Paws and profits: New appointments in the veterinary industry

Veterinary leadership plays a pivotal role in guiding practices and organizations towards excellence and creating a positive work environment. Strong leaders in veterinary medicine not only inspire their teams but also drive innovation and uphold high standards of patient care. By effectively managing resources and navigating industry challenges, veterinary leaders ensure the success and growth of their practices and/or organizations.

Various veterinary organizations have recently appointed new leaders. The following individuals are among those making career advancements:

Emily Hubbard, chief medical officer, Veterinary Innovative Partners

Emily Hubbard, chief medical officer, Veterinary Innovative Partners. (Photo courtesy of Veterinary Innovative Partners)

Veterinary Innovative Partners (VIP), a network encompassing nearly 70 veterinarian-owned hospitals across 12 states, has named Emily Hubbard, DVM, its new chief medical officer. Prior to her new appointment, Hubbard was the director of veterinary quality at Banfield Pet Hospital. Her background includes experience as a single-unit and multi-unit medical director. In her new role at VIP, Hubbard will manage the medical department, enhance operational efficiency, develop policies, and support veterinary training.

"I’m honored to join the VIP team during this exciting period of growth and innovation," said Hubbard in a news release.¹ "I look forward to empowering our veterinarians to deliver exceptional care through personalized approaches, optimizing our medical practices and fostering continuous learning among our staff. Together, we will continue to strengthen VIP hospitals and the communities we serve."

“Dr Hubbard’s expertise and passion for veterinary medicine perfectly align with our mission to deliver exceptional care to our clients and support the professionals who serve them,” said Chris Bishop, CEO of VIP, in the release.¹ “We’re thrilled to welcome her as our new chief medical officer and are confident her leadership will be instrumental in guiding our medical teams, advancing our ‘Life First’ vision and enhancing our quality of care as we expand our reach and impact.”

Col. Stephanie Mont, DVM, commander of Womack Army Medical Center

Col. Stephanie Mont, commander of Womack Army Medical Center

Col. Stephanie Mont was recently appointed the next commander of Womack Army Medical Center (WAMC) at Fort Liberty, North Carolina. In 2001, Mont obtained her veterinary degree from Texas A&M University and joined the army as a Veterinary Corps officer afterwards. She earned her master’s in public health from the University of Hawaii in 2008 and completed a Master’s in strategic studies at the Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania in 2020.²

Col. Mont is a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine and was part of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Future Leaders class of 2014 to 2015. From 2017 to 2020, Mont held the position of command veterinarian and chief of future medical operations at US Africa Command in Stuttgart, Germany, where she focused on integrating One Health principles into their operations.²

Col. Mont also made history as the first veterinary preventive medicine officer to direct the Department of Defense’s LTC Daniel E. Holland Military Working Dog Hospital at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.

Catherine Ainsworth, board chair for Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority

Catherine Ainsworth, board chair for Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority. (Photo courtesy of Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority)

The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) appointed Catherine Ainsworth BVSc(Hons), MVSc, MBA, GAICD, as its board chair for a 4-year term.³ Ainsworth has expertise in public sector governance and in managing agricultural research for livestock, grains, and horticulture industries, according to the APVMA.⁴

“Dr Ainsworth has significant experience in corporate governance, risk management, regulatory matters, financial management, agriculture and public health,” Murray Watt, minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry said in a news report.³ “She has extensive experience in administration and board roles as the director of Racing Analytical Services, and the director and deputy chair of Harness Racing Victoria and the Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria.”

Ainsworth is also involved with the Victorian Animal Welfare Advisory Council, the Biosecurity Reference Group, and the National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) Animal Health Accreditation Advisory Council.⁴

Anthony Germinaro, field veterinary business development manager

Anthony Germinaro, field veterinary business development manager. (Photo courtesy of PetVivo Holdings, Inc.)

Anthony Germinaro will be stepping into the role of field veterinary business development manager for the for the Southwest Region of the US at PetVivo Holdings, a biomedical device company for companion animals and animal athletes. Germinaro has held roles as a lead ultrasound technician and practice manager, giving him experience in veterinary clinics and sales of animal health products at Banfield Pet Hospital, VetMed, Anvive Life Sciences, Black Mountain Veterinary Cardiology, and Dr Fossum’s Pet Care, according to a news release.⁵

“Joining PetVivo as a new Field Veterinary Business Development Manager is an incredible opportunity for me to continue my passion, leverage my industry knowledge, and positively impact the quality of life for horses and companion animals,” said Germinaro in a news release.⁵ “I am thrilled to have the opportunity to join the PetVivo sales and distribution team. It is a pleasure to be part of a company that possesses technology that has been shown to improve the medical outcomes of animals suffering from lameness and other joint related afflictions, such as osteoarthritis.”

"Adding Anthony to our sales and distribution team provides a tremendous boost to PetVivo’s commercialization efforts,” John Lai, chief executive officer of PetVivo Holdings said in a news release.⁵ “Anthony brings to PetVivo a wealth of veterinary in-clinic experience that is extraordinarily valuable to our efforts in advancing awareness of our innovative product Spryng™ with OsteoCushion™ technology to veterinarians throughout the Southwest Region of the United States.”

Emily McCobb, PetSmart Charities endowed chair in accessible veterinary care, University of California, Davis

Emily McCobb, DVM, MS, DACVAA, has been appointed as the first PetSmart Charities endowed chair in accessible veterinary care at the University of California, Davis (UC Davis), School of Veterinary Medicine. Prior to her appointment, McCobb was the clinical associate professor of anesthesiology and director of the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine’s shelter medicine program at Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts.

McCobb’s new role will help ensure that pets and their families can access the health care they need by fostering innovation throughout the veterinary system, according to a news release. “"I'm extremely honored to have been selected. UC Davis is the pinnacle of veterinary education and a school we all look up to," McCobb said in the news release.⁶

"It's time to reshape our profession and drive efforts like those in human medicine to ensure more pets get the care they need to thrive. That's a lens I look forward to sharing at UC Davis – not all pet parents are privileged, but as veterinarians we took an oath to care for all animals. I'm also grateful PetSmart Charities had the vision to sustain this kind of support. It'll inspire other universities to launch programs designed to expand care models that serve a wider array of families,” she continued.⁶

References

1. Veterinary Innovative Partners appoints Dr. Emily Hubbard as new chief medical officer. News release. Veterinary Innovative Partners. August 20, 2024.
2. Veterinarian chosen to lead military hospital. News release. American Veterinary Medical Association. August 15, 2024. Accessed August 22, 2024. https://www.avma.org/news/veterinarian-chosen-lead-military-hospital
3. Edwards L. New CEO and board chair for APVMA. New England Times. July 12, 2024. Accessed August 22, 2024. https://www.netimes.com.au/2024/07/12/new-ceo-and-board-chair-for-apvma/
4. APVMA board. Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority. Accessed August 22, 2024. https://www.apvma.gov.au/about/about-us/our-structure/apvma-board
5. Anthony Germinaro joins PetVivo Holdings, Inc. as a field veterinary business development manager. News release. PetVivo Holdings, Inc. August 19, 2024. Accessed August 22, 2024. https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2024/08/19/2932220/0/en/Anthony-Germinaro-Joins-PetVivo-Holdings-Inc-as-a-Field-Veterinary-Business-Development-Manager.html
6. Endowed chair in accessible veterinary care named at UC Davis. News release. PetSmart Charities, Inc. August 21, 2024. Accessed August 22, 2024. https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/news-releases/endowed-chair-in-accessible-veterinary-care-named-at-uc-davis-302227150.html