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About ABVP

The concept of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners, Inc. was the result of two progressive thinking veterinarians who had the advancement of veterinary clinical practice at heart. After some libation, in a lengthy discussion lasting all night, Dr's. Bill Jackson of Lakeland, Florida (boarded in surgery and ophthalmology) and Don Sawyer of Michigan State (boarded in anesthesiology), conceived the idea of the ABVP. The idea was further refined when heads were clearer. Together with Dr. Bill Kay of New York (boarded in neurology), Dr. Bob Kirk of Cornell (boarded in internal medicine) and Dr. H. Fred Troutt of Blacksburg, Virginia, the concept for the ABVP was developed.

In March, 1977 the concept was presented to the Advisory Board of Veterinary Specialties. The advisory board determined that the creation of such a board would be beneficial to veterinary medicine. Each specialty college was asked to serve on the organizing committee.

Over the next year about 20 specialists from various groups worked out the details and a petition for the ABVP was presented at the March 1978 ABVS meeting. After much debate the ABVS gave provisional approval for the formation of the ABVP. Ratification by the Council on Education and the AVMA House of Delegates was required and when that occurred in July 1978, the ABVP became a reality.

Dr. Bill Jackson served as the first president and Dr. Bob Kirk served as the executive secretary. The founders and the organizing committee began working on the first examination and the credentialing of candidates. The first examination was given at the AVMA Annual Meeting at St. Louis, Missouri in July 1981 to 103 candidates. There were 41 Diplomates certified that year in three practice categories, Companion Animal Practice, Equine Practice, and Food Animal Practice.

ABVP is cuurently over 800 Diplomates strong. Since the original three practice categories were established, ABVP has added practice categories in Avian, Swine Health Management, Dairy, Beef Cattle, and Feline. With the addition of Feline Practice, the Companion Animal Practice category was renamed Canine and Feline Practice. ABVP is also working on possible new practice categories in Exotic Companion Mammal and Reptile/Amphibian.

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