Dear Colleagues,
As we embark on another exciting year at the IVMA, I am filled with immense pride and gratitude for the dedication and passion each of you brings to our profession. Your unwavering commitment to animal health continues to inspire and drive our collective mission forward. Because of this, I am honored to serve as IVMA president in 2025.
I would like to thank Dr. Lindsey Hedges for her leadership over the last year and Dr. Greg Kurtz for believing in me and asking me to take on the role of president. I wanted to give you a little background about me. I am a 1998 graduate of Michigan State University. We came to Southern Indiana 22 years ago to take advantage of student loan reimbursement for an underserved area for my husband Dan who is a family physician. We loved it so much that we stayed! I am a small animal veterinarian. I am also a mom of 3 young adults Connor (25), Gabe (23) and Anna (20). I live on a small farm and have an assortment of pets, including 2 donkeys, 2 horses, chickens, cats and 3 dogs.
It was great to see so many of you at the Crossroads Veterinary Conference last month. I want to thank the working group that planned the event and pulled it off so brilliantly. Along with Lisa and Lourdes, they work on the Crossroads Veterinary Conference year-round to deliver a quality continuing education program right here in Indiana.
In the next year, I hope to continue the efforts of our organization to create an innovative, collaborative environment that will help retain and attract veterinarians to our state. I also hope to deepen and continue our collaboration with the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine and the new Dean and to continue to support and collaborate on new initiatives to help address rural veterinary shortages. We hope to continue to develop our Power programs and continuing education opportunities. The IVMA leadership met in mid-February to discuss strategic goals for 2025. The Board of Directors will meet in mid-March to set the focus for the year.
I would also love to find a way to connect veterinarians who have been in the trenches for a while, who are juggling the demands of raising families or have other care giving roles that could use the support of other veterinarians who are in the same boat. I have been there – getting involved with IVMA helped me to reignite my passion for my career and I would welcome the opportunity to pay it forward.
Our association remains committed to advocating for the veterinary profession at both the national and local levels. We are working tirelessly to ensure that our voices are heard on critical issues such as animal welfare legislation, practice standards, and professional recognition. Your support and involvement in these advocacy efforts are crucial to our success.
As we navigate the challenges and opportunities ahead, let us remember the core values that unite us: compassion, integrity, and excellence.
Together, we can make a profound impact on the lives of the animals we care for and the communities we serve.
My door is always open. Feel free to contact me at kristikantz@hotmail.com.
Warm Regards,
Kristi Kantz, DVM
IVMA President
kristikantz@hotmail.com