April 2024 e-News

President's Message

Renee Rucinsky, DVM, DABVP (Feline), President

We are SO CLOSE to Symposium! Yay! It would be great to see everyone there, but I know that’s not realistic. Regardless, I love this time of year. We have such a unique group of specialists that get together every year - there’s no other time that such a wide variety of specialists assemble. As much as I love to hang out with my other cat peeps, I have so much fun being around all of the other brilliant species docs, and the opportunity to step out of our own little worlds and spend time with our diverse colleagues is something that doesn’t get old to me.

New Orleans is always popular, with world class music and food. Our CE Committee has put together a fantastic lineup of high level continuing education. We’ll unveil our new logo and website at the meeting, and those of you unable to attend will see it shortly after. I encourage all Diplomates to attend the Diplomate meeting Saturday evening for a rundown of everything your leadership has been up to this year. Drinks are on us.

Lastly, I know that by nature so many of us are introverts. We wanted to work with animals so we wouldn’t have to deal with people, right? It’s hard to branch out and talk to new folks. I’d like to challenge all of you, and myself included, to meet someone new at this meeting, especially someone who is not already a Diplomate. Let’s show these folks a warm ABVP welcome, and encourage them to consider credentialing and become species specialists. Let’s grow our organization one personal relationship at a time. Chat at lunch, in between lectures, in the food lines, and the Regent Reception. Maybe this is a pep talk for myself because that sort of stuff is so hard for me, but if we all do it, things could be pretty amazing.

See you in NOLA.

2024-2025 ABVP Board of Directors and Advisory Council 

Paula Colletti, VMD, DABVP (Canine & Feline), Leadership Development Chair

Nominations and voting are complete for the 2024-2025 ABVP Board of Directors and Advisory Council.

Please welcome the new members of your ABVP Leadership:
Canine and Feline Regent: Greg Lisciandro
Dairy Regent: Rick Stockler
Swine Health Management Regent: John Kolb
Appeals Committee Chair: Renee Rucinsky
Vice President: Steve Pittenger

Moving into their new roles on the Board of Directors are:
President: Jeff Husa
President-Elect: Stephanie Janeczko

These positions take effect on July 1, 2024. Contact information for all leadership positions is available on the ABVP website.

Your April MOC Update

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

• Quick links: MOC webpage, Journal Club, add me to the Google Group/Listserv!

• ⚜️ MOC review and “workshop” at the Symposium in New Orleans! Check the program for location!

ABVP is Looking for Diplomates to Speak at VMX 2025

Mike Dutton, DVM, MS, DABVP (Avian, Reptile & Amphibian, Exotic Companion Mammal, Canine & Feline), CVPP, CertAqV, CE Chair

The CE committee is taking submissions for Canine & Feline or Feline ABVP Diplomates to speak at VMX 2025 (January 25-29, 2025) for the ABVP Tracks. The CE Committee will review your submissions and then pass them onto VMX. Presentations are 50 minutes long.

If you are interested in this opportunity, please contact Mike Dutton at CE@abvp.com with your presentation's title and short summary. May 1, 2024, is the deadline. 

AVMA Public Comment for Wildlife RVS

Mike Dutton, DVM, MS, DABVP (Avian, Reptile & Amphibian, Exotic Companion Mammal, Canine & Feline), CVPP, CertAqV, CE Chair

ABVP is supporting the creation of a Wildlife RVS. As part of the approval process, a 90-day public comment period occurs. Please click here to read more about the goals of this RVS and comment. 

Are You Interested in Apis mellifera and Their Kin? 

Mike Dutton, DVM, MS, DABVP (Avian, Reptile & Amphibian, Exotic Companion Mammal, Canine & Feline), CVPP, CertAqV, CE Chair

ABVP's Fellowship Oversight Committee (FOC) had positive feedback on creating a honey bee Fellowship. The FOC will help a group of honey bee experienced, dedicated ABVP Diplomates create a Fellowship.

If you would like to discuss this further, please contact Mike Dutton at CE@abvp.com or find him at the 2024 Symposium.

Find an ABVP Specialist 

If you do not show up on the "Find an ABVP Specialist" feature, please ensure membership dues are current. 

Additionally, as we prepare to launch a new website that will include an updated "Find a Specialist" feature, we are

requesting you take a few moments to add or update your work contact information. 

Here are the steps you need to take.

• Log in to your account: https://abvp.connect.prolydian.com/
• Click on 'My account' in the far right top corner of your screen
• Click 'Edit' (mid-screen to the right of 'View')
• Click 'Name and Address' (mid-screen, beneath the 'View' and 'Edit' tabs)
• Update the fields labeled as Work
• Click 'Save' on the bottom of the screen

Visual steps to update information.

In Memoriam: Dr. Tom Elston

The following obituary was written by fellow ABVP Feline Diplomate, Dr. Philip Shanker:

"The feline veterinary community lost a long standing leader with Tom Elston’s death. Tom was one of a core group of feline doctors that embarked on taking the AAFP from essentially a club to its current international status. He served on many committees and was elected AAFP president in the mid 1990s. He helped create the stepping stone Feline Academy and then convinced the AVMA/ ABVP that feline medicine was in fact a specialty worthy group.  He was among the first group of doctors to achieve ABVP board certification Tom started one of the first feline only practices in New England in the early 1980s and grew it into a very successful practice. Later in his career Tom decided to head west and created a similar scenario in his Southern California practice. 

On a personal level I met Tommy as an intern in Boston, MA in 1977. As overworked and underpaid new veterinarians we learned to count on each other for help with cases. Tom was a great guy to work with - calm, knowledgeable and hard working.  After the internship we parted ways, Tom staying in Boston and I moved to the west coast. Five years later we discovered we were both new owners of feline practices. For the next 40 years Tommy and I developed a strong professional and personal relationship with growing practices and expanding families. For me and likely others there will always be an empty seat that can’t be filled at our feline meetings. It is difficult to put into words the impact of losing Tom. 

Clearly feline medicine owes a debt to Tom for his lifetime dedication to improving our feline specialty status."

ABVP Symposium Registration

If you have not yet registered, don't forget to review the offerings and book your spot before they are gone. See you in NOLA! 

New Orleans Marriott - Hotel Rooms SOLD OUT

For nearby hotel options, please see the following.

Residency and Job Postings

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

April 25-28, 2024

• ABVP Symposium, New Orleans, Louisiana

July 1, 2024

• 2024-2025 Diplomate and Emeritus Diplomate fees payable

July 15, 2024 

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

December 31, 2024

• Final date to be called a Diplomate for those who failed to MOC on time

January 15, 2025

• Credentials 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

March 27-30, 2025

• ABVP Symposium, San Antonio, Texas