AVA President Bronwyn Orr meets up with AVMA, BVA, CVMA and NZVA Presidents (Virtually)

Video communications have changed the way we do business, offering us new ways to make connections. Take AVA President Bronwyn, who recently joined some of her contemporaries on a call. The video call featured the Presidents of the AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association), the British Veterinary Association (BVA), the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) and The New Zealand Veterinary Association (NZVA). It’s a new way that the presidents of these major associations can compare notes and identify common issues – and solutions.

Joining Dr Orr for an early morning chat (Australian time) was AVMA’s Lori Teller, BVA’s Malcom Morley, CVMA’s Chris Bell and NZVA’s Kate Hill. Presidents of our partner organisations have visited Australia before, often for the AVA Annual Conference. But getting into a virtual room means everyone can get together and five heads, in this case, is better than one. 

Some of the issues that were discussed will be very familiar to AVA members, such as workforce shortages, diversity and inclusion. There were also discussions on new challenges such as Artificial Intelligence, and specific programs being run that were successful in their home countries.  

“Collaborating with our partner organisations overseas is incredibly beneficial” said Dr Orr, “We get an expanded brains trust, insights on programs and initiatives that have worked for others and foreshadowing of changes in regulation and practice that can have global ramifications, such as the RCVS 'Under Care' guidance." 

There was a shared sense that the issues we are facing as a profession are global challenges. Working together to tackle these challenges, and taking learnings from existing, successful programs around the world, will be even more important in the years ahead.