September 2023

News

AAVMC is happy to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month


As a champion of Diversity, we advocate for increased representation in the profession and elevate our impact through varied backgrounds.


LatinX students make up 10% of US DVM students; it is the fast-growing population behind multiracial students. LatinX veterinarians make up approximately 4% of the profession.

 

The LatinX Veterinary Medical Association is a great affinity group. Connect here.

Upcoming Scholarship Opportunities



  • Diversity Leadership Scholarships—The Patricia M. Lowrie and the Merck Diversity Leadership Scholarships will be opening for nominations soon. These scholarships recognize the efforts of students providing leadership in the areas of diversity, equity and inclusion during the course of their DVM studies. As many as 20 students will be recognized with scholarships ranging from $6,000 to $10,000. The scholarships are open to 2-4 year DVM students. 


  • The Zoetis Foundation/AAVMC Veterinary Student Scholarship Program application period is also coming up. This scholarship program will provide financial support to veterinary students, addressing the issue of student debt and the need to foster diversity in the veterinary profession.


  • The AAVMC/Dr. Catherine A. Knupp Scholarship application period announcement will be forthcoming. This scholarship aims to encourage more students to pursue research in veterinary science and is named in honor of Dr. Catherine A. Knupp, who retired as Zoetis’ President of Research & Development in 2021. Commemorating her many contributions to scientific innovation as a veterinary scientist and leader in human and animal health research and development, the scholarship will award 2 recipients with $25,000 each.


  • AAVMC is partnering with Chewy Health to launch a Veterinary Leaders Scholar Program. More details will be shared in the upcoming months.


Stay tuned to aaavmc.org for more information on all opportunities and direction on how to apply.

Wellbeing

September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month and AAVMC extends information and support to maintain vital wellbeing in the workplace. Please access resources here.

Spectrum of Care Initiative

Getting to Know the Spectrum of Care Initiative Task Force Members

 

Since its inception, a task force of dedicated veterinary educators and practitioners have guided the AAVMC Spectrum of Care Initiative. After successfully securing a $1.3M grant from The Stanton Foundation, this group has worked hard to create the first version of the SOC Education Model, which lays the foundation for an outcomes-driven approach to integrating spectrum of care concepts into veterinary curricula. We are in the process of finalizing the details and will soon share the education model with the community.

 

Currently, the SOCI Task Force is working towards developing implementation guidelines that will provide CVMs with practical strategies and recommendations for enhancing spectrum of care training into their curricula. These guidelines will include approaches for identifying areas of strength and potential improvement in current spectrum of care training, documenting spectrum of care learning experiences and instructional strategies, and generating strategies to address any implementation barriers. 

 

To support this work, our SOCI task force has grown! Please take a moment to meet all our dedicated task force members, who are committed to driving positive change in veterinary education. Visit our website to learn more about each member's background and their contributions to SOCI. Continue reading to learn about the different projects that members are focusing on in various SOCI working groups and onsite events where you can join the conversation.

 

NEW: Change Agents Working Group

 

To support efforts towards developing implementation guidelines, we created a Change Agents working group. Members of this working group are participating in a virtual professional development course designed for change leaders in higher education. Hosted by the Pullias Center for Higher Education at the University of Southern California and facilitated by the leading experts in change management in higher education, this interactive course will provide valuable insights and tools for planning, refining, and implementing systemic change projects.

 

NEW: SOC Educators Working Group

 

Recognizing the importance of primary care rotations in providing students with the skills and confidence to practice across the Spectrum of Care, we are establishing the SOC Educators Working Group within SOCI. This group will engage clinical educators teaching in primary care rotations to discuss SOC-specific cases, clinical skills, and instructional strategies.

 

Pedagogy Working Group

 

This group is focused on developing a strategy for documenting the diversity of learning experiences and instructional strategies currently being used to foster students’ spectrum of care competence and confidence. The ultimate goal is to provide a centralized location for educators and programs to consult as a starting point when seeking to enhance their spectrum of care training. Additionally, this group will be refining the education model based on data from the process of mapping the SOC Education Model onto CVM curricula, as well as feedback from the AAVMC community. 

 

Workforce Working Group

 

The Workforce working group is made up of primary care practitioners from across the US. These practitioners provide insight into the realities of practice as well as the knowledge and skills that are essential to successfully offer a wide range of care options to a socioeconomically diverse clientele. This group will also help pilot a process for educators and practitioners to collaborate on the development of SOC learning resources. Input and feedback from this group are critical for making sure that the spectrum of care preparation that students receive aligns with workforce needs.

 

October Opportunities to Engage with SOCI

 

There are many exciting events happening in October, which provide great opportunities for the larger veterinary education community to interact with the SOCI Task Force. For those attending the Primary Care Veterinary Educators (PCVE) Symposium at the University of Florida in Gainesville, come check out our presentations during the Industry Carousel and Swap Shop on Friday, October 20. For those attending the Veterinary Educators Symposium at Texas Tech University in Amarillo, please join the SOC conversation during our town hall on Friday, October 27. These events provide a platform to learn, share, and collaborate with fellow educators who have been working hard to ensure veterinary students have the competence and confidence to offer a range of care options.

 

We are excited about the continued growth and progress of the Spectrum of Care Initiative and are deeply appreciative of the dedication and hard work of our task force members, continued support from the Stanton Foundation, as well as the support that the initiative receives from the veterinary education community.

Diversity and Inclusion

Webinar On Demand


It's nearly veterinary admissions time again. As a reminder, the VMCAS deadline is September 18th at 11:59pm.


Interested in learning more about AAVMC's research on veterinary school admissions and potential challenges with unconscious bias, be sure to visit AAVMC's two-part webinar series from 2022. The series explores evidence of unconscious bias in veterinary school admissions as well as data from an AAVMC study on admissions policies and practices and how they affect the applicant admissions experience. Visit AAVMC Learn to watch the recordings from September 2022. 

 

Two-Part Series focused on Admissions Practices and Applicant Impact is available On-Demand.

 

Series 1 - A conversation to discuss the Admissions Cycle for 2021 and Outcomes featuring Dr. Lisa Greenhill and guests Dr. Jim Lloyd, Consultant and Diana Dabdub, Director of Admissions and Recruitment Affairs


Series 2 - A conversation to discuss the findings of an AAVMC survey on Admissions Practices conducted in 2021 featuring Dr. Lisa Greenhill and guests Dr. Hilda Mejia Abreu, Michigan State University and Dr. Flo Tseng, Tufts University. 


  • Access the Webinars here.



Training Opportunities


Registration is now open for this fall's Unconscious Bias training! Register for one of the remaining 5 dates. The program is offered through AAVMC Learn and is free to members of the AAVMC community. This is a great opportunity for your search and admissions committee members to receive training. 


UNCONSCIOUS BIAS TRAINING SESSION DESCRIPTION

This 2-hour session focuses on understanding unconscious bias and its impact on decision-making. Participants will learn about how neuroscience, personal values, and group formation and dynamics influence everyone's decision-making. Small group work and interactive engagement help participants develop mitigation strategies for tackling unconscious bias. 


LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Upon completion of this session, participants should be able to do the following:

  • Understand the basic neuroscience of bias.
  • Be able to describe how personal values inform unconscious bias.
  • Be able to describe different kinds of bias.
  • Describe the two kinds of social groups.
  • Explain how bias operates within groups.
  • Describe strategies for mitigating unconscious bias.


Register here.

 

HILO CONTEXT COMMUNICATION SESSION DESCRIPTION

This 90-minute session focuses on understanding context communication and its impact on teams. Participants will learn about their own communication style, barriers to clear communication across context, and strategies for bridging varying styles across work teams. Register for one of the remaining 4 dates.

 

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Upon completion of this session, participants should be able to do the following:

  • Differentiate the types of cultural communication.
  • Examine personal communication styles and preferences.
  • Explain how leadership is impacted by this aspect of diversity.

Register here.

Purdue’s Certificate for Diversity and Inclusion in Veterinary Medicine



The Purdue University Certificate for Diversity and Inclusion in Veterinary Medicine is a fully-online course designed for everyone in the veterinary field who seeks to improve their communication, leadership, and cultural competency skills. We believe these skills are necessary to meet the needs of our increasingly diverse society and create work and learning environments that are welcoming and supportive for all.

 

The AAVMC provides matching funds for faculty, staff, interns, and residents at member institutions to complete Purdue’s Certificate for Diversity and Inclusion in Veterinary Medicine. Pay full price for one registration and get a second one for free. Registrant pairs must fall into the same category (faculty, staff, or intern/resident) and be registered at the same time.


AAVMC provides $10K annually in matching funds. The Buy One, Get One free funding is limited to 5 spots per institution. Please email us at hcvm@purdue.edu or visit our website humancenteredvetmed.org for more information.

Diversity & Inclusion On Air


Catch up on these recent episodes:


8/15/23 - Visionary Leadership with Dr. Wilie M. Reed, Dean, College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University



8/17/23 - Trauma-Informed Teaching with Drs. Lynn Maki and Christine Frank of University of Wisconsin-Madison, School of Veterinary Medicine


9/6/23 - Demographic Data with Dr. Roderick J. Gilbert, Penn Vet, Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer


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.

Professional Development

Call for abstracts for the 2024 AAVMC Annual Conference and Iverson Bell Symposium, April 11-13, 2024 in Washington, DC


The AAVMC is seeking proposals in the following topics: 


  • Climate change education
  • Iverson Bell Symposium (DEI)
  • Spectrum of Care (SOC) Symposium
  • Admissions
  • Wellbeing
  • Topics in Education (i.e. assessment, CBVE, etc.) 


The deadline has been extended through September 26th, submit abstracts here.

CIVME Grant Program Accepting Applications


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 will open on Friday, September 15th and receive applications through December 6th, 2023. For more information on the CIVME grant program, visit our website.


The announcement of selected grantees will be made at the 2024 AAVMC Annual Conference in Washington, DC.

 

Leadership Academy


The 2023-24 AAVMC Leadership Academy kicked off this week in Denver, Colorado! AAVMC Leadership Academy offers the unique opportunity for emerging leaders in academic veterinary medicine to build lasting ties through several virtual and in-person meetings, training sessions and networking events.

 

The purpose of AAVMC Leadership Academy is to foster the development of enlightened, progressive, adaptable, and competent leaders and ensure the health, vitality, sustainability, and relevance of the veterinary profession to effectively serve society.

 

 

Learn more about AAVMC Leadership Academy and read testimonials from past participants here: https://www.aavmc.org/programs/faculty-educators/leadership/leadership-academy/




AAVMC Leadership Academy

2023-2024 Cohort

Leaders working together

Members of cohort at Cooking Class social activity

Reminders

Primary Care Veterinary Educators (PCVE) - October 18-21, 2023 - Register now!


AAVMC VetCAN Small Animal Predominant Virtual Career Fair - October 21st - Register now!


Veterinary Educator Symposium (VES) - October 27-28, 2023 - Register now!


AAVMC VetCAN Large Animal and Public Sector Virtual Career Expo - November 18th, 2023 - Register Now!


Deans Leadership Conference - By Invitation - January 11-13, 2024


AAVMC Annual Conference & Iverson Bell Symposium - April 11-13, 2024, Washington, DC

People In Motion

- Dr. Henry Annandale is now the Dean and Head of the School of Veterinary Medicine at Murdoch University.


-Professor Rory Breathnach is the new Dean and Head of the UCD School of Veterinary Medicine, Dublin effective September 1st.

Veterinary Medicine in the News

Zoetis Foundation grants aim to advance opportunities for veterinarians and livestock farmers

DVM360

 

Anti-Vax Trend May Harm Pet Dogs, With Half of Owners Against Immunization

U.S. News & World Report

 

Murray State staff, students excited by possible creation of school of veterinary medicine at university

WPSD

 

Critter Fixers stars: Representation matters in veterinary medicine

DVM360

 

Lawmakers Form First-Ever Senate Veterinary Medicine Caucus

EquiManagement

 

Budding researchers gather at Veterinary Scholars Symposium

AVMA

 

FDA pet food investigation: What to know about diet-related heart disease

NBC News

 

American Animal Hospital Association Announces Partnership With Korean Veterinary Medical Association And Welcomes Newly Certified Clinics In Japan

AAHA


A proliferation of newly proposed veterinary colleges

AVMA

  

From Our Members


Emergency colic surgery at UF during Hurricane Idalia saves horse’s life

University of Florida

 

Gender disparities in veterinary internships, residencies stem from unbalanced opportunities

Cornell University

 

K-State veterinarians to develop vaccines for cattle and swine diseases with new grants

Kansas State University

 

OSU Veterinary Medicine empowers future One Health researchers through summer program

Oklahoma State University

 

Ribbon Cut for MSU CVM Animal Emergency & Referral Center

Mississippi State University

 

Purdue Veterinary Medicine Shines at Art Museum’s Annual Art, Bark, and Brew

Purdue University

 

Powerful MRI at MSU first of its kind in a veterinary hospital

Michigan State University

 

MU study supports strong link between respiratory and digestive diseases

University of Missouri 


Veterinary Research Day Celebration

Tuffs University


Owner Revives Dog with CPR After Drowning

UC Davis


 To see a news feed featuring breaking news from our member institutions, please click here

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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.

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