AVMA Hires Ilana Forbes As A State Policy Analyst

Main Category: Veterinary
Article Date: 06 Jun 2008 - 6:00 PDT

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As part of its continuing effort to maintain the high quality of service provided by its State Legislative and Regulatory Affairs Department, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) has hired Ilana M. Forbes as a state policy analyst. Forbes will be working to help state and allied veterinary medical associations affect and shape legislation on the state level.

"We are very excited to have Ilana on board," said Adrian Hochstadt, assistant director of state legislative and regulatory affairs in the Communications Division. "Her background and experience as a practicing attorney and in working for a state senator will be big assets in helping the AVMA advance its state legislative program and enhance outreach to legislators and the legal community."

Forbes will support AVMA's state advocacy agenda with constituent organizations as well as state and local policy makers. She will be working collaboratively with AVMA staff and the State Advocacy Committee to develop outreach programs and assist constituent organizations with state legislative and regulatory issues that have the potential to impact the practice of veterinary medicine. She'll also conduct legal and other research to assist in the development of AVMA policy and constituent group advocacy, and she will also promote AVMA policies and initiatives through public speaking at veterinary and legislative events.

"I am eager to use my background in public policy and legislation as well as my experiences practicing law to contribute to the AVMA and its members," Forbes said. "I look forward to working with the AVMA staff and its members and to learning as much as possible about the practice of veterinary medicine and related legislative issues."

Forbes is licensed to practice law in the state of Illinois and was an associate at the law firm Torshen, Slobig, Genden, Dragutinovich & Axel in downtown Chicago for the last two years. She served as a legislative intern with Wisconsin State Senator Judith B. Robson in 2000 and tutored children in the Durham, N.C. public schools from 1998-2002.

Forbes received her B.A. from Duke University in 2002, where she also served as a teaching assistant in the Sanford Institute of Public Policy from 2000-2002, and law degree from DePaul University College of Law in 2006.

The AVMA and its more than 76,000 member veterinarians are engaged in a wide variety of activities dedicated to advancing the science and art of animal, human and public health. Visit the AVMA Web site at http://www.avma.org for more information.

American Veterinary Medical Association