Arkansas Veterinary Medical Association

12/17/2025

Dear ArVMA Members,

I want to take a moment to simply say thank you to Maggie Milligan for 23 years of faithful service to the Arkansas Veterinary Medical Association.

For over two decades, Maggie has been the steady hand and familiar voice behind ArVMA. She has poured her heart into this association and into the veterinarians it serves, often working behind the scenes to make sure things were done right and done well. Her dedication, knowledge, and love for this profession have left a mark on every part of our organization.

Many of us may not fully realize just how much she has carried on her shoulders over the years, but ArVMA is stronger today because of her commitment and care. We are deeply thankful for the countless hours, the steady leadership, and the genuine pride she has taken in serving Arkansas veterinarians.

On behalf of the Board and the entire membership, thank you, Maggie, for your years of service, your loyalty to this association, and the legacy you leave behind. You will always be part of the ArVMA family!

Maggie’s last day as Executive Director of Arkansas VMA will be this Friday, December 19th. She will then serve as the ArVMA Winter Meeting Coordinator and see through the 2026 winter meeting, which is February 6-8 in Hot Springs. We hope to see everyone there!

With sincere appreciation,

Brennan Pitard, DVM
President
Arkansas Veterinary Medical Association

12/16/2025

The Arkansas Veterinary Medical Association (ArVMA) Board of Directors has selected Brittny Daubenheyer as the association's next Executive Director, effective January 5, 2026.
In this pivotal role, Daubenheyer will serve as the chief administrator, responsible for overseeing daily operations, financial management, and comprehensive membership engagement. She will also be instrumental in advancing ArVMA's mission by leading legislative and advocacy efforts, developing continuing education programming, and driving the implementation of the association’s strategic goals.
Daubenheyer brings a wealth of executive leadership and strategic planning expertise to the ArVMA, drawn from her tenure in higher education and non-profit association management. Since 2023, she has served as Assistant Vice President for Enrollment Management at Arkansas Tech University, supervising the departments of undergraduate admissions, financial aid, and marketing and communications. She was one of twelve individuals tasked with drafting the new University strategic plan (2025) and co-chaired the university recruitment and retention committee, directly contributing to record-high institutional student retention rates in both the 2023-24 and 2024-25 academic years. Under Daubenheyer’s leadership, ATU also saw a 5 percent increase in first-time undergraduate and transfer enrollment from Fall 2024 to Fall 2025.
From 2018-2023, Daubenheyer served as Executive Director for the National Association of Presidential Assistants in Higher Education (NAPAHE), where she drove an 83 percent surge in new members and a 33 percent rise in member retention in a single year. Her earlier professional roles include serving as as Assistant to the President and Secretary to the Board of Trustees at Arkansas Tech University, as Associate Director of Recruitment at the University of Central Arkansas, and as Associate Director of High School Programs for the Sullivan University System.
Daubenheyer is an alumna of Arkansas Tech University, where she earned a Master of Liberal Arts and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications. She resides in Russellville with her husband, Brian, and their daughter, Claire.

12/10/2025

It’s no surprise that pets are often part of holiday travel plans. In fact, Kinship research found that 54% of U.S. pet owners plan to travel with pets this holiday season.

Planning ahead is the key to making holiday travel with pets as safe and fun as possible, according to AVMA President Dr. Michael Bailey. He shares with Forbes seven common pet travel mistakes to avoid over the holidays. Read on for further advice: https://bit.ly/3YlKrWW

11/21/2025

James Harmon Smith, Jr. passed on November 20, 2025. He was born in Wynne, Arkansas on January 24, 1945. Harmon grew up in Birdeye with his siblings and cousins riding his pony and loving all animals. He competed in high school rodeos, enjoying cutting and roping. He graduated from Wynne High School in 1963. He received a Bachelor of Science degree from Oklahoma State University in 1967 and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 1970. He opened Cross County Veterinary Clinic as the first licensed veterinarian in Cross County and practiced small and large animal medicine for over 50 years including a special stretch of time with his late niece Dr. Julie Raffety Boone. Harmon always knew he wanted to be a veterinarian and he dedicated his life to caring for all of God's creatures, including but not limited to: Bantam chickens, Angus and Limousin cattle, Quarter horses, miniature horses, Sicilian burros, Nubian goats, Suffolk sheep, Australian Shepherds and Great Pyrenees.

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/james-smith-obituary?id=60114440&utm_source=MarketingCloud&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=ObitShare_022525&utm_content=%%%3dRedirectTo(%40ObitUrl)%3d%%&sfmc_id=483728418&env=5fcfda40692bd26175c0b6809bf27245dd9e408d824ead12854e6613d17d2bd3&et_rid=483728418

11/21/2025

Public Notice: Due to recent Equine Herpesvirus (EHV) outbreaks in Oklahoma and Texas, we are recommending that all equine events in Arkansas, including shows, competitions, and large gatherings, be postponed for two weeks. We also recommend isolating and monitoring any horses that attended events in OK or TX during November for 21 days.

These steps are precautionary to help protect Arkansas’s equine industry. We will continue to share updates as the situation develops.

Learn more: https://agriculture.arkansas.gov/public-notice/recommendation-to-postpone-equine-events/

11/04/2025

Big news from the Lyon College School of Veterinary Medicine!

Lyon College has received official notice of its comprehensive accreditation visit in summer 2026 by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Council on Education (COE) — a major milestone in establishing Arkansas’s first private veterinary school.

In preparation, the LCSVM team is developing a detailed self-study report demonstrating compliance with the AVMA COE’s 11 Standards of Accreditation, covering areas such as facilities, curriculum, faculty, clinical resources, and research.

“The comprehensive visit is an important next step in our pursuit of COE accreditation and reflects our commitment to meeting the highest standards in veterinary education,” said Dr. Melissa Taverner, president of Lyon College. “Our faculty and leadership team have worked diligently to design a program that prepares graduates to meet the evolving needs of animal health care in Arkansas and beyond.”

Read more here: https://www.lyon.edu/news/posts/lyon-college-school-of-veterinary-medicine-prepares-for-comprehensive-accreditation-visit

in Arkansas

10/30/2025

The Arkansas Department of Agriculture today announced the appointment of Dr. Andrew Fidler as the new State Veterinarian, effective Monday, October 27.

“Dr. Fidler brings extensive experience in animal health, regulatory science, and agricultural research that will be invaluable to the Department and to Arkansas’s livestock and poultry industries,” said Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture Wes Ward. “Animal health is vital to the success of Arkansas agriculture, and we look forward to his leadership as we continue supporting producers across the state.”

Dr. Andrew Fidler has been named Arkansas’s new State Veterinarian, bringing over 15 years of experience in veterinary medicine, academia, and regulatory science. Animal health is essential to the success of Arkansas agriculture, and in his new role, Dr. Fidler will lead efforts to safeguard animal and public health, prevent and respond to disease outbreaks, and support the state’s animal agriculture industries.

Read the full release: https://agriculture.arkansas.gov/news/arkansas-department-of-agriculture-appoints-new-state-veterinarian/

10/15/2025

🚨🚨Register today for the 2026 Winter Meeting!! 21 hours of great CE! 🚨🚨

2026 Winter Meeting119th Annual Winter MeetingFebruary 6-8, 2026DVM ScheduleTechnician Schedule2026/02/05 23:59:00Convention RegistrationDeadline for registration is January 26, 2026 (midnight). Please contact the ArVMA office at 501-868-3036 or [email protected] if you have any questions.SCHE...

10/13/2025

Thank you to all the Veterinary Technicians!! Happy Vet Tech week!!

10/13/2025

The “Topping Off Ceremony" for ASU College of Veterinary Medicine building happened today!! 🎉 Exciting times Thank you to Dr. Heidi Banse for her guidance and dedication to ASU College of Veterinary Medicine!

This event marks an exciting step forward for veterinary education in Arkansas and A-State’s continued commitment to innovation and service. ❤️🐺

10/13/2025

The “Topping Off Ceremony" for ASU College of Veterinary Medicine building happened today!! 🎉 Exciting times Thank you to Dr. Heidi Banse for her guidance and dedication to ASU College of Veterinary Medicine!

This event marks an exciting step forward for veterinary education in Arkansas and A-State’s continued commitment to innovation and service. ❤️🐺

10/09/2025

🐾 Big Milestone for A-State!

Arkansas State University will celebrate the topping-off ceremony for its new College of Veterinary Medicine — the first public vet school in Arkansas — at 11 a.m. Monday, Oct. 13, on Cherokee Street at the southeast corner of campus.

The 56,000-square-foot facility is set to open in fall 2026, pending accreditation, welcoming the first class of 120 future veterinarians.

“This milestone brings us one step closer to launching our Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program,” said CVM Dean Dr. Heidi Banse.

👩‍⚕️🐶🐱 https://neareport.com/2025/10/08/a-states-college-of-veterinary-medicine-to-host-topping-off-ceremony/