Comments sought on proposed animal welfare and parasitology specialties
The AVMA American Board of Veterinary Specialties is being petitioned to recognize the American College of Animal Welfare as a new veterinary specialty organization. The ABVS has also received a request to recognize a new Parasitology Specialty within the American College of Veterinary Microbiologists.
The ABVS is asking for comments from the public and veterinary profession regarding the two proposals.
The American College of Animal Welfare organizing committee has indicated the new specialty organization would provide the profession with a key group of veterinarians possessing a base knowledge about animal welfare broad enough to recognize problems across species.
The ACAW organizing committee says the complexity of animal welfare issues and changes in public expectations regarding animal welfare, along with the need for individuals who can provide science-based animal welfare expertise across disciplines, are sufficient to warrant formation of a new specialty certification program and recognition of a new veterinary specialty organization.
The organizing committee estimates 50 veterinarians will sit for the certification examination in the first three years.
The organizing committee submitted a letter of intent to the ABVS in 2006 and a formal petition for recognition of the specialty organization to the ABVS Committee on the Development of New Specialties in October 2009. The CDNS has determined the petition fulfills minimum requirements.
The American College of Veterinary Microbiologists and the organizing committee for the proposed new Parasitology Specialty believe veterinary parasitology constitutes a clearly defined veterinary medical discipline that fits well under the umbrella of the ACVM as a specialty discipline which, while distinct in focus, shares common features with the bacteriology, virology, and immunology specialties already established within that college.
Like those disciplines, the veterinary parasitology community has a long-standing commitment to supporting clinical diagnostic services, providing evidence-based medical and treatment advice, and promoting advances in the prevention of infectious diseases. Certification for the proposed new specialty would be administered under the ACVM umbrella.
The organizing committee of the proposed Parasitology Specialty submitted a letter of intent to the ABVS in 2008 to begin the process toward recognition. The ACVM and the organizing committee submitted a formal petition for recognition of the new specialty organization to the ABVS Committee on the Development of New Specialties in October 2009. The CDNS determined that the petition fulfills minimum requirements.
The petition indicates approximately 200 current members of the American Association of Veterinary Parasitologists would be a source of potential diplomates in the Parasitology Specialty if it were recognized.
The ABVS reviews petitions and forwards recommendations regarding recognition to the Council on Education, which, if in agreement, forwards any ABVS recommendations to the AVMA Executive Board.
Twenty veterinary specialty organizations are recognized by the AVMA here. All AVMA-recognized veterinary specialty organizations and specialties comply with recognition guidelines outlined in the ABVS Policies and Procedures Manual, available here. Refer to those guidelines when developing comments regarding the proposed new American College of Animal Welfare specialty organization and Parasitology Specialty.
Comments on the proposed American College of Animal Welfare and the Parasitology Specialty must be signed and received no later than Nov. 1 by David Banasiak, AVMA Education and Research Division, 1931 N. Meacham Road, Suite 100, Schaumburg, IL 60173-4360. Questions regarding the recognition guidelines or the proposed new specialty organization or specialty may be directed to Banasiak via e-mail or by phone, (800) 248-2862, Ext. 6677.
Additional information on these petitions will be posted here as it becomes available.