Implementation Guide Supports Veterinary Educators in Curricular Transformation | |
Are you planning curricular changes this summer—whether updating a course, revising assessment strategies, or overhauling an entire program? The Spectrum of Care Implementation Strategies Guide offers a range of practical tools to help you chart a clear, strategic path forward.
Starting with the Navigating Spectrum of Care (SOC) Curricular Change Flowcharts, the Guide features research-informed tools that are designed with academic realities in mind and offer two complementary perspectives:
- A step-by-step process to guide structured change
- A metaphorical “river journey” that supports flexible approaches based on institutional culture and leadership style.
Each approach promotes strategic alignment, inclusive collaboration, and data-informed decision-making throughout the change process.
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About the Implementation Strategies Guide
Developed by veterinary educators to support SOC pedagogy, the Implementation Strategies Guide provides adaptable tools for planning, implementing, and sustaining curricular transformation. The resources are grounded in the Ecosystem Model of Systemic Change Leadership, featured in the Change Leadership Toolkit created by the University of Southern California’s Pullias Center for Higher Education.
The Guide is a collaborative effort, drawing on the expertise of
- Approximately 40 veterinary educators from 25 AAVMC member institutions
- Contributors from five countries
- Over 25 veterinary practitioners and professionals
What’s Next?
In upcoming newsletters, we will highlight specific resources from the Guide that correspond to various change moves in the flowcharts—each designed to enhance your application of SOC pedagogy.
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| | AAVMC and FFAR Announce 2025 Veterinary Student Research Fellows | | |
AAVMC and the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR) selected the seventh cohort of Veterinary Student Research Fellows. This year-long fellowship provides students with hands-on research experience that prepares them for careers in animal science and public service, ultimately benefiting US farmers and consumers.
Fellows conduct their research with a qualified mentor at an AAVMC member institution. The program culminates with the Fellows presenting their research at the annual Veterinary Scholars Symposium, a national event attended by more than 700 veterinary students, as well as researchers and leaders from top veterinary schools across the country.
The 2025 Fellows are:
- Donnie Alverson, Oregon State University
- Victoria Houser, Tufts University
- Cailin Karotkin, University of California, Davis
- Regina Kurandina, University of Minnesota
- Jeselle-Ann Laxa, Western University of Health Sciences
- Kara Linder, Colorado State University
- Yimeng Lu, Western University of Health Sciences
- Nathan Maizels, Long Island University
- Francisco Benitez Merle, Universidad Ana G. Méndez
- Hanna Meyer, Washington State University
- Luis Ochoa, Texas Tech University
- Ainslie Reynolds, Oklahoma State University
- Lauren Robinson, Kansas State University
- Yasmeen Patnaik, University of Tennessee
- Jade Wilkinson, Oklahoma State University
| | Explore the Role of Scientific Research in Veterinary Medicine at the Veterinary Scholars Symposium | |
Mark your calendar for the 2025 Veterinary Scholars Symposium (VSS)—an annual event celebrating the vital role of scientific research in veterinary medicine—taking place August 7–9 in Spokane.
At VSS, students will present original research conducted through summer research programs, gaining valuable experience, mentorship, and career insights. Faculty and educational leaders are invited to connect with emerging scholars, share expertise, and help shape the future of veterinary science.
Don’t miss this opportunity to network, exchange ideas, and support the next generation of veterinary researchers.
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Call for Abstracts
Encourage your students to submit an abstract to VSS, showcasing their summer research program. Submissions are due by 11:59 p.m. ET on July 15.
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| Nominations Open for AAVMC’s 2025–2026 Leadership Academy Cohort | |
Nominations are now being accepted for the 2025–2026 AAVMC Leadership Academy.
The academy will continue in a hybrid format for the upcoming year, featuring two in-person meetings complemented by monthly virtual sessions, designed to foster leadership development and collaboration across the academic veterinary community.
Thanks to generous sponsorship from Elanco Animal Health, there is no registration cost to participate in the Leadership Academy.
All nominations must be submitted directly by the dean or head of school from AAVMC member institutions. We encourage interested individuals to contact their dean’s office for information on their institution’s internal nomination procedures.
Have questions? Email us.
| | Admissions and Recruitment | | |
The Veterinary Medical College Application Service (VMCAS) is now open for the 2025–2026 application cycle.
To help offset costs, the VMCAS Fee Assistance Program offers a limited number of fee waivers to qualified applicants on a first-come, first-served basis. All fee waiver requests must be submitted by August 14.
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Connect with Fellow Deans at the AAVMC Summer Meeting,
July 19
Make plans now to attend the AAVMC Summer Meeting on July 19 in Washington, DC, held in conjunction with the American Veterinary Medical Association's annual convention.
Open to deans at all AAVMC member institutions, the Summer Meeting offers a valuable opportunity to engage with your colleagues on timely issues facing the academic veterinary medical community.
Invitations were sent to all deans. If you did not receive one or want more information, email us.
| | Showcase Your Program at the Veterinary Medical Admissions Virtual Fair, July 30 | | |
Don’t miss the opportunity to participate in AAVMC’s Veterinary Medical Admissions Virtual Fair on July 30.
This online event is an excellent platform to connect with prospective veterinary students actively engaged in the admissions process and those still exploring their options. For institutions looking to engage with VMCAS 2026 applicants, the fair provides a direct and efficient way to reach your future applicant pool and promote your programs.
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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.
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