The American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) has inducted Wendy Vaala, VMD, DACVIM, a Wisconsin veterinarian employed in equine pharmaceutical research and development, to represent District V on its board of directors. 

Dr. Vaala was introduced with other incoming members of the board Dec. 4 at the President’s Luncheon during the 58^th Annual Convention in Anaheim, Calif. Her term will expire in 2015. 

Dr. Vaala has served as senior equine technical veterinarian with Merck Animal Health (formerly Intervet) since 2004, after eight years in private practice in New Jersey where she developed an internal medicine referral service and neonatal intensive care unit at two equine practices. 

Since joining the AAEP in 1993, Dr. Vaala has served as a member of the Infectious Disease, Pediatric, Biologic and Therapeutic Agents and Educational Programs committees, as well as the Infectious Disease Forum. She also provides continuing education on a diverse array of equine-related medical topics, and her professional interests include internal medicine, neonatology, perinatology and ophthalmology. 

After receiving her veterinary degree in 1980 from the University of Pennsylvania, Dr. Vaala spent a year working in mixed animal practice in Maryland. She returned to UPenn to complete a large animal medicine and surgery internship followed by a residency in large animal internal medicine leading to board certification. Afterward, she was employed at the New Bolton Center as a lecturer and later as an assistant professor in large animal medicine with a focus on neonatal medicine and high-risk pregnancy management. 

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, the AAEP reaches more than 5 million horse owners through its nearly 10,000 members worldwide and is actively involved in ethics issues, practice management, research and continuing education in the equine veterinary profession and horse industry. 

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