IMPORTANT UPDATE

To show on the Diplomate Search, you must login and update your contact information. You must also be current on all your Annual Diplomate Fees.

Tip from Prolydian: It's better to change email addresses in the MOC portal (where there's lots of purple!) before changing them on the member site (where it's mostly white).

President's Message

Gary Thompson, DVM, DABVP (Canine and Feline), President

Summer is in full swing and I hope that everyone is getting a chance to unplug and spend some time with family and friends. While the upper Midwest is hardly known for its weather, this time of year can be special in our part of the world. July 1st was also the day we welcomed new Regents and Committee chairs onto the Council of Regents. Our amazing group of volunteers is how the work gets performed behind the scenes and I am always thankful for the time and effort these people put in on behalf of ABVP. You should have received the proposed bylaws changes in your email and a link to vote will be forthcoming after a period of time for comment. Please enjoy the summer months and I hope you get the chance to get away from the hustle and bustle of your professional life.

Vice President's Message

Jeff Husa, DVM, DABVP (Swine Health Management)

By way of introduction –

I want to thank you, my ABVP colleagues, for the honor to serve as your Vice President. I will do everything I can to uphold the duties and responsibilities of this post.

I received my DVM from Iowa State University in 1993 and my ABVP certification in 2011. I worked in a mixed-animal practice for 4 years before joining a global animal health company in 1997. I have served several groups within this company including Clinical Research, Field Services, Technical Marketing, and Technical Training. My past service to ABVP has included Swine Health Management (SHM) MOC Vice Chair, SHM Exam Vice Chair, SHM Credentials Vice Chair, MOC and Credentials Reviewer, SHM Regent,
and Regent Director. I have had the opportunity to serve with the MOC Restructuring workgroup, the Strategic Planning workgroup, the Symposium Planning workgroup, and as our Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) Chairperson. Throughout my 11 years as a Diplomate of ABVP, I have
focused on recruiting new Applicants and retaining our members. The Swine Health Management group remains one of our smaller RVSs, but I am extremely proud of the great service each of our Diplomates contributes to our profession, and of the collaborative community we’ve become.

I have always been impressed by the professionalism and drive to excel demonstrated by ABVP Diplomates. Within each RVS, there is a spirit of support and common purpose. The animals and clients you each serve are no doubt receiving the best veterinary care available today. I’ve often heard new Diplomates describe a desire to connect with other dedicated life-long learners. Most of us only experience that connection within our species group, but those who have served as committee Chairs or delegates to the Council of Regents realize that this supportive spirit extends across species to the entire ABVP community.

As your VP, I’ll strive to strengthen our organization. We must improve recruitment and retention of Diplomates. We must extoll the value we’ve each received through certification. Why did you begin the ABVP journey? What benefits have you enjoyed? Please take every opportunity to share your story with new DVMs and veterinary students. They too will benefit from this process as will their patients. For you Simon Sinek fans out there, my “Why” is to make a difference for the animals and clients I serve. The ABVP journey is perfectly suited to help me meet that goal. My priorities in the office of Vice President include:

 Improve and ensure effective and inclusive communication across ABVP
 Complete implementation of our Strategic Plan
 Establish full functionality of our Prolydian CRM platform

To achieve these goals, we must uphold our standards and collaborate effectively. I ask each of you to roll up your sleeves and help however you can.

Together, we can make a difference!

Sincerely,
Jeff Husa, DVM, Diplomate ABVP (Swine Health Management)

Maintenance of Certification (MOC) Update

Sonnya Dennis, DVM, DABVP (Canine and Feline), MOC Chair

• ABVP.com, “Member Login” (top bar), then “log in'' (top right). You can “Access MOC Portal” and Journal Club on the left side. (Double check your email is correct in both portals!)

• Everything you need to know is on the MOC webpage. 

• Please reach out to your MOC vice-chair in anticipation of recertification - AND ESPECIALLY if you are recertifying a year early - to ensure all requirements are met.  This will ensure our goal of high rates of recertification. Emails are on page 16/17 of the MOC Handbook. 

• Do NOT fall behind in Journal Club. If you don’t know what it is, please contact your MOC VICE CHAIR.

Proposed Changes to ABVP Bylaws

Over the past year, ABVP has worked to streamline its bylaws and bring them into better alignment with non-profit best practices and Tennessee State Law (where ABVP is incorporated). The culmination of this project saw ABVP sending the proposed bylaws for a legal review. Pillsbury Law Firm in Washington, DC reviewed ABVPs bylaws and more specifically, the attorney of record for the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE). ASAE sets the standards for all associations.

We are including three files for your review.

(1) The bylaws last approved by Diplomates and Emeritus Diplomates in good standing in 2019.

(2) The proposed bylaws.

(3) Slides presented to the ABVP Board of Directors and Council of Regents highlighting the most substantial changes being made in the proposed bylaws.

Per the current 2019 bylaws, we are sending this to ALL Diplomates and Emeritus Diplomates on July 11, 2022. On August 11, 2022, we will send a link to vote on these proposed changes to all Diplomates and Emeritus Diplomates in good standing. Voting will remain open Tuesday, August 16 at 11:45 PM Central.

Please note: Only Diplomates and Emeritus Diplomates in good standing will be sent a link to vote, per bylaws requirements. You are in good standing if you have

Diplomate in the News

It isn’t every day that required reading captivates me, but I was charmed by Dr. Doug Mader’s book, The Vet at Noah’s Ark, about his experiences as a veterinarian in Los Angeles. Dr. Mader, DABVP (Canine and Feline), DABVP (Reptile and Amphibian), DECZM (Herpetology) exemplifies what it means to be a Diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners and a quality human being. He treats all his clients with the same dignity and respect, regardless of their life’s circumstances, and is a champion of his patients' best interest. He captures the uncertainty and challenges of working with patients that cannot communicate, and engaging with clients who are at times difficult. 

I had the honor of speaking to him (via Zoom) at his home in the Florida Keys, and his enthusiasm for veterinary medicine and our specialty was clear and bright. He is a life long learner, and feels that becoming a Diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners opened up many opportunities and garnered many clients. He treats every pet as if it belonged to his family and genuinely loves our chosen profession. I highly recommend the book (a sequel is in the works!) and am not alone. It has glowing reviews from numerous news outlets.

"DOUG IS SO FEARLESS AND DEDICATED. HE’S ALSO A DAMN GOOD STORYTELLER, AS READERS OF THIS MEMOIR WILL FIND OUT.”

- CARL HIAASEN, NEW YORK TIMES BEST-SELLING AUTHOR OF BAD MONKEY, SKINNY DIP, AND SQUEEZE ME


“OF COURSE VETERINARIANS LOVE ANIMALS, BUT THE BEST VETERINARIANS LOVE PEOPLE AS WELL. DOUG MADER’S UNDERSTANDING AND LOVE OF ALL LIFE COMES ACROSS IN THIS SOLID READ.”

— Dr. Kevin T. Fitzgerald, veterinarian on Animal Planet’s Emergency Vets and E-Vet Interns

August Outreach Meeting

Attention ABVP members! 

The monthly outreach committee meeting has been scheduled for August 12.  The zoom link is shared below. If you are interested in participating please attend, or email outreach@abvp.com for anyone interested who cannot make it. We have volunteer opportunities in social media, vet student outreach, marketing, and mentoring. Plus, you receive MOC points for volunteering. The link is below, all are welcome.

Join Zoom Meeting

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Join by Skype for Business
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Residency and Job Postings

Don’t forget ABVP has classified listings for open positions all over the USA!

Event Calendar 2022

September 1, 2022

• Exam registration and fee deadline. Registration for all Candidates and MOC Diplomates must be completed online by 11:59 PM Central Time 

November 5, 2022

• Exam held online from 8 AM - 5 PM in the examinee's time zone

January 15, 2023

• Credentials documentation deadline for both Initial Applications and Re-Applications. All documentation must be submitted online by 11:59 PM Central Time

• Swine Health Management Entry Exam registration and fee deadline. Registration must be completed online account by 11:59 PM Central Time

• Semi-Annual Residency Logs deadline. Logs must be submitted online by 11:59 PM Central Time

April 20-23, 2023

• ABVP Symposium, Baltimore, MD

July 1, 2023

• 2023-2024 Diplomate and Emeritus Diplomate fees payable

July 15, 2023 

• Semi-Annual Residency Logs deadline. Logs must be submitted online by 11:59 PM Central Time