Source: AVMA News
The AVMA Board of Directors has approved a plan to tackle the shortage of Veterinary specialists in academic roles at Veterinary colleges. Proposed by the AVMA Veterinary Specialty Organizations Committee (VSOC), the plan aims to establish a task force to identify and address issues hindering the recruitment of Veterinary specialists in academia. With the anticipated need for more Veterinary educators due to the expansion of Veterinary colleges, the task force will produce a report with recommendations for various organizations to enhance specialist recruitment, develop alternative education models, and advocate for support from state and federal governments.
The task force will comprise members from different Veterinary organizations and industry partners. Factors contributing to the shortage include lower compensation in academia compared to other career paths and a lack of awareness about academic opportunities. The task force will also explore education models like distributive learning, where students receive clinical education off-campus.