Get to Know New ICVA Board Chair, Kathy Bowler

An interview with Kathy Bowler, who has served on the ICVA Board of Directors since 2015 and recently began serving as Chair.

Kathy Bowler is the 2022-2023 ICVA Board Chair, assuming this new role as of the June 2022 Board Meeting. Ms. Bowler brings her extensive experience from serving as the first public member to be President of the California Veterinary Medical Board to her position with ICVA. Since 2015, she has been involved with ICVA and designated to the board by the American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB). As Chair-Elect, she represented ICVA at the 2021 AAVSB Annual Meeting, providing the update on ICVA activities on behalf of 2021-2022 Board Chair Karen Robertson.

A Fresh Perspective for ICVA

Although she is not a veterinarian, Kathy brings a deep-rooted love for animals and a commitment to fair and just standards to her position at ICVA.  She is currently in her ninth year on the California Veterinary Medical Board, having served two years as Vice President and now serving as President.

What makes Ms. Bowler’s experience unique is her dedication to protecting consumers while best serving professionals in the veterinary field. California has the largest number of licensed veterinarians and knows first-hand that the state and provincial licensing boards rely on the NAVLE^®, making the work of ICVA critical.

“We can't ever lose sight that the NAVLE is a critical tool for Licensing Boards, and the more we can improve it with new technologies in assessment is one of our main missions —and what we're doing.”

Vision for ICVA

While Kathy loves learning and particularly enjoys participating in NAVLE and VEA^® Pool and Form Reviews, she's especially excited about ICVA’s Communication Skills Assessment Task Force because improving how communications skills are tested will benefit everyone. As the Chair, she also looks forward to developing the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Privilege initiatives through the newly created task force.

“I am a huge advocate for consumers, solid statistics, and the robustness of ICVA assessments, and the staff and expert volunteers at ICVA make all that possible. I love the science, the profession, and consumers—the animal ones in particular! And it’s an honor to work with these professionals.”

A vegetarian since age twelve, Ms. Bowler’s current household consists of one husband, four cats, four large dogs, three parrots, ponds with dozens of huge Koi fish—and even rescues ducks and turtles! ICVA is pleased to have Kathy Bowler serve as the Board Chair, and we look forward to the work she will do with her dedication to animals and serving the public.