Locum tenens relief, Chair Illinois Veterinary Licensing and Disciplinary Board
Raymond J Ramirez graduated from the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine in 1986. After working in Schaumburg, IL Emergency Clinic the first year after graduation, he worked at an AHAA hospital in Milwaukee, WI.
In 1989 started doing relief work in Wisconsin full time. He moved his entire relief practice to central Illinois, serving colleagues in Springfield, Champaign/Urbana, Bloomington/Normal, Decatur, Peoria and all areas in between. He had an 85% return rate request rate.
After working in over 100 practices in Wisconsin and Illinois, he finally found a practice to purchase in December 2007, just as the great recession of 2008-2009 hit. His CVT made more money than he did the first two years in practice. Through utilizing the management skills learned in the many practices he served, the practice thrived, and currently is a two doctor practice in East Peoria, IL. He sold that practice to a local colleague who wanted a second location, because “it’s better to sell your practice five years too early than five years too late- Mark Opperman”.
He has gone back to relief work.
Dr. Ramirez is past board president and board member of the local shareholder owned Emergency clinic in Peoria, IL., was past president of the Mississippi Valley VMA, and has been a mentor through the Illinois VMA mentor program. Dr. Ramirez was appointed to the Illinois Veterinary Licensing and Disciplinary Board in 2022 and was elected chairperson in 2025. He is married to his wife Kelly (they met in ballroom dance class), and have five children.
Five Simple Steps to Keep Yourself Out of Regulatory Hot Water
The fear of the unknown is the most scary. In this presentation, we will learn ‘what happens if a license complaint occurs?’ Then we will go over some common scenario’s that department investigators and the presenter have seen that, if corrected, will minimize the chance of receiving a board complaint. Dr. Ramirez had a license complaint filed against him in 2007, and was appointed to the Veterinary Licensing and Disciplinary Board in Nov, 2023. These views are based on my experience as a DVM and a member of the board, but it is not endorsed by the Department.” (Illinois Department of Finance and Professional Regulation).