Veterinary Specialists

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Well now that the procrastinating for studying for exams for my pre-reqs is over, I am now procrastinating packing and getting ready to move across the country this summer to CSU 🙂 So in my time wasting, I happened to be browsing the avma webpage and came across this link... I thought it was rather interesting... I really thought that there were a lot more specialists than 8,500... and its actually less since there are a bunch of docs who are certified in 2 more specialties... I guess I was way off base 🙂


Veterinary specialists
Updated December 2006

AVMA-recognized specialty boards and colleges TOTAL Active, board-certified diplomates (as of December 2006) 8,510 Membership*

Anesthesiologists (AVCA) 156

Animal Behaviorists (ACVB) 38

Dentistry (AVDC) 89

Dermatologists (ACVD) 171

Emergency and Critical Care (ACVECC) 203

Internal Medicine (ACVIM) 1,675
Cardiology 138
Sm Animal Internal Medicine 875
Lg Animal Internal Medicine 410
Neurology 144
Oncology 175

Laboratory Animal Medicine (ACLAM) 687

Microbiologists (ACVM) 156
Bacteriology/Mycology 32
Immunology 45
Microbiology 69
Virology 48

Nutrition (ACVN) 51

Ophthalmologists (ACVO) 271

Pathologists (ACVP) 1,395
Anatomic Pathology 1,174
Clinical Pathology 246
Toxicologic Pathology 0

Pharmacology (ACVCP) 46

Poultry (ACPV) 260

Practitioners (ABVP) 800
Avian 104
Beef Cattle 11
Canine & Feline 473
Dairy 27
Equine 87
Feline 64
Food Animal 17
Swine Health Management 17

Preventative Medicine (ACVPM) 566
Epidemiology 58

Radiology (ACVR) 304
Radiation Oncology 60

Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS) 1,131
Small Animal 124
Large Animal 67

Theriogenologists (ACT) 320

Toxicology (ABVT) 94

Zoological Medicine (ACZM) 97

*Some members belong to more than one specialty.
http://www.avma.org/reference/marketstats/vetspec.asp

 

[AuburnPreVet]

Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS) 1,131
Small Animal 124
Large Animal 67

What are the rest of these boarded surgeons doing? {124+67 doesn't add up to 1,131}

Great statistics. I didn't realize there were that many Ophthos around.

I wish there were income statistics available... just out of curiosity(???). Although, I'm sure its HIGHLY variable (academia vs private pracitice vs hosp owner...blah blah)...

 

[VelcroSky]

{124+67 doesn't add up to 1,131}

Or does it?! :::Cue ominous music:::

Sorry.

 

[CookieBear]

Or does it?! :::Cue ominous music:::

Sorry.

For those of you who took calculus, you should know that the answer is actually pi.

 

[Habibti]

I'm guessing that there are, in fact, more than 8500 specialists. However, they are not necessarily board certified in their specialty. You can see this with human doctors as well. If you are looking for someone in internal medicine, for example, some of the doctors are board certified and some of them are not. They are still specialists and have done their residency/passed the USMLE. A good example in veterinary medicine in lab animal vets. You don't have to be board certified to practice laboratory animal medicine (although it helps).

 

[Bill59]

What are the rest of these boarded surgeons doing? {124+67 doesn't add up to 1,131}

They've only recently divided surgery into large and small animal. In the past, ACVS-boarded surgeons included both large and small animal, even though they almost always practiced one or the other. So the other 1000 or so were boarded before the division.

 

[Bill59]

I'm guessing that there are, in fact, more than 8500 specialists. However, they are not necessarily board certified in their specialty.

In the US, veterinarians can legally practice however they want. For example, if they want to do only surgery they can. But ethically, they should not call themselves specialists. Rather they can say "Practice limited to small animal surgery" for example.

To be called a specialist they should be certified by an AVMA-recognized veterinary specialty organization.

Otherwise it gets very confusing for animal owners if they can't tell what the term "specialist" means.

 

[Habibti]

In the US, veterinarians can legally practice however they want. For example, if they want to do only surgery they can. But ethically, they should not call themselves specialists. Rather they can say "Practice limited to small animal surgery" for example.

To be called a specialist they should be certified by an AVMA-recognized veterinary specialty organization.

Otherwise it gets very confusing for animal owners if they can't tell what the term "specialist" means.

Although this is true, I believe that, generally, in larger clinics, certain vets will typically take on certain roles. I suppose this does not technically make them a specialist, but the requirements for becoming board certified create an environment that heavily favors academic medicine (this refers to the requirement of a first author publication). Although those in private practice are perfectly capable of writing a case study, is this common?

Just by looking at the statistics of the lab animal residencies (because that is what I'm interested in), people will complete the residency without necessarily becoming board certified.

 

[birdvet2006]

Just by looking at the statistics of the lab animal residencies (because that is what I'm interested in), people will complete the residency without necessarily becoming board certified.

People who complete a residency but who do not become board certified are called "board eligible" and they can claim "special training in X" but they are NOT specialists.

I do believe it is illegal to call oneself or present oneself as a specialist without board certification.

Those in a large practice have "special areas of interest" but do not specialize unless board certified.

 

[Habibti]

People who complete a residency but who do not become board certified are called "board eligible" and they can claim "special training in X" but they are NOT specialists.

I do believe it is illegal to call oneself or present oneself as a specialist without board certification.

Those in a large practice have "special areas of interest" but do not specialize unless board certified.

I believe you misunderstood me. I am fully aware of what defines a veterinary specialist.
"Veterinarians may choose to limit their scope of practice to one species or discipline such as surgery or ophthalmology. A veterinary specialist, as recognized by the AVMA, is a graduate veterinarian who has successfully completed the process of board certification in an AVMA-recognized veterinary specialty organization (ie, board or college). To become board certified, a veterinarian must have extensive post-graduate training and experience and pass a credential review and examinations set by the given specialty organization." http://www.avma.org/careforanimals/animatedjourneys/aboutvets/vetspecialists.asp

However, I disagree with the process of board certification. In human medicine, completing a residency and passing an exam in that specialty is enough to become board certified. In veterinary medicine, most boarding organizations require that you also be a first author of a paper in a peer reviewed journal. I believe completing a residency and having the knowledge to pass the exam is more indicative of your ability to practice sucessfully within the specialty than finding a special case to write a paper about or completing rather extensive research. The requirement of a first author paper creates an environment that favors specialists in academic medicine/teaching hospitals, rather than in private practice. Although it is possible to see interesting/rare cases in private practice, you don't necessarily have the resources to aid you in writing a paper and it is unlikely that you are completing extensive research.

 

[AuburnPreVet]

However, I disagree with the process of board certification. In human medicine, completing a residency and passing an exam in that specialty is enough to become board certified. In veterinary medicine, most boarding organizations require that you also be a first author of a paper in a peer reviewed journal. I believe completing a residency and having the knowledge to pass the exam is more indicative of your ability to practice sucessfully within the specialty than finding a special case to write a paper about or completing rather extensive research..

Why not do the residency (and everything associated; research/case reports) AND pass the specialty exam.. if that is the goal?

I think the difference here is that in vet med those who seek board certification have a much higher likelyhood of becoming educators. Whether it be in the traditional sense (ie. academia) or in large private practices which typically have interns, residents, etc. To have our future educators lack any research, publication, or presentation skills seems like a bad idea to me.

Flip open JAVMA or any other current literature and you'll see many of the articles are written by boarded specialists from both academia & private practice. Those research/publication skills may come in handy. Just my 0.02...for whatever it's worth. 🙂

 

[Bill59]

The justification for requiring research as part of board certification (and not all veterinary boards require this) is that it's important to understand research and how that impacts clinical practice. And the best way to understand something is be involved in it, instead of just reading about it.

It's the same reason many MD residencies require their residents to do a research project.