The International Veterinary Academy on Disaster Medicine had its genesis in Perth, Australia, when at the World Veterinary Congress in August 1983, Dr. Ole Stalheim extended an invitation to attend a meeting of a group under the label “World Veterinarians Against Nuclear War”. It had an auspicious beginning—we attracted some attention in the media, more indeed, than we had received during our early attempts at formation in the United States. It became apparent, however, that we were in effect replicating activities of other well-established and more financially secure groups—Physicians for Social Responsibility, the Society Against Nuclear Energy (SANE), etc. We needed greater participation to cope with “peace time” problems already confronting us as well, and it was evident that a larger veterinary audience would be reached and our services to the community enhanced if we broadened the commitment.