It has been five short months since I began my role as chief executive officer at AAVMC. As I reflect on these first few months, I am grateful for the opportunity to connect with members, partners, and colleagues across academic veterinary medicine. These conversations have reinforced the importance of collaboration and are already shaping AAVMC’s strategic priorities.
One of my greatest privileges has been meeting virtually with almost 70 deans from AAVMC member institutions to understand their unique perspectives and priorities. A summary of the major themes from these conversations will be shared anonymously with the AAVMC Board and our strategic planning consultant to inform the strategic planning process we will launch in early 2027. In the meantime, these conversations have inspired innovations in our day-to-day operations. I am very grateful to the deans for taking the time to share their thoughts and wisdom.
I have also enjoyed many face-to-face opportunities to connect more broadly across various groups, both in the United States and internationally.
This May, I attended the European Association of Establishments for Veterinary Education (EAEVE) meeting in Barcelona, Spain, and met with deans from the United Kingdom and Europe. We discussed key issues, including pending accreditation changes in the United States and the impact on U.S. students studying abroad. I also met with a “Day One Competencies” working group focused on adapting the AAVMC’s Competency-Based Veterinary Education® model for use across Europe by defining the minimum entry-level skills, knowledge, and behaviors of newly graduated veterinarians. The creation and adoption of these competencies was mandated by the European Union to ensure seamless professional mobility and unified standards. The working group, led by Sarah Baillie, BSc, BVSc, RCVS Cert, aims to finalize these competencies by the end of 2026.
I traveled to Barcelona for the EAEVE meeting in May.
While in Barcelona, I also toured the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, an AAVMC provisional member.
My husband and I in Park Güell, overlooking Barcelona.
In June, I headed to Wisconsin, where I had the pleasure of seeing VetEd AAVMC come to life.
Welcoming attendees to VetEd AAVMC. (Photo via University of Wisconsin)
Thanks to a dedicated group of volunteers and staff, this marked the first North American implementation of the VetEd conference model. It was inspiring to witness over 200 colleagues from across the globe sharing best practices and experiences, with participants being privileged to tour their new hospital facilities and campus. We appreciate our sponsors and host institution, the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine, for their incredible support of VetEd AAVMC.
Over 200 attendees joined us in Madison, Wisconsin.
Next up, I headed “home” to the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) convention in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. Canada is an important founding partner of AAVMC and this meeting provided a great opportunity to connect with many longtime friends and colleagues north of the border.
I was invited to speak at the CVMA Opening Summit, where we explored how veterinary education can better prepare future-ready graduates for the evolving realities of the workplace. I shared perspectives on the curricular challenges associated with preparing day-one-ready veterinary graduates and joined fellow speakers for a panel discussion, where a robust question-and-answer session reinforced that, regardless of the educational model or geographic location, we are all working to address many of the same challenges in preparing graduates for the workforce and supporting long-term career success.
I wrapped up my trip with an alumni reception for all the Canadian schools at the University of Prince Edward Island Atlantic Veterinary College, an evening filled with spirited camaraderie. Much like in Europe, conversations with deans of AAVMC’s five Canadian member institutions often centered around the pending accreditation changes in the United States and the effect on their programs.
Throughout all my travels this summer, I have greatly valued the opportunity to connect with our international members and learn more about their unique challenges and experiences. I have also come away more convinced than ever that we share more common goals than differences, and that there is strength in our partnership. I look forward to continuing my AAVMC journey and meeting more of our incredible member representatives.
Until next time,
Emma K. Read, DVM, MVSc, DACVS