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VBMA ACTION COMMITTEES
The board of the Veterinary Botanical Medicine Association has established several action committees to assist them in managing and promoting the VBMA and its mission. The committees are comprised of VBMA members, and anyone wishing to volunteer their time and serve on a committee should contact our Communications Coordinator at communicationscoordinator@vbma.org..we'd love to have you!
Research Committee
The Research Committee, chaired by current VBMA president Dr. Robert Silver, also includes Dr. Bernie Fischer and Dr. Roberto Cortinas. Dr. Cortinas is the newest member of the committee and is professor of parasitology at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, and has recently gotten a sizeable research grant to study the anti-parasitic effects of essential oils. The research committee will be working on posting notices regarding the availability of funds for research into the clinical benefits of herbs in a veterinary medicine context, and will be working closely with the AHVMF reviewers in reviewing grant proposals.
Student Outreach Committee
Spearheaded by longtime and incredibly active VBMA member Dr. Cynthia Lankenau, the goal of the Student Outreach Committe is to expand our student membership base. We have already made the membership fee gratis to students to encourage membership and participation. The hope is that students will bond with the VBMA as students and continue that relationship throughout their practice careers. Dr. Zach Scheurich has volunteered to help Cindy in her outreach efforts.
Membership Committee
We're in need of a volunteer who's willing to be the chair of this committee that we're working to establish. We feel that the strongest testament to the value of the VBMA comes from the members themselves. If every member just told a friend and colleague who has an interest in herbal veterinary medicine about the incredible value of VBMA membership and the low cost, if each existing member could bring in one new member, we could double in size. If you don't feel you have the time to be in charge of the group, please consider volunteering to 'help out' as a committee member instead. All tasks that need completing will be small and very do-able for even the busiest folks.
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VBMA Members enjoying lunch at the 2019 International Herb Symposium
VBMA Endorses Quality Herbal Products
VBMA recognizes that the herbal product industry has faced quality control and regulatory challenges, and we recommend supporting those companies attempting to self regulate in a meaningful way. Companies that manufacture herbal products marketed for humans should be members of the American Herbal Products Association, an industry organization which explores issues, interacts with regulators, and establishes policy. Veterinary product companies should be members of the National Animal Supplement Council, an organization which develops policies and procedures on adverse event reporting and quality control.
All content © Veterinary Botanical Medicine Association (VBMA) 2023.
The VBMA is not affiliated with the American College of Veterinary Botanical Medicine (ACVBM).
Important Message For Pet Owners
The VBMA does not endorse any products sold on the internet for self prescribing to animals. We believe in the interests of safety that any herb should always be prescribed by a qualified practitioner. There are companies using our name with the suggestion that we endorse their recommendations or products. We specifically DO NOT support any website that unethically sells herbs to the public for non prescribed use in animals. If you are in any doubt as to the authenticity of a claim made on a website about VBMA, please contact us at office@vbma.org. You may use the 'find a veterinarian' link on our site menu to find a qualified practitioner near you.