AAHA welcomes 2021–2022 board of directors at Connexity conference

[SCOTTSDALE, Arizona] The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) welcomed one new director and several new officers to the AAHA Board of Directors during the Connexity by AAHA conference, which was held in Scottsdale, Arizona.

AAHA’s 2021–2022 Board President is Adam Hechko, DVM, owner of North Royalton Animal Hospital in North Royalton, Ohio.

“AAHA helped me get where I am today,” said Hechko.” “[It] gave me the confidence that I needed to take care of my patients and to provide the best care for the pets and families in the community that we serve.”

See the full AAHA Board of Directors and learn more about the association at aaha.org. Connexity 2022 will be held in Nashville, Tennessee, September 15–17, 2022. For more on AAHA’s conference, visit aaha.org/connexity.

2021–2022 AAHA Board of Directors officers and new director:

Adam Hechko, DVM, president
A proud graduate of The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine and an avid Buckeye fan, Hechko earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree in 2006 and his undergraduate degree in 2002 from the University of Findlay. Since 2006, Hechko has served as owner and medical director for North Royalton Animal Hospital, a small-animal practice that became accredited in 2012 and was named the AAHA-Accredited Practice of the Year in 2015.

Mark Thompson, DVM, CCRP, vice president
After growing up on a rural Wisconsin dairy farm, Thompson’s interest in science led him to the pursuit of a career in veterinary medicine. He earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Wisconsin–Madison School of Veterinary Medicine in 1996. Thompson’s two-doctor practice, Country Hills Pet Hospital in Eden, Wisconsin, was an AAHA-Accredited Practice of the Year Award finalist in 2016 and took top honors in 2018. Active in organized veterinary medicine, Thompson received the Meritorious Service Award from the Wisconsin Veterinary Medical Association in 2012. He is a canine-rehabilitation specialist and graduated from AAHA’s Veterinary Management Institute.

Margot Vahrenwald, DVM, president-elect
Vahrenwald started her career in communications, earning a bachelor’s degree in journalism and public relations from the University of Georgia and a master’s degree in public communications from American University. She earned her Doctor Veterinary Medicine degree at Colorado State University in 2000. She completed a small-animal internship and worked for four years as a staff veterinarian in Washington, D.C., before returning to Colorado in 2004, where she opened Park Hill Veterinary Medical Center in 2011.

Pamela Nichols, DVM, CCRP, immediate past president
Nichols received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree at Colorado State University and her bachelor’s degree from the University of Utah. She opened Animal Care Center in West Bountiful, Utah, in 1999 and the Animal Care Center Airport in 2014, which are both AAHA accredited. The K-9 Rehabilitation Center, opened in 2002, was one of the first of its kind. Nichols is the recipient of multiple awards, including Utah’s Best of the State Award (2013–2019).

Will Draper, DVM, new director
Draper grew up in Inglewood, California, and attended Tuskegee University (4th generation) where he earned his undergraduate degree, and his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 1991. He founded The Village Vets in 2000 with his wife, Françoise Tyler, DVM, and they now operate multiple locations in metro Atlanta. His special veterinary interests include dermatology, internal medicine, and surgery. “Dr. Will” is well known in the Atlanta area and has received a number of accolades including being ranked as a five-star veterinarian in Atlanta magazine.

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About AAHA
Since 1933, the American Animal Hospital Association has been the only organization to accredit veterinary hospitals throughout the United States and Canada according to more than 900 standards directly correlated to high-quality medicine and compassionate care. Accreditation in veterinary medicine is voluntary. The AAHA-accredited logo is the best way to know a practice has been evaluated by a third-party. Look for the AAHA logo. For more information about the American Animal Hospital Association, visit aaha.org.