Cat Friendly Practice® Committee

The Cat Friendly Practice® Program provides veterinary practices with the support and resources needed to deliver elevated and quality care in the veterinary setting that incorporates the cat’s perspective and experience. The Program sets the standard for delivering optimal feline care and guides practices through creating a Cat Friendly experience and environment that reduces stress for cats, their caregivers, and the entire veterinary team.

  • Chair – Colleen Currigan, DVM (2023-2024)
  • Megan Bembenek, RVT (2022-2024)
  • Ellen Carozza, LVT, VTS (CP-Feline) (2024-2026)
  • Linda Grace, MS, DVM (2022-2024)
  • Liza Guess, DVM (2023-2025)
  • Tracey Hayes, DVM, MS (2024-2026)
  • Julie Liu, DVM, CVA (2022-2024)
  • Cathy Lund, DVM (2022-2024)
  • Evelyn Richer, DVM (2024-2026)

Governance Committee

The Governance Committee is vital in steering our leadership’s future and managing annual nominations for the Board of Directors and AAFP Committees. The Committee also focuses on developing future leaders and ensures that the AAFP adheres to the highest professional standards through regular audits of the AAFP Bylaws.

  • Chair – Michelle Meyer, DVM (2023-2024)
  • Marcus Brown, DVM (2022-2024)
  • Colleen Currigan, DVM  (2023-2025)
  • Cathy Lund, DVM (2023-2025)

Guidelines Committee

The Guidelines Committee oversees the publishing of Practice Guidelines, many Educational Toolkits, and Consensus Statements. These resources are designed to help provide uniform and optimal care for feline patients, educate cat caregivers, and prevent medical mismanagement. We strive to provide the profession and the public with current information on specific feline health topics of wide interest and applicability. 

  • Chair – Kelly St. Denis, DVM, DABVP (Feline) (2024-2025)
  • Petra Cerna, MVDr, MRCVS, AFHEA, AdvCertFB (2023-2025)
  • Amanda Kennedy, DVM, DABVP (Feline) (2022-2024)
  • Matthew Kornya, BSc, DVM, DABVP (Feline) (2023-2025)
  • Lacie Lee, DVM (2024-2026)
  • Nina Quinley, DVM, MS (2024-2026)
  • Ilona Rodan, DVM, DABVP (Feline) (2022-2024)

Feline Welfare Committee

It is our moral, ethical, philosophical, and professional responsibility to respect, protect, and promote the welfare of cats. The Feline Welfare Committee examines feline welfare issues and develops responses, Position Statements, and Toolkits when appropriate.

  • Chair – Ilona Rodan, DVM, DABVP (Feline) (2024-2025)
  • Kaitlin Bahlmann, BSc, DVM (2023-2025)
  • Katrina Breitreiter, DVM, DABVP (Feline) (2024-2026)
  • Isabelle Côté, DVM, MSc, PhD (2022-2024)
  • Sarah de Wet, MPH, DVM (2024-2026)
  • Julie Hermansen, DVM (2022-2024)
  • Melissa Mustillo, DVM, DABVP (Feline) (2024-2026)
  • Angela Smith, VMD (2023-2025)
  • Sherlyn Spooner, BSc, DVM, MSc (2024-2026)
  • Jennifer Travers, JD, DVM (2024-2026)
  • Wendy Simpson, DVM (Ex-officio) AVMA AWC Rep. (2024-2026)

Investment Committee

The Investment Committee oversees the investments of the AAFP, monitors the management for compliance with policies and guidelines on behalf of the Board, and reports the results of their activities to the Board.

  • Chair – Colleen Currigan, DVM (2023-2024)
  • Tammy Sadek, DVM, DABVP (Feline) (2023-2025)
  • Diane Eigner, VMD, MBA, CVPM, CHPV, CFV (2024-2026)

Student Engagement Committee

The Student Engagement Committee guides the AAFP’s outreach to veterinary and veterinary technician students, works to increase feline education in veterinary and technician schools, and oversees the Student Chapters of the AAFP Program.

  • Chair – Ashlie Saffire, DVM, DABVP (Feline) (2023-2024)
  • Amber Carter, DVM, DABVP (Feline) (2022-2024)
  • Lacie Lee, DVM (2023-2024)
  • Natalie Marks, DVM, CVJ (2023-2025)
  • Michelle Meyer, DVM (2024-2026)
  • Melanie Mills, CVT (2023-2025)
  • Kira Ramdas, DVM (2022-2024)
  • Dale Rubenstein, DVM, DABVP (Feline) (2022-2024)
  • Ryan Carson, Student Representative (2024)

A Call for Volunteers is distributed each June in the Feline Weekly newsletter for any open Committee terms. Interested volunteers must complete the application and submit their CV as part of the nomination process.