2026 Strategic Plan
In Good Company: Where NY Vets Connect
Environmental Assessment: What We Heard (and What Happens Next)
Quick context: As part of NYSVMS’s 2025/2026 strategic planning, we reviewed member feedback (218 survey responses; ~5.25% response rate—typical for broad association surveys). The goal is to make sure our priorities match what matters most to members.
NYSVMS 2026 Strategic Plan
The NYSVMS Board is engaging the veterinary community of NY in a collaborative strategic planning process to set our future direction.
We are gathering input from both regional groups and our membership to help us address the challenges our members will face in the future. The plan will help us deliver value and engage a broad spectrum of veterinarians, from the most-recent graduates to those close to retirement.
This page focuses on the environmental assessment from Dec 2025. To read the complete document use the button below.
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Summary of Environmental Assessment
- Members most value continuing education, advocacy, and legal/regulatory support.
- Overall loyalty is near-neutral (NPS –3)—a solid base, with clear room to improve.
- Members broadly agree NYSVMS priorities are right, while asking for clearer visibility and tangible outcomes.
- Top 3–5 year priorities: workforce (especially technician shortage), community/connection, high-quality education, practice ownership support, and access to care/cost pressures.
- Biggest risks ahead include corporate consolidation, technology/scope disruption, burnout, and legal/liability pressure.
What members value right now
- Continuing education (52%) — online and in-person CE, annual conference, affordability, and access.
- Advocacy (21%) — a unified voice in Albany and engagement with regulators.
- Legal/Regulatory support (13%) — compliance, practice act interpretation, HR and risk questions.
Strengths and Opportunities
Strengths members cited
- Advocacy & government relations
- Continuing education
- Networking, engagement & recognition
Opportunities members want
- Stronger visibility of NYSVMS impact (make value easier to see)
- More engagement and clearer communication of offerings
- More support for early-career development, mentoring, and connection
- Practice support resources that match modern realities (including regional differences)
Top priorities for the next 3–5 years
- Address the veterinary technician shortage
- Build professional community & connection across the state
- Provide top-quality scientific education
- Support future and existing practice owners
- Address rising costs and access to care (especially for low-income pet owners)
Also frequently mentioned
- Burnout and wellbeing
- Emergency care shortages
- AI and technology change
- Non-economic damages / legal environment
- Rural workforce shortages
- Telemedicine and the VCPR
What’s changing in the profession
Risks members are watching
- Corporate consolidation and pressure on independent practice
- Technology disruption (AI), telemedicine, and scope-of-practice issues
- Workforce shortages, retention challenges, and burnout
- Regulatory change and legal liability exposure
Opportunities to lead
- Expand practical, clinic-ready education and tools
- Strengthen community and mentoring across regions and career stages
- Lead proactively on policy, scope, and modern practice realities
- Help practices thrive through ownership, business, and workforce supports
Reputation, regional connection, and dual membership
External perception
Members’ sense is that NYSVMS is often viewed as neutral or not widely known, with a meaningful group viewing the Society positively.
Dual membership (state + regional)
Members noted that dual membership works best when roles are clear and the regional group is active. Common friction points are time, travel, cost, and uneven visibility of value across regions.