Faeh prevails in contest for AVMA president-elect

The AVMA House of Delegates (HOD) on July 14 elected Dr. Sandra Faeh of River Forest, Illinois, from a pool of candidates vying for the office of 2023-24 AVMA president-elect.

The former AVMA vice president will succeed current AVMA president-elect, Dr. Rena Carlson, who was installed as AVMA president on July 16. Three candidates spent the past year campaigning for that honor: Dr. Faeh, outgoing AVMA Treasurer Dr. Arnold Goldman, and Dr. Robert Murtaugh, a former chair of the AVMA American Board of Veterinary Specialties.

Delegates elected Dr. Faeh on the final day of the HOD’s annual summer session, held concurrently with AVMA Convention 2023 in Denver. She was joined on the stage by her husband, Marshall Butler, and their sons, Pierce and Aidan. Their son Alex could not join them.

"I spent a year listening and learning from so many of you. We have so many challenges. That means we have so many opportunities," Dr. Faeh said. "I look forward to working with each and every one of you. And, like I said almost every day this past year, please reach out. Please reach out so that I can continue to listen and learn, and together we can create avenues to success."

Dr. Faeh is chief veterinary officer for National Veterinary Associates (NVA), where she is also helping the company build a clinical mentorship program. Before joining NVA, Dr. Faeh was part owner of four small animal hospitals in the Chicago suburbs.

She is a 1996 veterinary graduate of the University of Illinois, previously serving as president of the Student AVMA (SAVMA). Dr. Faeh has also served as president of the Illinois State and Chicago VMAs.

Additionally, Dr. Faeh represented Illinois as an alternate delegate and delegate to the AVMA HOD from 2012-20, including a term as chair of the AVMA House Advisory Committee (HAC). She served as AVMA vice president from 2020-22.

A version of this story appears in the September 2023 print issue of JAVMA