|
AAVMC Partners with Chewy Health to Launch New Veterinary Scholarship
AAVMC is excited to announce that Chewy Health, the dedicated healthcare arm of Chewy, will be providing $300,000 in scholarships to underserved veterinary students. The Chewy Veterinary Leaders Program will reward fifteen third-year students with a $20,000 scholarship paid directly to their educational institution via the AAVMC. The program looks to help increase representation within the veterinary profession by working with individuals from underserved groups and communities who might otherwise have limited access to these types of resources.
"We are excited to offer this new scholarship opportunity in partnership with Chewy Health. As a champion for diversity and inclusion focused on advancing the veterinary medical profession, this funding will be instrumental in helping us further education and representation in the profession,” says Dr. Andrew T. Maccabe, CEO of AAVMC.
Read more on the official press release here.
This opportunity is open to qualified students at U.S. AAVMC Member Institutions. Applications can be submitted here.
| |
2024 Diversity Leadership Scholarships available
AAVMC will again offer Diversity Leadership Scholarships in partnership with Merck Animal Health.
The application process closes January 15, 2024, at 11:59pm EST. All applications must be fully submitted by January 15th to qualify. Learn more and submit applications here.
| |
|
2024 Zoetis Foundation/AAVMC Veterinary Student Scholarship
This scholarship was developed to offset educational expenses related to attaining a veterinary education. The program focuses on addressing the issue of student debt and the need to foster diversity in the profession – issues that greatly impact the future of the veterinary profession. 263 scholarships worth $7,000 each will be awarded. The program provides equal opportunity for applicants, regardless of location, by using total student enrollment at each veterinary school as a means of determining the available number of scholarships per school.
Applications can be submitted through December 6th here.
| |
|
AAVMC Annual Award Nominations due November 17th
AAVMC grants various awards to inspire and recognize professional excellence in academic veterinary medicine. The following awards are open for receiving nominations: AAVMC Excellence in Research Award; Billy E. Hooper Award for Distinguished Service; AAVMC Distinguished Veterinary Teacher Award Presented by Zoetis; and the AAVMC Iverson Bell Award.
All 4 awards will be presented at the 2024 Annual Conference and Iverson Bell Symposium. Submit nominations by November 17th at 11:59PM EST here.
| |
|
AAVMC and the Academy of Veterinary Educators (AVE) announce founding member cohort
The American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) in partnership with the Academy of Veterinary Educators (AVE) is pleased to announce its founding members to oversee the Academy Certified Expert Educator credential.
Read the official press release here.
| |
Spectrum of Care Initiative | |
|
Learning from Veterinary Educators to Advance Spectrum of Care:
October 2023 Event Highlights and Insights from
the Spectrum of Care Initiative
The month of October was filled with exciting opportunities for the Spectrum of Care Initiative (SOCI) to connect with and learn from the dynamic veterinary educator community. These interactions have been instrumental in advancing the initiative’s mission of preparing veterinary graduates to practice broadly across the spectrum of care options.
Primary Care Veterinary Educators Symposium
From October 18th-21st, the SOCI Task Force participated in the Primary Care Veterinary Educator (PCVE) Symposium, hosted by the University of Florida. This gathering convened faculty and staff who provide instruction and training in companion animal primary care. By virtue of working in primary care, these educators have invariably focused on preparing students to provide a wide range of care options. Therefore, a critical goal of AAVMC’s SOCI is to learn from them and understand their achievements and challenges in this space. One of the initiative’s newest working groups, the SOCI Educator Working Group, met during the event to brainstorm ways of collectively collaborating towards a potential SOC Library consisting of shared resources available to all educators striving to enhance SOC training in their curriculum. Stay tuned for updates on the development of the SOC Library!
During the symposium, the SOCI provided an update on the progress made by the Task Force in developing the SOC Education Model, which incorporates SOC-specific sub-competencies and learning outcomes within the Competency-Based Veterinary Education (CBVE) framework. The initiative also sought insights from this community about the most crucial next steps in implementing curricular changes within their own institutions. The group offered valuable feedback on the SOC Education Model and shared their ideas on preparing students to meet the SOC sub-competencies.
The enthusiasm and dedication of the PCVE community were truly inspiring. These educators are making remarkable strides in student preparation for SOC practice, and their willingness to share their experiences and feedback is greatly appreciated. Dr. Liddy Alvarez, chair of the PCVE Leadership Team, a SOCI Task Force member, and Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, stated, "We were delighted to have members of SOCI actively participating in this year’s PCVE Symposium. As primary care educators, we deeply believe in teaching students how to consider the needs and barriers of the families they work with and to present multiple diagnostic and treatment options to clients in a non-judgmental way. The SOCI Team successfully introduced their initiative and created multiple open opportunities (through our Industry Carousel and Swap Shop sessions) for our members to dig deeper and feel supported and engaged. We are excited to implement these initiatives into our curriculum and we are looking forward to working with this SOCI Team in the future."
Academic Affairs Committee Leadership Event and Retreat
As part of the Veterinary Educator Symposium (VES) pre-conference events, the SOCI hosted a Leadership Event and Retreat for members of the Academic Affairs Committee in Amarillo, Texas, from October 25th-26th. This gathering provided professional development, networking opportunities, and a chance for colleagues to connect and acknowledge their collective contributions to AAVMC's mission.
During the professional development sessions, the Task Force provided a detailed update on the SOCI and facilitated a discussion on strategies and challenges of making curricular changes. This discussion led into an interactive session on “Making Changes in Higher Education” facilitated by Dr. Susan Elrod, Chancellor at the University of Indiana South Bend, an experienced biology professor, university administrator, and national leader in STEM higher education and systemic change leadership.
Dr. Elrod shared the Change Leader Toolkit as a valuable resource for the participants and guided an interactive discussion with the group. The afternoon sessions were hosted at the Amarillo Botanical Gardens, and included facilitated breathing and yoga techniques, honey and wine tasting, chair massages, holiday mosaic crafts, and multiple opportunities for touring the gardens and speaking with friends and colleagues. Dr. Amanda House, Associate Dean of Academic and Student Affairs at University of Florida, and incoming chair of the AAVMC Academic Affairs Committee said of the event, “I am incredibly grateful for this incredible group of collaborative colleagues, as we all share common goals and challenges in veterinary education. It is truly a uniquely supportive group, and I sincerely appreciate AAVMC facilitating the opportunity to spend time in person with our committee.”
Dr. Robert Gilbert, the current chair of the AAVMC Academic Affairs Committee, added, “During a reception, at meals and while enjoying activities at the local Botanic Garden, participants had the opportunity to learn to know each other and to benefit from perspectives and experience of talented colleagues confronting remarkably similar challenges at diverse institutions. These exchanges ultimately benefit all schools, and veterinary education generally.”
The SOCI was proud to host this event for the AAVMC Academic Affairs Committee which was intended not only to provide networking and professional development experiences. It was also intended to thank this community for their work in supporting students, faculty, and staff while leading effective and innovative changes in the curriculum that continuously enhances the delivery of veterinary healthcare and improves the lives of our patients and clients.
| |
AAVMC’s Academic Affairs Committee members at the Amarillo Botanical Gardens | |
|
Veterinary Educator Symposium
From October 27th-28th, we joined the Veterinary Educator Symposium at Texas Tech University. This unique symposium brought together a diverse array of participants, including deans, associate deans, faculty, technicians, and non-academic community members, who aim to tackle significant challenges in veterinary education.
As part of our commitment to supporting the SOC community, we conducted a SOCI Town Hall to gather feedback on the support that programs need to integrate SOC elements into curricula and to understand the challenges faced by educators in preparing students for SOC practice.
The SOCI also provided travel support to four distinguished keynote speakers who spoke on topics that advance the mission of the Spectrum of Care Initiative:
- Dr. Greg Wolfus, Associate Clinical Professor at Tufts University and director of Tufts at Tech Community Veterinary Clinic, shared his experiences on how collaboration, education, and community medicine intersect in serving underserved pets.
- Dr. Sola Adesope, Boeing Distinguished Professor of STEM Education and College of Education’s Associate Dean for Research & External Funding at Washington State University-Pullman, discussed the pivotal role of meta-analyses in advancing evidence-based educational and clinical practices.
- Dr. Susan Elrod, Chancellor at the University of Indiana South Bend, and experienced biology professor, university administrator, and national leader in STEM higher education and systemic change leadership, highlighted the utilization of the Change Leader Toolkit to support higher education institutions seeking transformative changes.
- Dr. John Tegzes, Interim Dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine at Western University, Professor of Toxicology, and Director of Western University’s Interprofessional Practice & Education program, delved into how systems-based practice and interprofessional teams can enhance our ability to meet the needs of future veterinarians.
Throughout these events, our primary goal remains to provide resources and support for those committed to enhancing their SOC pedagogy. We deeply appreciate the valuable insights and feedback shared during these conversations, and we look forward to our continued collaboration with the veterinary educator community.
| |
|
AAVMC Technical Competencies Webinar
The Technical Competencies webinar hosted by AAVMC in September is now available for viewing through AAVMC Learn. There you will find the fully captioned video, the exemplar document, and a chapter on technical competencies.
The Exemplar Technical Competencies document can also be viewed here.
| |
|
Diversity & Inclusion On Air
Catch up on these recent episodes:
10/30/23 - DEI and AVMA with Dr. Latonia Craig, Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer, AVMA
10/17/23 - Women Leaders in Academia with Dr. Lisa Mednick Takami
Tune in for a replay of past episodes here.
Don't forget to subscribe to the Podcast to connect with the latest conversation around VetMed. The Podcast is available on Spotify, Soundcloud, Apple Podcasts and YouTube.
| |
|
Save the Date for the AAVMC Annual Conference and Iverson Bell Symposium, April 11-13, 2024 ,The Grand Hyatt, Washington, DC
Stay Tuned for Registration Details
| |
Image courtesy of hyatt.com | |
|
CIVME Grant Program Application
The Council on International Veterinary Medical Education (CIVME) is an initiative of the American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC), which intends to promote and share best practices in veterinary medical education around the world. The CIVME Research Grant is open and will receive applications through December 6th, 2023. For more information on the CIVME grant program and to apply, visit here.
The announcement of selected grantees will be made at the 2024 AAVMC Annual Conference in Washington, DC.
| |
|
Primary Care Veterinary Educator Symposium
The Primary Care Veterinary Educator Symposium was held on October 19th-21st and was hosted by the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine in Gainesville. The event was sponsored by Hill’s, Boehringer Ingelheim, IDEXX, and AAVMC’s SOCI.
The Primary Care Veterinary Educator Symposium is an annual event that brings together veterinary educators across the globe to share innovations in educational research and practice. This year, the program included sessions, posters and workshops covering timely and clinically relevant topics in primary care veterinary education. In attendance were 97 primary care educators and industry representatives representing 49 institutions, corporations, and organizations. The program began with an interactive workshop led by the keynote speaker: Dr. James Nixon, MD, MHPE from the University of Minnesota, Professor of Medicine and Vice Chair of Education, Department of Medicine, who presented on Maximizing Learning in the Clinical Environment. Sessions following included presentations from veterinary colleges highlighting the primary care programs at Lincoln Memorial University and the University of California-Davis, as well as research presentations and poster sessions describing projects involving innovations in primary care pedagogy. The agenda throughout the symposium intentionally allowed for opportunities for small group collaboration and networking, including multiple “Swap Shop” and “Industry Carousel” activities designed for attendees to discuss relevant topics with others experiencing similar challenges and to share triumphs.
Discussions throughout the symposium focused on challenges to primary care education and innovative solutions to enhance student preparedness for the realities of day one practice. Elizabeth Alvarez, the chair of the AAVMC PCVE community, shared her thoughts, “Teaching primary care curriculum in hospitals predominantly staffed with specialists can be daunting for general practice-trained educators. Our PCVE members strive to create a supportive environment by providing mentorship so the amazing members of this group can reach (and exceed) their potential. These primary care educators are making lasting impacts on our students, and it is imperative to support them in their efforts of not only training day-one ready practitioners, but also their endeavors in research, outreach, and leadership.”
The program concluded with tours of the facilities Saturday morning led by University of Florida students, and finally, an interactive session discussing future PCVE initiatives. The Shelter Veterinary Medicine Educators held a meeting directly following on Saturday afternoon. The Primary Care Veterinary Educator community will continue working together to address challenges in veterinary education and identify solutions that continue to inspire and promote excellence in academic veterinary medicine. Stay tuned to hear more updates on how this community strives towards shaping a better future for the academic veterinary medical community worldwide.
| |
|
Veterinary Educator Symposium
The AAVMC, the Academy of Veterinary Educators (AVE), and Texas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine partnered to offer the Veterinary Educator Symposium (VES) October 27th and 28th in Amarillo, Texas.
The program included sessions, abstracts and workshops covering a wide spectrum of topics in veterinary education. In attendance were 173 educators representing 47 institutions, corporations, and organizations. Included in the program were four keynote speakers: Greg Wolfus, Tufts University, presented on community engagement based upon experiences in the Tufts at Tech program; Susan Elrod, Indiana University, South Bend, spoke on change management in higher education; Olusola Adesope presented on the use of meta-analyses in advancing clinical medicine and education, and John Tegzes discussed the role of inter-professional education in veterinary education. Texas Tech students led tours of the facilities on Friday morning, and posters were highlighted in a session on Friday evening.
“It's so important for us veterinary educators to come together and share research and knowledge related to veterinary education,” said Pippa Gibbons, associate professor of food animal medicine and surgery.
On that Saturday, 32 Distinguished Educators, the first cohort of veterinary educators credentialed by AVE, were honored in a ceremony. This cohort included veterinarians, academics, technicians, and educators, all working in the veterinary education space. This initial cohort is leading the development of the next steps in the credentialing process. The credentialing committee anticipates calling for applications for educator credentialing in spring, 2024.
| |
COWBEL meeting at Texas Tech University
Over sixty individuals met at Texas Tech University (TTU) on Sunday October 29th at the 10th annual COWBEL meeting. The meeting was hosted by TTU and supported and sponsored by the American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC). The Consortium of Workplace-Based Education and Learning (COWBEL) consists of faculty from 15 international universities involved in an educational model referred to as community based, workplace based or distributed. COWBEL’s mission is to develop and share best practices in workplace-based education. More information on COWBEL may be found at www.COWBEL.org.
A brief overview of COWBEL was provided by Executive Director, Dr. John Weale. A current project of developing and educating the veterinary workplace-based clinical educator was described. A group of educators from the University of Arizona (Drs. Stanley Robertson, Don Rollins and Tina Tran) shared with attendees information regarding competency based student evaluation using Entrustable Professional Activities in clinical workplace-based settings. Texas Tech University’s own Dr. Britt Conklin provided a fascinating overview of the TTU program including its mission and development. The development of the clinical year program and educational site selection was discussed. The novel food animal program was highlighted stressing the importance of building relationships and partnerships with others in veterinary industry.
COWBEL appreciates the support of TTU and the AAVMC in having this opportunity.
COWBEL plans to meet next at VMX2024 in Orlando Florida on January 14. Meeting topics are being finalized and include updates on practice quality assurance methodologies, clinical educator education and training, and a host of other topics regarding veterinary workplace-based clinical education.
| |
Admissions and Recruitment | |
The VMCAS 2024 cycle closed on September 19, 2023. The VMCAS 2024 cycle experienced a more significant growth than initially expected, with a 5.8% increase in the number of applicants (11,508) and an 11.9% rise in the number of applications submitted (66,966). Applicants continue to apply to more programs than in prior years, averaging to 5.8 schools applied to. There were no significant changes in the application system, and we added one new program in VMCAS this cycle, the University of Liverpool. The number of applicants seeking admission to veterinary colleges continues to remain strong. | |
Veterinary Medicine in the News | |
Check us out on Instagram; Facebook; Twitter; YouTube and LinkedIn | |
|
|
The AAVMC is working hard 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.
Sign up to receive the Vet-Med Educator in your inbox here. See past issues here.
Sign up here to receive FOCUS, a bi-annual newsletter that examines prominent issues in academic veterinary medicine. See past issues here.
Sign up for our Advocacy newsletter here. Read past issues here.
| |
|
American Association of Veterinary
Medical Colleges
202-371-9195
655 K Street, NW, Suite 725
Washington, D.C., 20001
www.aavmc.org
[email protected]
| |
| | | |
