Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association

Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. It is a premier peer-reviewed scientific journal and the flagship publication of the American Veterinary Medical Association. First published in the late 19th century, it disseminates critical research, clinical reports, and reviews to advance the profession of veterinary medicine globally. The journal is renowned for its rigorous editorial standards and its role in shaping veterinary practice, public health policy, and biomedical science.

History and background

The publication was established in 1893, originating from the earlier American Veterinary Review which was founded by Daniel Elmer Salmon. Its creation coincided with the professionalization of veterinary medicine in the United States and the growing influence of the American Veterinary Medical Association. Early volumes documented the fight against major zoonotic diseases like bovine tuberculosis and rabies, often featuring work by pioneers such as John B. Herrick. Throughout the 20th century, it chronicled the profession's expansion into companion animal practice, food safety, and military veterinary services during conflicts like World War II. The journal's headquarters are in Schaumburg, Illinois, reflecting the centralization of the American Veterinary Medical Association's operations.

Scope and content

The journal covers a broad spectrum of topics within veterinary and comparative medicine, publishing original research, retrospective studies, and systematic reviews. Major content areas include theriogenology, veterinary surgery, internal medicine, epidemiology, and veterinary pathology. It regularly features clinical case reports, descriptions of novel techniques, and studies on animal welfare and behavior. Special issues often address pressing topics such as antimicrobial resistance, emerging infectious diseases like avian influenza, and One Health initiatives linking animal, human, and environmental health. The publication also includes scholarly commentaries, letters to the editor, and reports from the AVMA Council on Research.

Abstracting and indexing

The journal is abstracted and indexed in numerous major scientific databases, ensuring wide dissemination of its content. Key indexing services include the Science Citation Index Expanded, Scopus, PubMed, MEDLINE, and the CAB Abstracts database. It is also included in Agricola, Embase, and BIOSIS Previews. This comprehensive indexing places it alongside other leading medical journals like The New England Journal of Medicine and The Lancet in terms of discoverability for interdisciplinary research. Its articles are accessible through platforms such as JSTOR for historical archives and the AVMA Journals website for current issues.

Editorial policies and impact

The journal operates under stringent peer-review policies managed by an editorial board of leading experts from institutions like Cornell University and the University of California, Davis. The current editor-in-chief is Lisa K. Nolan, formerly of the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine. It employs a hybrid open-access model and adheres to guidelines from the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors. According to the Journal Citation Reports, it has an impact factor of approximately 1.6, consistently ranking it among the top general veterinary journals worldwide. Its publication ethics are governed by the Committee on Publication Ethics, and it requires disclosure of conflicts of interest in line with policies from the World Association of Medical Editors.

Related publications

The American Veterinary Medical Association publishes several other affiliated journals that serve more specialized audiences. These include the American Journal of Veterinary Research, which focuses on foundational biomedical research, and the Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association, dedicated to small animal practice. Other related periodicals are the Canadian Veterinary Journal from the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association and the UK's Veterinary Record. The association also produces the news magazine JAVMA News, which covers professional developments, and collaborates on publications with entities like the World Organisation for Animal Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Category:Veterinary medical journals Category:Publications established in 1893 Category:American Veterinary Medical Association Category:Semimonthly journals Category:English-language journals