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September 2026 Newsletter
September is one of those months when everything seems to get moving again. The kids are all back in school, college sports are in full swing, and depending on where you live, the weather around you is starting to change a bit. Here in Texas, we may still be waiting somewhat patiently for that last part!
For ABVP, September also seems like a good time for us to get back together.
I want to invite all of our Diplomates to join me on Wednesday, September 23rd at 7:30 p.m. Central Time for the return of Pints with the President.
This gathering is primarily for our North American colleagues—though our friends in London are certainly welcome to join us if they happen to be still awake and raving at 1:30 in the morning!
This time, we'll host Pints with the President through our new learning platform at learn.abvp.com. In addition to letting us visit, this would be a fun, informal way to introduce everyone to our new online classroom.
On the appointed date and time, log in to learn.abvp.com using your phone, tablet, or laptop, and we will have a classroom link available for you to join the conversation. Moodle also has an app available for both iOS and Android if you would prefer to use that to access the site.
And, of course, bring your favorite pint.
That might be a pint of a tasty beverage, a pint of ice cream, a pint of fruit, or whatever else you can imagine putting into a pint-sized container that makes you smile. The beverage has never really been the important part. The conversation is.
There is no formal agenda. My goal is to give Diplomates another opportunity to connect with ABVP leadership. I would love to hear what is working well, what we could be doing better, what challenges you are encountering, and what ideas you have for making ABVP an even more valuable professional home.
Some of the best ideas do not come from committee meetings or strategic planning documents. They come from conversations among colleagues who care about the organization and are willing to share what they are seeing from their corner of it.
If you have thoughts you would like to share before or after the gathering — or if joining live does not work with your schedule or time zone — please feel free to reach out to me directly. Pints with the President is another avenue for conversation, not the only one.
One of the things I value most about ABVP is its remarkable community of veterinarians. We represent different specialties, practice settings, parts of the world, and career stages. Still, we share a commitment to excellence in veterinary practice and to continuing to learn from one another.
Please grab a pint of something you enjoy, log in, and spend a little time with us on September 23rd.
I look forward to seeing you there.
Stephen Pittenger, DVM, Dipl. ABVP® (Canine & Feline Practice), President, ABVP®
Your MOC Update
Over the next few newsletters, I'd like to give a shout-out to the MOC Committee volunteers. We will go alphabetically, starting with a thank you to the Avian MOC flock! Anthony Pilny is the Avian MOC Vice Chair and reviews every application that flies his way. He contributes to the Journal Club along with Jessica Grodio and Isabelle Langlois.
PLEASE - Feedback needed in a 90-second Survey
MOC has been reviewing your Journal Club comments (compliments and criticisms) since its implementation in 2021. We always strive to improve, so the committee would appreciate you taking a minute to share feedback on this BRIEF survey.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd_u4dS7tO3QBS4MEOWD2DwDwwnNZuKIRkJLA_QKcMwxBKObg/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=102376694504016235060 (Link will be open until 12/1/2026).
UPDATE ON JOURNAL CLUB! GOOD NEWS!
New and improved! If you did not see Dr. Pittenger’s President’s note in the last newsletter, you will be pleased to know that the Journal Club has a new home.
Head over to https://learn.abvp.com/my/courses to view all the Journal Club articles. When you complete them, you will get a certificate, and the site saves all of your information, so you will no longer need to screenshot the results! YAY! Thanks, Dr. P!
Tip: Using the email that this newsletter was sent to, you can request a password reset to log in for the first time.
Links:
MOC webpage and Handbook
DEIW Update
September is Suicide Prevention Month, a time to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and remind one another that reaching out for support is a sign of strength. Veterinary professionals face unique emotional and professional challenges, and creating a culture where conversations about mental health are welcomed can make a meaningful difference.
The Veterinary Hope Foundation (VHF) is dedicated to supporting the mental health and well-being of veterinary professionals through education, connection, community groups, and early intervention. Their resources provide opportunities to connect with others in the profession and find support before challenges become crises. Veterinary Hope Foundation
The DEI Committee encourages ABVP Diplomates, candidates, and veterinary teams to check in with one another, listen without judgment, and make mental health support part of our everyday professional culture. Sometimes, simply asking “How are you really doing?” can open an important conversation.
For anyone experiencing emotional distress or a mental health crisis in the United States, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available 24/7 by calling or texting 988. 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Equine Regent
As the weather starts getting cooler we start looking forward to fall CE offerings. We will be hosting the ABVP breakfast again this year at the AAEP annual convention, so if you are getting your registration together for this meeting in Las Vegas this year, make sure to set aside time for it. It will be at the Mandalay Bay Resort - Reef C room on Wednesday, December 9 from 7-8 am. Hope to see everyone there!
Sylvia Ouellette, DVM, DABVP (Equine)
Don’t forget that ABVP® has classified listings for open positions all over the world!
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.
- Sunday, September 27, 9 PM Eastern, Muting the Chaos: Sensory Challenges for the Small Herbivore in Clinic, Marc Silpa, DVM, DABVP® (Exotic Companion Mammal Practice)
- Thursday, October 15, 9 PM Eastern, Unraveling the Prolapsed Reptile: Diagnosis and Treatment, Marianne Caron, DVM, DABVP® (Reptile and Amphibian Practice)
- Sunday, November 15, 9 PM Eastern, Gastic Torsion and Gastropexy in Rabbits, Stephen Chan, DVM, DABVP® (Exotic Companion Mammal Practice)
- Thursday, December 3, 9 PM Eastern, Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP): From Death Sentence to Daily Practice, Petra Cerna, DVM, DACVIM, ECVIM, DABVP® (Feline Practice)
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 vinrounds@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.
ABVP® CALENDAR
December 31, 2026
Final day to be a called a Diplomate for those who failed to MOC on time
January 15, 2027
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 by 11:59 PM Central Time
Semi-Annual Residency Logs deadline. Logs must be submitted online by 11:59 PM Central Time
April 1-4, 2027
ABVP® Symposium, Chicago, IL
July 1, 2027
2027-2028 Diplomate and Emeritus Diplomate fees payable
July 15, 2027
Semi-Annual Residency Logs deadline. Logs must be submitted online by 11:59 PM Central Time
July 15, 2027
MOC Renewal Applications Deadline
