Task force to develop vision for AVMA continuing education

By Katie Burns
Published on
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Attendees at the 2012 AVMA Annual Convention participate in an interactive lab. One question for the new continuing education task force is whether the AVMA should create more interactive sessions or workshops. (Photo by Matt Alexandre/Robb Cohen Photography)

A new task force will develop a vision for the AVMA’s future offerings in continuing education and assess the AVMA Annual Convention.

The AVMA Executive Board approved establishing the Task Force on Continuing Education on a recommendation from the Convention Management and Program Committee.

According to background materials, committee members and staff in the AVMA Convention and Meeting Planning Division have been discussing the shifting expectations and developing opportunities for member CE.

“We think it’s time to step back and take a global look,” said Dr. Ron Banks, committee chair. “Are we headed the right way?”

Among questions to be addressed are the following:

  • What should the AVMA’s role be in providing CE to members?
  • Should the convention be the primary source of CE that the AVMA provides?
  • What topics and types of CE should the AVMA offer?
  • Which CE formats match the current learning styles of members?

Kelly Fox, director of the convention division, said the convention committee and AVMA staff have been looking into ways to extend the reach of the convention beyond the four days on-site.

At the same time, the committee and staff are assessing the breadth of sessions at the convention. The convention currently offers multiple sections with many hours of CE within each section, and the task force will look to determine the right mix of sections and hours.

The AVMA already provides some educational opportunities beyond the convention. Multiple divisions have offered webinars on various subjects, for example, and the AVMA Veterinary Medical Assistance Teams offer training in disaster response.

“We really are branching out in lots of different areas with education and trying to determine where we should be,” Fox said.

Dr. Banks noted that the demographics of AVMA members are changing. “We’re not entirely certain that providing education the way that we’ve been doing it is the best way. We don’t know whether the political aspect, the social aspects of the convention, should or should not be tied with CE. I think at this point, though, we’re really just asking questions.”

July 1 is the deadline for nominations to the CE task force. Details are available at avma.org/Members/Volunteer by clicking on “Current Volunteer Opportunities.”