The Racing Medication & Testing Consortium (RMTC)'s part-time Executive Director, Dr. Michael Hardy, has been promoted to full-time Executive Director of the RMTC, the organization announced on Monday.
In his new position, Hardy will be responsible for the management of the RMTC's Laboratory Accreditation and External Quality Assurance Program in conjunction with the new Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit and will also administer the RMTC's Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) process, manage the organization's monitoring of emerging threats to the integrity of racing, and oversee the process of reviewing applications received for all RMTC-funded post-doctoral fellowships and research proposals.
“We are very pleased to have Dr. Hardy on board in a full-time capacity,” RMTC Chair Alex Waldrop said. “The Board of Directors has determined that the work of the RMTC and its scientific advisory committee continue to be uniquely relevant to the horseracing industry's efforts to fairly and safely regulate the use of therapeutic medications and aggressively detect and deter the use of prohibited substances. In this regard, Dr. Hardy is the right person to lead these important efforts going forward.”
Also during its recent meeting, the RMTC Board approved the development, organization, and financial support of a Racing Industry Veterinary Student Externship Program in response to the supply and demand concerns associated with available equine-specific veterinarians to meet the racing industry needs. This program will provide a shared experience for veterinary students with racetrack practitioners and regulatory veterinarians with the objective to promote and provide exposure to and networking opportunities in equine veterinary medicine within the racing industry to prospective veterinarians.
“The success of the racing industry is dependent on the recruitment, availability, and retention of motivated attending and regulatory veterinary professionals to oversee the safety and welfare of its participants,” Hardy said. “The RMTC will join other equine industry organizations taking an active role in promoting careers in equine veterinary medicine.”
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