President's Message

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

So this is my next to last installment in my 18 month reign of terror and I wanted to take this opportunity to thank all of the outgoing Regents and Committee Chair whom I have had the honor and pleasure of serving with over the past nine years on the BOD and COR. Dr. Carondelet Nollner is ending her term with an amazing Symposium in Baltimore as her microphone drop. She has served ABVP as Credentials Chair, President and been the steady hand on a challenging few years as CE chair. Hurricanes, pandemics and every snafu imaginable have not ruffled her feathers and we are all grateful for her years of service. I want to thank Ravi Dhaliwal, Ashleigh Sanchez, Jon Davidson and Amy Hinc for their terms as Regents. Diplomates, thank you for your time, efforts and representation. All of these amazing volunteers make me proud to be associated with ABVP and the great work they do.

Changing of the Guard

July 1 will see ABVP's leadership change hands. As you will see in this newsletter, there are many people to thank for ABVP being where it is today. 

Those members of our current leadership leaving the team on June 30 include:

Dr. Carondelet Nollner - 14 years dedicated to ABVP leadership; 6 years as Credentials Chair, 4 to the Presidential process, and 4 as Continuing Education Chair

Dr. Gary Thompson - 8 years dedicated to ABVP leadership; 5 years as Canine and Feline Regent and 3 years to the Presidential process

Dr. Ravi Dhaliwal - 3 years dedicated to ABVP leadership as Canine and Feline Regent-at-Large and Regent

Dr. Ashleigh Olds-Sanchez - 3 years dedicated to ABVP leadership as Equine Regent

Dr. Amy Hinc - 3 years dedicated to ABVP leadership as Feline Regent

Dr. John Davidson - 18 months dedicated to ABVP leadership as Beef Cattle Regent

We look forward to welcoming the following new faces: Jerry Rusch (Beef Cattle Regent), Mark Cousins (Feline Regent), Manuel Himenes (Equine Regent), Elizabeth Berliner (Shelter Medicine Regent), John Shelley (Fish Regent), and Lori Teller (Canine and Feline Regent).

You are welcome to reach out to any member of the ABVP Team at any time and can find their contact information on the website.

Maintenance of Certification (MOC) Update

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

• Get to all the MOC places you need to go when you click on “Diplomate Portal” at abvp.com. Keep your email up-to-date in the Member and the MOC Portals. 

• See the updated examples in the MOC Handbook and on the MOC webpage.

• Journal Club: You can discuss the Journal Club articles with your fellow diplomates by signing up for Slack or the listserv (Google Group).

• TIP: All the Transition Points (for those who need to MOC between 2020 and 2029) have already been applied to your account. All you need to do is “fill up” the points bars in each of the 3 Categories on your Diplomate Dashboard. (See photo above.)

Canine and Feline Regent Update

Raj Singh, DVM, MS, DABVP (Canine and Feline), Canine and Feline Regent

We don’t always thank the people who have impacted our careers by being great colleagues, mentors, and role models. As the current ABVP Advisory Council tenures of two of my close colleagues come to an end, I would like to give them a professional shout out (or a bark out for my canine peeps), for their service, and provide some insight into what they have given to me and our veterinary specialty group.

Dr. Ravi Dhaliwal is our co-Canine Feline Regent, or previously Regent-at-Large. I asked Ravi to run for the role because I know that he is talented and knowledgeable about working with other boards, such as his other veterinary specialty, ACVIM Oncology. He also worked hard to present an important and valuable oncology cytology lab and support the popular FAST ultrasound training. On a more personal level Ravi is my pets’ personal oncologist and a friend. Even when my pets don’t have cancer, I want Ravi to tell me they don’t because he is a fellow Diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners, which sets him apart from all the other veterinary oncologists of the world who haven’t joined our specialty organization. His depth and breadth of knowledge puts me at ease. Thank you, Ravi.

Dr. Gary Thompson, our current outgoing President, mentored me as Regent-at-Large during my introduction to the Advisory Council. As Canine Feline Regent, he directed me about how and where to help the organization. President Thompson has great ideas that he encouraged me to follow through with even when I didn’t believe I was ready to move ahead. His confidence and support helped me work harder to serve the ABVP and encourage others to do the same. His ability to garner support and point out the easy and simple ways to success has been impressive and helpful as a true role model, all the while injecting fun and humor into the Advisory Council. That may be one of his greatest challenges and accomplishments, along with navigating with Past President Jon Townsend through a pandemic, two canceled symposiums, and a year-and-a-half term. This probably has him acknowledging the benefits of term limits. Mr. President, you're a star. Thank you.

I also want to welcome our new co-Canine Feline Regent, Dr. Lori Teller. If the name sounds familiar, it is. After a close race, Dr. Teller was elected to share her talents as an AVMA past president to our Advisory Council. A bark and meow out to my new partner in crime.

Speaking of stars like Ravi, Gary, and Lori, did you enjoy our symposium line up? I am so thankful that to be a part of the Dr. Carondolet Nollner and Marisa Hackeman team led Symposium committee that kept working, despite dealing with pandemic-related postponement for two years, to bring us a sold-out conference with an outstanding group of leaders in our profession, who are passionate about teaching us the best veterinary medicine can offer. I hope more of us get to enjoy this opportunity, so register early next year!

Going through the new MOC process has been like learning a new language. However, since I have never gone through any MOC process, it was going to be like that anyway. I am so thankful for the help that I have been given by our Chair, Sonnya Dennis, and our Vice-chairs Ellen Olson and Jolynne Dowling. That’s not enough help for the largest specialty group in our organization. Please reach out to Sonnya (mocchair@abvp.com) and me (caninefelineregent@abvp.com) if you are interested in gaining MOC points by helping others with MOC. It’s good for you and our colleagues.

Finally, please congratulate all the new diplomates you see or meet this year and every year. They are part of us and need the mentoring to continue as they are our future leaders. We had one of our largest Canine Feline graduating classes. Their success bodes well for our specialty group and ABVP. Thank you to our mentors, the Credentialing committee, and the Exam committee for all your hard work. I hope to see you at the next symposium in New Orleans and beyond.

Jay Humburg Obituary (1933 - 2023) 

Dr. Jay Humburg left the earthly world on February 3, 2023. He was a proud Equine Diplomate and past President of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners. Dr. Humburg was an amazing veterinarian, teacher and family man. His life revolved around his loves of his family and the field of veterinary medicine. His full obituary can be viewed here. 

Save the Date!

Join Dr. Brian Speer, DVM, DABVP (Avian Practice), DECZM on May 21, 2023 at 3 PM EDT for a discussion on The Use of GnRH Agonists in Avian Practice. 

To learn more about this webinar and how to register, click here. 

This program is pending approval for 1.5 hours of continuing credit in jurisdictions that recognize AAVSB RACE approval.

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

September 1, 2023

• Exam registration must be completed by 11:59 PM Central Time

November 4, 2023

• Certification Exam

Residency and Job Postings

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