In what turned out to be a close election, former AASV president Dr. Rick Sibbel was defeated in his bid to represent District VII on the AVMA Executive Board. The AASV, along with the American Association of Bovine Practitioners and Iowa Veterinary Medical Association, had endorsed Dr. Sibbel’s candidacy, noting his understanding of issues involving food animal medicine as well as his extensive AVMA experience. Dr. Clark K. Fobian, a companion animal practitioner in Sedalia, Mo., won the election and will take office at the close of the 2006 AVMA House of Delegates session. His constituency will comprise AVMA members in Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota.
Dr. Sibbel will remain active in the AVMA as a member of the Animal Welfare Governance Task Force and the Strategic Planning Committee.
AVMA members in District IX also elected a new Executive Board representative. Dr. Theodore J. Cohn of Littleton, Colo. will represent AVMA members in Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Utah.