The AAVMC is Turning Fifty

By Donald F. Smith, Cornell University

The AAVMC – Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges – came of age decades ago, but 2016 marks its 50^th anniversary and what a celebration it will be!

As part of the anniversary, the AAVMC is trying to build public awareness and support for academic veterinary medicine and the profession. The year-long national and grassroots communication campaign (2015-2016) will reach out to Congress, state legislatures, allied veterinary medical organizations and citizens. The celebration wraps up in Washington in March 2016 during a gala when they will announce the anniversary celebration's Grand Initiative.  With this to anticipate, the AAVMC launched its half-century celebration year at Washington’s Shoreham Hotel last weekend with a major three-day conference with 260 registrants.  

Founded in 1966 with fewer than two dozen US and Canadian veterinary colleges, the AAVMC has become an international organization. Current membership includes not only the 30 colleges and schools of veterinary medicine in the US and the five Canadian colleges, but the following international schools and colleges:

From Europe:

•         University of London
•         University College, Dublin
•         University of Edinburgh
•         University of Glasgow
•         University of Utrecht
•         VetAgro Sup (2)

From Australia and New Zealand:

•         Massey University
•         Murdoch University
•          University of Queensland
•          University of Melbourne
•          University of Sydney

From North America and the Caribbean:

•         Ross University
•         St. George’s University
•         Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico

The expansion in international members parallels the accreditation of many foreign veterinary programs during the last decade, some of which represent the truly elite veterinary programs in the world. This has greatly enriched the academic and cultural breadth of the US and Canadian colleges and of our educational and research programs. For example, during a two-hour interactive seminar on academic leadership held on the last day of this year’s conference, the deans at the University of Dublin and University of Sydney, both women, provided substantive ideas of how their respective colleges have successfully enhanced the role of women in prominent faculty and administrative positions. Interdigitated with parallel comments from deans and faculty at several US colleges made for a vibrant and energizing exchange. We all benefit from that discourse.

While some in this country express concern about the increasing internationalization of the US veterinary profession and propose to close the door on foreign accreditation, I think cutting us off from the world in this manner would be a serious mistake.  One senior member of the faculty at the University of Edinburgh (the quintessential beacon of international veterinary education and influence) told me last September when I was at a conference in London that the initiative by some in the US to constrain AVMA’s international accreditation efforts would plunge the US veterinary community into a second-tier world veterinary power.  Perhaps his comments reflected an overzealous choice of words, but make no mistake that the world is moving forward with or without us.

For me, I am immensely proud that the AAVMC is not only “on board”, but leading the way as we make the transition into the second half of our first century.

1. In addition, affiliate members include eight US departments of veterinary sciences (such as at the University of Arizona and University of Connecticut); seven US departments of comparative medicine (such as at Johns Hopkins and M.D. Anderson Cancer Center); and six international colleges of veterinary medicine (such as at Seoul National University and Central Luzon State University in the Philippines). Angell Memorial Medical Center in Boston is also an affiliate member. Guidelines for affiliate members are in the AAVMC bylaws, Article I (http://aavmc.org/data/files/about_aavmc/bylaws.pdf)

2.  Formed by the union, in 2010, of one of the oldest veterinary colleges in the world in Lyon, France (l’Ecole nationale veterinaire de Lyon), with two other related agricultural and veterinary programs.

Veterinary Euthanasia: Cultural Influences in Bangkok, Thailand

Posted December 1, 2011

Guest Author, Katherine Bibi

DVM Candidate 2015 (Cornell University)

During spring 2011, I traveled to four cities on three continents seeking to understand how various governments regulate their small animal veterinary clinics, if at all. Among my destinations was Bangkok, Thailand, where I spent an amazing two weeks working at Thonglor Pet Hospital. After arriving from Hanoi, Vietnam, where veterinary medicine was still in the early stages of development, I was unsure of what to expect in Bangkok. 

After only a few days of observing, I noticed something that astounded me: I had not seen one euthanasia procedure since my arrival. 

Thonglor Pet Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand
Photo by Author

Coming from an area in the U.S. where I was often used to seeing one or two euthanasia procedures each day, I questioned why this procedure was such a rarity.  Dr. Jakaphan Wannawong, one of the dermatologists at the Bangkok clinic, told me that he had euthanized only three pets over his entire career.

The veterinarians explained that euthanasia is rare, and there were some doctors who refused to perform it under any circumstances. The rationale was completely intertwined with their religious values and culture. The majority of the Thai people are Buddhist, and because of the value that the Buddhist religion places on life, euthanasia is avoided in the majority of cases.

The stark contrast between my experiences in the United States and Bangkok made me wonder if euthanasia is too frequently used in our culture as a “way out” rather than a last resort.  The Thai veterinarians were unwaveringly persistent in every case. For example, I saw them perform endless CPR on one dog and remove multiple tumors on a client’s hamster.

This begs the question: Does the elimination of euthanasia as a medical option compel the Thai veterinarians to provide better care and make them more determined to succeed? On the other hand, when does the value of life exceed the amount of suffering required to live such a severely compromised life?  Some patients received endless and uncertain palliative care while unable to stand and covered in pressure sores. At what point does it become important to compromise one’s beliefs and traditions for doing what may not be “acceptable”, but right?  This is a conflict that many of the Thai vets had to face.

Regardless of one’s position on euthanasia, it was obvious that Thonglor had the facilities to accommodate such extensive palliative care.  Though Thailand lacks the board certification program that exists in the U.S., the doctors’ specialty knowledge was impressive, and it was clear that each individual was motivated to learn more about his or her specific veterinary interest. This enthusiasm allowed for over 12 different specialty clinics within the Thonglor hospital, including a physical therapy clinic fitted with a hydrobath.  Though doctors informed me that Thonglor was more progressive than the average Thai clinic, I was astonished by how advanced the clinic was and how dedicated the veterinarians were to learning new procedures. 

Katherine Bibi is a first-year DVM student (Class of 2015)
at Cornell's College of Veterinary Medicine.
Photo provided by Author.

Though I had originally set out on my journey to determine how governments monitor and standardize the procedures of veterinary clinics, I soon realized that I was focusing on the wrong leading authority.  It became apparent that it was the culture of each region, rather than the protocols set forth by the government, that was at the heart of each clinic’s practices. Veterinary clinics aren’t run in totality by management, by the government, or by the desires of the clients; rather, they are guided by the customs of their people. 

If we as veterinary students choose to make an impact on the veterinary world, we must first understand the cultural values that lie within its foundation.