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17 JULY/AUGUST 2017 ■ TVPJOURNAL.COM INSIDE NAVC The future presents 2 main opportunities for veterinary healthcare: (1) further clarifying legislation and implementation and (2) incorporating new technologies. Many open questions about telehealth remain, from informed consent and liability issues to revenue models and practice workflows. These issues are being clarified by lawyers and state boards from a legal perspective and by veterinarians, telehealth providers, and pet owners from a practical perspective. For example, earlier this year the University of California, Davis, released an update 1 on how their telemedicine services save time and money and help improve air quality. Practitioners of human pediatrics 2 have addressed patients' inability to speak, and we would be wise to learn from their experience. Telehealth has primarily focused on communication tools. Incorporation of new technologies will only continue, from connected litterboxes and implantables to wearable devices 3 and in-home diagnostics. We are moving from an era of once- or twice-a-year visits to an inexpensive and constant stream of 24/7 360° data that will provide deeper insights into our pets' health. Veterinarians must be at the center of animal care, but this will happen only if they adapt to and incorporate these new technologies. By working together as a profession, we can create solutions and best practices that bring us into the future of veterinary healthcare, a future that emphasizes a personalized, customized, patient-centered approach. For more information, read the comprehensive AVMA telemedicine report, along with the VIC Board of Directors consensus response. 4 While telehealth is the current VIC focus, we are considering future projects to run in parallel with the telehealth pilots. Please email your perspectives on challenges and opportunities facing our profession to VIC@NAVC.com . For information on the VIC Veterinary Innovation Awards, see Box 2 . References 1. Casey C. Telemedicine saves patients time, money. University of California. March 21, 2017. universityofcalifornia.edu/news/ telemedicine-saves-patients-time-money?utm_ content=bufferb60c9&utm;_medium=social&utm;_source=twitter. com&utm;_campaign=buffer. Accessed April 2017. 2. Burke BL, Hall RW. Telemedicine: pediatric applications. Pediatrics 2015;136(1):e293-308. 3. Plummer L, Allison C. The best pet trackers: GPS and smart collars for dogs and cats. Wareable. February 22, 2017. https://www.wareable. com/internet-of-things/the-best-pet-wearables-trackers-and-gps-for- dogs-cats-and-more. Accessed April 2017. 4. North American Veterinary Community. Interested in telehealth? navc. informz.net/informzdataservice/onlineversion/ind/bWFpbGluZ2luc3R hbmNlaWQ9NjM2NDA1OCZzdWJzY3JpYmVyaWQ9MTA2NTg2Mzk4 OQ==. Accessed April 2017. Mia Cary Mia Cary, DVM, graduated with honors from the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine. After working as an associate veterinarian in small animal private practice in Gainesville, Florida, she spent the next phase of her career as an industry veterinarian at Novartis Animal Health and then Boehringer Ingelheim. She has been on staff with the NAVC since February 2014 and currently serves as its Chief Collaboration Officer and Executive Director of the Veterinary Innovation Council. Dr. Cary is the 2017 President of the American Association of Industry Veterinarians and is on the Board of Directors for Pet Peace of Mind. She resides in Greensboro, North Carolina, with her husband, three bonus kids, and Lucy, the sweetest dog on the planet. Aaron Massecar Aaron Massecar, PhD, is a faculty member of the College of Veterinary Medicine at Texas A&M; and the Department of Philosophy at the University of Guelph. He is a published author (Ethical Habits), speaker, coach, consultant, and project manager. His PhD research primarily focused on developing effective habits by making small interventions that result in major, long- term changes, which he uses in his current work with veterinarians looking to adapt to new trends within veterinary medicine. Dr. Massecar is also on faculty at Texas A&M; and is helping develop the Veterinary Entrepreneurship Academy, a program to bring students, startup companies, faculty, and practicing veterinarians together. These student internships help train students in startup business principles and companies in creating tools that are custom built for veterinarians. BOX 2. VIC Veterinary Innovation Awards The VIC launched the first annual Veterinary Innovation Awards program in February 2017. This program seeks to cultivate and celebrate innovation within the veterinary profession. The nomination phase for individual contributors and organizations ended May 1. To incorporate feedback from the community, a crowd- sourced voting phase will continue from July 1 to September 30. Runners-up will be promoted throughout the profession, and the winners in each category will be announced at VMX 2018 in Orlando, Florida, where they will be invited to participate in an innovation-themed panel discussion. Visit VICAwards.com to cast your vote.