The Department of Education's National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI) has recommended continued recognition of the AVMA Council of Education as the official accrediting body in academic veterinary medicine through the end of 2017. NACIQI review, analysis and recommendation is a key component of the USDE's five-year recognition cycle for accrediting organizations in higher education. The COE's last five-year recognition was granted in 2007. During the 2012 review, the USDE staff identified compliance issues concerning widespread acceptance of its standards, policies and procedures among stakeholders. Those issues have now been resolved. Learn more.

The AAVMC invites veterinary college faculty and students to share their work and ideas during the 2017 AAVMC Annual Conference & Iverson Bell Symposium, March 10-12, 2017, in Washington, D.C. The  Iverson Bell Symposium, held every two years, is named for the first African-American veterinarian to hold the position of vice-president in the American Veterinary Medical Association. Its goal is to promote diversity and inclusion in academic veterinary medicine and this year's conference  theme is "Building a Diverse Workforce to Serve Global Needs." Learn more.

About 200 veterinary medical educators and related stakeholders from around the world attended the AAVMC's Veterinary Educator Collaborative Conference at the University of Calgary in Alberta, Canada, in June. The teaching-focused event featured two pre-conference workshops, 21 workshops and 51 posters on a range of topics such as quality improvement and methods for teaching and assessing clinical skills, clinical communication skills, business skills and problem solving. Participants included representatives from the United States, United Kingdom, Europe, Australia and all of the Canadian veterinary medical schools. Learn more.

It was standing room only during a recent AAVMC Legislative Briefing on Capitol Hill titled "Deadly Mosquitoes and other Dangers: How Veterinary Medicine Can Improve Our Response to Zika and other Dangers." Some 60 legislative staffers and other officials - about twice the number expected - turned out to hear three leading scientists discuss the role veterinary medical research plays in protecting people from infectious diseases like Zika and influenza. They left the room with a broader understanding of just how interconnected animal health and human health are ... and always have been. Learn more.

The 2016 AAVMC Veterinary Health and Wellness Summit, "Reaching New Heights in Veterinary Wellbeing," will be held at Colorado State University Nov. 4-6, 2016. Conference presentation proposals are invited and the meeting is open for early registrations. This is the third symposium mounted to help address the growing body of evidence that veterinary students and practitioners experience high levels of stress, anxiety, and depression. These factors are known to impact productivity, career longevity, and enjoyment in practice. Learn more.

The AAVMC Board of Directors has changed the name of the "Executive Director" position to "Chief Executive Officer" (CEO) effective with the August Assembly meeting in San Antonio. The duties of the position, serving as chief staff officer with operational authority and responsibility for organizational management, will remain the same. The action was taken to better reflect current organizational trends in higher education and health professions associations such as the Interprofessional Education Collaborative (IPEC) and the Federation of Association of Schools of the Health Professions (FASHP) in Washington, D.C.

A powerful case for increased federal support for agricultural research has been made in the recently released " Retaking the Field" report, produced by the Supporters of Agricultural Research Foundation. The SoAR Foundation is an AAVMC partner organization that also advocates for full funding of the Agriculture Food and Research Initiative (AFRI). The report highlights several examples of critical work being accomplished at major U.S. research universities. But it also demonstrates how U.S. agricultural production is losing ground to China and other global competitors. Learn more.

Three leading international One Health groups, the One Health Commission, the One Health Initiative Autonomous pro bono Team, and the One Health Platform Foundation are partnering to create a global "One Health Day" on November 3, 2016. The organizers are encouraging individuals and groups from around the world to implement One Health oriented projects and special events under the auspices of "One Health Day." Learn more.

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Nature
Vet Diagnostic Lab gets $2 Million to Expand Services 
American Agriculturalist 
First 360-degree Virtual Reality Video for Veterinary Education Developed
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How Dr. Raelene Wouda is Helping Fight Cancer in Animals and Humans
Veterinary Practice News
Auburn Researchers are Helping Cure a Deadly Genetic Disease Using Sheep from Biblical Times
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USDA Launches One Health Web Portal
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Questions Linger After Avian Flu Outbreak
Emergency Management
Making Dreams a Reality for Today's Aspiring Veterinarians: An Interview with Dr. Chris Carpenter
Today's Veterinary Practice
Retired UF Professor Honored for Efforts to Promote Diversity in Veterinary Medicine
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Life Lessons: Cancer Research in Humans and Dogs
WFMZ  

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