Long-Term Plans
Strategic Direction
For the period 2006-2011
The BOD has summarized those items that were identified as the most important objectives for the College for the next several years. It should be recognized that to achieve these objectives, ACLAM will need to develop additional, enhanced long-term revenue streams and develop strategic alliances with other organizations having similar philosophies and goals.
Direction 1:
Increase the number of veterinarians entering the specialty of Laboratory Animal Medicine (i.e., the pipeline).
Strategies: This is an overarching Direction for ACLAM which involves virtually all Committees in the College (e.g., Career Pathways, Mentoring, TPOC, Camp ACLAM and its parent committee Continuing Education, Public Relations, etc.). Specific examples include increasing the number of post-doctoral trainees; strengthening ACLAM’s relationship with the AVMA; building coalitions with other veterinary specialty groups (e.g., veterinary pathologists); communicate the rewards of the profession of laboratory animal medicine to students, funding agencies, employers, and the public; sponsoring internships for veterinary students and undergraduates; and working with the AAVMC and the Deans to enhance curriculum so that it increases awareness of laboratory animal medicine.
Prime Movers: Those listed above and others such as the EC, ERC, COC, BOD.
Direction 2:
Review and implement the recommendations of the “Report on the Certifying Examination and Examination Process” from Castle Worldwide, Inc.
Strategies: Appoint an ad hoc committee to oversee implementation of the items identified as high priority by the Certification Oversight Committee.
Prime Movers: Ad hoc Committee, COC, EC, ERC, BOD.
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Direction 3:
Offer exam preparation resources and enhanced educational resources, branded by ACLAM.
Strategies: Continue to foster programs such as the Forum, Camp ACLAM and the Mentoring program; improve resources for candidates using the experience route to prepare for the exam; enhance utility of ACLAM Web site; enhance the publications of the College.
Prime Movers: Continuing Education Committee, Camp ACLAM committee, Mentoring Committee, EC, ERC, Publications Committee and Webmaster, BOD.
Direction 4:
Standardize the quality/content of training programs, and ensure that the programs are grounded in the Role Delineation Document.
Strategies: Convene a meeting of the training program directors to develop approaches to a standardization process (e.g., credentialing); evaluate data of pass rates for different training programs for the last 5-10 years; work with NCRR to increase funding to training programs; develop remote learning (Web-based) training options.
Prime Movers: TPOC, COC, BOD, Executive Director.
Direction 5:
Establish and promote practice standards for the animal research environment.
Strategies: Using the ACLAM produced reports on “Medical Records for Animals Used in Research, Teaching and Testing” and “Rodent Euthanasia,” identify areas in laboratory animal medicine which need improved definition, clarification and/or standardization.
Prime Movers: Publications Committee, Subject experts appointed to Task Forces, BOD.
Direction 6:
Maintain current and expand future Foundation activities.
Strategies: Continue to evaluate priorities among, and develop RFPs for, research topics identified by the Task force on Development of Scientific Data for Animal Care Standards; increase the number of quality grant proposals; evaluate use of Foundation funds for supporting trainees; seek additional funding from outside the ACLAM community.
Prime Movers: Foundation Chair, Foundation Scientific Director, Foundation Committee, BOD.
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