Dear fellow Diplomates,

I don’t know about you, but I am finding it hard to believe that we’ve already entered the second quarter of 2025. The incredible force of ACVIM Diplomate volunteers and full-time staff have been hard at work, and there are a few highlights I’d like to share with you.

First, thank you to everyone who took the time to complete the 2025 Member Engagement Survey, which closed April 11. This year’s survey was particularly important as the ACVIM undergoes strategic discussions to help shape our future and address critical challenges that face our community. We heard from you about the importance of trends impacting the profession, such as rising costs of veterinary care, changing workforce expectations, an increase in new veterinary schools with distributed models, and a shortage of qualified specialty technicians. At the 2025 ACVIM Forum, we will convene volunteers and other stakeholders in person to discuss how the ACVIM can best address these trends and others to support you and the profession in the years ahead.

In case you missed it, the ACVIM recently launched the Candidate General Examination Fee Waiver Program, a new financial assistance initiative created to help address socioeconomic barriers in the Board-certification process. The application opened April 1 and will close May 1. A limited number of spots are available, and Candidates who apply and are selected to participate in the program will receive first-time ACVIM General Examination registration fees waived in 2025, with exam administration taking place in 2026. I am very excited about this new program and encourage you to share this opportunity with those residents who may qualify.

The 2025 ACVIM Forum is fast approaching, and if you haven’t already registered to attend, I encourage you to do so. The in-person conference will take place in Louisville, Kentucky June 19-21, with Specialty Symposium June 18 – a day filled with educational content specifically designed for ACVIM Candidates and Diplomates. If you can’t make it in person, you have the option to register to attend virtually. Our Forum team and planning committees have been working hard to design a cutting-edge program, which you can review here.

If you have a desire to participate in big-picture discussions and have an impact on our organization’s future, I highly encourage you to become an ACVIM volunteer. There truly are opportunities for everyone and varying time commitments so you can find one that fits your schedule. I invite you to explore the volunteer page or email Volunteers@ACVIM.org for more information.

Have a great spring, and I hope to see you at Forum!

Sincerely,