President's Message
Jon Townsend, DVM, PhD, DABVP (Dairy Practice), President
Change
Change is a scary word to most of us. Coming from an agricultural background, I believe I have this reinforced even more in my brain. It’s difficult to try a new crop, a new piece of equipment, a different tilling technique, and on and on. Even my beloved dairy cows prefer consistency – their rumen microbes work most efficiently when their nutrition is boringly uniform feed wagon after feed wagon. While change may be stressful it is also inevitable and along with the challenges it provides it brings great opportunities for positive improvements. While we often lament about how we wish we could go back to the “good ol’ days”, those days weren’t often so great. I know I don’t want to go back to having penicillin and sulfa drugs as my only antibiotics, treating “hollow tail” by splitting the tail of the suffering bovine and packing it with salt, or treating milk fever in a newly freshened cow by way of udder insufflation with a contraption that looked remarkably similar to a bicycle pump. Maybe it’s me, but while incredible ABVP Dairy Diplomates of the future will scoff at how rudimentary my treatment modalities are today, I have no desire to go backwards. We must focus on the positive outcomes of change and embrace them.
So what is all of this about? We are in a time of significant change. Some was going to happen, some was accelerated to the front of the line by the pandemic we are still dealing with and trying to figure out. While the pandemic has changed many of our day-to-day activities, it has also caused changes for ABVP. First and foremost, we made the difficult decision to cancel the 2020 ABVP Symposium. This was going to be a great event marking the return to our roots in Chicago and celebrating the 25th Anniversary of our Symposium. Due to the challenges that stood in front of us we decided this year’s Symposium could not go on, but with excellent work by Marisa Hackemann we were able to postpone our Chicago meeting to 2022 without a financial penalty that stood to cost us over $200,000. The Council of Regents and Board of Directors did not cancel early in the year because we truly were hoping to have the Symposium or, if we could not, manage to put ourselves in a position where we could bargain with the hotel in Chicago to avoid a loss. We have also decided to not do a virtual Symposium at this time due to possible financial constraints and “Zoom” fatigue. While I am in my soul an introvert, I am tired of seeing screens and not my real friends. We are social creatures. What are the positive outcomes of these changes? We will have a Symposium in the fall of 2021 in New Orleans and another one in the spring of 2022 in Chicago so the belief in the value of an ABVP Symposium is still strong. We may explore moving future meetings to the spring as well. Beyond Symposium, we are seriously examining how to provide value to our members through smaller, focused CE experiences throughout the year. We want to make sure you value your membership in ABVP.
What other changes are we looking at? The pandemic ended our positive relationship with NAVC as our management provider, but it gave Marisa the opportunity to start her own management company and we were lucky to sign on as one of her first clients. A great example of a scary moment with a great outcome. The racial unrest that has existed since Memorial Day has provided a chance for introspection and we realize we must be agents of change to recruit and support more minorities in their quest to become veterinarians and hopefully, ABVP Diplomates. An ad hoc committee is examining possible actions as I write this and they are doing an excellent job. Other ad hoc committees are examining changes to credentialing and the overall relevancy of ABVP. Change, while scary, will make ABVP better. What I leave you with is a call to consider change as a positive thing. I would like for all of you to consider changes that would make ABVP better and reach out with your suggestions. Some might not work, but there is no shame in trying and failing. Together we will make change a positive outcome.
Thank you and stay well!
Jon
Delegate, Lieutenant, Wingman, or just Raj
Raj Singh, DVM, MS, DABVP (Canine and Feline Practice), Regent-at-Large
Drum roll please...back by popular demand or the absence of a Canine/Feline Regent, I am here to give you an update representing the largest ABVP constituency. I am honored to step up to the plate and deliver a C19-free note. It is also an honor to be a part of the Purdue University CVM family participating in ABVP leadership, with our President Jon and new treasurer Suma Rao. I encourage all of you to be loyal to your alma mater. Boiler Up!
I know many of you are probably just now waking up (sloth reference) from my long-winded April newsletter piece de resistance. I will “attempt” to be brief.
How is ABVP doing? How are you doing? Can I say it here, are the “dog” days of summer over? Where did that term come from anyway? I did a little research, as I am fond of doing, yet have so little time to do. I found out that the ancients dubbed the prominent star that appears in the nighttime sky in the hot months of July and August, the Sirius, or dog star. Those days, when the dog star was visible, were associated with some not-so-great things like drought, disease, and mad dogs to name a few. Interestingly, the Latin translation of “dies caniculares” is "the puppy days". Awesome.
Present day, as I write this, it is August 16th, 2020, and 105 degrees F in Northern California. I am on my seventh day in a row of at least part-time work. Clients are more tense and abusive than in the past, even to the point of being litigious. The veterinary team is losing patience with the client verbal abuse, constant ringing phones, PPE raising body temperatures, and picking up the slack for teammates not working. Now there are more clients with less experience. Many of them are first-time puppy and kitten parents. And, worst of all, we canceled our symposium. My break in the routine. Hard drive reboot session. Gone.
But somehow, despite these “dog” days, I managed two workouts and three naps in the last two days to keep my sloth mantra going. My team has avoided C19 for the most part. (Oops, I slipped) My family has too. Our business is successful, and in many ways thriving. Every day we are seeing more puppies and kittens than ever before. The fun and the joy of starting off with a blank slate with the client and pet is such a great opportunity to build a relationship that can last a dog or cat lifetime or longer considering many of these new parents are young and need mentoring. Along the same lines, I have been mentoring a veterinary student extern for the past few weeks, which has been extremely energizing and fulfilling. These students need our help more than ever, as many of their rotations and externships have been canceled. Having the opportunity to encourage and challenge a semi-depressed, inexperienced and afraid-of-the-future soon-to-be colleague has been both exhausting and exhilarating. I encourage you to reach out to your alma mater or a nearby veterinary school and offer to help these students. Teach them how to practice like an ABVP Diplomate and give them the experience they desperately need now! Teach them the value of credentialing and make a career-defining impact.
I should be talking about our upcoming symposium and how we are going to have wonderful speakers. No can do now. Hopefully I will be able to start planning the next C/F symposium speaker line up soon with a new partner in crime, since former C/F regent Gary Thompson moved on to the Board of Directors to accomplish even greater things. Please reach out to help me plan the best C/F track for the next 2 or 3 symposia and possibly some real cool virtual meetings as well! ABVP needs you, C/F Diplomates!
MOC Update...Repeated
Renee Rucinsky, DVM, DABVP (Feline Practice), Maintenance of Certification Chair
There is great news on many fronts for your maintenance of certification process. The new platform is up and running. It’s very different from what you may have been used to before, but I promise you’ll get used to it. It’s super easy! Most importantly, though, you will need to keep track of what you upload (just make a list somewhere), because once you send it up through the system, it won’t be visible to you that you’ve uploaded. There is an option before you submit to receive an email confirming your submission. However, it will not keep a running total for you.
Also, please be sure to use the prescribed file naming system as noted on the platform front page. If you upload files that are not named correctly, they may become lost and will not be used.
The vice chairs of each RVS will be monitoring your progress over your 10-year maintenance of certification period. Although we are able to look at individual submissions in real-time, it is not reasonable for the MOC committee to check after each time something is submitted. As above, please keep track of what you’ve submitted. When requests to review your personal file are sent, please allow several weeks for a response.
Your RVS MOC teams are working hard developing the journal club, and are excited to add that in January 2021. WE ARE STILL IN NEED OF HELP FOR ECM! If you are an ECM Diplomate looking for a way to help your organization, we need an ECM MOC vice chair. Please let me know if you are interested and want more information. AND AND AND --- this position will satisfy your service points requirement!
As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to send me an email (a polite one with a greeting, etc) and I’ll do my best to help you through things.
Exam Update
Mike Dutton, DVM, MS, DABVP (Avian Practice), DABVP (Canine and Feline Practice), DABVP (Exotic Companion Mammal Practice), DABVP (Reptile and Amphibian Practice), CVPP, Exam Chair
Due to COVID related uncertainties about remote test centers and travel to the 2020 Symposium, ABVP has decided to do remote, webcam-based proctoring for the 2020 exam. Exam takers will be using Examity, a webcam-based person/AI proctoring service. Test centers are no longer an option. We cannot guarantee that they will be open at the time of the exam.
To allow for lavatory breaks the usual 2-part exam (of 4 hours each) will be further separated in a total of 4 exams (each 2 hours apart). Each exam is separate and you will not be able to enter a previously completed exam.
Exam Day Schedule:
8:00 – 10:00 a.m. local time.=> Exam Part A-1
10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.=> Exam Part A-2
1:30 – 3:30 p.m.=> Exam Part B-1
4:00-- 6:00 p.m.=> Exam Part B-2
This link https://www.prolydian.com/remote_proctoring will outline the procedure.
The hardware requirements are:
· Before your exam, please confirm you meet Examity’s technical requirements
· Browser: Please disable your pop-up blocker
· Equipment:
-Desktop or laptop computer (tablets and Chromebooks are not supported)
-Built-in or external webcam
-Built-in or external microphone
-Built-in or external speakers
· Internet: An upload and download speed of 2Mbps
Timeline for Examination 2020 for ALL newly credentialed veterinarians.
1. For first time exam candidates, learn that you passed ABVP credentials by May 31.
a. You will receive an ABVP email shortly afterwards directing you to sign up for your RVS Specialty exam. You have this year and the following 2 years to successfully pass the exam. You must sign up by September 1.
2. For candidates in their second or third year of examination, sign up for this year’s exam by September 1.
3. When you sign up and pay the fee to take the 2020 exam, your information will be passed to Prolydian for inclusion in Examity.
4. The 2020 exam will be conducted on Wednesday, October 14th, 2020.
5. Exam fee is $688.
Timeline for Examination 2020 for ALL MOC Diplomates
1. If you have not already done so, please review the new MOC requirements that started this year. Passing the exam counts as 250 points of your 500-points total needed to maintain your certification (MOC). The MOC handbook is located at http://abvpprod.blob.core.windows.net/sitedocs/Maintenance%20of%20Certification%20(MOC)/01%20ABVP%20MOC%20Handbook%20(April%202020).pdf in your ABVP.com portal.
a. Up to 2026, the mandatory continuing education requirements are prorated. Details are on page 8 of the MOC handbook.
2. ABVP Main Office sends a courtesy reminder to Diplomates in their 8th, 9th, and 10th year of certification about the need to MOC. It is your responsibility to submit your MOC materials in a timely fashion.
a. If you wish to take the exam for MOC points, you must sign up for the exam by September 1.
3. When you sign up and pay the fee to take the 2020 exam, your information will be passed to Prolydian for inclusion in Examity.
4. The 2020 exam will be conducted on Wednesday, October 14th, 2020.
5. Exam fee is $688.
Residency and Job Postings
Don’t forget ABVP has classified listings for open positions all over the USA!
Event Calendar 2020-2021
September 1, 2020
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
October 14, 2020
ABVP Exam (All Exams)
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
