The ​American​ ​ Veterinary​ ​ Medicine​ ​ Association​ ​ is​​ the​ ​ ​national​ ​organization​ ​representing​ the​ interests ​​of​ ​veterinary​ professionals​ ​ in​ ​the​ ​​United ​States.​ ​​Started​ in​ ​​1863,​ ​the ​AVMA​ ​​now ​​has more​ than​ ​ ​89,000​ ​members​ ​who​ ​work​ ​in ​​private​ ​and ​​corporate​ ​practice,​ ​government,​ industry,​ and ​academia.​ The ​AVMA​ ​​is​ ​committed​ ​to​ ​a​ ​set​ ​of ​core​ ​values,​ ​​including​ ​acting ​with​ ​integrity,​ ​ ​honesty,​ ​and respect;​ representing​ ​ ​veterinarians​ with​ ​diverse​ ​​and​ ​unique​ ​perspectives; ​promoting​ science-based​ practices​ ​ and​ ​ research​ ​ to​​ ​promote​ the​ ​​health ​of​ ​animals​ ​​and ​humans;​ ​ ​and​ being​ accountable​ ​to​ ​its​ ​members.

AVMA​ ​members​ ​have​ access​ ​ ​to​ professional​ ​publications​ ​ ​and ​newsletters,​ ​ personal​ ​​and professional ​​development​ ​opportunities, ​​advocacy​ ​at​ ​the​ ​state​ ​and​ ​national​ ​level​ on​ ​​issues important​ ​to​ ​the​ ​veterinary​ ​industry,​ ​and​ industry-related​ ​​news​ and​ ​​policy​ ​updates. AVMA ​​publications ​​include​ ​two​ peer-reviewed​ ​ scientific​ ​​journals, ​​the ​​Journal​ ​of​ ​the​ American​ Veterinary ​​Medical ​​Association​ ​and​ ​the​ American​ ​​Journal ​​of ​Veterinary​ ​ Research.​

Nationally, ​​veterinarians​ ​provide​ ​care ​for​ ​​millions​ ​of​ ​companion​ animals,​ ​ including​ ​ ​more​ ​than ​70​ million​ ​dogs,​ ​80​ ​million​ cats,​ ​11​ ​million​ ​birds,​ ​​and​ 7 million ​​horses. The ​​AVMA​ ​provides​ ​expertise​ to​​ ​help​ ​veterinarians ​​take​ ​the ​​best​ ​care​ ​of​ ​your​ animal​ companions.