WASHINGTON, March 23, 2012 / At the recent 2012 Annual Conference of the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC), veterinary medical colleges teamed up with the Partnership for Preventive Pet Healthcare (PPPH) — including the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and pet product companies — to develop plans to address the economic issues facing companion animal practices.

At the conference, experts conveyed that visits to veterinarians are in decline, despite higher pet ownership, with implications for veterinary businesses, veterinary medical education, and pet health.

Consequently, they are promoting more of an emphasis on preventive medicine as an important part of curricular changes for veterinary medical students who are interested in companion animal practice. The conference workshop involved discussion of the concept, suggested models for this type of program, and the economic importance of this approach for career-ready graduates from veterinary colleges. 

The proposed curricular changes included many recommendations from the North American Veterinary Medical Educational Consortium (NAVMEC), which released a report in 2011 calling for the inclusion of broader competencies in veterinary medical education that encompass economic and business management practices, and "One Health" — the collaborative effort of multiple disciplines working together to attain optimal health for people, animals and the environment. "The incorporation of these principles, along with the experience gained from clinical experience, is an important part of the curricular and clinical offerings for integrating preventive practices into general practice," said veterinarian Bennie Osburn, the AAVMC's interim executive director. "The profession is calling for these practices as a way of preventing costly, catastrophic diseases by increasing preventive pet visits."

Veterinary medical colleges are interested in coordinating efforts with PPPH in order to assist the profession by having new graduates ready and prepared for this new approach to companion animal practice.  The AAVMC plans to assist veterinary colleges in developing these programs for their respective colleges.

Foundation to provide for those in critical need

USANA True Health Foundation to Fund Health Causes and Disaster Relief

SALT LAKE CITY, March 8, 2012 -- USANA Health Sciences, Inc. (NYSE: USNA), a global nutritional supplements company, today announced the opening of its new charitable foundation, the USANA True Health Foundation. The organization will offer basic necessitates, such as nutrition, clothing, shelter, medical assistance and health education to those who are suffering or in need.



"The primary motivation for the creation of this foundation is the never-ending quest for more efficient, economic, effective ways to improve the health and living conditions of people around the world," said Elaine Pace, president of USANA True Health Foundation. "Our goal is to meet the urgent needs of deserving populations and assist them with active compassion whenever the situation demands, to provide whatever is needed."

Donations made to the foundation can be assigned to one of two funds: the General Fund and the Children's Hunger Fund. Charitable gifts made to the General Fund will be used to support areas of great need around the world, aid in rapid disaster relief, and assist wellness organizations such as HealthCorps, founded by Dr. Mehmet Oz and Lisa Oz, to combat childhood obesity and educate children about nutrition and fitness. HealthCorps is the first among many organizations that USANA True Health Foundation intends to support through its General Fund.

Contributions to Children's Hunger Fund will aid the non-profit organization, which has a long-standing partnership with USANA.  For more than a decade, USANA and CHF have helped alleviate the suffering of children in impoverished regions across America and around the world. To date, the organization has received over $11 million in resources through USANA.

"USANA Health Sciences will be paying all administrative costs related to operating the foundation," said Dave Wentz, USANA's chief executive officer. "One hundred percent of every dollar donated to the organization will directly benefit those in need. Our goal is to maximize all donations to help as many people as we can."

Donations can be made through www.USANAfoundation.org in the form of a one-time pledge, continuous, automatic contributions, or a variety of monetary programs, to the fund of the donor's choice. All donations made by taxpayers inthe United States and Hong Kong are tax-deductible. Residents of other countries should check with their local tax professional to determine whether their donation is deductible.

Based on pledges and donations to date, the foundation expects to raise more than $3 million within the first year of operations.

For more information about the USANA True Health Foundation, please visit www.USANAfoundation.org.

About USANA True Health Foundation: The USANA True Health Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization created by Dr. Myron Wentz, USANA's founder, and USANA CEO Dave Wentz, to help expand and enhance USANA's on-going charitable efforts. Their mission is to provide the most critical human necessities to those suffering or in need. USANA True Health Foundation has an active partnership with organizations like HealthCorps and theChildren's Hunger Fund, who share the same vision of making the world a happier and healthier place. Learn more at our website (www.USANAfoundation.org), follow us on Twitter (@UsanaFoundation), or like us on Facebook(www.facebook.com/USANAfoundation).

Children, pet charity; message of hope for victims of 2011 Japanese earthquake

American Humane Association Acting as Ambassador for Thousands of Americans Who Opened Their Hearts to Help Animals after Disaster

WASHINGTON, Feb. 14, 2012 -- American Humane Association, a major 135-year-old United States-based charity dedicated to protecting children and animals, has arrived in Tokyo on Valentine's Day to bring a message of hope and help to the remaining animal victims of the 2011 earthquake.

American Humane Association President and CEO Dr. Robin Ganzert, whose organization has already sent a shipment of supplies and financial donations immediately following the earthquake on March 11, 2011, is conducting site visits and meeting privately with leaders from Japanese relief agencies that have been helping animals left homeless by the disaster nearly one year ago in order to determine the continuing need to shelter and save the lives of thousands of animals still in jeopardy.

American Humane Association has two major goals in coming to Japan: First, to arrange a schedule of financial support to those groups that are caring for and trying to help animals left homeless by the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster.  And second, to extend an

offer to share the organization's more than 100 years of experience in disaster relief to help Japan's communities prepare for and protect children and animals against future disasters. Since 1916, American Humane Association has operated the internationally renowned Red Star™ Animal Emergency Services program. Red Star rescue services have been involved not only in nearly every major relief in the United States over the past century, but major international relief efforts, including rescuing horses on the battlefields of Europe during World War I and the efforts to save and shelter animals following the 2010 earthquake in Haiti. American Humane Association's Red Star program is an acknowledged leader in disaster preparedness and has also compiled and is offering to translate into Japanese a series of prevention tips to protect children, animals, families and communities from hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, and other disasters.

"When the disasters occurred in Japan, our hearts went out to all the communities affected by those devastating events, and we immediately initiated contact with our international partners to discuss how we could help," said American Humane Association President and Chief Executive Officer Robin R. Ganzert, Ph.D. "To help with the immediate need, we sent a shipment of shelter supplies and a one-million yen financial grant to local relief agencies in Japan.  Much good has been accomplished by the noble work of the local Japanese relief groups, but nearly a year later there is still much to do and thousands of animals who still need our help.  We are here now on Valentine's Day to bring a message of love, hope, and help to Japan and its most precious treasures. In this way, we hope to help improve current conditions for those still in need, and better protect entire communities in the future."


About American Humane Association


Since 1877 American Humane Association has been at the forefront of virtually every major advance in protecting children, pets and farm animals from cruelty, abuse and neglect. Today they are also leading the way in understanding the human-animal bond and its role in therapy, medicine and society. American Humane Association reaches millions of people every day through groundbreaking research, education, training and services that span a wide network of organizations, agencies and businesses. You can help make a difference, too, for millions of children and animals in need. Please visit American Humane Association at www.americanhumane.org today.