Portia Stewart named Firstline editor, dvm360.com team channel director

Six years after transitioning from editor to a freelance role with Firstline magazine, Portia Stewart has returned to Advanstar Veterinary’s Lenexa, Kan., office as team channel director of the veterinary team magazine. Stewart has been a mainstay at Advanstar Communications for more than a decade. She was editor of Firstline magazine from 1999 to 2008 before stepping into her freelance role.

Since 2008, Stewart has worked from home as a freelance writer and editor for Firstline magazine. She remained a valued presence and contributor, which is why Advanstar Veterinary was happy to welcome Stewart to her new role this spring.

Stewart continues her role generating award-winning work for Firstline . As team channel director she will focus on issues that are important to veterinary team members and, as always, provide a multitude of information to further professional success in their roles. “I love the veterinary team community, because it’s filled with passionate people who make a difference in the lives of pets and their owners every day,” Stewart says. “And I love being a part of the team dedicated to helping veterinary team members grow their careers and improve their workdays.”

Currently, Stewart is planning content based on results from the 2013 Firstline Veterinary Team Trends Study. Low pay and lack of benefits topped the list of biggest challenges for readers. “Working with Veterinary Economics, we plan to tackle the tough topic of team pay—both from the perspective of how team members can grow the business and how practice owners can afford to pay their team members more,” Stewart says.

In many ways, Stewart has evolved with the magazine, directing the relaunch of Firstline as managing editor in August 2005—the same month she and her husband Sean welcomed their first child, Donovan, now 8 years old. Moira, 5, followed, and while her family—including an 18-year-old Maine coon cat, a 14-year-old Samoyed dog and a 3-year-old Siamese cat—has grown, her long relationship with the Advanstar family has as well.

Settled back into her office in Lenexa, Stewart is looking forward to the Fear-Free practice coverage that will be featured in the August issue of Firstline . Plus, she’s always developing tools and resources to help team members educate clients, boost pet owner compliance and ensure every pet parent can afford the care their pets need. To reach Stewart or to ask a question or share a story idea, send comments to firstline@advanstar.com.