Five prominent colleges of veterinary medicine located in the western United States recently created the Consortium of Western Regional Colleges of Veterinary Medicine. The consortium was formed to collaborate in the advancement of initiatives critical to the future of the veterinary profession.
To ensure that these priorities are addressed, representatives from each of the colleges created a regional think-tank with a commitment to action and mutual collaboration. The representatives, including the deans from Colorado State University, Oregon State University, the Western University of Health Sciences, Washington State University and the University of California at Davis, met in San Francisco this past October and created the consortium to pursue set objectives.
The inaugural meeting of the consortium was funded and facilitated by Pfizer Animal Health as part of the company’s Commitment to Veterinarians™ platform, which offers support through training and education, research and development, investing in the future of the veterinary profession, and philanthropy.
The consortium collaborated on the following topics outlined as top priorities in veterinary medicine:
· Gaps between selected career tracks among veterinarians and societal needs
· Targeted recruiting and professional readiness among graduating veterinarians
· Learning and application of soft skills to keep veterinarians at the center of health care
· Identifying and devising ways for academic institutions to share resources and create Centers of Excellence
· The importance of strong and continued faculty development to promote rich and innovative learning environments
