[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6164435,"mediaKeyId","5429193-5532e59b111bed734a48c7a7232a072e","parentId",5429193,"title","AAVSB to help Colorado implement VPA exam and credentialing despite board ambivalence; California board authorizes delegates to decide votes","audioSeconds",2499,"startMs",951000,"endMs",3450000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5429193-5532e59b111bed734a48c7a7232a072e&start=951&end=3450","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5429193-5532e59b111bed734a48c7a7232a072e/thumbnail_951000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6164435/California/AAVSB-to-help-Colorado-implement-VPA-exam-and-credentialing-despite-board-ambivalence-California-board-authorizes-delegates-to-decide-votes","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6164435-2958be704a0c2de467680a7f91efcf8d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770584505&Signature=QsF0itqkaIIYfBK8d3~8KULEYZ64wMnF7X-e4L1nDgqLn4r7vl7YudQa8B2OOrM0Vxx52jESQzvrm~HziU2~zOvkwhu-A387ZgKYizLj4cK8XO~oeQc6yq6ZzbYjra6FbPv4ovX5~1f1OMy9Tw247VBHKmmvdiShaU679whzh0T4VNFimwSofeYzxZ1va8WuCumpJVjmL~09vXGz~vcC~tjSx0fLxQOSCtgBYBDoc9nap-UACMwAttN~cKOEfM0WDkPwq7MWj6m4cABiRTjCJ6qn7YZ8zacCQPhmGC032Rdts2wcPYJSIqYgnSlhdewTbfDbxeVDOzjkcZwr59JeKg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Veterinary Medical Board","date","2025-07-19T16:02:04.777Z","article","Mark Nunez, a member of the AAVSB board of directors and a former member of the California Veterinary Medical Board, briefed the board on the AAVSB annual meeting, nominations, proposed bylaw changes and resolutions, and recent AAVSB involvement with Colorado’s creation of a veterinary practitioner associate (VPA).

Nunez said the AAVSB’s board of directors “voted on 06/06/2024 not to take an active role in supporting the development of a mid level practitioner,” but that the association moved to help the Colorado State Board of Veterinary Medicine implement the VPA after Colorado voters approved Proposition 129. “In June 2025, the board of directors voted to fund initial phases related to the creation of an examination designed to assess the competency of a VPA,” he said, and added the association could also seek the related credentialing contract.

Nunez summarized several proposed bylaws changes and resolutions from member jurisdictions, including large proposed revisions by Kentucky, a West Virginia proposal to change director composition, and a bylaws‑committee proposal that updates committee definitions. He outlined four resolutions in the board package: opposition to global membership expansion, a proposal opposing AAVSB endorsement of a mid‑level practitioner position, a resolution on veterinary‑client‑patient relationship and telemedicine, and a resolution supporting representation of registered veterinary technicians (RVT/RBT) on veterinary boards.

Board members discussed logistics for the upcoming delegate assembly. Because the board will not meet again before the AAVSB annual conference, a board member moved to authorize the board’s delegate and alternate delegate “to speak with the bylaw and resolution submitters, speak with candidates, if possible, during the annual conference, and watch the candidate videos when available,” and to “vote on the matters that they believe best fulfill the board’s consumer protection mission and the mission of the AAVSB.” Another member seconded the motion. The board recorded a roll‑call vote: \"Miss Plosky? Yes.\" \"Doctor Bradbury? Yes.\" \"Mister Espinosa? Yes.\" \"Doctor Magnak? Yes.\" \"Mayor Mitchell? Yes.\" \"Doctor Solicito? Yes.\" The chair announced, “Motion carries.”

Nunez also described governance discussions inside the AAVSB about whether the nomination process should be more competency‑based, and he urged member boards to respond to a forthcoming survey on governance. He said the board of directors has held conversations about recruiting director candidates to fill skill gaps and about balancing constituency‑based representation with competency‑based appointments.

Board members thanked Nunez for the briefing and noted the item will be handled by the board’s delegates at the AAVSB annual meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Veterinary Medical Board Meeting - July 17, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","AAVSB director Mark Nunez told the California Veterinary Medical Board the association will help Colorado implement an examination and credentialing steps for a new veterinary practitioner associate (VPA) even though the AAVSB board has not endorsed the mid‑level practitioner concept.","taxTitle","Veterinary Medical Board, Boards and Commissions, Executive, California","taxId",76758,"location","California","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6164437,"State dashboard shows Black and Hispanic veterinarians underrepresented; data covers three‑quarters of licenses",406,193000,599000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5429193-5532e59b111bed734a48c7a7232a072e&start=193&end=599","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5429193-5532e59b111bed734a48c7a7232a072e/thumbnail_193000.jpg","/articles/6164437/California/State-dashboard-shows-Black-and-Hispanic-veterinarians-underrepresented-data-covers-threequarters-of-licenses","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6164437-c4167ef87efe4ddccbc5a40cd66c1cd5/orig.mp4?Expires=1770584505&Signature=QievwEFkZgtW643pEtCLvlE6T~e8wQqVeECkfKB2IVjszH-ejtCYM1r4mvAKVQh2IrvqqAFlSWW7BE1499mJgMxDfl9EAKdE1bNI5qDif7fZqc-mJ0x6TVIACB0OHnu6RQ1kAQTEHv4qPX5i5MVZG3QjPEU9Oud4ZO3K~fmVbWhqAHWHwitGrmIrsvCCZviKOfBMdsZPgjv-dVHZ7C7SofBS0uKfUBSV5W7rsMoWhyVMvM8-3DNIEkn~cQs-HESZphSJxJvjwPSIlpDlFrLCroERkKoZmAcZk3kuUHHslsnQfr3ViRhATs1iMzEG7sqzAAKHN-wY2DBHv7sf-pQsGQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The California Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI) presented workforce data to the California Veterinary Medical Board on demographic and practice characteristics collected during online license renewals. Elise Ram of HCAI said the dashboard is built from renewal questions and intends to support workforce planning across license types.

The dashboard matters because it gives regulators and researchers a statewide—and county—view of who is practicing veterinary medicine and where. That information can help identify gaps in access to veterinary services.

HCAI officials told the board the data source is a renewal‑period survey created after AB 133 amended Business and Professions Code Section 502 and Health and Safety Code provisions to require healing‑arts licensing boards to collect workforce data. “We did note that Black and African Americans and Hispanics are the most underrepresented groups in the statewide veterinary workforce,” Ram said. She added that representation “does seem to be present for both groups in nearly every county that had licensees identifying as Black or Hispanic.”

Ram demonstrated the dashboard’s features: county‑level concordance scores (how similar licensee demographics are to local population), filters by license type and age cohort, and drilldowns for ethnicity detail inside broader race/ethnicity categories. She told the board HCAI has survey coverage for “76.5% of all of our veterinary licenses across the state” and reported a decline‑to‑state rate of about “12.1% or less depending on which survey item we’re looking at.” Ram also said the tool can help map geographic “veterinary deserts.”

Board members asked whether HCAI could compare veterinary data with human medical license data; HCAI replied that such comparisons are possible if the board defines the question. The agency also said it will provide the dashboard and underlying open data to the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) for publication on the DCA web site.

HCAI staff offered follow‑up help to board members who want deeper demonstrations or additional dashboards (languages spoken and education pathways are in development). The presentation closed with HCAI inviting questions and offering to follow up on the DCA publication timeline.","The Department of Health Care Access and Information presented a renewal‑survey dashboard to the California Veterinary Medical Board showing 76.5% coverage of veterinary licensees, a 12.1% or lower “decline to state” rate on items, and notable underrepresentation of Black and Hispanic licensees statewide and by county.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6164425,"Board asks staff and MDC to study electronic medical records, foreign‑graduate credentialing and cost pressures; invites AVMA presentation",0,5333000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5429193-5532e59b111bed734a48c7a7232a072e&start=5333&end=5333","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5429193-5532e59b111bed734a48c7a7232a072e/thumbnail_5333000.jpg","/articles/6164425/California/Board-asks-staff-and-MDC-to-study-electronic-medical-records-foreigngraduate-credentialing-and-cost-pressures-invites-AVMA-presentation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6164425-16e9e99d26558acf5de8df159a8a5b77/orig.mp4?Expires=1770584505&Signature=LkWoemwH~Jz-PYAzXUTOXeLpa44j2tx~juCfAwaWlLZLy0GAqU1HEWoaVfcbBnD0m6KI3W-uWT5yU7oFxtsIg44mp0lZLppwQufs654dgAz1VikEPIwQ6I-sMjXZHjBSv7SKrOBc3WwjAWLvqzYuhJvCMuvn~P5EbfDHRGTOXcwhyUoWohbDdWvA1v3F89kMkrBWfWi5CnTkj44oT1k5nZPkcsNddfUX3mjm2fgDvOGSxczWj23dJbE2YRLycm5kMOzePYDbVOJgLeeTPebTd7MF~8kgnGRgkLSLM88soT7hng1zceD3q7splrh0rQL50WtDg-8bKbsWaKWNA0b0PA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Board members discussed topics they want on future agendas, including a possible transition to required electronic medical records (EMRs), concerns about foreign‑equivalency training and credentialing for foreign‑trained graduates, complaints about pharmaceutical business practices and access‑to‑care impacts, and student loan/financial aid developments for veterinary students.

The chair raised the question of whether the EMR topic should go to the Medical Discipline Committee (MDC) for study or be placed on a future board agenda. “I would like to hear from members if they believe this is something they'd like to see on a future board meeting agenda or if they would like to delegate it to a future MDC agenda item,” the chair said. Several board members agreed to refer EMR feasibility and impacts—especially for rural and large‑animal practices—to the MDC for initial study.

Board members also asked staff to invite the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) to present on its foreign‑equivalency program, after multiple members said foreign graduates appear with disproportionate representation in some complaint caseloads. One participant said the purpose would be to understand assessment and post‑certification supports and whether additional outreach or training could reduce discipline risk.

Members further discussed cost pressures and pharmaceutical distribution practices that may affect access to care; the chair proposed delegating research on those issues to the MDC as a first step. Staff noted student‑loan and financial‑aid changes had been raised in email and suggested vet schools’ financial‑aid offices could report back later when impacts are measurable.

No formal regulatory actions were taken; members agreed to place the items on future agendas or to refer them to the MDC for research and recommendations.","The Veterinary Medical Board agreed to pursue future work on electronic medical records, to request an AVMA presentation on foreign‑equivalency pathways, and to ask its Medical Discipline Committee (MDC) to research access‑to‑care and pharmaceutical‑practice complaints; board members also flagged student loan issues for later follow‑up.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6164431,"DCA demos chatbot proof‑of‑concept; board told policy, human review and staffing requirements apply",1877,3469000,5346000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5429193-5532e59b111bed734a48c7a7232a072e&start=3469&end=5346","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5429193-5532e59b111bed734a48c7a7232a072e/thumbnail_3469000.jpg","/articles/6164431/California/DCA-demos-chatbot-proofofconcept-board-told-policy-human-review-and-staffing-requirements-apply","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6164431-565d072485bafa8e15e070a097226b08/orig.mp4?Expires=1770584505&Signature=Xbv~s5lhIftTyOEGLylaewYUWQje~0bd9J1B9l7MgXFkES4kqX905FxPcq8IyrXcrW~ggZI-QfYtgklGQCC0N7ZVa0M2LBddFxQl-HgaRQnfjwvEPUxpC2qTEzHsKtujqE7DnKy9pYUlw~UVbKEZ1j9n0w~F13f4xQas6glUGtKx7mgXi2sfuYcQZ0K5eg~N6VP0uhZSd5nikXZPLsBKIN8nx~FTNcqejaDhrcCeIXoVvJ3wy9yr7orLlAjHN0GhHmS3tIWhbR0f9~aR1y8AilD6G7zYzjRTJPTRsDnmQqOvYI57btgDbAEbrB6AUT5OvNjZOFLDyPjA9WhgzXxjNw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Bayard Cowan, chief technology officer at the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA), and the department’s web architect presented a proof‑of‑concept chatbot for the board’s website that uses AWS Bedrock and GenAI components. The demonstration emphasized data scoping, human review and compliance with state GenAI policy.

Cowan said the state has adopted an executive‑level and technical framework for GenAI use and procurement, and DCA has developed internal acceptable‑use policies and staff training. “Executive order number N‑12‑23 from the governor…,” he said, and added the California Department of Technology issued a technology letter (25‑01) in 2025 that, together with state laws, guides GenAI procurement and oversight. Cowan said DCA has completed staff training and an IT acceptable‑use policy and will perform a formal GenAI risk assessment and submit it to the Department of Technology before a public rollout.

The technical demo showed a chatbot limited to the board’s website content with search and matching that tolerates acronyms and informal phrasing. The web architect said “the responses are restricted to your data and your data only,” and demonstrated that every interaction is logged for later analysis and that staff can add alternate phrasings to the question bank. The presenters emphasized the tool is “highly tunable” but requires ongoing back‑office maintenance: content updates, analytics review and periodic training of canned responses.

Board members asked whether the system can prompt users for follow‑up information (a tree‑like flow); DCA said yes, the implementation supports guided follow‑up questions and branching paths. The presenters estimated a near‑term proof‑of‑concept roll‑out in about 90 days to a development server, with additional review of Google/Microsoft offerings and the Statewide Digital Assistant under development by the Department of Technology.

Board staff said a recently approved reclassification for a data analyst position will include ongoing monitoring duties for the chatbot. DCA reiterated that human oversight—sampling and review of chat histories and administrative review of answers—is required by state policy before the tool answers regulatory questions to the public.","DCA’s Office of Information Services demonstrated an AWS Bedrock chatbot proof‑of‑concept to the Veterinary Medical Board and described state GenAI policy and procurement rules, human oversight needs, data scoping, logging and a likely 90‑day implementation path to an initial deployment.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

AAVSB to help Colorado implement VPA exam and credentialing despite board ambivalence; California board authorizes delegates to decide votes

State dashboard shows Black and Hispanic veterinarians underrepresented; data covers three‑quarters of licenses

Board asks staff and MDC to study electronic medical records, foreign‑graduate credentialing and cost pressures; invites AVMA presentation

DCA demos chatbot proof‑of‑concept; board told policy, human review and staffing requirements apply