Implementing a future national center concept in veterinary education for the dairy industry

Abstract

JAVMA, Vol 232, No. 9, May 1, 2008 M than a quarter of a century ago, concerns were raised about the nation’s capacity to address animal health issues in the 21st century. Later, a Pew report provided suggestions for new directions for veterinary medicine, including veterinary practice in the 21st century. That report contained numerous farreaching suggestions and admonishments. At least two that are germane to this commentary are, first, that the profession needs to focus resources on the development of species specialists, abandoning the idea of equality of competency in all domestic species, and second, with respect to food supply veterinarians, the profession needs to broaden the educational foundation to include focus on the animal population and associated management as it relates to health. The author of that report identified the need to provide the educational capacity to enable practicing veterinarians to contend with livestock enterprises of various sizes. Following the Pew report, the Pew Foundation, through the Pew National Veterinary Education Program, funded a competitive proposal process, from which several food supply educational consortia that have been considered effective developed. One of these was the Food Animal Production Medicine Consortium (FAPMC). The FAPMC, composed of six cooperating universities, focused on species-specific food animal programs, including beef cattle, dairy cattle, and swine programs. The FAPMC offered various educational and research programs, including student exchanges. The organization lasted about 11 years until 2000; however, student exchanges continued between some of original participating universities. The dissolution of the FAPMC has been attributed to changes in leadership, loss of adequate funding, and failure to market its services effectively. Because of the nature of academic consortia, they are considered to be high risk in terms of longevity. With regard to the FAPMC, the dissolution was probably hastened by legitimate changing self interests of some of the member institutions and, following termination of the Pew funding, the inability of the consortium to develop adequate long-range funding strategies to sustain core programs. Baus points out that the primary motivator for interinstitutional cooperation is enlightened self-interest. Also, it is essential Implementing a future national center concept in veterinary education for the dairy industry