Comments sought on proposed specialty in nephrology and urology

Veterinary nephrology and urology have advanced in scope, complexity, and delivery of care, say those who regularly see animals with conditions affecting the urinary system.

These practitioners have now petitioned the AVMA American Board of Veterinary Specialties for recognition of nephrology and urology as a new specialty within the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine. In compliance with ABVS procedures, the board is seeking comment from the public and the profession regarding the proposed specialty.

The organizing committee of the proposed specialty submitted a letter of intent to the ABVS in 2017. In December 2018, the committee submitted a request to begin the period of public comment.

According to information provided by the organizing committee, "The diagnosis and treatment of urinary disease can no longer be practiced or developed at its highest levels by veterinary internists and warrants establishment of a unique specialty within ACVIM to steward its ongoing development and provision of care."

Training requirements for the proposed specialty include completion of a one-year, web-based core curriculum and at least three full-time–equivalent years of focused experience in nephrology and urology. Another feature of the specialty is the establishment of a virtual clinical training program to provide broad training opportunities for candidate diplomates.

All AVMA-recognized specialty organizations and specialties comply with recognition guidelines outlined in the ABVS Policies and Procedures manual. Refer to those guidelines when developing comments regarding the proposed specialty of nephrology and urology.

A link to the information about the proposed specialty can be found on the ABVS website. Send comments regarding consideration of recognition of nephrology and urology as a veterinary specialty to ABVSavma [dot] org (ABVS[at]avma[dot]org). Comments must be signed and received no later than March 12.