Harold Davis, BA, RVT, VTS (emergency critical care) (anesthesia and analgesia) assumed the position of president of the board of directors for the North American Veterinary Community (NAVC) on 18 January 2022.
After six years as a member of the NAVC Board, Harold Davis took the reins from Paige Allen, RVT, at the NAVC’s annual business meeting held in conjunction with its largest event of the year, the Veterinary Meeting & Expo (VMX). He is the third registered veterinary technician to lead the NAVC Board as its president.
A practicing veterinary technician for more than 45 years, Harold most recently held the position of manager of the emergency and critical care service at the UC Davis William R Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital. He worked at UC Davis for nearly 36 years in various positions including ICU technician, coordinator and instructor in clinical practice for all first through third year veterinary students, and emergency service supervisor. Currently he is a veterinary practice educational consultant/lecturer providing in-hospital continuing education opportunities.
“The role of veterinary nurses and technicians is still relatively new.” said Harold Davis. “As Board President for the NAVC, a leader in the global veterinary community, I look forward to continuing my career-long efforts to raise the critical role of veterinary nurses/technicians and the entire veterinary profession for those currently in the field and for future generations to come.
“I come from a family of servant leaders. I was raised to help others, give and to serve. This new role allows me to continue to do those things. My heart is one of a servant leader and with that I’m looking forward to seeing what we will accomplish together for those in this field and the clients and patients for whom we advocate.”
Throughout his career, Harold has played an active, leadership role in elevating and expanding the essential role veterinary nurses/technicians perform within veterinary practices. He was co-founder of the Academy of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Technicians and instrumental in working with and obtaining from the North American Veterinary Technicians Association (now known as the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America, or NAVTA) provisional recognition for technicians as specialists. He is also a charter member of the Academy of Veterinary Technicians in Anesthesia and Analgesia.
He is a former member-at-large to the Board of Directors for the Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society (VECCS), having also served as treasurer and president. Harold is the first non-veterinarian elected as president of this 5,000 plus member organization. Harold is on the Executive board of NAVTA serving as Treasurer. He is also a member of the VECCS, California, Registered Veterinary Technician Association and the American Association of Critical Care Nurses.
He has served on several continuing education program committees for various organizations including the NAVC, American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM), Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society (VECCS), and UC Davis. In 1985, Davis was appointed by California Governor George Deukmejian to serve on the Registered Veterinary Technician Examining Committee, a subcommittee of the Veterinary Medical Board. He is a national and international speaker having presented in 14 countries. Davis has published several book chapters, journal articles and is co-editing the second edition of his book, Advanced Monitoring and Procedures for Small Animal Emergency and Critical Care.
Davis is a graduate of California State University, Sacramento with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology.
The NAVC Board of Directors is a volunteer role and serves as the governing body of the NAVC. Main areas of focus include strategic and financial oversight and direction for the NAVC Chief Executive Officer. To learn more, visit the NAVC website.
