President's Message

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

Well, the time has finally come for my last President’s message. It’s been a remarkable 18 months and I have learned so much from the people around me. I also have so many people to thank for their work and service during my 8+ years on the Board of Directors and COR. First and foremost, I would like to offer my heartfelt thanks to Marisa for helping me navigate the last year and a half. I always appreciated everything she did for ABVP over the years, but it wasn’t until I rolled into this position that I became truly aware of the scope of what she does. Marisa - thank you from the bottom of my heart and to paraphrase the movie Jerry Maguire - You are my Ambassador of Quan.

Next, I would like to thank both groups that had the misfortune to serve with me on the Board of Directors during my extended term as president. ABVP is truly lucky to have such a great group of people at the controls and doing the important work that keeps us moving forward. Thank you all for your time, dedication, service and talents.

Additionally, I would like to offer my thoughts on the upcoming leadership and what an amazing set of leaders that are in the pipeline. Renee Rucinsky is dedicated and passionate about ABVP and will help continue to make our specialty better. Jeff Husa and Stephanie Janeczko are each stepping up to the plate in time and I sleep better at night knowing we have such a terrific lineup of leaders. I would also be remiss if I didn’t thank my predecessor Jon Townsend for his leadership and mentoring during very trying times, as well as past-presidents Tracey Jensen, Carondelet Nollner and Tim Kraabel for stepping up to the plate and serving when asked. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart. It has been a humbling experience for me to be part of ABVP’s leadership over the past 8 years. It is an understatement to say it is my proudest professional moment to be lucky enough to be involved with ABVP and such an incredible group of specialists.

Thank you for this opportunity and honor and I look forward to my next chapter of service to ABVP.

Maintenance of Certification (MOC) Update

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

• So long to one vice chair and welcome to some new MOC Vice Chairs! 
  • Wendela Wapenaar, DABVP (Dairy), the Food, Beef, and Dairy MOC Vice Chair, is stepping down after over six years of service!  Thank you, Dr. Wapenaar, for all of your help!
  • Dan Posey, DABVP (Beef) has been working with Dr. Wapenaar for several months and will be the new Food, Beef, Dairy MOC Vice Chair. Welcome, Dr. Posey, and thank you for stepping up!
  • Welcome to Dave Marancik, DVM, PhD, CertAqVet, who will be the first Fish MOC Vice Chair!
  • Welcome to Christine Klippen, DABVP (Canine and Feline) and Eva Ulery, DABVP (Canine and Feline) for joining the MOC review team! 
  • And of course, much gratitude to Anthony Pilny (Avian), Ellen Olson and JoLynne Grant (Canine and Feline), Amy Santonastaso (Equine), Hilary Stern (ECM), Rachel Seder (Feline), Heather Bjornebo (Reptile and Amphibian), Uri Donnet (Shelter), and Lisa Tokach (Swine)! Thank you for your continued service and support!
• Deadline for Diplomates whose certification expires in 2023 is July 15, 2023. Please have ALL applications for points submitted by then. Once all applications are approved, you may submit the renewal application where you will upload a copy of your license and pay the fee. 
  • Start at abvp.com, click on “Diplomate Login” and log in (upper right of screen). The left side column will have links to all things MOC (screenshot below).
  • Read the handbook and review the examples in the MOC Handbook and on the MOC webpage.
• Tips
  • Approval of applications for points is not immediate. Our volunteers on the Maintenance of Certification Committee work hard to get them reviewed as soon as possible.  
  • To speed up the process, please group as many 1-point CE's together in one application. You can also upload multiple Journal Club screenshots in one application. Include the year in the Name of the item, e.g. “Journal Club January, March, May 2023” or “Miscellaneous online CE Jan-June 2023.”  
  • Be sure to complete all 250 points in the Required CE Category BEFORE submitting CE items in the Additional Points Category!

Internship Survey Request for Canine and Feline Diplomates

Mike Dutton, DVM, MS, DABVP (C&F, Av, ECM, RA)

This poll is to gauge interest in developing standards for ABVP internships. For now, we are focusing on the Canine and Feline Diplomates.

If you are a Diplomate of another specialty, please do not take the survey.

This is the same survey that was posted to the canine/feline listserv. If you have already completed it, you do not need to do it again.

Background:

1. In ABVP's 2018 Job Task Analysis (these are mandated at least every 10 years by ABVS), 19+% of Canine/Feline Diplomates wanted a 'pre-packaged' internship resource.

2. Currently ACVIM and others are requesting that ABVS set up a task force to set standards for both internships and residencies for all specialties.

3. There was interest expressed at March's Advisory Council/Board of Directors meeting to gauge interest in developing internship standards for DABVP to use as a resource.The goal is to have standards with flexibility for each individual practice.

Thank you for your input on the survey. Please complete by June 30, 2023.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CF_Internship_gauge_interest_poll

The Bourgelat Award Winner 2023

One of our own ABVP Diplomates, Gregory R. Lisciandro, DVM, DABVP, DACVECC received the Bourgelat Award by the British Small Animal Vet Association. This is the BSAVA’s primary recognition for outstanding international contributions to the fields of small animal practice or science in their widest context.

To view more details click the links below. 

https://www.bsava.com/article/bsava-announce-award-winners-for-2023/

https://www.bsava.com/article/bourgelat-winner-to-discuss-new-fast-initiative-at-bsava-congress/

Communication Workshop for Specialists available from ACVIM

The ACVIM has developed a Clinical Communication Workshop for Specialists and Candidates, which consists of on-demand, live virtual, and in-person sessions that will explore the essential concepts and tools for clinical communication in veterinary medicine. The agenda is attached for your reference. For those who unable to attend the in-person course, there are sessions that will be made available on-demand.

This course will be highly applicable to specialists and specialists-in-training, and we also feel that this course would also be highly beneficial for ABVP Diplomates and Candidates. We are therefore opening this course to ABVP Diplomates and Candidates to register and we want to ensure that we are creating awareness around this offering and reaching ABVP Diplomates and Candidates.

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 deadline. This must be completed by 11:59 PM Central Time

November 4, 2023

• Certification Exam

Residency and Job Postings

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