Michael Q. Bailey becomes AVMA’s first Black president

Michael Q. Bailey, DVM, DACVR, has become the American Veterinary Medical Association’s first Black president, a milestone in the organization’s 160-plus-year history. Bailey officially began his 2025-2026 term on July 20, 2025, after serving as the AVMA’s first Black president-elect following his 2024 election by the House of Delegates. A board-certified veterinary radiologist, Tuskegee University graduate, former academic leader, and past Pennsylvania VMA president, Bailey has also served on the AVMA Board of Directors and has worked in imaging, telemedicine, and organized veterinary medicine. (dvm360.com)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, Bailey’s presidency is both symbolic and practical. It marks a visible leadership shift at the profession’s largest membership organization, while elevating a leader whose background spans clinical radiology, education, policy, and association governance. In his first remarks as president, Bailey said he wants to raise awareness of veterinarians’ “indispensable” role in community health and help inspire the next generation of veterinary leaders, themes that could shape AVMA advocacy, workforce conversations, and professional engagement during his term. (avma.org)

What to watch: Watch how Bailey’s presidency translates those themes into AVMA policy priorities, member engagement efforts, and representation work through the 2025-2026 term. (avma.org)