AVMA considers new specialty board

Schaumburg, Ill. — You will determine whether a new specialty board — the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation (ACVSMR)— is created.

The American Board of Specialty Veterinarians is accepting comments from the veterinary community as part of the approval process.

The group seeks input in the following areas:

»Whether creating the new board will improve veterinary services to the public

» Whether there are enough potential diplomates to serve a clearly defined need within the profession

» Whether this represents a distinct and identifiable specialty of veterinary medicine, supported by scientific knowledge and practice and accepted by the profession and public.

A letter of intent to form the ACVSMR was sent in 2003, according to Dr. Karen Brandt, ABVS staff consultant and assistant director of the AVMA Education and Research Division.

A petition indicating the need for the specialty board was approved last fall.

The comment period will be open through Nov. 1, but likely it will take some time after that before a provision of recognition could be granted, Brandt says.

The last specialty organization added to the ABSV was in the early 1990s.

E-mail comments to David Banasiak at dbanasiak@avma.org. Fax comments to (847) 285-5732. Or mail comments to AVMA, Attn. David Banasiak, 1931 N. Meacham Road, Suite 100, Schaumburg, Ill., 60173.