June 2020
AAVMC Joins FASHP Organizations in Denouncing Racism, Affirming Principles of Inclusion
In the wake of recent events of police brutality, AAVMC moved quickly to publicly reaffirm its Principles of Inclusion by sharing a message with more than 3,000 stakeholders. Over the past week, nearly every member of the Federation of Associations of the Health Professions (FASHP) has issued a statement denouncing racism and affirming their positions on diversity and inclusion, according to CEO Dr. Andrew T. Maccabe, who is also president of FASHP. “Racism is a public health issue,” said Maccabe. “Health professions education associations must come together to combat the injustice that denies people their humanity, jeopardizes their safety, and cheats them out of their best health. African Americans and other members of communities of color live with these threats daily.” Click here to view excerpts of statements from other FASHP organizations.
APLU & AAVMC Establish Gene-Editing in Animal Agriculture Task Force
The Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) and the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) have established a Gene Editing Task Force. Recognizing the potential for gene editing to increase food security and safety, the 11-person panel is comprised of scientists and industry leaders who will map out recommendations for regulating this emerging genomic technology in animal agriculture with appropriate safeguards and procedures. “This is a very promising area of biotechnology that has the potential to unleash enormous progress in terms of food production and security,” said Dr. Noelle Cockett, President of Utah State University and a renowned geneticist who is leading the task force. Learn more .
AAVMC Cancels Summer 2020 Meeting in San Diego
The AAVMC has cancelled its 2020 summer meeting that was originally scheduled for presentation in San Diego. The meeting is scheduled in conjunction with the AVMA’s annual meeting, is open to all AAVMC members and generally features a series of speakers sharing information on current issues and topics in academic veterinary medicine. Because the AVMA was forced to cancel the 2020 AVMA Annual Conference as a result of the COVID-19 global pandemic, the AAVMC elected to cancel its summer meeting as well. The Board of Directors will convene for a virtual meeting in July.
Guidelines and Considerations for Re-engaging Veterinary Medical Students in Clinical Rotations During the COVID-19 Pandemic
AAVMC member institutions have worked closely together throughout the COVID-19 pandemic to identify best practices, adapt and successfully deliver their academic programs during the crisis environment. One of the most challenging areas to address has been in the area of providing clinical educational experiences for upper level students conducting clerkships in university teaching hospitals, affiliated clinical sites and externships. The AAVMC’s “ Guidelines and Considerations for Re-engaging Veterinary Medical Students in Clinical Rotations During the COVID-19 Pandemic” is intended to provide informed guidance to member institutions. Individual colleges and schools must act in accordance with university policies, as well as national, state and local regulations developed to contain and mitigate the public health crisis. Learn more.
AAVMC to Offer Virtual Veterinary Summer Scholars Symposium August 4-6
This summer the AAVMC, with support from Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health, will be offering a virtual Veterinary Summer Scholars Symposium as a culminating experience for the Veterinary Summer Scholars Programs. The program will feature virtual poster sessions to allow students to network and share their research. The AAVMC, along with our sponsors at Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health, are excited to offer a space for those students who have been able to continue with research in spite of the challenges. Information on the program and updates can be found on the website . Pre-registration is available now for students interested in submitting posters to reserve space and we are grateful for AVMA’s continued support of the abstract submission process. The full registration and the abstract submission site will open on June 22. Abstract submissions will close on July 15. For more information, click here .
Nomination Period Open for New, Hybrid 2020–2021 AAVMC Leadership Academy
In response to ongoing public health concerns, the AAVMC will transition the Leadership Academy from a series of three in-person sessions to online programming followed by an in-person capstone experience in March 2021. Online programming will focus on small group workshops and networking and will include the full breadth of content provided during the in-person sessions. The in-person capstone session will be held March 1-3, 2021 in Washington, D.C. immediately prior to the start of the AAVMC Annual Conference. “As we have transitioned all of our learning platforms to a virtual world, we have adapted to many challenges, but equally have found a number of hidden opportunities to engage and expand our educational reach and impact,” said Leadership Academy Director Dr. Rod Bagley, chair of the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences at the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Click here to learn more.
Wellbeing Experts Focus on Pandemic Impact on Students
The COVID-19 pandemic has been devastating in terms of mortality, morbidity and economic impact. But the virus has also exacted another insidious toll: emotional health and wellbeing. AAVMC Senior Director for Institutional Research and Diversity Dr. Lisa Greenhill recently focused an edition of her acclaimed podcast “Diversity & Inclusion On Air” on “Student Wellbeing in the Midst of the Pandemic.” Guests included AAVMC Director for Wellbeing Makenzie Peterson and Dr. Elizabeth Strand of the University of Tennessee. The experts explored a range of issues and coping strategies for students functioning in a completely changed learning environment and job market. Click here to access the podcast.
A One Health Approach to Dealing with the Pandemic
Different aspects of the collaboration between human and veterinary medicine in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic are being explored in a novel new podcast series featuring the deans of the Schools of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine at the University of California Davis. In the “Deans Discuss: COVID-19” video podcast, hosts Allison Brashear, dean of the School of Medicine, and Michael D. Lairmore, dean of the School of Veterinary Medicine, examine the collaboration taking place across UC Davis. New editions of the podcast air by 3 p.m. on Monday afternoons. The first episode focused on testing aired June 8. This and future episodes are available on the Deans Discuss: COVID-19 website. Learn more.
AAVMC 2021 Annual Conference Call for Proposals
The Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) is soliciting presentation proposals for faculty and students at member institutions to share their work and ideas during the Catalyze 2021 Conference, March 4-6, 2021 in Washington, D.C. Proposals for educational sessions should be submitted no later than September 11, 2020. The theme of our 2021 conference is “Catalyze 2021: Connect & Innovate in the Face of Global Challenges.” Following extensive work with a respected meeting and conference management consulting firm, the AAVMC is introducing some exciting changes this year. Find detailed information regarding proposal submissions here.
VMHP Transitions into New AVWP
Following the establishment of a full-time AAVMC Director of Wellbeing position and the recruitment of Makenzie Peterson, the former Veterinary Mental Health Professionals (VMHP) group has been restructured and transitioned into the new Academic Veterinary Wellbeing Professionals (AVWP). AVWP is a component of the AAVMC Academic Affairs Committee. AAVMC has expanded the scope of their wellbeing programming to encompass students, staff, residents/interns, faculty, and leadership, and Peterson is now developing a systems-oriented, community-based approach to improving wellbeing for all of academic veterinary medicine. Learn more.
CBVE Working Group Call for Volunteers Deadline June 15
The AAVMC Competency-Based Veterinary Education Working Group is seeking nominations of individuals with passion for, and the time to commit to, advancing excellence in veterinary education. Volunteers are being sought for the Research, Educator & Curricular Development, and Advocacy groups. For more information about the opportunity, please click here. Interested faculty from AAVMC member institutions are invited to submit a one-page letter expressing their interest, a brief CV targeted to the criteria listed in this “Call for Volunteers” document, and an administrative letter of institutional support for time and travel expense. Questions about the opportunity may be directed to CBVE co-chairs Dr. Jennie Hodgson ( jennieh@vt.edu) and Dr. Kristin Chaney ( kchaney@cvm.tamu.edu).
CIVME Welcomes New Council Members
A number of new members have joined the Council for International Veterinary Medical Education (CIVME) as several founding members have completed their terms of service. The CIVME Council also elected Dr. Martin Cake from Murdoch University in Australia as Chair and Dr. Ehab Abu-Basha of the Jordan University of Science & Technology as Chair-elect. Dr. Abu-Basha is expected to assume the role of Chair in 2021-22. CIVME council members are selected from nominees in recognition of their high level of engagement in veterinary education, and their regional and international connections within the global veterinary education community. Council members must have an active association with a veterinary education establishment, but do not need to be from an AAVMC member institution. Learn more.
Cain Discusses Research Program Implications of COVID-19 at NCFAR
AAVMC Governmental Affairs Director Kevin Cain recently presented remarks on how the COVID-19 emergency was affecting university research at member institutions during the virtual annual meeting of the National Coalition for Food and Agricultural Research. Much of the ongoing research in university laboratories has been disrupted by the pandemic for a variety of reasons, he said, including the evacuation of many workplaces to comply with required social distancing programs. Many university laboratories have also geared up to focus on developing diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to the COVID-19 pandemic, and faced unreimbursed expenses for supplies used for human testing. Learn more.
Academic Veterinary Medicine in the News

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From Our Members

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To see a news feed featuring breaking news from our member institutions, please  click here . 
People in Motion

 Dr. John August will become Interim Dean of the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, effective July 1. He replaces Dr. Eleanor Green, who joins the Animal Policy Group.

Dr. Lorin D. Warnick , the Austin O. Hooey Dean of Veterinary Medicine at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, has been appointed to a second five-year term, effective July 1, 2021.

Dr. Bonnie Boudreaux, Associate Professor of Veterinary Oncology, has been named Associate Dean of Academic and Student Affairs at the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine, effective July 1, 2020.

Dr. Shelley Newman is now Associate Dean of Academic Affairs at Long Island University.

Dr. Karen Inzana is now Associate Dean for Student Affairs and Outcomes Assessment at Long Island University.

Dr. Vanessa Barrs, Associate Dean and Director of Veterinary Affairs, replaced Dr. Shuk Han on Academic Affairs, Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences at City University of Hong Kong.

Dr. Sheng Chenm, Associate Dean of Research, replaced Dr. Dirk Pfeiffer at Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences at City University of Hong Kong.
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