Veterinary podcast questions whether organizations still serve members

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A new Veterinary Viewfinder episode is urging the profession to take a harder look at organized veterinary medicine as 2026 begins. In “Shedding Old Skins: Rethinking Vet Organizations in a New Year,” Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, frame the conversation around whether veterinary organizations still reflect the people they represent, with a particular focus on governance, transparency, inclusion, and how dissent is handled inside leadership structures. The episode also carries added weight because Mossor discusses her decision to step away from national leadership, casting the discussion as more than a theoretical critique. (drernieward.com)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, this taps into a broader pressure point across the field: whether associations, credentialing bodies, and advocacy groups are keeping pace with workforce strain, technician utilization debates, and demands for more responsive leadership. Organized veterinary medicine still shapes policy, education, advocacy, and regulation, from AVMA governance and dues decisions to AAVSB’s regulatory agenda, so questions about trust and representation have practical consequences for clinics, teams, and the profession’s ability to act collectively. Transparency has also been a stated priority inside organized veterinary medicine itself, underscoring that this is not just an outside criticism. (dvm360.com)

What to watch: Expect continued scrutiny in 2026 over how veterinary organizations engage members, explain decisions, and prove their value to veterinarians, technicians, and practice leaders. (drernieward.com)