AVMA hires Lutschaunig for top Washington role

WASHINGTON — Two vacant positions, a laundry list of agenda items and a Congress gearing up for elections welcomes Dr. Mark Lutschaunig to his new job as the American Veterinary Medical Association's (AVMA) Governmental Relations Division (GRD) director.

Lutschaunig, 43, received the nod from AVMA leaders in May after serving as interim director following Dr. Michael Chaddock's February departure.

The GRD director oversees a staff of seven, including several veterinarian lobbyists, each charged with advancing AVMA policies on federal legislative and regulatory issues influencing animal and human health and advancing the profession. Lutschaunig came to GRD as an assistant director in 2003, ending a seven-year communications job with Nestle Purina that followed more than three years in private practice. He describes his management style as hands off.

"I enjoy politics," he says. "The atmosphere here is toxic right now, considering it's an election year, but I like talking to staff on the Hill and trying to push our agenda."

On the list

That agenda includes garnering funds for the National Veterinary Medical Service Act and promoting the Veterinary Workforce Expansion Act as well as the Pet Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act and The Small Business Health Fairness Act, among other issues (related story).

Last month, AVMA Executive Board members assigned new regulatory and legislative items to the GRD office's purview, charging the office to support or pursue issues ranging from the 2007 Farm Bill's reauthorization to The Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act.

The board also approved funds to beef up GRD staff by hiring an administrative assistant in 2007.

Hiring

In addition to hiring for that post, Lutschaunig also must focus on filling two assistant director seats, one vacated by his promotion and the other vacated by Dr. Gerald Rushin's departure last year.

"We're looking forward to getting fully staffed," he says. "I like to hire people who will do a good job, give them their responsibilities and let them go about their work as they see fit."

When it comes to leadership, Executive Board Chairman Dr. Bud Hertzog describes Lutschaunig's new role as a "natural fit."

"I have great faith in Mark that he'll do a fine job for us," he says. "He's highly respected in the profession."