Why NMVMA’s public awareness work matters to the future of veterinary medicine in New Mexico
Advocacy does not begin at the Roundhouse. It begins with trust.
That is why NMVMA is investing in Caring for New Mexico, our public awareness campaign designed to strengthen public understanding of veterinary medicine and deepen the connection between the profession and the communities we serve. This work is not separate from advocacy. It supports it.
When the public understands what veterinary professionals do, why the veterinary workforce matters, and how closely animal health connects to public health and healthy communities, it becomes much easier for NMVMA to speak credibly and with strength on behalf of the profession. Public trust helps build public support. Public support helps shape policy. And when harmful ideas or proposals surface, whether through legislation, public pressure, or even measures that could eventually reach voters, we need our community to understand what is at stake and stand with us.
That matters because the future of veterinary medicine in New Mexico depends on more than what happens inside clinics. It depends on whether the public sees veterinary teams as essential, trusted, and worthy of support. It depends on whether lawmakers hear not only from NMVMA, but from constituents who understand that protecting the veterinary workforce protects animal care, food systems, rural communities, and public health across our state.
As part of this effort leading up to World Veterinary Day 2026 on Saturday, April 25, NMVMA is launching a simple but meaningful public engagement activity: Caring for New Mexico: Thank Your Veterinary Team. Using a QR code flyer, grateful clients can send a short note of appreciation to their veterinary team through NMVMA’s form. The campaign invites the public to pause, reflect, and name what veterinary teams mean to them and to New Mexico.
The flyer encourages clients to “scan to send a quick thank you to your Vet Team” and clearly states that the effort is “for gratitude, not reviews.” That distinction is important. This campaign is not a platform for service reviews or complaints. It is a public awareness and appreciation effort, and NMVMA will review submissions and share only responses that are relevant to that purpose.
That may sound small, but it is not small.
This is one of many steps NMVMA is taking to build stronger public recognition of the profession and to position NMVMA as a trusted statewide source of information about veterinary medicine. Public awareness grows one touchpoint at a time. One message. One story. One expression of trust. One invitation for the public to engage in a positive, meaningful way.
Leading with appreciation is also the right fit as we build toward World Veterinary Day 2026. It creates a natural bridge between celebration and education. It gives practices an easy way to involve their clients. And it helps NMVMA gather authentic public voices that reflect the value of veterinary care in communities across New Mexico.
If we want a stronger profession, we need a stronger public connection to that profession. That is what this campaign is about.
How member practices can participate
Step 1: Email NMVMA
Download and share the flyer directly here: Thank Your Veterinary Team flyer
Step 2: Display the flyer in your clinic
Place the flyer where clients can easily see it during check-in or checkout. The QR code links directly to the gratitude form: https://forms.gle/ntPWiU5rthqD8tCz5.
Step 3: Invite participation
Encourage thankful clients to scan the code and share a short message of appreciation for your veterinary team and the work veterinary professionals do for New Mexico.
NMVMA will also promote the campaign statewide as part of the broader Caring for New Mexico public awareness effort.
For questions or to take a more active role in our public awareness activities, please contact Kelli Bohannon, NMVMA Executive Director at nmvma@nmvma.org.