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Purdue Veterinary Alumni Ascend to IVMA Leadership Roles

New officers are recognized on stage during the conference
New IVMA Officers were installed at a ceremony February 1 officiated by Dr. Sandra Faeh, AVMA president-elect. The new officers (left-right on stage) are Immediate Past President Greg Kurtz, President Lindsey Hedges, President-elect Kristi Kantz and Treasurer Corey Swart.

The Indiana Veterinary Medical Association (IVMA) installed its new leadership team of officers, which includes Purdue veterinary alumni, on February 1 during the annual IVMA Crossroads Veterinary Conference. Dr. Lindsey Hedges (PU DVM 2011), assumed the duties of president following her term this past year as president-elect. Dr. Hedges, of Lebanon, Indiana, is the senior director of mentorship at Mission Veterinary Partners. She has served as a facilitator for IVMA’s leadership program, Power of 10, since 2015. She also has served as the Region 2 board member on the IVMA Board of Directors.

The IVMA’s treasurer also is a Purdue DVM graduate. Dr. Corey Swart was reelected to that role after completing a two year term as treasurer. A member of the Purdue DVM Class of 2008, Dr. Swart is the managing doctor at Jefferson Road Animal Hospital/Cat Clinic of Kokomo where he grew up volunteering and working while pursuing his education. Dr. Swart served as an at-large member of the IVMA Board of Directors and also serves on several IVMA task forces and participated in the Power of You program in 2020. In addition, he is the treasurer of the Wabash Valley Veterinary Medical Association.

Dr. Sandra Faeh, president-elect of the American Veterinary Medical Association, was present at the installation ceremony to officiate. The other IVMA officers are Dr. Greg Kurtz, immediate past president, and Dr. Kristi Kantz, president-elect. The IVMA is the professional organization for veterinarians who care for Hoosier pets, farm animals, zoo animals, wildlife, and public health, and is the human side of animal health.

Writer(s): Kevin Doerr | pvmnews@purdue.edu

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