
Chief Medical Officer, AVMA Past President
Dr. Faeh serves as the first Chief Medical Officer at NVA General Practice as well as the President of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).
With over 25 years of experience as a small animal practitioner in the Chicagoland area, she has a passion for organized veterinary medicine, mentorship, and equipping others with the tools for success.
After earning her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, she became the Managing Veterinarian and part-owner at Elmhurst Animal Care Center, along with three small animal hospitals in the Chicago suburbs. Dr. Faeh served as President of the Illinois State Veterinary Medical Association, President of the Chicago Veterinary Medical Association, and Vice President of the AVMA. In July 2023, she was elected by industry peers to serve as AVMA President-Elect for the 2023-2024 term, followed by the AVMA President for the 2024-2025 term.
At NVA General Practice, she also serves as a mentor and co-creator of their Mentorship Program. This hybrid program offers mentorship to new NVA General Practice veterinarians, providing hands-on and in-person surgical and dental support, as well as virtual medical and surgical lectures and case rounds. The program has helped over 500 new DVMs navigate the complexities of veterinary medicine and the struggles of a healthy work-life balance.
In her free time, she enjoys reading, running, spending time with her husband and three sons, walking her dogs, Tobe and Rigi, and riding her horse, Ace.
A Conversation about the Future of the Veterinary Workforce: Too Many or Not Enough?
As the veterinary profession enters a time of change, differing data tells two stories: an upcoming oversupply of veterinary graduates versus an industry still desperate for more hands. Join Dr. Sandra Faeh (Chief Medical Officer at NVA General Practice, Past President of the American Veterinary Medical Association) and Dr. Brian Aldridge (Clinical Professor and Assistant Dean for Educational Innovation, University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine), two individuals with broad perspectives on the profession, for a candid conversation about the interrelated issues behind these concerns and their impact on the future of veterinary medicine.