Mitchell Rode, DVM, founding owner of Clarke Equine Wellness and Performance in Berryville, Va., has been appointed treasurer of the American Association of Equine Practitioners. Dr. Rode will be installed during the Dec. 2 President’s Luncheon at the AAEP’s 69th Annual Convention in San Diego, Calif. His three-year term expires in 2026.

Dr. Rode started his full-service ambulatory practice and intermediate care clinic in 1987 following several years in mixed-animal practice where he focused exclusively on the care of horses. He services the northern Shenandoah Valley of Virginia and West Virginia, directly west of Washington, D.C.

A 1980 graduate of the Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Rode joined the AAEP in 1983 and currently chairs the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee. His legacy of volunteer leadership within the association dates back over a quarter-century and includes service on the board of directors from 2019–2021 and terms on the Educational Programs, Member Engagement, Nominating and Practice Management committees.

“I am very excited to once again participate in the governance of the AAEP,” said Dr. Rode. “My term on the board of directors was one of the most rewarding experiences of my veterinary career, and I can’t wait to work alongside another group of distinguished equine practitioners for the betterment of the AAEP. Following in the footsteps of my predecessors in the role of treasurer is a bit daunting, but I will do my best to ‘stand on the shoulders of giants.’ ”

About AAEP

The American Association of Equine Practitioners, headquartered in Lexington, Ky., was founded in 1954 as a non-profit organization dedicated to the health and welfare of the horse. Currently, AAEP reaches more than 5 million horse owners through its over 9,000 members worldwide and is actively involved in ethics issues, practice management, research and continuing education in the equine veterinary profession and horse industry.