The NAVC Announces NAVTA President Kara Burns as New Editor in Chief of Today’s Veterinary Nurse
International Speaker, Author, and Renowned Leader in the Veterinary Profession brings more than 25 years of experience to the NAVC’s Media Powerhouse
The North American Veterinary Community (NAVC), the profession’s largest publisher announced the hiring of Kara M. Burns, MS, MEd, LVT, VTS (Nutrition), VTS-H (Internal Medicine, Dentistry) as the editor-in-chief of the official, peer-reviewed journal Today’s Veterinary Nurse and Director of Veterinary Nursing for NAVC Publishing.
Burns currently serves as President of the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA), an organization that is leading the charge on the Veterinary Nurse Initiative (VNI), which aims to standardize credentials for the profession. She has a background in physiology, counseling psychology and is a renowned author, speaker and veterinary leader, both nationally and internationally.
“Kara’s passion and experience, as well as her alignment with the Veterinary Nurse Initiative, make her a perfect fit to develop new platforms and experiences for the veterinary team as the NAVC expands its support for veterinary nursing,” said Tom Bohn, NAVC CEO.
In addition to her role as editor-in-chief, Burns will also serve as NAVC Publishing’s Director of Veterinary Nursing, infusing her energy and insight to the NAVC’s expanding commitment and support for veterinary nurses.
“I am excited to build on the passion surrounding the NAVC brand,” she said. “The NAVC has been a strong supporter of the veterinary healthcare team as a whole and veterinary nursing specifically. This new position will take the support to an all-new level.”
Within her new role, Burns looks forward to elevating the importance of the veterinary nurse as an integral member of the healthcare team across the community.
“Together we can further the mission of providing world-class continuing professional development and support services for the global veterinary healthcare community,” she said.
Burns has a master’s degree in physiology as well as in counseling psychology. She is a member of many national, international, and state associations and holds positions on many boards in the profession including: American Academy of Veterinary Nutrition executive board technician liaison; LGVMA board treasurer; International Society for Sports Nutrition; and the Pet Nutrition Alliance executive board, to name a few.
She has authored many articles, textbooks, and textbook chapters and is an internationally invited speaker, focusing on topics of nutrition, leadership and technician/nurse utilization.
When she’s not working, Burns and her wife Dr. Ellen Lowery enjoy spending time with their three children and their pet family, which includes a French bulldog, a mini Aussie/border collie cross, 6 birds and 5 indoor cats.
Founding Editor-in-Chief Lynne Johnson, an NAVC past president who led the transition of the journal from Today’s Veterinary Technician to Today’s Veterinary Nurse, will stay on as Editor Emeritus through the remaining 2018 issues. She is looking forward to her retirement with her husband, Veterinarian Dr Jerry Harris.