I am Dr. Isaac Bott, a practicing veterinarian, practice owner, researcher, and candidate for AVMA President-Elect.
My path in veterinary medicine began long before veterinary school. I was raised in Castle Dale, Utah, where agriculture, animals, and daily responsibility shaped how I understood work, service, and community. Those early experiences still influence how I see this profession today.
Veterinary medicine is personal to me. It has given me a career, a purpose, and a way to serve people through the animals that matter to them. Now, I am running for AVMA President-Elect to bring a practical, service-minded perspective to the conversations shaping our profession’s future.
A Career Grounded in Practice
I own and operate Mountain West Animal Hospital, a veterinary hospital in Springville, Utah. I also own Bott Veterinary Services & Consulting, an international reproductive consulting business focused on cervid and camelid reproduction.
Those two parts of my career have given me a broad view of veterinary medicine. In practice, I understand the realities of patient care, client communication, staff leadership, business decisions, and the day-to-day demands placed on veterinary teams. Through consulting and theriogenology, I have had the opportunity to work across species, settings, and borders.
My work in reindeer theriogenology has been recognized internationally, and I have authored more than a dozen peer-reviewed scientific articles. I did not set out to build part of my career around reindeer reproduction, but that work became one of the clearest examples of what I value in veterinary medicine: curiosity, collaboration, persistence, and the willingness to learn.
AVMA leadership benefits from people who understand policy and governance, but it also needs leaders who remain connected to clinical practice. I believe my experience as a veterinarian and practice owner gives me a grounded perspective on the decisions that affect colleagues, teams, clients, patients, and communities.
Experience & Leadership Programs
My professional background includes clinical practice, business ownership, organized veterinary medicine, legislative work, shelter service, and national leadership.
Highlights include:
CEO/Owner of Mountain West Animal Hospital
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Owner of Bott Veterinary Services & Consulting
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AVMA Delegate for the Society for Theriogenology
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Board Member of the AVMA Political Action Committee
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Member of the Utah State University College of Veterinary Medicine Dean’s Advisory Board
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Board Member of the Theriogenology Foundation
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Board Member at South Utah Valley Animal Shelter
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Past Chair and Member of the AVMA Council on Veterinary Service
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Past President and Board Member of the Society for Theriogenology
I have also been honored to receive several awards, including Veterinarian of the Year from the Utah Veterinary Medical Association, the Dr. John Steiner Award for Excellence in Practice from the Society for Theriogenology, and Volunteer of the Year from the Utah Animal Control Officers Association.
These roles have taught me that veterinary leadership requires preparation, patience, and a willingness to listen before acting.
A Philosophy Shaped by Visible Leadership
Shortly after I purchased my clinic from my mentor, Dr. Harold Davis, we were visiting about his career and the accomplishments that meant the most to him. One that stood out was his service representing Utah in the American Veterinary Medical Association House of Delegates.
He spoke about the importance of having practicing veterinarians involved in organized veterinary medicine — people willing to step forward, represent their colleagues, and help shape the future of the profession.
He encouraged me to get involved, and that conversation stayed with me. It helped me realize that leadership is all about giving back to the profession that has given so much to us.
Why This Moment Matters
Veterinary medicine is changing quickly.
Many veterinarians and team members are asking hard questions about workload, debt, compensation, staffing, ownership, mentorship, team structure, and whether the profession can remain sustainable over the long term. These issues are not abstract. They affect real people, real practices, and real career decisions every day.
This moment calls for leadership with practical experience and a steady sense of purpose.
I believe AVMA must continue listening to the people working in every part of veterinary medicine and remain focused on solutions that protect opportunity, strengthen teams, and keep the profession viable for those who come next.
Ready to Serve This Profession
I am running for AVMA President-Elect because veterinary medicine has shaped my life, and I believe I have a responsibility to help strengthen the profession that has given me so much.
My background has taken me from a small Utah town to clinical practice, business ownership, scientific work, organized veterinary medicine, and national service. Through each chapter, I have seen the same truth: veterinary medicine depends on dedicated people doing difficult and meaningful work.
I am ready to serve those people with humility, focus, and a deep respect for the profession we share.