Board of Directors
Directors at Large
Ginger K. Brainard, Ph.D., Vice Chair received her Doctorate in Psychology from Louisiana State University in 1990. She is a licensed clinical psychologist in Arkansas and Illinois, and a certified school psychologist in Illinois, and works as a school psychologist in Ottawa, Illinois. She is married to Don Brainard, DVM, a 1985 graduate of Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine, and is the mother of 2 children. Dr. Brainard is past president of the Auxiliary to the Arkansas Veterinary Medical Association, and served as past board member of the Auxiliary to the Illinois VMA. She served on the Board of Directors of the Auxiliary to the AVMA from 2004-2011, and was President from 2009-2010. Dr. Brainard is a part-time organist and serves as a director on various boards in her community.
John R. Brooks, DVM, was a graduate of the University of Philippines with a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Brooks’ career began in 1974 with a practice that included dairy, beef, swine, sheep, horse and companion animal medicine. Many of Dr. Brooks professional activities and memberships have included Ducks Unlimited, president of Harford VMA, Board of Directors for Maryland VMA, President of MVMA and AVMA HAC and Executive Board member. Dr. Brooks was MVMA Distinguished Veterinarian of the Year, 2004. Most recently he served as Deputy Secretary of Agriculture for Maryland. Dr. Brooks' is currently involved in a clinical small animal practice in Bel Air, Maryland.
Kimberly A. Colgate received her Bachelor’s Degree from Michigan State University in 1975. She graduated from the Thomas M. Cooley Law School in 1979 and earned her LL.M in Taxation from Wayne State University in 1987. From 1983 through 1997 Kimberly taught Taxation, Wills & Trusts, Estate Taxation and Administrative Law at the Thomas M. Cooley Law School. She served as an Administrative Law Judge from 1985-1997, while teaching full-time at the law school. Kimberly left the law school in 1997 and established a private practice in Sarasota, Florida. She has authored numerous articles and books. Her most recent book, “The Pet Plan and Pet Trust Guide” guides the pet owner through the process of establishing a trust for the long-term health and welfare of pets.
Richard Coon, DVM, is recently retired as the past president of the Oregon Veterinary Medical Association (OVMA). In addition to his presidency, he served on the OVMA Board of Directors, and was the OVMA alternate and head delegate to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Previously, Dr. Coon was the president of Willamette Valley Veterinary Association and member of the AVMA as well as the American Animal Hospital Association. During his time at the OVMA, Dr. Coon was recipient of the Meritorious Service Award.
Suzanne Craig, DVM, DACLAM, received a B.S. in microbiology from University of Maryland, College Park and a D.V.M., Cum Laud from Tuskegee University. She started her professional career as a veterinarian at American Cyanamid, a research facility in Princeton, N.J. In 1999 she joined the faculty of U.T.M.D. Anderson Cancer Center and is now an Associate Professor and the ad interim Deputy Chair. In 2005, she began working with Tomball College as an instructor for the Veterinary Technology program. She is an active member of the Animal Research Strategic Advisory Committee and participates in the facility design of the South Campus Vivarium. She is a member of several professional organizations including AVMA, ASLAP, AALAS, TVMA, ACLAM and others. She is the Educational Director for the Department of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery.
W. Ron DeHaven, DVM, is the executive vice president of the AVMA. Dr. DeHaven obtained his doctor of veterinary medicine degree from Purdue University in 1975 and a master's degree in business administration from Millsaps College in 1989. Dr. DeHaven has more than two decades of experience with the Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). Dr. DeHaven received the President's Rank Awards (Meritorious and Distinguished) for his leadership. He also received the Secretary's Honor Award twice. The AVMA honored Dr. DeHaven's contributions to the veterinary profession with the Meritorious Service Award in 2004. He also received the Roswell Award from the Scientists Center for Animal Welfare.Dr. DeHaven’s 20 years at APHIS included roles as Administrator, deputy administrator for APHIS' Veterinary Services program, acting associate administrator, deputy administrator for the Animal Care Unit, and the Animal Care Unit's western regional director. Prior to starting work at APHIS, Dr. DeHaven was commissioned into the U.S. Army Veterinary Corps and served in the U.S. Army Reserves and National Guard.
Dennis P. Drent received his undergraduate degree in biochemistry and a master in business administration from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Drent is president and chief executive officer of Veterinary Pet Insurance/DVM Insurance Agency (VPI), based in Brea, CA. With more than 25 years of financial and audit management and leadership experience, Drent previously served as senior vice president of Internal Audits for Nationwide, a diversified insurance and financial services company based in Columbus, Ohio. Prior to his post at Nationwide, Drent worked and served as partner in the internal audit outsourcing practice at Ernst & Young, and before that he held several management positions at TIG Holdings, Inc., including chief audit executive and commercial lines controller.
Ray Glick, DVM, earned a certificate in Horticulture from Missouri Western University and graduated from the Ohio State College of Veterinary Medicine. Today he is the Senior Vice President of Professional and Governmental Relations for The Banfield Pet Hospital group, President of The American Association of Industrial Veterinarians in Chicago, IL and owner and practitioner of the Banfield Pet Hospital in Gurnee, Ill. In addition, Dr. Glick is president-elect of the American Association of Industrial Veterinarians, he received the distinguished Alumni Award from The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine, and he is involved as an officer in several community service organizations such as: Chamber of Commerce, Jr. Achievement, Community Leadership program, Arts council, American Red Cross, and United Way. Finally, Dr. Glick is an Elder in the Presbyterian Church and is active in Ducks Unlimited.
Robert E. "Bud" Hertzog, DVM, has been the managing partner in general veterinary practice for Lee's Summit Animal Hospital in Missouri since 1956. While in Missouri, he has held elected offices of president of the Missouri Veterinary Medical Association, president of the Kansas City Veterinary Medical Association and the president of the University of Missouri Veterinary Medical Alumnus Association. Dr. Hertzog has been involved in many service activities and elections, and received accolades including Missouri Veterinarian of the Year and has also been a distinguished faculty member and alumni of the University of Missouri. Since 1992 he has served as laboratory animal consultant in the Kansas City University of Health Science Medical School.
Joseph Kinnarney, DVM, is a mixed animal practitioner in Reidsville, N.C. He is a 1980 graduate from the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, where he was also the president of the Cornell Student AVMA chapter and president of the national SAVMA. During his service as North Carolina's alternative delegate on the AVMA House of Delegates (HOD) from 1990-1999, he worked to help secure a HOD vote for SAVMA. He served two terms as AVMA vice president 1999-2001. He also served as president of the North Carolina Veterinary Medical Association in 1989-1990, and was named 2006 Distinguished Veterinarian.
Larry Kornegay, DVM, graduated from Texas A&M University College of Veterinay Medicine in 1971, and is recipient of their Outstanding Alumni Award. Dr. Kornegay has practiced small animal veterinary medicine in Houston, TX for 35 years. Dr. Kornegay is a member and past president of the Texas VMA, the Harris County VMA, and the North Harris County Veterinary Emergency Clinic. Dr. Kornegay is a Director of the AVMA Executive Board representing District VIII (Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas). He chairs the Exec VP Search, Natl Assoc. of Vet Techs in America, and Insurance Liaison Committees. He is the 2006-2007 liaison to the Council on Communications, Committee on Human Animal Bond and Strategic Planning Committees. Dr. Kornegay is a member of the Legislative Advisory Committee and past chair of both the Task Force on Diversity and Group One of Organizational Audit Task Force, and was a Professional Liability Insurance Trust Trustee from 1999-2003.
Kim A. Nicholas, DVM, MS, received his DVM from Washington State University in 1984. He received his Masters of Science the following year in the field of Veterinary Clinical Virology and Immunology. A native of the Seattle area, Dr. Nicholas owns an AAHA companion animal practice in a Seattle suburb. Dr. Nicholas currently serves as the alternate Delegate to the AVMA for the Washington State V.M.A. He has been President of the Seattle King-County Vet. Medical Association, President of the Washington State Veterinary Medical Association, served as member of multiple local, state and national veterinary association committees including the AVMA Taskforce on Animal Air transportation. Dr. Nicholas is an avid pilot and active with his local Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter, his local Rotary Club and various other charities in addition to his position on the AVMF board.
Tracy Rhodes, DVM, attended Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado, receiving his Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and his veterinary degree with distinction. Dr. Rhodes' veterinary work began in 1960 in Mitchell, Nebraska. From 1964 through 1990 he owned a practice in Buffalo, Wyoming, which specialized in cow, calf, equine, bovine and small animal veterinary medicine. Some of Dr. Rhodes' many community service activities include president of Buffalo Jaycees, president of the Buffalo Chamber of Commerce and president of the Buffalo Golf Club. Most recently, he served as president of the Wyoming County Commissioner's Association. Dr. Rhodes has also served on the AVMA Executive Board.
Kimberly Littleton Topper, MS, received her Master's Degree in Health Care Adminsitration from Central Michigan University in 1997. After retiring from the Food and Drug Administration where she was a Health Science Administrator, she currently serves as a volunteer leader for state and local organizations. She is married to Mike Topper, DVM, PhD, a 1980 graduate of the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine. Ms. Topper is a past president of the Auxiliary to the AVMA, a past president of the District of Columbia VMA Auxiliary, as well as, serving a number of years as the Executive Director for the DCVMA. In addition to her duties with the AVMF, Ms. Topper currently serves as a board member for the Pennsylvania Veterinary Foundation and as co-chair of the fund raising commitee.