are veterinary related or not, lend your individuality and perspectives to the national dialogue.  Be sound in mind and judgment to the problems of our day, and write, call, or visit your representative.  I promise, you have more to give than you realize!

Country Yokel Goes to the Capital

To all those new to this blog welcome, and to those returning, you know the deal!  My name is Lacy Strom and I am a fourth year veterinary student at the University of Georgia.  This will be my first experience blogging, so please be gentle with any criticism.  In writing this message I feel like a passenger on a ship at sea casting the proverbial letter in a bottle into the void of the ocean, never knowing whose eyes may fall upon these thoughts.  Of course, there is no water, as that would be disastrous for my computer, but the Internet is it’s own sea and you have stumbled upon the bottle having washed upon the shore.

Now that introductions are out of the way, I guess I will continue with flagrant metaphors to begin describing my first week at the GRD.  Being a small town yokel, this enormous city, with it’s bright lights, herding stampede of humans, and never ending mechanical beasts calling to all wayward contraptions and meat sacks, has left me a little stunned and awed.  In many ways, my first experience while here–riding a metro (ie, underground roller coaster) for the first time– reminded me of Alice descending down the rabbit hole into Wonderland.  I emerged with abated breath and a giddiness developing in my stomach.  The full impact of my current location was only beginning to sink in.

I started at the GRD office on Monday morning and went through the usual orientation and paper work.  The office was rather dead, but those present were extremely nice.  It wouldn’t be until Tuesday that I would meet most of the Assistant Directors and other staff that I would be working with over the next four weeks.   It was here that I took my first trip to the Hill.  Upon emerging from the metro, I glimpsed my first sight of the Capitol building, and if not for Assistant Director Ashley Morgan’s blinding pace, I would have been stunned into statuesque form.  But there was no time for ogling the stones of history, as we were on our way to a meeting with senior members on the Agriculture Committee to discuss DEA regulations of controlled drugs for mobile veterinarians who list a personal residence when ordering.  This has not been an active issue until recently, and I can assure any parties concerned the GRD is on the case!  An informational meeting with the Animal Welfare Legislative Assistant (LA) for Representative Castor of Florida followed.  Beyond the wondrous sights, the pinnacle of my day was the consumption and rapture that came from dinning on a cheeseburger at Good Eat’s Restaurant.  For those who are unaware of this business, the chef was featured on Food Network’s Top Chef, and I must say he deserved all the credit.

While I made few Hill visits this week, I accomplished a great deal in scheduling visits with veterinarians in the American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges, the Department of Homeland Security, the FDA, and various Congressional Offices.  Just today I meet with Dr. Melinda Cep, a former AVMA Fellow, to discuss her decision to pursue a non-traditional career in veterinary medicine, and what it’s like working on Congressional staff.  If that wasn’t enjoyable enough, I was able to follow that meeting with a quick trip to the American Academy for the Advancement of Science, where they discussed emerging zoonoses and preventative measures being taken to detect and curb the spread of diseases.  The topic was fascinating, but it was a bonus that I was able to meet Dr. William Karesh, Executive VP for EcoHealth Alliance, author of “Appointment at the Ends of the Earth” (really great read!), and most importantly, UGA CVM alum.  Though the topic intrigues people, it’s the food that puts butts in the seats–of course we all know that as vet students–and being the poor student I am, I spared no relish in preparing a hearty salad bowl with sparse greens and copious amounts of steak and shrimp, along with any meals tag along friend, dessert in the form of a delicious chocolate cup cake.

Times have been exciting and I’ve started to get into the meat of this externship by contacting various Congressmen in South Carolina and Georgia.  The process for this task is to find out who the LA is for the issue you wish to address and schedule a meeting with them.  As stated before, though Congressmen essentially vote and write bills, it’s the LAs and other staff who really help the Congressmen direct their issues.  And to all those who believe their Congressmen are too difficult to reach, all I can say is, you must not being trying at all.  In just the past day I have scheduled meetings and one photo-op with half of the Congressmen I contacted.

So in all the above verbosity, allow me to distill my message to these three points, as that’s how most important things are delivered today anyway:

1.) The staff at the GRD is amazing! With just a few members they work to accomplish so much, and all of them are so unbelievable nice.  Give them a call some time if you are truly concerned about an issue, and there are many you should be.

2.) Gourmet sandwiches can come from a gas station, and they won’t give you food poisoning.  I never would have believed it, but it takes tasting to believe.

3.) There is no way as a student I should be allowed to take an externship this fun.! Our lives are usually full of drudgery and monotony as we attempt to cram and regurgitate the massive volume of material shot in machine gun manner.  I am unaccustomed with the idea that learning can be fun again, and not involve the classroom or a hospital.  If you have any interest in policy or regulatory veterinary work, then I encourage you to apply for this externship.  Heck, even if you aren’t really sure, do it for an exciting time away from school and the opportunity to network.  You never know when a business card may open doors for you (and no I’m not talking about shimming a lock).

Well that’s it for this week.  Time to hit the town and catch the sites.  I’ll try and take some pictures to include in the next entry!

USDA-NIFA host Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program webinars

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) will hold four live webinar sessions for veterinarians who are considering applying to the USDA Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP). Each session will provide an in-depth explanation of the VMLRP application process.

Dates and Times (Eastern Time) are:

• May 3, 2012, 11:00 A.M.
• May 3, 2012, 4:00 P.M.
• May 15, 2012, 11:00 A.M.
• May 15, 2012, 4:00 P.M.

The AVMA works persistently to ensure Congress funds the VMLRP. The VMLRP has been AVMA’s top appropriations request since the program was authorized. As a result of AVMA’s and our strategic partners’ efforts to secure funding, the USDA will award about $4.3 million to veterinarians in 2012.  Since 2010, 419 veterinarians have applied to the VMLRP; of these 131 have received VMLRP awards totaling nearly $12.7 million.  In exchange for loan repayment awards veterinarians sign three-year contracts with the USDA to provide much needed services in USDA-designated veterinarian shortage situations such as food animal medicine, public health, epidemiology, and food safety.

The application period for the program closes on June 15, 2012. For more information on the webinars and the program, visit http://www.nifa.usda.gov/nea/animals/in_focus/an_health_if_vmlrp_webinars.html.

Badges?!? We don’t need no stinkin’ badges!

On credentials and nametags

As in all ponds, there is a food chain in the Washington puddle and it helps to know the various trophic levels. There are the classic ways of doing this – noting cues like the caliber of shoes, briefcases/handbags and watches/jewelry – but in D.C. you have another very important clue…credentials. Everywhere you go you will encounter individuals wearing name tags, ID badges and pins. This is especially true on the Hill.

At the very bottom of the food chain there are the nameless, uncredentialed and unbadged. If a person has no name tag and they are wearing anything less than business casual, they are a tourist. Help them find the bathrooms or the building exit when they ask because their lives are positively awful as evidenced by the fact that they have chosen to spend their vacations walking the halls of Rayburn instead of some place nice like Fiji. They are plankton – easily overlooked but the absolute bedrock of the entire ecosystem.

Next are the unbadged but better dressed. These people are young, eager and massively underpaid. They are the interns or very junior staffers who do much of the heavy lifting in the District but get zero recognition. Be nice to these people because theirs is a rough lot in life and you should always be kind to the less fortunate. They rarely get time to eat or get outside so they may also be a bit pasty and in need of a sandwich. They are the small fry.

One step up are the paper label people. This group is tricky because it usually consists of pretty innocuous minnows but occasionally there may a shark tossed in. Paper labels are for the people who are “just visiting” or “just lobbying.” The “visiting people” who walk through the halls of the legislative buildings do not wear suits while the “lobbying people” do. The visitors want to talk to a legislator regarding an issue of great concern like the failure of their home state to adopt the gladiola as the state flower. The lobbyists are similar but they want to talk about base closures and earmarks. These people are fish, just boring old fish. Like a perch or something.

Occasionally you may encounter a paper label of great importance (PLOGI ®). These folks will have a paper label but will be surrounded by a small school of fish that tend to their every need. They are whale sharks and their tenders are remoras. This analogy is deeply perfect.

Note: If you are a member of paper label school, wear your label on the right hand side of your jacket (you are wearing a jacket, right?) and affix it so that it won’t be obscured by a lapel. The person you want to meet will look at your outstretched hand (mostly to check for weapons), then your name tag and then your face. Make sure all of them are in order. They will probably glance at your name tag when seeing you off so make sure to stand in a way that they can tell who you are.

One step higher, there are the perma-badgers. These people will have a badge made of hard plastic, often with their first initial and last name inscribed along with the logo of their species. If the perma-badger has a polyester uniform on, they are staff, any kind of staff. They are servers, cleaners, belhops, docents, or drivers. If the perma-badger has a big badge with lots of writing on it and no uniform, they are professional guides. They will invariably have a group of people following behind them, or more specifically wandering away from them into traffic. The tour guide may also have a lure they carry out in front of them that they wave in the air to attract and focus the attention of their charges like a benthic anglerfish. Perma-badgers all know where everything is and will help you if you ask them.

Then there are the perma-badgers that have guns. They are security. There are lots and lots and lots of them. They are police, paramilitary, actual military, Secret Service, etc. They are piranhas. They are not actually dangerous but they are unnervingly well armed. It should be obvious that you don’t annoy piranhas.

Next up are the photo-badgers, those with laminated badges that prominently display their image. If the badges are worn on a lanyard around their neck or clipped to a lapel and prominently displayed, these people are workers. They may be mid-tier staffers, agency employees, or contractors. The photo is there to let security know this person is going somewhere with some level of restrictions and the fact that the badge is made of plastic means they are likely to be going there for a long time. If you look carefully (don’t stare – just glance over on an elevator, surreptitiously) you may notice that there are numbers and letters on the badge. These usually equate with the persons rank and security clearance and while it is hard to understand the nuances, level 3 or above means they get to do cool stuff. Cool, SECRET stuff. These people are salmon. They swim upstream against great odds to make a better life for their progeny. They also occasionally are eaten by bears.

Near the top of the food chain is another species of photo-badgers that looks just like the regular photo-badgers with one key difference – the beaded chain. These people wear their photo IDs on a beaded chain that looks like they ripped it off a bank tellers’ counter when going after the pens. You will have to take my word about the ID having a photo on it because you will never actually see one since the beaded-badgers always keep their badges tucked inside a shirt pocket. This is because they are important and they feel you should know who they are without actually having to read it. Sadly, they are correct and you should know who they are because they are invariably Senior Staff. They are barracuda or maybe tuna – they are large, fast moving and rightfully feared by the fry and minnows. The beaded chain is part of the mechanism by which this species identifies one another for mating purposes.

Note: It is at this level and higher where people are permitted to walk around the metal detectors and X-ray machines without removing the contents of their pockets, belts, shoes, and implantable prosthetic hips. While I have not tried it, it seems like the only thing you need to do this dodge is a beaded chain and some confidence. I imagine security begins to recognize the beaded-badgers after a while so if you are going to try this, wait until there is a new administration and all the faces change. Better yet, don’t try this. Piranha.

At the very pinnacle of the D.C. puddle are the pinned ones. They do not wear badges (How gauche!) but instead wear either a small round pin emblazoned with the Great Seal of the United States or a tiny flag on their lapel. These people are legislators. They are whales. They coast down the halls pulling others in their wake. Their language is beautiful to hear but often impossible to interpret without expert analysts. They can plumb the inky black depths only to return to the surface covered in sucker marks from their struggle with giant squid (SuperPACS). The whales are surprisingly gentle and you should say “Hello” whenever you have the opportunity. They feed on plankton.

Enjoy your time in D.C. Don’t forget to take some time to go for a walk on the Mall, visit the museums, do a little shopping or go out to fancy restaurant. I hear the sushi is excellent.

Direct Political Action

So I like politics. If the earth opened up tomorrow and swallowed every major league sports franchise, I doubt that I would notice. At least until the Times ran a story on the political backlash to developers’ efforts to convert the empty stadiums into condos. To me, the gerrymandering of Congressional districts is the blood sport the UFC can never be.

Despite my long fascination with politics, I’ve never really engaged in any direct political action. I mean I vote in every election and I think I might have gone to a rally while in college, once, by accident. But it somehow never occurred to me to write an actual letter to my Senator or Representative.

Now I find myself in Washington D.C. working with the AVMA-GRD to promote legislation of concern to veterinarians and veterinary students. Nearly every day I correspond with veterinarians in public service, lunch with a trade group or meet with Congressional staffers on Capitol Hill. The remarkable thing is everyone, every single person, is willing to listen to what I have to say. While not everyone will agree with me or support the issues for which I am advocating, they all listen. The truth is there is an army of people that work in D.C. that are employed solely to listen. They listen to interest groups, to scientific experts, to lobbyists, but the group they really pay attention to is to constituents.

So whether your big issue is universal access to kindergarten, the right to carry a concealed weapon, DRM standards and copyright law, social justice through cartography, whatever, take five minutes to write your Representative and Senators and tell them how you feel. I guarantee there is a person sitting in their office that is waiting, right now, to read your email or answer your call.

Summary: If you care enough to like it on Facebook, you ought to care enough to do something that actually matters. Call your legislators.

The Fastest Week in History

Hello everyone! My name is Eric Deeble and I am third year veterinary student at the University of Pennsylvania and, for the month of April, the extern for the American Veterinary Medical Association Governmental Relations Division. The staff of the GRD has kindly provided me this venue to share some of my experiences here in D.C. and to follow along as I visit the Hill and veterinarians in the D.C. metro area. I am here to advocate for legislation that benefits the membership of the AVMA, to learn more about how policy is crafted and negotiated, and to talk to veterinarians in federal service to learn about their work.

Despite my best intentions of updating the blog a few times a week, the first week of my AVMA-GRD externship flew by undocumented. Ordinarily I would take the blame for such a lack of diligence, but really this one is not my fault. I blame the wonderful staff of the GRD and the Assistant Directors in particular. They put me straight to work!

I arrived on Monday morning and had a very thorough orientation led by Patricia Mayo where the role of the extern was explained and deliverables were discussed. From there on, I have been in nearly constant motion. I have met with all the members of the GRD office, learning about the AVMA-PAC, the grassroots coordinating efforts and the National Association of Federal Veterinarians. I had the opportunity to talk to each of the three Assistant Directors [Gina Luke, Dr. Whitney Miller, and Dr. Ashley Shelton Morgan] regarding their portfolio of issues and to learn about the current status of many of the bills that are of interest to veterinarians and veterinary students. I participated in a mock interview in order to prepare for my trips to the Hill and met with the Director of the GRD [Dr. Mark Lutschaunig] to discuss the role of the AVMA and how policy is made. I even went along to a meeting with the staff of Senator Kohl (D-WI) to discuss the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP).

My initial impression?

I am impressed. Thoroughly impressed. The GRD staff has a very challenging yet vital role to play in service of the veterinary community. It shouldn’t surprise anyone familiar with veterinary medicine that veterinarians are a diverse constituency with a myriad of concerns, outlooks and (occasionally conflicting) positions on issues.  The AVMA must represent all of these stakeholders, draw from the best available science, and decide which issues are important and which ones to pursue through legislative and grassroots advocacy. Then, it is the GRD’s job to make it all happen. Whether it is banning the use of double-decker horse trailers, getting funding to help provided veterinary service in underserved areas or promoting animal welfare legislation, without the GRD, none of it happens. Somewhere during the course of our national political dialogue the words “lobbyist” and “advocacy” have become pejorative terms. But when you are here, in Washington, talking about issues that improve the lives of animals and the people who depend on them, that is a very good thing.

End Title

Policy and markets, networking and cherry blossoms, briefings and street musicians, meetings and shopping – it’s amazing how much can be packed into just four weeks.  Life in D.C. has been wonderfully perspective-altering and mind-opening, as well as culturally stimulating, and I imagine I could have filled an additional month with worthwhile experiences.  Like the final score of a film soundtrack, the days were exhilarating until the end, reminiscent of what had come before, but significant in their own right.

Over the course of my last week, I met with Theresa Boyle (from the USDA), Ellen Carlin (a former Cornellian working on the House Homeland Security Committee), and Ted Mashima (for a second time – of the AAVMC).  I even joined the AAAS fellows for an additional lunch in the basement cafeteria of the Longworth House Office Building.  Conversations with D.C. veterinarians generally center on information relevant to me as a veterinary student and AVMA extern, such as professional paths and current careers, work entailed in various positions, and benefits and drawbacks to different jobs.  Depending on the situation, I might also push people for their perspectives on issues of particular interest to me, such as the relationship between the veterinary world, human medicine and other sciences, quality and consistency of medical care, and the evolving nature of the profession.

A visit to the Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Veterinary Medicine (FDA’s CVM) headquarters, in Maryland, provided the opportunity to meet and speak with numerous people, including Dr. Carmen Stamper (Management Analyst, Communications Staff), Dr. Bettye Walters (Policy Analyst, International Programs), Jon Scheid (International Programs), Grant LaGasse (Program Analyst, Office of Management), Dr. Marianne Ross (Captain, U.S. Public Health Service; Office of Surveillance and Compliance), and Tracey Forfa (Deputy Director).  The trip concluded with an over two hour long conversation in the office of Dr. Bernadette Dunham, Director of the FDA’s CVM, in which we covered all the usual topics, then went well beyond in our discussions of the complexities, evolution, and future of the veterinary profession.

Other experiences this week included an EPA Budget Subcommittee Hearing, a USDA Monthly Stakeholders Briefing, and a Fish and Wildlife Bill Subcommittee Hearing.  It is truly eye-opening to see government in action first hand, both to experience the process and appreciate accomplishments, and to witness the inherent difficulties.  My experiences of the past four weeks have shown me the value in seeking to become acquainted with the function, and dysfunction, of government through some level of personal involvement in the system.  While every person in this country would certainly benefit from such improved understanding, my own future may hold a deeper, more professional engagement in this world.

When I entered veterinary school nearly three years ago, I did so with non-traditional interests, and an eye toward a degree that would open up a variety of professional paths.  The AVMA-GRD externship has given me the opportunity to explore the variety of careers open to veterinarians, learn about the realities of non-clinical jobs, and develop relationships with the people in these positions now, so that they may be able to advise and assist me in the pursuit of similar professional paths in the future.  With just one year, of four, remaining at Cornell’s College of Veterinary Medicine, I can say, with certainty, that this has been one of the most valuable experiences of my life as a veterinary student.

Conspicuous D.C.

Observations and advice after 3 weeks in the city:

1. If you’re heading into a House or Senate building in the morning, leave extra time to make it through security – inevitably, every reporter, staffer, tourist, student, and visiting contituent will be in line ahead of you.  This is especially true on those days when the Metro is running behind.  Hearings and briefings on the Hill never seem to start on time… except on the one day you’re running late.

2. Don’t be surprised when House members laugh and chat with each other while someone else is speaking.  Attending a hearing feels rather like sitting through a high school social studies class, but with words like “venerable” and “honorable” strategically inserted into speech.

3. The food in the basement cafeteria of the Longworth House Office Building is pretty good, but the environmental friendliness leaves something to be desired.  Styrofoam and disposable plastics are a mainstay, and the openings in recycling bins fit only narrow drink bottles (this in a city boasting fairly extensive, “single stream” recycling capabilities).

4. Wear comfortable shoes every day – a flattering pair of heels just isn’t worth the trouble of blisters and foot cramps.  On the flip side, always dress as though you might meet someone important.  The day you take casual Friday completely seriously will likely be the day you find yourself with an impromptu Hill meeting, during which you run into your Senator (photo op), then get wrangled into attending some last minute dinner function.

5. There’s something very fitting about seeing a production like ‘1776’ in a venue such as Ford’s Theatre.  It may not be New York, but D.C. boasts its own worthwhile theatre and concert scene in a rather more cultured setting.

6. Most bathrooms in stores and restaurants require a key code, which is only given out to patrons.  In other words, use the restroom whenever the opportunity presents itself, or you may find yourself purchasing a $6 snack in order to buy yourself bathroom rights.  On occasion, an errant patron writes the code on the wall near the key pad – so, I suppose you can always take your chances.

7. A relaxed Saturday morning spent at Le Pain Quotidien’s communal table eating a goat cheese and red pepper omelet with bread and hazelnut spread is the ideal way to start the weekend.  Follow that up with several hours spent browsing through Eastern Market, and even the cold drizzle and ominous clouds can’t take away from a perfect day.

8. A heavy rain will knock down peak cherry blossoms in no time flat, but it’s worth experiencing those dreary post-storm hours in which petals are stuck to every conspicuous surface, and continue to snow down on you with each gust of wind.  If you check them out at 6:30 on a Sunday morning, the gray and pink seems almost ethereal – or maybe that’s just sleep deprivation.

9. This is clearly a dress pants and button down kind of city – denim wearers are in a definite minority.  Even the street musicians and store clerks seem to know something about the current state of politics.

10. Don’t count on Metro escalators working – ever.  They may just stop while you’re on them, so brace yourself.  And if you’d like to avoid being the subject of intense ridicule, don’t ever stand on the left side of a moving escalator.

A limitless profession

Over the past week, I’ve witnessed inter-agency policy writing first hand, eaten farm fresh cheese at a European Union seminar, learned Varanid anesthetic protocol, and achieved a genuine comfort level with lobbying for AVMA issues on the Hill. I’ve also appreciated the true versatility and possibility of a veterinary degree in the hands of someone with an open mind.

On Tuesday, I tagged along with Sarah Babcock as she contributed to the clarification and rewriting of FEMA documents in an interagency setting, afitting use of her combined skills as a DVM/JD.  A continuation of the prior week’s meeting, which I’d attended by conference call, being present in the room allowed me the opportunity to better follow the nuances and intricacies of concept revision and document editing.  It also opened my eyes to the world of acronyms which makes up a significant portion of speech in government, such that there are actually manuals and articles on the subject.  Deciphering a sentence in which every other word is, in fact, a listing of seemingly unrelated letters, can be an interesting challenge.

I had the opportunity to attend the “EU Market-driven Animal Welfare Seminar” on Thursday.  This event brought together major players from both continents in an informational dialogue on animal welfare issues and approaches to problems.  Panelists presented on their own work, agency, or organization, after which audience members asked relevant questions.  It was fascinating to be exposed to this side of animal welfare, in which improvement is more rationally and sustainably made through the tandem pursuit of economic accomplishment.  It was also apparent that farmers and animal welfare proponents are too often pitted against one another.  It would seem that veterinarians are perfectly placed to help encourage both “sides” to adopt the unified perspective that there is always room for the pursuit of realistic and financially viable improvement.

A quick cab ride to the Hill, and I managed to make it to a Senate briefing on white nose syndrome (WNS) in bats.  Representatives from different agencies described their work to confront the issue of WNS, which is decimating bat populations in the Northeast.  They explained the current status of research and containment projects, and how working cooperatively has led to greater accomplishment.  A common theme on the Hill, success in policy implementation often requires cooperation between federal agencies, state level groups, and private organizations. Many veterinarians, with training in animal health and epidemiology, are poised to contribute significantly to such efforts.

On the flip side of the Capitol, I was privileged to be admitted to a House briefing entitled “Preventing Natural Disasters and Human Conflict: The Value of Maintaining Healthy Marine and Coastal Ecosystems.”  With a speaker from the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP), my interests in the environment and developing nations were both touched upon in the detailing of several fascinating international projects.  Unsurprisingly, the UNEP official stated that roughly half of all conflicts in developing nations are due to a lack of some natural resource.  Following the talk, I approached him to discuss something within my own realm of experience, having studied abroad in Equatorial Guinea, Africa.  I observed aloud that a large number of conflicts in developing nations are, in fact, due to an over-abundance of a resource and an inability to safely and fairly develop that resource to the benefit of an entire nation.  With training in public health, population medicine, and problem solving, it’s not such a reach to imagine veterinarians becoming involved in international ecosystem health issues.

After nearly three solid weeks of policy and government, I briefly revisited the clinical medicine world and attended the National Zoo Rounds mid-week.  A student preceptor-led presentation on the husbandry and medicine of monitor lizards was accompanied by a table full of junk food.  It was interesting to think that I’d be returning to D.C., at the end of the year, not to delve back into the world of political and social involvement, but instead to challenge myself in the realm of zoo animal medicine during my own National Zoo preceptorship.

A number of meetings with House staff members, to discuss the now very familiar VMLRP and HR 1406, allowed me to develop my personal style, and improve and streamline delivery of information and explanations so as to best communicate and highlight significant points.  Ultimately, though, the greatest lesson I learned this week was that there is room for the veterinary perspective in so many different fields, and it is within our own hands to show the world the limitless relevance of our profession.

Highs and Lows

Over the past few days the weather has gone from quite warm back to cool. The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) was in town last week and I was lucky enough to attend a few of their events. I have gained a lot of respect for pork producers and believe they are forward thinkers when it comes to caring for their livestock and providing food for the nation. One producer mentioned that his facility is trying a couple different methods for housing in an attempt to make improvements for all his pigs. All of the people from NPPC were very friendly and welcoming, and I had the chance to meet a 4th year veterinary student from Iowa State University.

Friday, I had an early meeting on Capitol Hill with an agriculture legislative assistant (LA) for one of the Representatives of Michigan. The meeting went very well, the LA understood where we were coming from on certain bills and was pleased to learn how thorough and careful the AVMA is when determining a position, either opposed or against, on legislature. On the way back to the office I was happy about my meeting and pleased with how well I had been navigating the Metro system. However, my high from the morning was short lived. My afternoon meeting on the Hill turned out to be a 2 minute hello and the AVMA’s position on each issue with the only person in the office at the time. On the way back to the office I missed my stop on the red line. When I realized my mistake I laughed to myself and thought “That’s what I get for being overly confident.”