News from the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges

July 2013

Greetings from the AAVMC

I join many of you in looking forward to attending the annual meeting of the AVMA later this month in Chicago, where thousands of veterinarians and hundreds of organizations gather for one of the veterinary profession's most important meetings.

But this year is special. The AVMA, as most of you know, is observing its 150th anniversary. The partnership between the AAVMC and the AVMA can be traced to our formation in 1966. For almost 50 years we have worked closely with the AVMA in myriad ways to provide people and animals with the many benefits of modern veterinary medicine.

Today, that partnership has never been more important, and we build upon it every year through improved communication and increased collaboration. We are united by our dedication to the profession and our goals for the future.

We congratulate the AVMA for the magnificent service they have brought to the profession of veterinary medicine and the people and animals it serves, and we are proud to honor them for all they have done and for all they will do in the exciting years ahead for veterinary medicine.

Dr. Andrew Maccabe
Executive Director, AAVMC

Strategic Planning Process Brings Focus to AAVMC Programming

For the past nine months, the AAVMC has been working with Harrison Coerver & Associates, a consulting firm that specializes in association management, to update the existing strategic plan.

Final recommendations will be presented to the board at the July meeting in Chicago and shared with the general membership at the Assembly meeting. Learn more.

AAVMC, ACPM, AHI Present One Health Briefing

The AAVMC recently collaborated with the Animal Health Institute and the American College of Preventive Medicine on a Capitol Hill briefing designed to build awareness and promote understanding of the "One Health" concept. Titled "Human-Animal Medicine: Communicating Across the Species Divide," the event included physicians, veterinarians, legislators, industry officials and others.

Left to right: AAVMC Associate Executive Director for Academic Affairs and Research Ted Mashima; American College of Preventive Medicine President Halley S. Faust; U.S. Rep. Kurt Schrader (D-OR); and epidemiologist and Professor of Food Safety and Public Health at Texas Tech University Guy Loneragan

Following introductory remarks from Congressman Kurt Schrader (D-OR), co-founder of the House Veterinary Medicine Caucus, a group of panelists discussed the variety of ways in which veterinary and human medicine intersect with respect to food production and safety, infectious disease control, and the need for more collaborative research. Learn more.

AVMA House of Delegates to Consider COE Changes in July

Following U.S. Department of Education hearings and recommendations, the AVMA House of Delegates will consider proposed changes to the structure of the Council on Education during their July meeting in Chicago. As it currently exists, the Council on Education consists of members elected by the House of Delegates. The proposed revisions call for the AVMA and the AAVMC to each appoint eight members to the council. Also, members of the COE will not participate in site evaluations as part of the revisions.The AAVMC will assume additional and administrative responsibility for providing support to the COE as part of the new structure.

AAVMC Joins Institute of Medicine's Global Forum

The AAVMC has joined the National Academies' Institute of Medicine's Global Forum on Innovation in Health Professional Education, a forum which unites leaders from academia, professionals and government leaders in a program designed to create improved educational models for preparing healthcare professionals to better serve in 21st century society. Learn more.

VMCAS Webinars Focus on New WebAdmit Application Changes

The Veterinary Medical College Application Service (VMCAS) recently launched a series of webinars to provide veterinary medical school applicants and advisors with the tools and skills that they need to navigate the newly revamped 2013 application. "Talk to VMCAS" and "Advising the Veterinary Applicant" webinars are already under way, with a new webinar on "Preparing to Apply to Vet School" planned for this coming fall. Learn more

Midwestern University College of Veterinary Medicine Joins AAVMC

The Midwestern University College of Veterinary Medicine in Glendale, Ariz. has become the 29th U.S. college or school of veterinary medicine to become a member of the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC). Midwestern will join the 36 schools that use the AAVMC's centralized Veterinary Medical College Application Service (VMCAS). Learn more.

AAVMC Legislative Update: The Veterinary Medicine Caucus and More

The House Veterinary Medicine Caucus continues to grow and inform Congress about several issues important to veterinary medicine, according to AAVMC Legislative Director Kevin Cain. In addition, momentum has been building for H.R.1528/S.1171, the Veterinary Mobility Act, but the Veterinary Services grant program that was included in the Farm Bill has stalled. Learn more about these and other legislative updates.

Convening With Veterinary Medical Education in Latin America

AAVMC Executive Director Dr. Andrew Maccabe recently discussed core competencies, accreditation and other topics in veterinary education during a meeting of the Pan-American Council of Education in Veterinary Sciences (COPEVET) in Argentina. The meeting, hosted by the University of Buenos Aires, brought together veterinary medical educators from South, Central, and North America. Learn more