Board recognizes new specialties, condemns horse tripping
The AVMA Executive Board convened April 10-12 at Association headquarters in Schaumburg, Ill., with an agenda of proposals concerning veterinarians as well as animal health and welfare.
Dr. Thomas Meyer, the District XI representative to the board, chaired the meeting, where shelter medicine and equine dentistry were recognized as the newest veterinary specialties.
Plans to investigate the feasibility of developing a national online registry for veterinary clinical trials were approved. The AVMA Council on Research recommendation includes forming a working group to study the usefulness, costs, and benefits of creating and operating a publicly accessible database that lists on-going veterinary clinical trials.
In addition to adopting a new AVMA policy opposing horse tripping, the board referred revised versions of policies on pregnant sow housing, cat declawing, veterinary dentistry, and judicious therapeutic use of antimicrobials to the House of Delegates for consideration during its regular annual session in July.
Board members also authorized Student AVMA representation on the Committee on International Veterinary Affairs and the AVMA hosting a Veterinary Feed Directive Summit this summer to discuss proposed Food and Drug Administration regulations.