Comments invited on proposed veterinary botanical medicine specialty

The AVMA American Board of Veterinary Specialties has received a petition for recognition of the American College of Veterinary Botanical Medicine as a new recognized veterinary specialty organization. In compliance with ABVS procedures, the board is seeking comment from the public and the profession regarding the proposed specialty organization.

The organizing committee of the proposed American College of Veterinary Botanical Medicine submitted a letter of intent to the ABVS in 2014 and a formal petition for recognition of the specialty organization to the ABVS Committee on the Development of New Specialties in November 2016.

The ACVBM organizing committee proposes that a specialty in veterinary botanical medicine would serve a public need. Herbal therapy is one of the most common topics offered in complementary and alternative veterinary medicine courses taught at veterinary schools; the number of faculty members with training in botanical medicine at veterinary colleges is increasing; externship sites for 18 veterinary schools include sites that use botanical medicine; and continuing education programs in botanical medicine are available for veterinarians through four organizations (Chi Institute, Veterinary Information Network, International Veterinary Acupuncture Society, and College of Integrative Veterinary Therapy) and are included at most national veterinary conferences, including those of ABVS-recognized specialty organizations.

Twenty-two specialty organizations are currently recognized by the AVMA. All AVMA-recognized specialty organizations and specialties comply with recognition guidelines outlined in the ABVS Policies and Procedures manual (PDF). Refer to those guidelines when developing comments regarding the proposed American College of Veterinary Botanical Medicine specialty organization.

A link to the ACVBM petition in PDF format as submitted to the ABVS can be found on the proposed specialty organization’s home page. Comments must be signed and received no later than Sept. 1, 2017.

Send comments regarding consideration of recognition of the American College of Veterinary Botanical Medicine as a veterinary specialty organization to the American Board of Veterinary Specialties, c/o David Banasiak, 1931 N. Meacham Road, Suite 100, Schaumburg, IL 60173, or by email to DBanasiakavma [dot] org (DBanasiak[at]avma[dot]org).