Volunteer for Committees
MVMA succeeds because members volunteer their time and talents for the benefit of their colleagues, the veterinary profession, the association, and animals. Whether you're interested in public health, students at Tufts University, reviewing CE programs, advocating on policy and legislation, writing articles for the newsletter, or any of our many areas of concern, we hope you'll find ways to contribute to our efforts.
Browse opportunities below and fill out THIS FORM to volunteer.
Join a Committee:
The MVMA has several committees that work throughout the year to improve the practice of veterinary medicine in Massachusetts and better serve MVMA members.
Please note: All voting committee members must be members in good standing of the MVMA. At the discretion of the Chair, a non-member may be invited to attend a meeting as a non-voting guest. Basecamp (our project management and collaboration tool) communication and activity are confidential and reserved for MVMA members only.
Topics of interest are diverse and time commitment varies depending on the committee.
| Committees | Purpose | Time Commitment |
| Animal Welfare | The Animal Welfare Committee is responsible for leading dialogue between the MVMA and humane organizations. The committee shall monitor issues and activities in this field and formulate positions on animal welfare subjects to better inform the public, humane groups, MVMA’s Government Relations and Advocacy Committee (GRAC), and the MVMA Executive Board. | The AWC meets several times a year via Zoom. The average time commitment for committee members is 12 hours/year. |
| Communications | The Communications Committee is responsible for overseeing the publication of MVMA’s bi-monthly newsletter, MassVet News. The committee shall supply articles of interest for publication, review advertising opportunities, and proof-read final drafts. | The committee members are expected to review articles and draft newsletters in a timely manner six times/year. The average time commitment for committee members is 12 hours/year. |
| Conference and Programming | The Conference and Programming Committee is responsible for assessing the needs and desires of veterinarians in the area of continuing education. The committee shall identify topics and speakers for CE programs, review sponsorship/exhibitor opportunities, and work with staff to coordinate events. | Most committee work is done via online communication, though there are periodic Zoom meetings when needed. The average time commitment for committee members is 3 hours/year. |
| Continuing Education Accreditation | The Continuing Education Accreditation Committee is chosen by the Executive Board to fulfill the agreement with the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Veterinary Medicine. The committee is responsible for evaluating potential continuing education programs being offered in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and for determining whether credit should be granted. | The CE Accreditation committee communicates via email when applications are submitted. Depending on the number of applications in any given year, the average time commitment for committee members is 12 hours/year. |
| Emergency and Disaster Preparedness | The Emergency and Disaster Preparedness Committee is responsible for ensuring the MVMA’s readiness to participate in emergency and disaster response in accordance with any agreements with governmental authorities; educating members about and providing assistance to members on emergency preparedness; educating members and the veterinary community about biosecurity and other threats; participating under the direction of the State Veterinarian and emergency management officials when applicable, in response to disasters and emergencies; and other activities consistent with the intention of MVMA to be both proactive and reactive on emergency and disaster matters. | The E&D Committee meets several times a year via Zoom. The average time commitment for committee members is 6 hours/year. |
| Government Relations & Advocacy | The Government Relations and Advocacy Committee (GRAC) is responsible for examining each bill filed in the Massachusetts legislature related to animals or veterinary medicine. The committee shall discuss and report its recommendations to the Executive Board for its consideration of either favoring or opposing a particular bill. If necessary, the committee will help draft testimony and/or letters to be shared with legislators and MVMA members. | The GRAC has regular quarterly Zoom meetings scheduled throughout the year, with periodic extra meetings scheduled as needed during the busy season. The average time commitment for committee members is 20 hours/year. |
| Health & Wellness | The Health and Wellness Committee is responsible for activities related to personal and professional wellness for all veterinary professionals. The committee helps identify speakers for continuing education and authors newsletter articles to promote the importance of wellness and to offer tips and resources. |
The Wellness committee meets several times a year via Zoom. The average time commitment for committee members is 5 hours/year. |
| Large Animal | The Large Animal Committee is responsible for providing information related to large animal practice to the membership. The committee advises the Government Relations and Advocacy Committee (GRAC) on legislative issues pertaining to large animal practice and identifies topics and speakers of interest for continuing education events. | The Wellness committee meets periodically via Zoom. The average time commitment for committee members is 5 hours/year. |
| MVMA Charities | The MVMA Charities provide medical and lifesaving support for animals at risk. | The MVMA Charities board meets quarterly via Zoom or hybrid meetings. Board members are asked to participate in fundraising events as they're able. The average time commitment for committee members is 12 hours/year. |
| Regional VMAs | MVMA’s regional VMA groups serve as local connections for members, providing opportunities for networking, education, and collaboration across the state. | The regional leaders are responsible for coordinating and attending events. The average time commitment for regional leaders is 20 hours/year. |
Join MVMA Leadership:
The MVMA Executive Board is made up of dedicated volunteers who act as the governing body of the Association. They hold oversight of the business, programming, and policy and are the key decision-makers.
Learn more about each position to see if you'd be a good fit:
In 2026, we will have openings for the President-Elect and two Director roles for the May 2027 slate of officers and directors. If you're interested in applying or have questions, e-mail jfalzone@massvet.org with a resume and letter of intent (1-3 paragraphs).
Looking for an opportunity to serve nationally?
In July 2027, Dr. Martha Smith-Blackmore will complete her term at the AVMA Convention. She will be succeeded by Alternate Delegate, Dr. Brie Beberman.
This is an 8 year commitment. The Alternate Delegate serves a four-year term, at the conclusion of which they advance to the position of Delegate for a four-year term. The AVMA House of Delegates (HOD) is the principal body within the AVMA responsible for establishing policy and providing direction for matters relating to veterinary medicine. The HOD also discusses and votes on amendments to ByLaws, votes on resolutions, and elects leaders and members of the House Advisory Committee (HAC).
This position requires travel (paid for by AVMA and MVMA), including:
- AVMA Convention in July (location rotates)
- NEVMA Leadership Conference in September (Portland, ME)
- Veterinary Leadership Conference (VLC) in January (Chicago, IL)
The position is also a member of the MVMA Advisory Committee, which meets for 3 hours (Zoom) on the second Wednesday of March, June, September, and December.
CLICK HERE for the full position description.
If you're interested in applying or have questions, e-mail jfalzone@massvet.org with a resume and letter of intent (1-3 paragraphs).