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January 2026

General News and Updates

Shape the Future with Us

Registration Now Open for Cataylze 2026, AAVMC Annual Conference

Join us at Cataylze 2026, AAVMC’s Annual Conference and Iverson Bell Symposium, where global leaders in academic veterinary medicine connect, share insights, explore issues and opportunities, and shape the future of the profession.

At Catalyze 2026, April 16–18 in Washington, D.C., you will discover an intellectually stimulating learning environment focused on advancing leadership in veterinary medicine. You’ll experience dynamic workshops that combine deep dives, hands-on learning, and meaningful peer-to-peer conversations, including:



• AI Policy Writing: Building Institutional Capacity with Cloud-Based AI Tools in Veterinary Medicine
• Admissions: Deepening Knowledge and Use of Mission-Aligned Selection for Admissions Processes
• Navigating Ambiguity: The Art and Science of Communications and Decision-Making

Registration is now open, with a discounted block of rooms being held at Grand Hyatt Washington, a centrally located hotel in downtown Washington, D.C., near iconic landmarks, unlimited shopping, and robust nightlife. Reserve your accommodations by Friday, March 13, to take advantage of this special rate (subject to availability).

Last Call for AAVMC Committee and Council Nominations

Don’t miss your chance to develop your leadership skills, serve the academic veterinary education profession, and drive innovation and impact across the profession: Nominations for AAVMC’s committees and council close January 30! All committees and council positions have three-year terms, unless otherwise noted, and require approximately 2–4 hours of service per month. Nominees must be affiliated with an AAVMC member institution.

Open positions include:

• Admissions and Recruitment Committee (1 vacancy) 
• Advocacy Committee (4 vacancies)
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee (2 vacancies)
• Educational Research Committee (1 vacancy)
• Professional Development Committee (2 vacancies)
• Wellbeing Committee (1 vacancy)
• Council on International Veterinary Medical Education (8 vacancies)

Nominations are due January 30.

Questions about the nominations process? Please email us.

Applications Open for Zoetis Foundation/AAVMC Veterinary Research Scholarship

Applications for the 2026 Zoetis Foundation/AAVMC Veterinary Research Scholarship program are now open! Developed to support veterinary students who are pursuing an advanced degree in basic or veterinary clinical research fields of study, two $25,000 scholarships will be awarded to selected students' institutions for tuition.

Eligibility requirements for the Zoetis Foundation/AAVMC Veterinary Research Scholarship are:



• Applicants must be enrolled or formally accepted to a combined veterinary professional degree and PhD program at an AAVMC member institution in the U.S. or at an equivalent research-focused degree program at an international AAVMC member institution.
• Applicants who have secured funding and/or tuition support for the PhD and/or DVM portion of their program are welcome to apply, however please be advised that financial need is a component of the scholarship selection process.
• Students who are enrolled in a non-PhD combined degree program are not eligible currently. This program is not designed to fully support a PhD research program.
• International applicants who are enrolled in equivalent combined veterinary professional and research degree programs and whose program is housed at an AAVMC member institution are eligible.

Please encourage your students to apply! The submission deadline is February 5 at 11:59 PM EST, and the scholarship will apply to the students' Fall 2026 semester.

(Note: applicants must log into the member portal/website to apply.)

SOC Spotlight: Finding Clarity Through Education

Are you facing questions or hesitation around Spectrum of Care (SOC) curricular change? 

One way to build buy-in is to clarify common misunderstandings. The SOC Implementation Strategies Guide includes “SOC Common Misconceptions Q&As,” featuring expert perspectives to help address frequent concerns about SOC preparation and practice. 

These Q&As offer practical language and insights on topics such as: 


• Financial implications of SOC practice for individual practitioners, practices, and clients 
• Alignment of SOC practice with expectations of veterinary regulatory boards 
• Alignment of SOC preparation with the AVMA Council on Education curriculum requirements. 

Use these resources to support productive dialogue with faculty, students, and stakeholders—and move your SOC curricular change efforts forward with clarity and confidence. 

Your feedback helps AAVMC keep our resources, like the SOC Implementation Strategies Guide, relevant to the needs of the veterinary education community. 

Please let us know what you think by completing this brief survey. Thank you!

Admissions and Recruitment

VMCAS Is Now Open

The Veterinary Medical College Application Service (VMCAS) is now open for the 2026–2027 application cycle. Learn more about VMCAS and start your application here.

Data and Diversity

AAVMC On Air

AAVMC’s podcast library is growing, with two new episodes now available:

In episode #150, AAVMC’s Lisa Greenhill, EdD, sits down with DVM student Megan Gauthier and Frank DeCecco, DVM, to discuss how Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) has impacted their experiences throughout their veterinary journeys. Our guests discuss not only their challenges but how their neurodiversity allows them to approach their practice with a new perspective. Released on December 22, 2025, it’s an episode you won’t want to miss.

In episode #151, also released December 22, Greenhill and Rustin Moore, DVM, of The Ohio State University discuss his book, “Unleashing the Bond: Harnessing the Power of Human-Animal Interactions.”

All of our podcasts are available on YouTube, SoundCloud, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode!

Upcoming Events

Save the Dates

• April 16–18, 2026: AAVMC Annual Conference and Iverson Bell Symposium, Washington, D.C.
  
• June 3–5, 2026: VetEd AAVMC 2026, hosted by the University of Wisconsin-Madison
  

Member News

Astra, A Military Working Dog Who Protected U.S. Presidents And Helped Save Lives In The Middle East, Got Life-Saving Assistance Of Her Own At LSU Vet Med

Louisiana State University


Custom Prosthetic Gives Donkey a Big Leg Up on Life

Washington State University

The Life of Dolly: The Story of Dolly the Sheep, from Start to Finish

University of Edinburgh

Medical Miracles at Penn Vet: Penn Vet and Penn Medicine Collaborate on Canine Brain Surgery Using Cutting-Edge Augmented Reality Technology

University of Pennsylvania

Texas Tech’s School of Veterinary Medicine Receives $250,000 USDA Grant

Texas Tech University

AAVMC aims to highlight the accomplishments of all member institutions. To be considered for the next Member News section, send your story to the AAVMC Marketing and Communications team.



AAVMC Newsletters

• Sign up to receive the Vet-Med Educator in your inbox here. See past issues here. 
• Sign up for our Advocacy newsletter here. Read past issues here. 

The AAVMC strives to create a culture of diversity and inclusion in every dimension of academic veterinary medicine. To foster this goal, the photographs and illustrations which are used in our communications programs are aspirational, and do not necessarily reflect the levels of diversity and inclusion that currently exist.