Golden anniversary for AAVMC

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The Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges launched its 50th anniversary celebration during its Annual Conference, held March 13-15 in Washington D.C., with the theme of “Fifty and Forward.”

“What we hope to do with this celebration is illuminate the critical role that academic veterinary medicine is playing in the modern world and build greater awareness and support for what we do,” said Dr. Ralph Richardson, dean of the Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine and chair of a 12-member 50th Anniversary Planning Committee that has been working for more than a year to develop the project.

Artist John Ahee (left) unveils his painting commissioned for the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges’ 50th anniversary celebration, along with Dr. Trevor R. Ames, AAVMC 2014-2015 president, and Jeffrey Douglas, AAVMC senior communications consultant. (Courtesy of AAVMC)

The yearlong celebration will wrap up at the March 2016 AAVMC Annual Conference—the 50th year of service (1966-2016). The concluding celebration will be a gala event featuring guests from throughout the profession, individuals from federal government agencies and members of Congress, and executives from major corporations working in animal and human health. That gala will feature the announcement of the 50th Anniversary Grand Initiative, a project conceived to help veterinary colleges and the profession build momentum and create progress.

During the opening ceremony, AAVMC and committee officials highlighted some of the other major special events and communication programs that have been developed as part of the celebration, including a six-minute video profile of the AAVMC and a 30-second television public service announcement. A painting commissioned as part of the celebration was formally unveiled.

That painting will be featured on the cover of two special publications that will be created as part of the anniversary celebration. A 50th anniversary edition of the Journal of Veterinary Medical Education this fall will examine the AAVMC’s 50-year body of work from a scholarly perspective. And veterinary medical historian and former Cornell Dean Dr. Don Smith will author a history book to be published in early 2016.

Visit the AAVMC anniversary website at aavmc.org/Anniversary.aspx.