The COVID-19 pandemic shook the world so completely that it also shook up conventional professional healthcare roles. Veterinarians mobilized to administer vaccines. Cross-professional teams organized to conduct collaborative research. People became more aware of “zoonotic” diseases that have the potential to cross over from animals to people.

In that sense, the pandemic was a powerful illustration of One Health, especially as it relates to combating infectious disease in the face of a global emergency.

January is One Health Awareness Month, which is designed to communicate the vital need for scientists and health professionals, including veterinarians, to work together at the intersection of human, animal, and eco-health. It highlights the mutual dependency of humans, animals and the environment and how to maximize cooperation and discovery.

In order to succinctly explain this important concept, a cadre of global organizations recently agreed upon a One Health definition, found here.

During January, stay tuned to the AAVMC’s social media as we recognize and highlight One Health Awareness Month.

You can follow our social media at the following links.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) recently announced the fiscal year 2021 Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP) awards. VMLRP provides up to $75,000 in loan repayment over a three-year period to help eligible veterinarians offset a significant portion of the debt incurred in pursuit of their veterinary medical degrees in return for their service in certain high-priority veterinary shortage situations. Funding is authorized by the National Veterinary Medical Services Act. In 2021, NIFA received 143 applications and made 78 awards totaling $7,558,227 in loan repayments. Learn more and get application information here.

Six AAVMC member schools are among seven schools recently awarded Education, Extension and Training (EET) grants under the Veterinary Service Grants Program (VSGP). The USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture also awarded 10 Rural Practice Enhancement grants, for a total of $2.9 million in grants, all designed to help mitigate food animal veterinary service shortages in the United States. Those earning EET grants include Colorado State University, the University of Illinois, Iowa State University, Kansas State University, the Ohio State University and Virginia Tech. The program is designed to support education and extension activities that will enable veterinarians, veterinary students, and veterinary technicians to gain specialized food animal skills and practices. The 2014 Farm Bill authorized the establishment of the VSGP as a companion to the Veterinary Medical Loan Repayment Program.