Dr. Marisa Ames Named President of American Heartworm Society
UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine Associate Professor Dr. Marisa Ames has been elected president of the American Heartworm Society (AHS). She was elected at the 2025 Triennial Heartworm Symposium held recently in Fort Worth, Texas. Dr. Ames is the second veterinary cardiologist in AHS history to serve as the organization’s president.
Dr. Ames, chief of the UC Davis veterinary hospital’s Cardiology Service, has served on the AHS board of directors since 2016 and was program co-chair of the AHS Triennial Heartworm Symposia held in 2019, 2022, and 2025.
“Heartworm disease continues to be a serious challenge for the veterinary industry and the pet-owning public, despite advances in heartworm management protocols and product investments by the veterinary industry,” said Dr. Ames. “Given the prevalence of heartworm disease, it’s important that researchers continue to identify new drugs and find ways to repurpose existing ones for heartworm prevention and treatment.”
During Dr. Ames’s leadership term, AHS will be prioritizing several key efforts. These priorities include enlisting clinic participation in the AHS Heartworm Incidence Survey, which will be conducted in early 2026, and providing further insights and guidance for veterinary professionals on feline heartworm disease.
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