Please Comment on Proposed Amendments to Veterinary Medicine Rules
Dear Colleagues:
The Arkansas Department of Agriculture has proposed updates to the Veterinary Medicine Rules (17 CAR Pt. 1). In response, the Arkansas VMA appointed a task force to review the proposed updates to the rules and distributed a survey to our membership to collect feedback.
The Department of Agriculture needs to see proof that the vets of Arkansas are engaged, cohesive, and working together towards the reinstatement of our autonomy. The Association will be submitting comments. We also encourage you to respond with your own public comments. Please submit comments using your own (kind, polite) words, and we encourage you to leave positive comments on proposed changes you like. Most importantly, please request active enforcement of all current rules.
You may submit public comments prior to the 5:00 p.m. deadline on September 15, 2026 via email to rule.comments@arkansas.gov or by mail to Arkansas Department of Agriculture, Attn: Matthew M. Ford, 1 Natural Resources Drive, Little Rock, AR 72205.
Thank you!
Rob Conner, DVM
ArVMA Legislative Liaison
Mark Your Calendars: 120th Annual
ArVMA Winter Meeting!
Join us February 5–7, 2027, at the Hot Springs Convention Center for our milestone 120th Annual Winter Meeting!
Attendee Registration Opens: Nov. 1st
Exclusive Member Pricing: Current ArVMA and AVTA members receive special discounted rates with paid 2027 membership dues.
2027 ArVMA Membership Dues
2027 ArVMA membership dues cover the fiscal year from October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027.
Beginning October 1, you can Pay Your 2027 Dues Here or simply scan the QR code.
Scan to Join or Renew!
Submit Your Nominations: Veterinarian & Pet of the Year
Do you know an outstanding colleague or an extraordinary patient? Help us celebrate the best of our community at the upcoming ArVMA Winter Meeting!
Nomination forms are due Dec. 31
Veterinarian of the Year: Recognize an ArVMA member who has made exceptional contributions to the profession and our association.
Pet of the Year: Highlight a truly deserving patient from your clinic whose story inspires us all.
Dr. Archie Ryan (right): 2026 Vet of the Year
2026 Pet of the Year: Dirk Maus
Upcoming Legislative Meet & Greets
We encourage members from District VI and District VII to join us at either one of these events.
Sept. 10, 2026 at 6:30 PM- Monticello Country Club, Monticello
Oct. 13 or 14, 2026 - Hot Springs
(Pending) Stay tuned for details!
Support the ArVMA Political Action Committee (PAC)
To give our advocacy team the leverage needed to secure legislative wins, we need your direct support. A contribution to the ArVMA Political Action Committee (PAC) is an investment in the future of your practice and our profession.
The Reality: About 30% of your annual ArVMA membership dues fund lobbying oversight, but by law, dues money cannot be used for campaign contributions.
The Solution: The non-partisan ArVMA PAC steps in to support candidates in the state Senate and House who stand up for veterinary medicine.
Contribute to the ArVMA PAC Today
Scan: Open your smartphone camera and scan the QR code.
Online: Click here to contribute securely online via the ArVMA PAC form
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Mail to:
Arkansas VMA
PO Box 10142
Russellville, AR 72812
It's Not Too Late! Register for SWVS
There is still time to register for Southwest Veterinary Symposium! Standard registration rates are available through September 20. Secure your spot today to take advantage of premier CE sessions and networking.
With Sympathy
Dr. Gary Thomas Palmer passed away on August 29, 2026, in Jonesboro, Arkansas. While growing up, he always had a deep affection for animals, and at 12 years old, he declared that he wanted to become a veterinarian one day. He went on to graduate from Auburn University with a degree in Veterinary Medicine.
Throughout his career, Gary practiced veterinary medicine in Kosciusko, Mississippi; New Orleans, Louisiana; Memphis, Tennessee; and Blytheville, Arkansas. Since 1980, he owned and operated Blytheville Animal Hospital in Blytheville, Arkansas, where he dedicated many years to caring for animals and serving the community. He retired two years ago and recently donated his veterinary clinic to an animal rescue organization primarily dedicated to cat rescue, continuing his lifelong commitment to helping animals.
With Sympathy
Roger Allen McMillan, Jr., 82, of Jonesboro, passed away August 31, 2026. He graduated from Oklahoma State University School of Veterinary Medicine, then practiced veterinary medicine in Booneville and Russellville, Arkansas.
Roger moved to Jonesboro in 1970 working for the Arkansas Health Department as a meat inspector. He worked in various private practices in Jonesboro before opening his own practice that eventually became Vetcare, where he served many clients over the years. Before he retired in 2024, he returned to veterinary medicine by serving the Northeast Arkansas Humane Society for over a decade.
Click above to
watch the video.
Dog Aging Project
Congratulations to Dr. Kate Creevy, Chief Veterinary Officer of the Dog Aging Project, who was recently awarded the 2026 American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Career Achievement in Canine Research Award.
Dr. Creevy leads landmark research efforts within the Dog Aging Project, which currently includes over 50,000 enrolled dogs. Her team is also actively conducting the Test of Rapamycin in Aging Dogs (TRIAD), a double-blind clinical trial evaluating the impact of the drug rapamycin on health span and lifespan.
Share Your Perspective:
Veterinary Interpersonal Skills Study
Help inform future veterinary training! A new IRB-approved study led by Matthew Love, Psy.D., is researching which interpersonal skills are most critical in clinical practice and how prepared veterinarians feel when transitioning out of training.
Eligible Participants: Interns, residents, general practitioners, and board-certified specialists.
Details: Voluntary, fully anonymous, and takes only 13–16 minutes.
Closes: December 31, 2026
Complete the Survey (For inquiries, email research@matthewlovepsyd.com)
Input Needed: UW-Madison Veterinary Professional Identity Study
Researchers at the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine invite you to participate in a quick study exploring veterinary professional identity. Your feedback will help guide future DVM curriculum development.
Time Commitment: 10 minutes or less
Take the Survey: Veterinary Professional Identity: Values and Priorities
Survey Call: UC Davis Equine Oclacitinib (Apoquel) Study
UC Davis Veterinary Medicine is gathering feedback from practitioners on their clinical experiences using oclacitinib maleate (Apoquel) in equine practice.
If you’ve used or prescribed Apoquel for equine patients, please take a few moments to complete their brief questionnaire.
Your participation will help build a clearer picture of prescribing habits, efficacy, and clinical outcomes in horses.
