The AVMA: 150 Years of Education, Science and Service (Volume 1)

By AVMA

This book is a celebration of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and all it has accomplished for its members and the veterinary profession during its first 150 years.
There are 4 volumes total to this epublication, and the first volume contains the Preface and Chapter 1. A hardcover print version of the book is available in our online store.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AVMA
• Release date: Mar 27, 2013
• ISBN: 9781882691241

AVMA

Serving more than 100,000 member veterinarians, the AVMA is the nation's leading representative of the veterinary profession, dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of animals, people, and the environment. Founded in 1863, the AVMA is one of the world's largest veterinary medical organizations, with members in every U.S. state and territory and more than 60 countries. Informed by our members' unique scientific training and clinical knowledge, the AVMA supports the crucial work of veterinarians and advocates for policies that advance the practice of veterinary medicine and improve animal and human health.

Book preview

THE AVMA:

150 YEARS of EDUCATION, SCIENCE, and SERVICE

Preface and Chapter 1

by

American Veterinary Medical Association

Smashwords Edition

Published on Smashwords by:

American Veterinary Medical Association

1931 N. Meacham Road

Schaumburg, IL 60173

The AVMA: 150 Years of Education, Science, and Service

Preface and Chapter 1

Copyright 2012 by American Veterinary Medical Association

ISBN 978-1-882691-24-1

All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the American Veterinary Medical Association.

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CONTENTS

Preface

Chapter 1:

GROWTH OF A PROFESSION: Progress

PREFACE

Ceci n’est pas un livre d’histoire.

(with apologies to René Magritte)

This is not a history book.

Kurt Matushek

In the preface to his 1963 book The American Veterinary Profession, which chronicles the development of the veterinary profession in the United States from the mid-1800s to the mid-1900s, J.F. Smithcors writes that the book represents the distillation of several thousand volumes—by conservative estimate, somewhere between one and two million pages of material and laments that the best part of six years’ research and writing—one year of it full-time—has been inadequate to achieve the consistency and balance a work like this should have.

In the years since Dr. Smithcors’ book was published, the amount of written material related to the veterinary profession in general and the American Veterinary Medical Association in particular has only grown. So, when the AVMA staff first started talking about celebrating the Association’s 150th anniversary in 2013, it quickly became clear that we had neither the time nor the resources to devote to a history project of that scope.

The book you hold, therefore, is not a definitive history of the AVMA. And, is not meant to be. That’s not to say that there isn’t history in it. Actually there’s quite a lot, including many interesting and, I hope, entertaining stories of the formation of the AVMA, its growth over the years, and the individuals who helped shape it.

What this book does represent is a celebration of the AVMA and all it has accomplished for its members and the veterinary profession during its first 150 years. Written from eight unique perspectives, it focuses on what have come to be called the core competencies of the AVMA: the annual convention and scientific journals and the AVMA’s roles in advocating for the veterinary profession and improving veterinary education. The USVMA was formed during the first annual meeting of the Association in response to a perceived need to elevate the visibility and standing of the veterinary profession, and education was one of the topics of discussion during that meeting. The JAVMA was originally published as a way to provide a lasting record of papers presented during the annual meetings. Other chapters focus on the volunteers who have been such an important part of the governance of the Association, the professional staff who have supported the Association’s efforts throughout the years, and the partners who help advance the Association’s goals.

I hope that you