Autumn 2011 Issue 5 |
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News from the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges
Greetings!
Some significant changes are under way at the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC).
On Oct. 7, Dr. Marguerite Pappaioanou announced that she is resigning as the executive director of the AAVMC, effective Oct. 31, to pursue her lifelong passion for global health and development.
In September, the organization marked a major milestone with the publication of The North American Veterinary Medical Education Consortium's (NAVMEC's) report on the future of academic veterinary medicine, now available online. The report is extremely relevant in light of recently released statistics that show a dip in employment opportunities for veterinary medical graduates along with mounting educational debt.
Plans are also under way to streamline the AAVMC's committee structure to operate more efficiently and effectively in accordance with the organization's strategic plan, as recommended by the AAVMC Governance Committee.
And finally, the AAVMC's 2012 Annual Conference, March 8-11, will include sessions on critically important issues in academic veterinary medicine, such as leadership, academic food supply veterinary medicine, challenges to clinical education, and the importance of strengthening primary care, prevention, and wellness in the veterinary medical curricula. We hope to see you there!
Learn more about these and other issues and see some of the top academic veterinary medical stories in the news in this autumn edition of News from the AAVMC.
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NAVMEC Releases Approved "Roadmap" for the Future of Veterinary Medical Education
After several years of work, the North American Veterinary Medical Education Consortium (NAVMEC) recently released the final version of its "Roadmap for Veterinary Medical Education in the 21st Century: Responsive, Collaborative, Flexible." The AAVMC convened NAVMEC for the purpose of ensuring that academic veterinary medicine continues to meet evolving societal needs--from companion animal medicine to food security and safety, public health, biomedical research, and more.
The AAVMC's board of directors approved the report's content on July 17, 2011, and the AAVMC posted an online version of the final report on its website in September. The report stresses the importance of integrating core competencies with admissions and curricular development, standards of accreditation, national and state board testing, and state licensure. The recommended core competencies for all veterinary medical students to achieve by graduation are: 1) multispecies knowledge plus clinical competence in one or more species or disciplines; 2) "One Health" competency related to the intersection of animal, human and environmental health; and 3) the development of professional competencies. The professional competencies include communications, collaboration, management, lifelong learning related to scholarship and research, diversity and multicultural awareness, and the ability to adapt to changing environments. Access the report. Get answers to your questions about the report's history, rationale, and process on this "NAVMEC--Just the Facts" webpage.
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Register Now for an Engaging and Thought-Provoking 2012 Annual Conference
The AAVMC's 2012 Annual Conference represents a great opportunity to network, tackle pressing topics in academic veterinary medicine, and--as always--meet with members of Congress on issues of importance to veterinary medical education and the veterinary medical profession as a whole.
Save the dates of March 8-11 for the conference (March 7 for the board of directors meeting) and consider inviting faculty or colleagues in areas such as admissions or communications, who might also benefit from a thought-provoking conference with an academic veterinary focus.
The AAVMC's Annual Conference--it's not just for deans anymore.
Also, be a part of the largest veterinary medical student recruiting event in the nation by registering for a table at the 2012 AAVMC Career Fair & Information Session! Each year this event draws more students, parents, teachers, and counselors from all over the Eastern seaboard. You don't want to miss this opportunity; space is limited!
Register now as an exhibitor.
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Academic Veterinary Medicine in the News
Here are some of the top stories in the news lately that feature people, colleges or issues related to academic veterinary medicine. Recent stories included: View these and other prominent stories in academic veterinary medicine in the news ticker, which debuted recently along the lower banner on our home page.Also, you can now follow us on Twitter, where we'll regularly post stories that feature an academic perspective on the veterinary medical profession. |
Save the Date for the AAVMC's Veterinary Educator Collaborative Summer Symposium
Join your fellow veterinary faculty and educators for a weekend of professional development and networking at the AAVMC's Veterinary Educator Collaborative Summer Symposium: "From Novices to Experts: Supporting Students' Development of Professional Skills." Participants will have the opportunity to gather, share, and discuss veterinary medical best practices on Friday, July 27, and Saturday, July 28, at Colorado State University.
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Pappaioanou Resigns as Executive Director
Osburn to Serve in Interim Capacity
On Friday, Oct. 7, Dr. Marguerite Pappaioanou announced that she is resigning as the executive director of the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC), effective Oct. 31, in order to pursue her lifelong passion and broader interests in global development, public health, and One Health.
"The Board of Directors has accepted her resignation with mixed feelings and we wish her well in her new endeavors," said AAVMC President Gerhardt Schurig, dean of the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Schurig also announced that in order to ensure a smooth transition, Dr. Bennie Osburn, the outgoing dean of the University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine, will begin serving as interim director on November 1.
Dr. Pappaioanou began her position on Nov. 1, 2007. "It has been an honor and a privilege to serve and lead the AAVMC on many important fronts, working under the direction of the AAVMC board of directors and with a talented and committed staff, many committed association members, and AAVMC's partners," she said. "I look forward to supporting veterinary medicine from a different capacity in the future, and to working with Dr. Osburn in the weeks ahead to ensure a smooth transition of leadership at AAVMC."
The AAVMC will announce its search for a new executive director in the coming weeks.
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VMRCVM Expands Curriculum: NAVMEC Recommendations Already Under Way at Some Colleges
NAVMEC's "Roadmap for Veterinary Medical Education in the 21st Century: Responsive, Collaborative, Flexible" makes 23 recommendations aimed at education, accreditation, and licensing and testing groups that address core competencies for career-ready veterinarians--but many significant advances in education are already under way.
A recent news story featured some changes that are already occurring at the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine (VMRCVM), which is expanding its curriculum to prepare graduates for roles in animal and public health, food safety, and other tracks not traditionally associated with veterinary medicine that emphasize the animal/human connection.
VMRCVM is fulfilling another recommendation by working to increase diversity and expand the college's outreach to underrepresented groups in veterinary medicine.
Read the Roanoke Times story.
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New Committee Structure Streamlines the Governing Process
The AAVMC's board of directors approved the streamlining of the organization's committee structure from 24 to eight committees.
Many committees had overlapping charges, and the board felt that the new structure will both provide more efficiency and align more effectively with the AAVMC's strategic plan.
At the same time, the board recognized that the need may arise for short-term task forces to address specific issues.
The committee restructuring is currently in process and will gradually transition over the fiscal year. The eight consolidated committees are: Committee of Deans, Academic Affairs, Admissions, Advocacy,
Diversity, One Health, Research, and the JVME Editorial Board.
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The AAVMC is now on Twitter. Get the latest updates from the world of academic veterinary medicine.
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