The AVMA's new career video, "Veterinary Medicine: It's More Than You Think," has been awarded top honors by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals. Additionally, the AVMA's public relations/crisis communications campaign during the pet food crisis was one of four finalists and received honorable mention in a competition sponsored by PR News.

The international Ava Awards are given by the AMCP to recognize outstanding work of creative individuals in the audiovisual field. It was announced in November that the career video had been chosen from approximately 1,700 entries to win two Avas: a platinum award in the Video/Film/Recruitment category and a gold award in the Video/Film/Non-profit category.

Then, in early December, the AVMA learned that it had earned status as a finalist and had been awarded honorable mention in the Crisis Management category of the PR News Nonprofit PR Awards competition. At the awards ceremony on Dec. 4, PR News representatives remarked that this year yielded the highest number of entries received.

The Association was recognized for its concerted, strategic effort, which included press releases, news stories, dedicated up-to-date Web space, coordination of various government agencies with veterinary professionals, and for the creation of the only searchable database of recalled products.

"I'm thrilled that others have formally recognized what I see every day," said J.B. Hancock, director of the AVMA Communications Division, following the ceremony. "Everyone who worked on these projects dedicated themselves to providing an end product that would reflect the top-tier quality, professionalism, and compassion of the veterinary community. These awards give that effort its rightful recognition."