President's Message

Jon Townsend, DVM, PhD, DABVP (Dairy Practice), President

Welcome 2021! I hope the new year is treating all of you well. It’s been a little crazier start than I was anticipating, but like all good veterinarians we adapt, improvise, and overcome. With that said, there are glimpses of reasons to be optimistic for the coming year. We are making some small positive steps against the pandemic. Here in Indiana I am visually appreciating longer day length. I don’t know about everybody else, but that by itself improves my mood!

As a kid growing up in Maine our New Year’s Day ritual seemed to be watching my father grab a yellow legal pad of paper to write down his/our projects and goals for the coming year. As the year went on there was an immense sense of accomplishment to see those projects get crossed off the list. While low tech compared to the electronic devices and apps we have available to us today, that list was just as effective. Seeing that list grow on that yellow pad of paper taught me many lessons. Perhaps the most important lesson that I learned from that process was the importance of making a plan for the future and then tracking the progress of the implementation of that plan.

How does this trip down memory lane relate to ABVP? While the Board of Directors, the Committee Chairs, and the Council of Regents are taking care of daily business, we also need to be thinking about the future. In past articles I’ve alluded to considering a name change and changes to the credentials process. While considering and discussing these issues and others it has become clear to us that we need to do some deep thinking and planning, so we lay the foundation for the best future possible. We are going to actively pursue strategic planning in the next year. We have not done dedicated strategic planning for several years and now is the time.  While many of you, including myself, have had sub-optimal experiences with strategic planning, if it is done well and then actively followed on a yearly basis, it can be a truly positive step forward. Where do you, our fellow Diplomates, fit into this? We have learned that such activities as RVS-focused listening sessions led by the specific Regents have given us great feedback on what we do well and what we need to do to improve ABVP and serve you better. This spring your Regents will be reaching out to you to participate in “town hall” sessions. Please take the opportunity to participate and provide constructive criticism. Your feedback will be an important part of the shaping of our strategic plan for the future. I look forward to hearing from you.

As always, thank you for the opportunity to serve as your President. I hope you can appreciate the optimism that longer days bring -my apologies to all you winter activity fans. Stay well and hope things are good at your end of the barn.

Call for Nominations for BOD and COR

ABVP is a volunteer organization run by Diplomates who continually give their time, effort, and energy. We encourage you to consider serving your organization to help steer it into the future. The Nominating and Maintenance Committee is accepting nominations for the following positions.

To be considered you must be a Diplomate or Emeritus Diplomate in good standing. Your nomination must also accompany a minimum of two (2) letters of support from Diplomates in good standing. All nominations and letters of support should be sent to info@abvp.com on or before Monday, February 15.

Canine and Feline Regent, 3-Year Term

Dairy Regent, 3-Year Term

Exotic Companion Mammal Regent, 3-Year Term

Swine Health Management Regent, 3-Year Term

Appeals Committee Chair, 3-Year Term

Treasurer, 3-Year Term

Vice President, 1-Year Term

The Shortage of Veterinarians in Emergency Practice

Matt Booth, DVM, DABVP (Canine & Feline Practice)

Dr. Matt Booth has co-authored an article published in the most recent Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care. In this article he refers to potential benefits of becoming a Diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners as it pertains to solving the emergency vet shortage. Dr. Booth continues to research and develop initiatives that will have a positive impact on the field of emergency veterinary practice and looks for any feedback our Diplomates may have to further this process. Click on the article to read it in its entirety and click Dr. Booth’s picture to offer any insight or feedback you may have on this critical issue our profession is facing.

Residency and Job Postings

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

Event Calendar 2021-2022

July 1, 2021

• 2021-2022 Diplomate Fees payable via your ABVP online account

July 15, 2021

• Semi-Annual Residency Logs deadline. Logs must be submitted via your ABVP SmartSheet account by 11:59 PM Central Time

July 31, 2021

• Diplomates with unpaid Diplomate fees are removed from the “Find a Diplomate” search feature on the ABVP website pending fees being paid

September 1

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

• First-time Credentials Application and fee deadline. All applications and fees must be submitted via your ABVP online account by 11:59 PM Central Time

September 16-19, 2021

• ABVP Symposium, New Orleans, LA

January 5, 2022

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

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

• Semi-Annual Residency Logs deadline. Logs must be submitted via your ABVP SmartSheet account by 11:59 PM Central Time