TVMA 2009-2010 president
by Lindsey Oechsle
Change in leadership, namely presidential, seems to be on the minds and lips of every individual lately, which I hope will forgive the following reference. While the fight for progress and growth carries through all great leaders, it is the focus of the fight that has a tendency to change. Our country’s new president is fighting to change the way we do things as Americans, and TVMA’s new president is fighting to preserve the profession that he knows and loves.
Dr. Ronald Stried is a seasoned leader in organized veterinary medicine, and his innovative approach to leadership and decision-making will surely be a powerful weapon against impending threats on an evolving veterinary profession. His experience and long list of continued accomplishments include more than thirty years of veterinary practice experience and professional involvement, founding and operating a successful, state-of-the-art, full-service practice, and continual active membership and involvement in organized veterinary medicine. Add a relentless passion for the veterinary profession and a proven commitment to the advancement of animal health, and you’ve got a recipe for successful leadership.
For anyone involved in TVMA over the last several years, Dr. Stried is more than a familiar face. His professional involvement and leadership experience alone qualifies him for the role of 2009-2010 TVMA President. Since his graduation from Texas A&M University in 1971, Dr Stried has served in a variety of membership capacities on several professional organizations including the American Veterinary Medical Association, Texas Veterinary Medical Association, Capital Area Veterinary Medical Association and American Animal Hospital Association. For the past several years, Dr. Stried has served as TVMA Treasurer, overseeing every aspect of the association’s investments and fiduciary responsibilities with a watchful eye.
Everyone has their own personal wish list of traits that effective leaders possess, but one personal trait that sometimes can be overlooked (or underappreciated) is sensitivity. In a world of war-hungry politicos and money-hungry CFOs, there’s a certain level of sensitivity that seems to be lacking in leadership today. This is not the case for TVMA’s new leader. Dr. Stried is no wilting flower, but he certainly has the appropriate combination of fight and finesse.
When I caught up with him recently at the TVMA office, I was reminded of this strong/ sensitive duality. He was obviously ready to get down to business—when you’re the new president of an association and running a day-to-day practice, there’s plenty of business to get down to—yet, he took a couple of minutes to show me a video on the internet. “You’ve just got to see this,” he said. “It’s fascinating.”
And fascinating it was! The video showed remarkable footage of massive polar bears interacting lovingly and playing gently with a group of sled dogs. “Look at that,” said a smiling Dr. Stried. “Isn’t that amazing?”
In my line of work, I’ve dished out questions—both professional and highly personal—to a variety of demeanors. I cannot believe that it is my nature that is intimidating, but rather the anticipation of the product in which the answers will appear. Understandably so, this causes some hesitations and the occasional pre-meditated, politically correct response. With Dr. Stried, this was never apparent. He shoots out answers to questions with confidence, not carelessness.
Dr. Stried describes himself as “hardworking, honest and direct.” He seems formulated in his day-to-day activities, but there’s a passion underneath this structure. He is an early riser—at the clinic by 6:00 am like clockwork—followed by his morning routine of catching up with the news over coffee. He likes to end his day at a reasonable hour so that he can spend evenings with his beautiful wife, Janice. He thoroughly enjoys practicing veterinary medicine, and is reasonable about his expectations.
“I know my limitations,” he admits, and when it comes to his practice, that seems to be working in his favor. He enjoys the daily patient visits and the challenge of performing surgery, but he is quick to include that he has no problem referring his patients to specialists. “My clients tell me that they trust me and my recommendations,” says Dr. Stried. “I strive to make my best effort, but I’ve always believed that if you can’t do it right, you shouldn’t do it at all.”
Dr. Stried is an innovative and contemporary leader in more ways than one. His gift of foresight has been apparent from an early age. He grew up with a rural background in Round Rock, TX. He had a deep love for animals but was also dedicated to working with them. A young Stried milked three cows every morning before going to school, but always knew that he wanted to be a professional. Obviously, Dr. Stried has a firm grasp on what it takes to follow your dreams. With the innate and demonstrated understanding that goals and achievements are met with hard work, dedication and passion, Dr. Streid is naturally an exemplary leader.
In today’s world, a thorough understanding of technology and technological capabilities is certainly an asset. This is yet another aspect of Dr. Stried’s leadership capabilities that will surely work to the association’s benefit. Take his presidential slogan, for example: “U R TVMA.” In my humble opinion, this is an ingenious representation of his presidential goals.
Dr. Stried truly believes that the members of TVMA (both in leadership positions or otherwise) are what make the organization what it is. He plans to work with redistricting so that more veterinarians have equal and fair representation in the decision-making that effects their profession. Simultaneously, there is cleverness in his multifaceted slogan. By relating to the younger generations of vets and reminding us all that we live in a contemporary age, Dr. Stried hopes to bridge the generational gaps in veterinary professionals across the state. Additionally, Dr. Stried has a powerful understanding of technology, as you can derive from the ‘text message’ format of his slogan. This is not an oversight, but rather a highly intentional statement that serves a specific purpose. Part in jest, but part in seriousness, Dr. Stried refers to himself as a “high-tech redneck.”
You may laugh at the thought, but Dr. Stried is a textbook example of this idea. In the early 1980s, Dr. Stried saw a need for faster and more effective communication when responding to emergency calls. He installed a mobile phone in his truck that was relatively the size of a large consol, and this enabled him to—at 65 cents per minute—respond to animal emergencies. This pioneering sense of technological gadgetry is still with him today. Next time you see him, ask about his grandson, Sam. Before you know it, you’ll be flipping through a touch screen gallery of photos on Dr. Stried’s iPhone. This high-tech redneck is one of the hippest grandparents I know.
With all of the impending threats and fast-paced evolution of the veterinary profession, the number of targeted battles and countless approaches that a new leader could choose from must be dizzying. Dr. Stried has selected a promising group of platforms to promote and strategies in which to do so: Veterinary involvement in legislation, conference attendance, education and public relations, veterinary and science partnerships, bylaws revisions, directorial redistricting, and recent graduate recruitment. Though this seems to be a towering list of goals, Dr. Stried is confident that he is equipped for the challenge.
“It’s a matter of being willing to be a leader and a volunteer,” admits Dr. Stried. “TVMA is in my blood.”
