July 2024 e-News

President's Message

Jeff Husa, DVM, DABVP (Swine Health Management)

WHY?

What inspired you to become board certified? Why did you take this road less
travelled? Simon Sinek challenges us to “Start with Why” (Penguin Random House, 2009). Personally, my career was becoming extremely focused and I felt the depth and breadth of my knowledge becoming constricted. Certification through ABVP drove me to study harder and to open myself up to topics and techniques which were outside of the scope of my normal day. A few years ago, I asked my fellow Swine Health Management Diplomates what they gained through the certification process. Their #1 response was “Made me a better practitioner.” Whatever motivated you, whatever is your Why, please do not lose that inspiration. It makes us all better!

Why did I agree to run for your Vice President two years ago? Well, it very well may have been a moment of weakness!! No, I agreed to run for our Executive track because I wanted to give back. In the chaos which may sometimes rule our days, ABVP gave me the motivation to dig in and make myself better. I am following in some incredible footsteps. Renee is quite simply a leader of leaders! She and her amazing predecessors have set a very high bar. I will do my best to continue their legacy of service to you. I am humbled to be in this role.

I am impressed with the amazing things you all do every day for your patients, clients, and communities. I have had the privilege of meeting many of you through our Symposia, RVS functions, Advisory Council, and Board of Directors. I’ve read your publications and watched your podcasts. You are amazing veterinary specialists! So, as we dive into a new ABVP year, I challenge all of you to reflect on Why you took the road less travelled. Why did you go the extra mile? What has your recognition as a specialist meant to you? Refresh that passion to be the best You today. Whether they express it or not, your patients and clients are thankful for what you do, and so am I. Please take a minute today to reflect on your Why. It’s what inspires you to answer that after-hours call. It’s Why you take extra time to research a puzzling case. It’s Why you can’t wait to read that journal that just hit your desk. It’s Why...you are all amazing!

Jeff 

Your July MOC Update

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

QUICK LINKS
MOC webpage, Journal Club, add me to the Google Group/Listserv!

MOC DEADLINE PASSED
The MOC deadline has passed, please contact Sonnya ASAP if you have any questions. 

2024-2025 ABVP Leadership Team

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

The Leadership Development Committee is pleased to introduce your ABVP
Leadership team that started or continued their roles on July 1st. These
dedicated people of the Board of Directors and Advisory Council work hard to
keep ABVP running smoothly and represent your interests. We’ll have
leadership spotlights in future newsletters so that you can learn more about them. Please familiarize yourself with YOUR team here.

ACVIM Forum 2025 Speaking Opportunity

Mike Dutton, DVM, MS, DABVP, CE Chair

The ABVP CE Committee is accepting topic submissions for two 1-hour speaking tracks at the 2025 ACVIM Forum. Topics are to be Canine and/or Feline focused and appropriate for specialists.

Location: Louisville, Kentucky
Dates: June 12-14, 2025
Actual day and time of ABVP track still to be determined.

If you would like a list of prior topics or to submit your name and topic(s) for consideration, please email Mike at CE@abvp.com. The deadline is July 31, 2024.

Feline Examination Chair Position Opening

Jordan Gagne, DVM, DABVP (Canine & Feline Practice), DABVP (Feline Practice), Exam Chair, Committee Chair Director

The Feline Examination Committee has an immediate opening for the position of Feline Examination Vice Chair. Interested candidates should submit a short (max 2-5 sentence) description of their interest in the position including any qualifications or past experience on the examination committee to examchair@abvp.com. Please submit interest statements no later than Sunday, 07/28/2024 11:59 PM Central. Linked below is the Exam Committee Scope of Work as well as a general Vice Chair Onboarding Guidebook. A quick summary overview of Vice Chair commitment is below:

RVS Exam Vice Chair Responsibilities include:

• Managing members of their committee (Exam creation members and Angoff Subject Matter Experts) and recruiting replacements as needed
• Overseeing compliance of their RVS examination with the most recent Job Task Analysis (JTA) blueprint
• Answering applicant concerns about their RVS exam (Typically indirectly - the Exam Chair has the most direct contact with applicants and is able to answer 99% of questions that come through. Occasionally clarification through the Vice Chair is needed)
• Post-exam review of exam taker questions, poor performing exam items, and review of the Angoff cut score

Term limit: May serve two consecutive three-year terms.
MOC points: earns 25 MOC points per year for their RVS, up to a maximum of 250 points per 10-year cycle
Selection: The Chair appoints the Vice Chair with the RVS Regent's input
Requirements: Must be a Diplomate of their RVS

Join us for a Disaster Response Tabletop Exercise

Sponsored by ABVP

Is your shelter ready for a disaster? Join us for this interactive session where you and your colleagues will participate in one of the tabletop exercises each based on a shelter affected by a disaster that also impacts the community they serve. After a brief review of disaster response infrastructure and the four phases of emergency management, participants will work in small groups to discuss options and make decisions about how best to respond as their scenario unfolds. The session will wrap up with an overview of each scenario and a group discussion about lessons learned that can help with future disaster planning efforts in shelter medicine.

Hosts:
Elise Gingrich, DVM, MPH, MS, DACVPM, DABVP (Shelter Medicine Practice)
Jeanette O’Quin, DVM, MPH, DACVPM, DABVP (Shelter Medicine Practice)
Jonathan Chapman, DVM, MPH, CPH, DACVPM

Date:
September 10, 2024 

Time:
6:00 PM Eastern / 5:00 PM Central

Duration:
Up to 3 hours

Registration is required but FREE!

ABVP Mentors for Veterinary Applicants

Sarah Eaton, DVM, DACT, CVA, DABVP (Equine), Outreach Chair

ABVP offers mentoring to veterinary applicants BY current Diplomates. The purpose of ABVP mentoring is to provide guidance, support, and knowledge to assist the professional growth of our colleagues as they work towards becoming a Diplomate. Mentoring can be both personally and professionally rewarding, plus, it helps keep current Diplomates up to date on the ABVP.

The requirements for being a mentor include but are not limited to:

• Knowledge: a mentor must be knowledgeable about the applicant process. You don't have to know the answers, but you need to know where to find the answers or who to contact. The ABVP outreach mentorship subcommittee can provide the up to date information from the leadership or you can read it on the ABVP website.
• Time: How much time devoted to a mentee is left to the discretion of the mentor. The mentor is expected to be available to the mentee and respond to them in a timely manner.
• Review: The mentor is not required to review or edit any documents (including case reports and/or summaries) that the mentee submits but may do so at their own discretion.

In short, be the mentor you always wanted AND receive MOC points. Mentors receive 125 MOC points for each mentee they work with through the ABVP mentor program that becomes a Diplomate. For more information, please contact the ABVP Mentor Program. 

American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) Breakfast 

Manuel Himenes Jr., DVM, DABVP (Equine), Equine Regent

The AAEP is hosting their 70th annual conference this year! 

Dates: December 7-11, 2024
Location: Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL

There will be a breakfast on December 9th from 7:00 AM - 8:00 AM Eastern in room 312B for ABVP Equine Diplomates.

For more information about the AAEP Conference, please visit their website. 

Potential for New ABVP RVS

Daniel Cardosa, DVM, DABVP (Canine & Feline) 

I am interested in forming a new RVS (Recognized Veterinary Specialty) group within the ABVP. The New RVS will be a specialty in regenerative medicine practice and not limited to any particular species but is most often used in small animals and horses. Regenerative medicine is becoming increasingly popular as a therapeutic modality for managing many types of diseases in small animals and equines. Research into stem cells, platelet rich plasma, exosomes and other areas of regenerative medicine is currently quite active with more and more veterinarians becoming interested in this developing area of veterinary medicine. Regenerative medicine is very complex and requires specialized knowledge of regenerative systems and stem cells.

Veterinarians do not need to be ABVP Diplomates to help start this endeavor but should be well experienced and be “subject matter experts”. Veterinarians from all specialty groups and colleges are welcome to apply to be part of the organizing committee including those veterinarians from any ABVS recognized RVSO. A minimum of 20 veterinarians with acceptable credentials and documented experience are required in order to form the organizing committee. Interested veterinarians in forming this RVS should forward their CV and a synopsis of their experience in regenerative medicine to me at the email linked below.

In Memoriam: Heather Bowles-Strausbaugh

Heather Bowles-Strausbaugh, DVM, DABVP (Avian Practice) recently passed away as the result of a chronic illness. She is survived by her husband Bob, 8 step grandchildren and her 3 Belgian Malinois. Heather was an active practicing avian and exotic animal veterinarian and enjoyed climbing lighthouses up to the time of her illness. Heather was also actively involved in the Association of Avian Veterinarians and local avian veterinarian groups by attending and lecturing at conferences.

VIN Rounds

ABVP is happy to partner with VIN to make Rounds available to all ABVP Diplomates. You must be a VIN member and/or an ABVP Diplomate to attend. Those who attend the live session earn 1 hour of CE credit. Sessions are also recorded for viewing later with NO CE credit attached.

Save The Dates!

Changed from August 11 to August 20, 8 PM Eastern
Why Does Everything Look Like a Purple Blob? Tips for Choosing and Using Cytology in Avian Practice
Michelle Sutherland, BVM&S, BSc, CertAVP (ZooMed), DABVP (Avian), FANZCVS (Avian), MRCVS

September 19, 9 PM Eastern
Anaplasmosis in Cattle
Rick Stockler, DVM, MS, PhD, DABVP (Dairy)

October 6
November 3
December 29

If you have not received access to VIN, please email VIN directly at rounds@vin.com. ABVP cannot assist with access since Rounds are on the VIN platform.

If you are a newer Diplomate and interested in presenting, please email ce@abvp.com. Each lecture is about 50 minutes long and you will need to keep an eye on your lecture's message board after the lecture for a couple of weeks. VIN will pay you for your lecture. ABVP will help you with your lecture by assigning you a mentor, if you would like.

Residency and Job Postings

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

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