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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.
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