President's Message

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

Well my fellow Diplomates, we’ve made it through another month. It’s been a crazy and stressful few weeks. The pandemic has picked up steam again, we’ve had a tumultuous election, parts of the country have had to deal with weather extremes, and the winter will be here before you know it! I know this will be hokey, but with all that said, in this season of giving thanks I am even more thankful for all I have received. I hope the same is true for you.

Professionally, I am thankful to be involved in teaching the next generation of veterinarians. They are really good – tough, smart, and passionate. Hopefully we can get a few to consider becoming ABVP Diplomates. I am also thankful to be in a leadership position in a wonderful volunteer organization – the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners. This past Sunday the Board of Directors, the Council of Regents, Committee Chairs, and last, but not least, our Executive Director, Marisa Hackemann, participated in approximately six hours of virtual meetings to discuss and debate important issues that our group faces. We are trying to make ABVP better by looking at the credentialing process, a possible name change, investigating how we stay relevant, examining our diversity and inclusivity, and a host of other items. We don’t always agree and you may all not agree with some of the decisions that are made, but those decisions are made with the love for ABVP in mind. I urge you all to consider becoming more involved. If it’s not through volunteering at least contact your Regent and discuss ideas and concerns with them so they can relay those to the COR and BOD. I am thankful for getting the chance to serve you and do so with an incredible group of talented and passionate veterinarians

Personally, I am thankful to have a wonderful wife and two awesome daughters that, even though they are teenagers, think their dad is still okay. I get to come home to a nice little farm and gaze on a group of pretty Jersey heifers. I am truly blessed. While the pandemic has made it difficult for me to see my 86 year-old father, who is also suffering with Parkinson’s Disease, he is still alive and I am thankful for that. I hope to see him when I feel it is safe again. I hope you all can take the time to reflect on the blessings you have during this time and be thankful for the parts of your life that give you joy and meaning every day.

Folks, I am thankful for you. Please be safe and enjoy the ones that you hold dear.

Until next month, take care and I hope things are good in your end of the barn,

Jon

Welcome to the Class of 2020

ABVP is thrilled to welcome this class of 43 new Diplomates! This group was also the first to take their certification exam remotely from the comfort of their home or office. Please join us in welcoming each and every one.

AVIAN
Sherri Cox

Abigail Duvall

Claudia Kabakchiev

Peter Sojka

Anne Staudenmaier

Shangzhe Xie

CANINE AND FELINE

Jessica Alexander

Asaf Alkalay

Cooper Brookshire

Shawn Bybee

Erika Cervasio

Blair Daus

Jennifer Grady

Illana Halperin

Philip Jull

Christopher Lea

Danyse Lewis

William McGee

Alison Meindl

Brooke Robertson

Jacob Taylor

Jean Waguespack

DAIRY

Jessica McArt

EQUINE

Lea Riddell

Christine Whalin

EXOTIC COMPANION MAMMAL

Isabelle Desprez

Sara Gardhouse

Kimvi Le

Laetitia Rosset Volait

Hilary Stern

FELINE

Katrina Breitreiter

Sara Doggett

Marie-Theres Hoyer-Kammerhofer

Nicole Martell-Moran

Melissa Mustillo

Elaine Ng

Nina Quinley

Lisa Restine

FOOD ANIMAL

Adam Copeland

Kerri Nigito

SHELTER MEDICINE

Emilia Gordon

Chelsea Reinhard

SWINE HEALTH MANAGEMENT

Eric Neumann

Shelter Medicine Petition for Full Recognition 

Stephanie Janeczko, DVM, MS, DABVP (Canine & Feline Practice), DABVP (Shelter Medicine Practice), CAWA, Shelter Medicine Regent

We submitted a petition to the American Board of Veterinary Specialties (ABVS) in October for full recognition of Shelter Medicine Practice. Since receiving provisional approval in 2014, SMP has continued to mature and is fully functional as an RVS. Credentials applications are received from several veterinarians in an average year by both the practitioner and residency pathways. Since the exam was first offered in 2015 a total of 30 Diplomates have been credentialed in Shelter Medicine Practice; numerous SMP Diplomates are also board-certified in other specialties, including Canine and Feline Practice (3), Preventive Medicine (7), and Small Animal Internal Medicine (2). Over the past 12 months approximately 2/3 of the SMP Diplomates have been actively involved with ABVP, participating on credentialing, exam, and residency committees and providing mentorship and support to applicants and interested veterinarians. Thanks to the support of ABVP (with special thanks to VSOC liaison Craig Datz and executive director Marisa Hackemann for helping prepare the petition), and the active participation of so many SMP Diplomates we are confident in Shelter’s continued growth and success as an RVS and look forward to receiving full recognition. We expect to receive a response following ABVS’s annual meeting in February 2021.

MOC: Everyone's Doing It

Renee Rucinsky, DVM, DABVP (Feline Practice), Maintenance of Certification Chair

We’re less than two months away from the MOC deadline. I can see in the portal that so many of you have started the process and hopefully it’s gone smoothly for you. If you are due to MOC by January 15, please start the process soon. You should have received an email from me a month or so ago giving you your MOC vice chair’s name and email address. Please reach out to that person with any questions.

If you are a new Diplomate, congratulations! It’s never too early to look at what the MOC requirements are. There’s a handy chart in the MOC Handbook that tells you exactly what you need going forward.

Lastly, journal club starts in January. Please make sure that you have emails from ABVP marked as safe, and also make sure we have a current primary email address for you.  This is the only way you will be notified that there is an article available for you to complete.

Want to Talk to your Regent?

Residency and Job Postings

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

Event Calendar 2020-2021

January 15, 2021

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

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

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

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, 2021

• 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