In this edition of SIG in the Spotlight, we shine a light on the Veterinarians in Education, Research and Academia (VERA) Special Interest Group, a dynamic community driving innovation in veterinary education and research. Through VERA, veterinarians gain access to a supportive professional network, opportunities for collaboration, and resources tailored to advancing their expertise.
VERA SIG President Dr Erika Meler shares insights into the key benefits of joining the group, upcoming events and plans for 2026, and the strong sense of community that defines life within VERA.
Tell us a little bit about the SIG:
VERA is positioning itself as the voice of veterinary academia within the AVA. VERA provides a professional home for veterinarians in academia where their unique challenges, balancing teaching, research and clinical duties are understood and supported. VERA is not just a networking group, it is a driver of change in veterinary education and research. By joining, veterinarians can directly influence how the profession evolves, while also gaining support for their own academic and research careers.
What are the key activities and benefits of joining VERA?
VERA members enjoy meeting and seeing each other at the AVA Annual Conference where we often meet for our AGM as well as social events such as a multi-SIG dinner where members can mingle with colleagues from other backgrounds and interests. Members of VERA regularly contribute to the AVA Annual Conference, either though presentation, moderation, reviewing and judging of abstracts or simply attend, soaking in the vibrant energy of the event and the enjoyment of reconnecting with ‘long time no see’ colleagues. The Research Day is an important platform for our members to showcase their research, or that of their trainees, with several awards up for grabs. This year, educational sessions have been added to make this event all-encompassing for members with various interests.
Being part of VERA also allows academic practitioners to have an input on policies that affect them. For example, VERA provided input into discussions about the future of the veterinary workforce as part of the Inquiry into Veterinary Workforce Shortages in New South Wales, highlighting the key challenges in academia and how universities can also be part of the solution. VERA provides a collective voice within the AVA, ensuring that the interests of veterinarians in academia and research are represented in policy discussions and national campaigns.
On the educational front, VERA supports and recognises high quality teaching through the AVA Excellence in Teaching Award and endeavours to spread innovative teaching practices among its members. VERA also provides tailored CPD for veterinarians during the year through webinars on teaching and research innovation as well as academic leadership. These webinars are often coordinated with other SIGs which broadens the audience and connection opportunities.
On the research front, VERA provides a platform for research collaboration, helping like-minded colleagues to connect, reinforcing links between universities, and fostering opportunities for multicentric research. VERA also aims to provide mentoring and support for early career academics, helping them navigate the challenges of balancing teaching, research and clinical responsibilities.
My focus for 2026 as VERA SIG President:
I joined VERA a few years ago as I primarily wanted to meet like-minded colleagues to learn what was done in other universities in the educational and research domains. Blending with the group was seamless and over the years I have built nurturing professional relationships with all the committee members. We enjoy seeing each other at conferences and talking about all things academia, both successes, challenges and plans for the future, which brings a rewarding collegial atmosphere. This is the core value and culture of this group that I particularly enjoy and that I will continue fostering into the future.
In the current challenges of faculty attrition and budget cuts in universities, the work of veterinary educators is challenging so my aim as VERA President for 2026 and beyond is to provide a safe place for support and professional mentoring for veterinary professionals working in academia, including both veterinarians and nursing/technical staff. Indeed, enhancing the role of nurse educators in university is crucially important and can help attenuate some of the current constraints – we do welcome veterinary nurses and technicians into our group.
Beyond supporting our own, I believe our SIG can also make a significant impact supporting all veterinary professionals teaching our students when out on placement. We do recognise the challenge of teaching in a fast-paced environment, especially without educational training to rely on. To address this issue, at the 2026 AVA Conference in Brisbane, VERA will be offering a workshop open to all private practice clinicians to enhance their teaching skills for ‘teaching in the flow’, allowing them to make the most of the experience for the students and the practice. With this in mind, and the new membership structure, I do hope that non-academic veterinarians will decide to tick VERA on their membership as we aim to provide value for all AVA veterinary professionals.
To conclude, joining VERA is not just about the professional perks, it is also about being part of a community that drives innovation in veterinary education and research. Being part of our group offers the chance to influence the next generation of veterinary professionals, contribute to scientific progress and ensure members’ voices are heard in national discussions. We hope to see you join our friendly group!