Past-President Dr. Douglas Freeman (left) passing the gavel to President Dr. Phillip Nelson.

New AAVMC leadership was installed, issues in academic veterinary medicine were considered and briefings were provided by top veterinary medical officials from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) during the AAVMC's summer meeting in Indianapolis. Dr. Phillip Nelson, dean of the Western University of Health Sciences College of Veterinary Medicine in Pomona, California, assumed the presidency of the AAVMC; Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine Dean Dr. Calvin M. Johnson assumed the duties of president-elect; and the Western College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan Dean Dr. Douglas A. Freeman transitioned to the immediate past-president position. University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine Dean Dr. Mark Markel continues as Treasurer, and North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine Dean Dr. Paul Lunn was named Secretary. Learn more.

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Creating more financial support for veterinary medical students through scholarships is one approach for reducing the debt-to-income ratio for recent graduates. That currently hovers around 2:1 and various organizations participating in the "Fix-the-Debt" initiative agree that a healthy target is 1.4:1. But recent research suggests there's work to be done. In 2015, AAVMC Senior Director for Institutional Research and Diversity Dr. Lisa Greenhill conducted a survey of scholarship resources and distributions, and that survey was repeated in 2017. Comparative results demonstrate essentially static trend-lines during a time when substantial growth is needed. Learn more.

Council on Education (COE) members recently elected new officers for 2017-2018. They are Chair, Dr. Patrick Farrell, a mixed animal private practitioner who owns two hospitals in western Pennsylvania and New York; Vice Chair, Dr. Caroline Zeiss, a professor at the Yale University School of Medicine; Chair of Evaluation Committee, Dr. Spencer Johnston, a professor at the University of Georgia; and Academic Affairs Committee Chair Dr. Heeyoung Han, an assistant professor at the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine. COE terms began during the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Convention this July and will end during the next convention in July 2018. Learn more.

The United Arab Emirates University Veterinary Medicine Department is the AAVMC's newest affiliate. Situated within the college of Food and Agriculture on the university's Al Ain campus, the training program which leads to a degree in veterinary medicine was established in 2013. Founded in 1976 by the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, UAEU is a comprehensive, research-intensive university which currently enrolls about 14,000 Emirati and international students. Affiliate status is available to colleges and schools of veterinary medicine that are planning to seek Council on Education accreditation, or to departments of veterinary science and comparative medicine. Learn more.

	NAVLM representatives pose for group photo.

AAVMC representatives met July 26 with other leaders from veterinary associations throughout North America at the annual North American Veterinary Leadership Meeting (NAVLM) in French Lick, Indiana. Chief Executive Officer Dr. Andrew Maccabe and President Dr. Phillip Nelson, dean of the Western University of the Health Sciences' College of Veterinary Medicine, presented remarks concerning AAVMC programs and issues in academic veterinary medicine. NAVLM includes the leadership of national veterinary associations in Canada, the U.S. and Mexico. The organization's goal is to consider issues and address challenges and opportunities facing the veterinary profession in North America. Learn more.

Little more than a year after being created to foster best practices in international academic veterinary medicine, the AAVMC's Council on International Veterinary Medical Education (CIVME) program is building momentum. CIVME is led by a group of international educators representing eight global regions (please see graphic) linked by monthly calls, digital communication and periodic meetings. So far, the group has worked on developing a strategic plan, published a quarterly newsletter, and awarded micro-grants to support investigations into shelter medicine and aquaculture. A recent survey gathered data on accreditation standards in various regions and perceptions regarding issues and challenges in veterinary medicine. Learn more.

	From left: Kemoni Moore, Dr. Lisa Greenhill, Demoni Knight

Opportunities for interprofessional education and collaboration made possible by the AAVMC's move to 655 K Street keep on surfacing. The most recent example: two Washington D.C. high school students participating in an Association of American Medical Colleges' (AAMC) internship experience got a taste of veterinary medicine as part of the process. The AAVMC was invited to collaborate with the AAMC on the internship, which is offered through the District of Columbia's Mayor Marion S. Barry Summer Youth Employment Program. The AAVMC's Senior Director for Institutional Research and Diversity Dr. Lisa Greenhill worked with the AAMC to host the students, who are both rising juniors from D.C.'s Friendship Collegiate Academy. Learn more.

The APLU's Board on Agriculture Assembly's budget and advocacy committee has launched the "Redefining American Agriculture for the 21st Century" video as part of efforts to market the nation's Land-Grant university system and increase federal support. Helping policymakers and the public understand the complexion of modern agriculture and the key role it plays in nourishing and protecting a healthy society is key to the AgAction campaign. The video highlights the role of science, technology and innovation in agriculture. The AAVMC works closely with the APLU on several issues and programs. Learn more.

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