Change the Approach to Parasite Management Among Veterinary Professionals and Pet Owners

• A group of veterinary parasitologists and cardiologists talked informally for several years about the need for an organization that would change the way veterinary professionals and pet owners approach parasite management.
• Although the group had good ideas and seed money to set up such an organization, the mission and vision for the organization was not clear.
• Dr. Kathy Gloyd was invited to step in and facilitate the process.

With her knowledge of parasites and parasitologists—having taught parasitology at one time, and her involvement in the launch and marketing of Interceptor^®, Sentinel^®, Program^®, and Revolution^®—Dr. Kathy Gloyd had the knowledge and experience, but perhaps most importantly, the organizational skills to take a good idea and make it happen.

• She recruited a group of individuals with broad expertise in parasitology, both practicing companion animal veterinary professionals and research/academic parasitologists, as well as leaders in the fields of internal medicine, public health, and veterinary law.
• Kathy moderated the group’s first meeting in 2002, at which the organization’s mission was set and a name selected. At subsequent meetings held three to four times a year, she was instrumental in keeping the group focused as they struggled to reach a consensus on the new organization’s positions and policies. 
• Gloyd Group was responsible for writing sponsorship proposals, calling on potential sponsors, writing contracts, setting up banking and credit, and facilitating the incorporation process.
• To give the CAPC greater visibility, Gloyd Group organized continuing education programs and placed them at major conferences.

Today CAPC is a highly visible, widely respected organization serving veterinary professionals and pet owners alike.

• “CAPC now enjoys sponsorship from major players in the animal health industry and actually is making a difference in pet care in the US,” says CAPC Board Member Dr. Dwight Bowman.
• CAPC Executive Director Dr. Mike Paul adds, “I don’t believe CAPC would have become what it is today without Kathy’s guidance.”
• Although Kathy stepped down as Executive Director after the job grew into a full-time position, Gloyd Group’s Sonya Hennessy continues to serve as CAPC’s Association Manager.
• CAPC currently provides a broad range of programs and services, including the development and dissemination of guidelines for control of internal and external parasites in dogs and cats, sponsorship of CE programs, publication of new research as well as press releases and commentaries on current events with relevance to parasitology; and the CAPC Road Show, a mobile educational program.
• CAPC maintains two websites, one for veterinary and medical professionals (capcvet.org)  and one for pet owners (PetsandParasites.org), both designed and developed by Gloyd Group’s Katherine Diamond and Wahhab Baldwin.