Utah practitioner Roger Rees, DVM, will join the American Association of Equine Practitioners' board of directors as a director at large during the 55th Annual Convention in Las Vegas, Nev. He will be sworn in with other new members of the board at the President's Luncheon Dec. 8.

Rees is the founding partner of South Valley Animal Clinic, a referral and primary care clinic in South Jordan. He specializes in lameness and surgery. He is a past president of the Utah Veterinary Medical Association and currently a member of the Utah Governor's Agricultural Advisory Board.

An AAEP member for 30 years, Rees has served as a member of the Educational Programs Committee and the chair of the Student Relations Committee. He is adamant about developing equine veterinary students–the "future of the profession"–through mentorship and hands-on experience.

As member of the board, Rees thinks pertinent issues facing equine practitioners include the unwanted horse and the adverse economy's impact on the horse owner. He also plans to advocate student involvement in the AAEP and address ways to facilitate junior associates in practice ownership or practice buy-in