AVMA, AAVMC summit to address veterinary well-being cultureFebruary 19, 2018This spring, the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges, and Zoetis will present the Veterinary Wellbeing Summit 2018, Apr. 15-17 in Chicago to bring about well-being changes in the pforession. At this year's meeting, leaders within the veterinary medical community and other health professionals will gather to focus on strategies and resources for establishing a culture of well-being throughout the profession, according to the AAVMC. "The health and wellness challenges we face in veterinary medicine are real, they are serious, and they require a united and decisive response," said Andrew T. Maccabe, DVM, JD, MPH, AAVMC CEO. "We're gratified to see so many people and organizations working together to address this threat to our profession and the people and animals it serves." For more information or to register, click here.
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Veterinarians are mentally well but experience poor well-beingFebruary 17, 2018Veterinarians as a group don't experience psychological distress at significantly higher rates than the general population, according to a new mental health and well-being study by Brakke Consulting and Merck Animal Health. The Merck Animal Health Wellbeing Study, designed to definitively quantify the prevalence of mental illness and stress in the veterinary profession, compared findings to previous studies and to the U.S. population in general. The survey, which polled 3,540 American Veterinary Medical Association members (from a random sample of 20,000), is the first to measure well-being of such a large veterinary sample using the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale, which is widely used in assessing psychological distress among general and clinical populations. "This survey is unique in that, for the first time, a nationally representative sample of veterinarians in the U.S. were asked about their well-being, which is a broader measure of happiness and life satisfaction than mental health alone," said study investigator Linda Lord, Ph.D., DVM, academic and allied industry liaison lead for Merck Animal Health. One big takeaway is that 5 percent, or 1 in 20, of veterinarians struggle with serious psychological distress (roughly that of the employed general population). "The …
Human Animal Bond Certified now offered to veterinary professionalsFebruary 12, 2018 The Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI) and the North American Veterinary Community (NAVC) have unveiled Human Animal Bond Certified—a new certification course for practicing veterinarians, veterinary nurses, and veterinary practice managers. Through a series of online modules assembled by experts in the field of human-animal interaction science, veterinarians, veterinary nurses and veterinary practice managers can now develop a formal understanding of the research demonstrating the health benefits of pet ownership and human-animal interaction, and learn how best to use that knowledge in the practice of veterinary medicine. "Human Animal Bond Certified will become the new gold standard for veterinarians looking to engage their clients in a meaningful and effective way," said Tom Bohn, NAVC CEO. "Through an easy online interface that can be completed at an individualized pace, the Certification will support every aspect of a veterinary practice, from better client dialogue and compliance to improved financial performance." According to a recent HABRI pet owner survey, veterinarians are a trusted resource for scientific information on the human health benefits of pets, and vets have an opportunity to further strengthen their relationships with pet owners. When 2,000 pet owners were educated about the human health …
AVMA seeks help with livestock, public health vet shortageFebruary 5, 2018The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) is asking Congress to help with funding to reduce the number of regions across the nation that currently suffer from a shortage of livestock and public health veterinarians. The USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture has said that 187 regions are in need of staffing, and the AVMA points to threats to animal health and the livelihoods of farmers and ranchers as major reasons to fill the need. The solution is passage of the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program Enhancement Act, according to the organization. High debt loads—which reached $143,758 on average for 2016 graduates of veterinary colleges—can make it cost-prohibitive for young veterinarians to practice in rural areas, as rural salaries are often lower than those in urban areas. The federally funded loan repayment program mitigates the educational burden new vets feel by offering loan forgiveness to those who commit to serving at least three years in underserved areas. However, the program does not receive enough funding to meet the demand, in part because each award is subject to an expensive income withholding tax that sends the program's funding back to the government. The Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program …
AVMA provides association management to VMAEJanuary 19, 2018The American Veterinary Medical Association is now providing association management services to Veterinary Medical Association Executives (VMAE). Janet Donlin, DVM, CAE, AVMA executive vice president and CEO, officially welcomed the VMAE under the new arrangement during the AVMA Veterinary Leadership Conference in January. "Executives of state and allied associations contribute a tremendous depth of perspective and understanding of the issues facing our profession," said AVMA president Michael Topper, DVM, Ph.D. "This liaison is one more way we can work together to protect, promote, and advocate for the interests of the entire veterinary profession." Announcing the arrangement, Dr. Donlin discussed the role of state and allied association executives in the growth of veterinary medicine and the AVMA. "The state and allied executive directors of veterinary associations saw the benefits belonging to a professional association," Donlin said. "ASVMAE, now VMAE, was formed, and the rest is history." Other VMAE news Ralph Johnson, VMAE CEO, has joined the AVMA as director of special projects. He will continue to oversee the association management services the AVMA now provides to VMAE, and will assist the AVMA with initiatives focused on delivering products and services …
AVMA names keynote speaker for 2018 conventionDecember 18, 2017Shiza Shahid is to deliver the keynote address during the American Veterinary Medical Association annual convention to be held this year in Denver, July 13-17. Shahid, who grew up in Pakistan as a staunch advocate for social change and women's rights, went on to serve as founding CEO of the Malala Fund with Nobel Prize winner Malala Yousafzai, and is currently the host of USA Today's new show, ASPIREist. Named a Time Magazine 30 Under 30 World Changer and a Forbes 30 Under 30 Social Entrepreneur, Shiza is a prominent speaker on millennial and women's entrepreneurship. Through her seed fund, NOW Ventures, she supports mission-driven startups that strive to create positive global impact. The keynote address is free and open to all convention attendees and registered guests. Visit avmaconvention.org for more information.
Merck increases Veterinary Student Scholarship Program fundingNovember 16, 2017 Merck Animal Health (MAH) has announced an increase of $115,000 in funding for its Veterinary Student Scholarship Program. The program will provide $300,000 in scholarships to outstanding second- and third-year veterinary students in the 2017-18 academic year. This increased funding will support an additional 22 scholarships for students focusing on companion animals in the U.S., Canada, and the Caribbean. The MAH Veterinary Student Scholarship was established in 2013 in partnership with the American Veterinary Medical Foundation (AVMF). Scholarship recipients are selected annually based on academic excellence, financial need, leadership, and area of interest within the profession. MAH provided $185,000 to the scholarship program in the 2016-17 academic year. "These students are our future visionaries and will become the leaders of the veterinary profession," said Norman Stewart, DVM, livestock technical services manager for MAH. "Through this program, we are reinforcing our long-standing commitment to education, personal development, and the science of healthier animals. It also allows us to help support the cost of veterinary education, as well as recognize and celebrate the next generation of leaders." The AVMF, the charitable arm of the American Veterinary Medical Association, has supported …
New AVMA emergency info helps safeguard large animalsSeptember 18, 2017September is National Disaster Preparedness Month, and the importance of animal disaster planning has been made clear by recent hurricanes and wildfires. Livestock evacuations have been all too common, both on large and small scales. A new American Veterinary Medical Association website resource provides critical information that veterinarians can share with owners of horses, poultry, cattle, and other livestock to help them plan in advance to safeguard animals in the event of emergency. The new page, Large Animals and Livestock in Disasters, includes: Steps to prepare for quick action in emergencies Evacuation supply lists for horses, poultry and other livestock Information on proper identification of animals Suggestions to pre-arrange possible evacuation sites The AVMA also offers a range of other emergency planning resources for veterinarians and their clients: Emergency Planning Resources for Veterinary Practices Wildfire Smoke and Animals Pets and Disasters Emergency Contact Cards for Animal Owners
AVMA steps up efforts to aid victims of U.S. hurricanes, wildfiresSeptember 11, 2017For those seeking help and those offering to help in the face of hurricanes Harvey and Irma, as well as the numerous wildfires scorching vast swaths of the western U.S., the American Veterinary Medical Association created a comprehensive resource webpage as well as a pet evacuation kit at avma.org/PetReady. The AVMA is in constant contact with federal, state, and local agencies to provide the most comprehensive and up-to-date list of resources possible for veterinarians and other pet health professionals, according to the association. Information available includes: How to volunteer; Interactive maps depicting location of shelters and veterinary services; An updated map of current wildfires is being maintained by the USDA Forest Service; Tips to keep pets safe from wildfire smoke; created by the Oregon Veterinary Medical Association Hotlines and links for assistance and donations; and Links to resources for maintaining the health and wellbeing of both people and pets during and after a crisis
AVMA passes proposals on end-of-life care, SAVMA, allied groupsSeptember 5, 2017 The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) House of Delegates (HOD) approved a policy on end-of-life care for companion animals and approved bylaws amendments regarding the Student AVMA and allied veterinary organizations. The AVMA board of directors had submitted a revised version of the existing "Policy on Veterinary Hospice Care" to the HOD; delegates renamed the policy as "Veterinary End-of-Life Care" and made corresponding changes in the text of the policy. On recommendation of the AVMA steering committee on human-animal interactions, the policy now states that the AVMA endorses the 2016 guidelines on end-of-life care from the American Animal Hospital Association and the International Association for Animal Hospice and Palliative Care. The revised policy outlines the concept of veterinary end-of-life care as "the provision of palliative care (including medications) for the remainder of a pet's life followed by humane euthanasia if an acceptable quality of life can no longer be maintained." The policy specifies that advice on veterinary care should be provided only by veterinary professionals, and that veterinarians should be empowered as animal advocates in end-of-life care facilities for animals. The HOD approved a bylaws amendment paving the way for transfer of the student chapters …
