LAS VEGAS, NV--(Marketwire - February 16, 2010) - One of the most diverse representations of veterinary organizations ever assembled completed three days of meetings on Saturday to begin a year-long effort to chart the course for the future of veterinary medical education. The North American Veterinary Medical Education Consortium, or NAVMEC, was launched by the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) in 2009 to ensure that veterinary medical education meets the needs of our changing society. The topic addressed during the first meeting was societal needs and professional competencies.

"What was most impressive to me was the passion and commitment of meeting attendees," said Mary Beth Leininger, DVM. "There is a determination that the Consortium needs to be a change agent for better education. Our future depends on it."

Through three National Meetings in 2010, NAVMEC will:

-- bring together over 100 stakeholders and beneficiaries of veterinary
medical education, experts from within the profession, and other
interested entities to discuss what is meant by meeting society's needs
and the skills and competencies that will be required by graduating
veterinarians to meet those needs. This represents a great challenge
because the profession is so diverse with many fields of expertise, and
a wide range of responsibilities to society;

-- bring together the best minds and experts in academic veterinary
medical education to identify and share a range of new educational
models that could achieve the educational goals identified;

-- explore the relationship between education, accreditation, and
licensure to ensure that the veterinary colleges/schools can be
creative in planning their future educational programs while continuing
to meet accreditation standards; and that new graduates will be
prepared to meet licensing requirements.

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