Board of directors

Joe DiPietro served as the 25th president of the University of Tennessee from 2011 to 2018. He is regarded as one of the University’s great leaders, and the UT Board of Trustees bestowed upon him the status of president emeritus upon his retirement. Prior to becoming president, DiPietro served as chancellor of the UT Institute of Agriculture from 2006 to 2010. Under his leadership, the institute began interdisciplinary programs such as the Center for Renewable Carbon, the Tennessee Biofuels Initiative and the master’s degree in landscape architecture. Between 2006 and 2010, external grant support for the Institute of Agriculture increased 30 percent from $26.6 million to $34.8 million annually. A veterinarian by training, DiPietro’s research emphasis was veterinary parasitology. He earned his bachelor’s, doctor of veterinary medicine and master’s degrees at the University of Illinois, Urbana. Before coming to UT, DiPietro served as dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Florida from 1997 to 2006. Prior to that, he rose to tenured professor of veterinary clinical medicine and veterinary pathobiology at the University of Illinois, Urbana, and held administrative positions there including assistant director of the Agriculture Experiment Station and associate dean for research of the College of Veterinary Medicine.

Heather Case is the Chief Executive Officer of the International Council for Veterinary Assessment where she serves both a key strategic planning and day-to-day managerial role. Dr. Case is a native of Minnesota who received her DVM degree from the University of Minnesota. She completed an internship in large animal medicine and surgery at the Ontario Veterinary College at the University of Guelph in Canada. She is board certified in Veterinary Preventive Medicine and is a Certified Association Executive. After working at a mixed animal practice, Dr. Case completed a residency in veterinary public health. While a resident, she became a volunteer member of the AVMA's Veterinary Medical Assistance Team and completed a deployment to Louisiana following Hurricane Katrina. Following her residency, she served as an AAAS/AVMA Congressional Fellow for a member of the U.S. Congress in Washington, D.C. She later joined the staff of the AVMA as the National Coordinator for Emergency Preparedness and Response and the Director of the Scientific Activities Division. Dr. Case is an avid Morgan Horse and Schipperke dog enthusiast.

Dr. José V. Arce is a dedicated leader in the veterinary profession with a distinguished career in organized veterinary medicine. A graduate of the Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Arce served as President of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) for the 2021-2022 association year. Prior to his presidency, he represented District IV on the AVMA Board of Directors, advocating for veterinarians in Florida, Georgia, and Puerto Rico.

Dr. Arce is the founder, president, and co-owner of Miramar Animal Hospital in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Committed to advancing veterinary medicine at both the national and local levels, he has been an active member of the Colegio de Médicos Veterinarios de Puerto Rico (CMVPR) and has served on its Board of Directors since 2000. He was also appointed to the Ethics and Grievances Committee, reflecting his dedication to upholding the integrity of the profession.

Now an officer on the American Veterinary Medical Foundation (AVMF) Development Council, Dr. Arce continues his mission to support veterinary professionals and enhance animal health and welfare.

Dr. Arnold Goldman is a dedicated leader in veterinary medicine with extensive experience in organized veterinary leadership, financial stewardship, and advocacy. He served as Treasurer of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) from 2017 to 2022, providing strategic financial oversight to ensure the Association’s fiscal health and sustainability.

A lifelong advocate for the veterinary profession, Dr. Goldman has represented Connecticut in the AVMA House of Delegates for more than six years, chairing its subcommittee on term limits. He has also contributed his expertise as a member of the AVMA Governance Performance Review and State Advocacy Committees. In 2015, he collaborated to establish an American Veterinary Medical Foundation (AVMF) "Our Oath in Action" program, which provided veterinary care to an underserved community in Connecticut.

Dr. Goldman has been an influential figure in veterinary associations at the state and regional levels. He has served on the Connecticut VMA Board of Directors in various leadership roles, including President and Government Relations Committee Co-Chair. Additionally, he was President of the New England VMA and was the founding President of the National Alliance of State Animal and Agricultural Emergency Programs.

Since founding Canton Animal Hospital in 1995, Dr. Goldman has remained committed to high-quality veterinary care and community service. Now, as an Officer on the AVMF Development Council, he continues to advance initiatives that support veterinary professionals and improve animal health.

Kyle J. Frett is a second-year veterinary student, hailing from Tortola, British Virgin Islands. Kyle is an avid student leader at Tuskegee, serving as the Vice President for the Class of 2026, Tuskegee SAVMA Chapter Vice President, Tuskegee SAVMA Chapter Senior Delegate, and AAEP Vice President. Outside of his local obligations to Tuskegee, Kyle serves on the national level of SAVMA, serving as the Chairman of the Education & Professional Development Committee (EPDC) and now National SAVMA President - Elect. Upon completion of his veterinary education, he plans to pursue board certifications in equine surgery and emergency and critical care, as he aspires to become an equine orthopedic surgeon and emergency surgeon.

Dr. McInnis is a dedicated leader in veterinary medicine with a long history of service and advocacy at the local, state, and national levels. He earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree through Oregon and Washington State Universities and has since been actively involved in organized veterinary medicine.

Dr. McInnis has held numerous leadership roles, including serving as past President of both the Klamath and Lake Counties Veterinary Medical Association and the Oregon Veterinary Medical Association, where he was also a board member. Nationally, he represents Oregon as a Delegate in the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) House of Delegates, contributing to key decisions shaping the future of the profession.

A committed advocate for veterinary philanthropy, Dr. McInnis is a past Chair of the American Veterinary Medical Foundation (AVMF) and currently serves as an Officer on the AVMF Development Council. Through his work, he continues to support initiatives that enhance veterinary education, animal welfare, and disaster relief efforts.

Kimberly Littleton Topper received her Master’s Degree in Health Care Administration from Central Michigan University in 1997. After retiring from the Food and Drug Administration where she was a Health Science Administrator, she currently serves as a volunteer leader for state and local organizations. She is married to Mike Topper, DVM, Ph.D., a 1980 graduate of the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine. She is a past president of the Auxiliary to the AVMA, past president of the District of Columbia VMA Auxiliary, as well as serving a number of years as the Executive Director for the DCVMA. In addition to her duties with the AVMF, she currently serves as a board member for the Pennsylvania Veterinary Foundation and as the co-chair of the fundraising committee.

Dr. Amanda Bisol is a small animal rural general practice veterinarian from Skowhegan, Maine. She graduated in 2011 from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine and was blessed to find a great clinic with good mentorship where she has worked since graduation. During six of the 10 years she practiced at the Animal Medical Clinic in Skowhegan, she was part-owner. Three years ago, she decided to pursue a law degree to work toward becoming a stronger advocate for veterinarians and the profession. She continues to practice part-time at the clinic, while continuing her education.

Robert Knapp is a small animal practitioner in Columbus, Ohio, and owner of Knapp Veterinary Hospital, a seven-veterinarian practice founded by his grandfather in 1945. Upon completing his undergraduate and DVM degrees at The Ohio State University in 1986 and 1992 respectively, Dr. Knapp joined his father in the practice and became owner in 2007. He also holds a master's in animal science from Texas A&M University. An active Ohio State alumnus, Dr. Knapp serves as treasurer of the Veterinary Medicine Alumni Society and held the position of president in 2008. Over the past decade, he has also participated in search committees for a variety of positions within the College, including dean, department chairs, practitioner liaison, and clinical faculty. Additionally, he has offered his expertise as an advisor to the Stanton Program, was an inaugural member of the Small Animal Practitioner Advisory Board, and participated in the College's strategic planning in 2017.

Larry Kornegay is a 1971 graduate of Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine and received the Outstanding Alumnus Award in 2005. He has practiced companion animal veterinary medicine and surgery in Houston for 41 years. He has served as president of the Harris County Veterinary Medical Association, the Texas Veterinary Medical Association and the American Veterinary Medical Association and is currently president of the North Harris County Veterinary Medical Association. During his nine years on the AVMA Executive Board, he chaired the Legislative Advisory Committee, Diversity Task Force, Executive Board Selection Committee and Governmental Relations Division's Fellows Selection Committee. Prior to his term on the AVMA Executive Board representing District VIII (Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas) he served a four-year term on the AVMA Professional Liability Insurance Trust and chaired Group One of the AVMA Organizational Audit Task Force. He and his wife, Chris (also a veterinarian) have four children and four grandchildren.