AVMA addresses international presence

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International promotion of AVMA standards and recognition of veterinarians' importance in food trade were among issues addressed by the Executive Board April 3.

The board accepted a white paper on international opportunities submitted by the Committee on International Veterinary Affairs for board members' consideration as they deliberate over influencing international policy, international opinion, and global challenges facing the veterinary profession.

The board also approved sending a letter to the Secretary of Agriculture and the administrator of the Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. In the letter, the AVMA will stress how important veterinarians are in maintaining safe food trade and improving animal health as well as emphasize the importance of the continued international presence of U.S. veterinarians who work with APHIS International Services.

The board approved $5,500 in expenses proposed by the Office of the Executive Vice President for Dr. W. Ron DeHaven and his wife to travel to Paris in October for the Evolving Veterinary Education for a Safer World conference. The conference is intended partly to establish minimum global veterinary educational standards to ensure the qualifications of every individual with the title "veterinarian."

In other initiatives, Dr. Allen Y. Miyahara of Honolulu will retain his title as ambassador for Pacific Rim development in promoting the AVMA Annual Convention.

The AVMA will not, however, provide $6,000 for the chair of the American Board of Veterinary Specialties or the chair's delegate to attend the 2010 and 2011 meetings of the European Board of Veterinary Specialization in Brussels, Belgium.