Committee Spotlight: Education and Research
John Thomason, DVM, MS, DACVIM (SAIM) | Chair, Education and Research Committee
Dr. Thomason is a Professor of Small Animal Internal Medicine at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Mississippi State University, where he completed his small animal internal medicine residency. He received his DVM from the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine and his MS in Veterinary Medicine from Mississippi State. Dr. Thomason's research interests include hematology, hemostasis, transfusion medicine, and immune mediated disorders.
What motivated you to volunteer with the ACVIM, or how did you first get involved with the organization?
Becoming a boarded specialist within ACVIM has given me a tremendous number of valuable experiences. I have been able to meet many interesting people, be exposed to a multitude of experiences, and received the opportunity to travel. None of which would have been possible without being a part of ACVIM. Because ACVIM has opened so many doors for me, the least I could do is volunteer some of my time to support the organization that has given me so much. Since becoming a member of multiple committees, the work has been rewarding, and I look forward to where we can go as an organization.
Could you describe the work of the committee and how this work contributes to the overall mission/goals of the ACVIM?
Over the past several years, the responsibilities of the Education and Research Committee have evolved. When I joined the committee in 2020, our primary tasks included the review and evaluation of research grants submitted to ACVIM for funding. However, as ACVIM changed, and no longer provided these grants, the tasks of the committee also changed, and we have taken on new responsibilities.
For the past 3 ACVIM Forums, the ERC has supported the Small and Large Animal Research Exchanges to encourage research collaborations among ACVIM Diplomates in both academia and private practice. Our committee has also been involved in the development of the ACVIM Endorsed Statement (AES) Program. We believe that this program will build on the success of the ACVIM Consensus Statements and enhance the value of these impactful publications. We also sponsor an ERC track at the ACVIM Forum with presentations focusing on both how to become better educators and researchers. As we continue to evolve, the ERC is looking to provide additional opportunities for ACVIM members to become better educators, especially for our future members, students, interns, and residents.
As committee chair, what responsibilities and duties do you undertake?
Because the ERC is still in the evolution process, my duties as chair are to grow the work that had been previously established, and at the same time, expand the responsibilities of the committee. I am looking forward to seeing how the seeds that were planted over the past few years continue to grow and develop.
Can you share a successful collaboration story that highlights the positive impact of teamwork within your committee?
I would like to recognize the incoming Chair, Romy Heilmann. Romy has been “piloting” the first ACVIM Endorsed Statement (AES). During this process, which is still ongoing, Romy has spoken with so many people and reached across so many aisles that she deserves some time off. She has worked with members of AES committee, ACVIM staff, ACVIM Diplomates, and Diplomates of other colleges. She has done a tremendous amount of work on this program, and I think all ACVIM will benefit her work, not only from the final publication, but also helping to develop the AES process.
How has your involvement with the ACVIM and chairing this committee personally enriched your professional experience and contributed to your growth in the field of veterinary internal medicine?
Easy – the people. I have met so many new and wonderful people on this committee. There are people that I would probably never have met if it wasn’t for this committee. It is easy to get stuck in your specialty silo, but I met people in all specialties and was able to learn from them.
What advice would you give to other Diplomates considering volunteering with the ACVIM?
Don’t turn down the opportunity to volunteer because you don’t believe you have enough time to commit to the committee. I have been on several committees, including being chair of the ERC and the SAIM Residency Training Committee, and there is usually not a significant time commitment. There will be regular virtual meetings, and sometime of the year there may be more work than other times. To make things even better, the ACVIM staff are wonderful and extremely helpful, and they do a great job of keeping the committee and their tasks moving forward.
Looking ahead, what are your aspirations for the committee and its impact within ACVIM? Are there any upcoming projects or goals that you are particularly excited about?
As the name of our committee suggests, our focus is on Education and Research. We have grown the research arm of the committee. I hope this continues and I am looking forward to the AES Program. But I am most excited about focusing on the the Education part of our committee’s charge, which is intended to foster a positive and rewarding residency training experience for our mentors and candidates. This may include programming designed to educate the educators in our community, as well as working to advance the ACVIM strategy around candidate engagement. I would like to see the ERC be a force for helping ACVIM and Residency Training Programs provide the best possible training for veterinary students, interns and residents. These individuals are the future of ACVIM, and we need to give them the best opportunity to succeed.