Historical and Future Perspectives of the American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine Thomas G. Murnane, DVM, DACVPM Brigadier General US Army Retired Acknowledgement: This historical and future perspectives account of the American College of Veterinary Medi- cine is based on documents and correspondence in the archives of the College, personal communications with the author, information kindly provided by the American Veterinary Medical Association, the American Board of Medical Specialties, the American Board of Preventive Medicine, and comments and additions offered by thirty-five diplomates who critiqued the original draft of the article. Introduction Unrelated, but equally indicative of the pro- gressive outlook of the AVMA in 1951, was This year, 2000, the American College of Veterinary the action by the House to approve an Execu- Preventive Medicine, originally incorporated as the tive Board recommendation for “the establish- American Board of Veterinary Public Health (the Board or ABVPH), in Washington, D.C., in 1950, is ment of some type of AVMA representation celebrating the 50th anniversary of its founding. The in Washington, at a beginning maximum Board and the American College of Veterinary Pa- expenditure of $2,500.00 a year.” Thus the thologists (ACVP) were the first specialties in veteri- beginning of the AVMA Washington Repre- nary medicine to be recognized by the American sentative. Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) This distinc- tion was conferred unanimously by the AVMA House of Representatives during its Eighty-Eighth Annual Meeting, August 18, 1951, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin1. Specialty Evolution In Human Medicine Such was the birth of specialization in veterinary medicine in the United States or elsewhere in the The growth of specialization in human medi- world. cine is linked to advancements of medical science and resulting vast improvements in Actions taken by the House of Representa- medical care and diagnostics since the turn of tives at the 88th meeting were significant for the 20th century. The American Board of the future of specialty practice in veterinary Ophthalmic Examinations, the first recog- medicine in the United States. First, the nized medical specialty, was incorporated in AVMA Council on Education was authorized, 1917. It was the first time guidelines were “to express its approval of such examining established for training and evaluating candi- boards in veterinary medicine specialties as dates desiring to practice ophthalmology. The conform to standards of administration formu- second specialty board, the American Board lated by the Council.” Second, the, “Essentials of Otolaryngology, founded and incorporated of Approved Specialty Boards of Colleges in in 1924, developed along similar lines as its Veterinary Medicine,” formulated by the predecessor. Others followed in the 1930s, Council on Education was approved. Finally, and by 1948 there were 18 recognized medi- as previously noted, the applications from the cal specialties. Among the later medical spe- ACVP (February 10, 1950) and the ABVPH cialties was the American Board of Preventive (July 31, 1950) for specialty recognition were Medicine. It was incorporated in 1948 and approved unanimously by the House. recognized in 1949 only two years before the ABVPH. In 1952 the name was changed to 1 the American Board of Preventive Medicine Service officer (Dr. James H. Steele); one, an and Public Health. Diplomates of this Board international veterinary public health consult- are certified in the specialty areas of Aerospace ant (Dr. Benjamin D. Blood); there were city Medicine, Occupational Medicine or Public or state health department veterinarians (Drs. Health and General Preventive Medicine. L. W. Rowles, Kansas; Martin D. Baum, Den- Undoubtedly, the establishment and recogni- ver, Colorado; Alexander Zeissig, Albany, tion of the ABPMPH spurred the interest of New York); three were academicians (Drs. Ival veterinarians to promote a veterinary public A. Merchant, Iowa State College; Henrik J. health specialty. Stafseth, Michigan State College; Franklin A. Clark, Alabama Polytechnic Institute, Auburn, Today there are 24-member medical boards Alabama); and one, Dr. John G. Hardenbergh, recognized by the American Board of Medical after a distinguished practice, military and Specialties and 20-member boards or colleges academic career, was then serving as the Ex- recognized by the American Board of Veteri- ecutive Director of the AVMA. Colonels Todd nary Specialties. Unlike the early medical and Carter had served together for several specialties, which were clinically oriented, five years in the European Theater of Operations of the first seven veterinary medical specialties during and following World War II where they recognized in the period 1951-70 were in the were assigned to Civil Affairs/Military Gov- public/institutional practice sector. ernment operations. Colonel Carter, one of two surviving members of the Council recalls, “We had many talks about the idea of a veterinary Evolution of Veterinary Public Health and public health specialty. We kept up such inter- Preventive Medicine as a Specialty est after our return to the United States.” The history of the American College of Veteri- Dr. James H. Steele, the other surviving mem- nary Preventive Medicine can be traced to ber of the 12-member Council, who is known 1949 when a group of 12 veterinarians formed and familiar to many as an icon in veterinary an organizing council for the purpose of estab- public health, served as the first secretary to lishing what they then designated the Ameri- the Organizing Council. His report of the first can Academy of Veterinary Public Health. The meeting of the council stated that Frank Todd first meeting of the council was held July 11, was elected temporary chairman and he, 1949, in Detroit, Michigan, during the annual Steele, temporary secretary. Chairman Todd meeting of the AVMA2. The successors to the appointed two committees: one to establish a Academy, the American Board of Veterinary definition of veterinary public health, the other Public Health/American College of Veterinary to develop bylaws to include criteria for eligi- Preventive Medicine have held annual execu- bility. The next meeting of the Council was tive and membership meetings concurrently scheduled for Sunday, October 23, 1949, in Dr. with the annual meeting of the American Steele’s room of the Statler Hotel in New York Veterinary Medical Association, an alliance of City. This coincided with the annual meeting 50 years standing! of the American Public Health Association with which some council members were affili- The organizing council members were distin- ated. guished public health practitioners and acade- micians. Three were active duty U.S. Army Secretary Steele included this cautionary note Veterinary Corps officers (Lieutenant Colonels in his first report, “It should be explained to all Frank A. Todd, Phillip R. Carter, Mervyn B. members of the Organizing Council and inter- Starnes); one a Commissioned Public Health 2 ested parties that physical presence at these tions. Initially, a pair of councilors served one organization meetings does not make one a or two years in order to establish a turnover of charter or founding member. Membership two councilors each year. cannot be determined until the bylaws eligibil- ity report of Doctor Rowles’ committee can be Four classes of membership or fellowship were accepted by the Organizing Council.” established: Organizing Committee Fellow, Charter Fellow, Fellow and Honorary Fellow. At some time during or immediately following The term “Fellow” persisted until the Constitu- the New York meeting in October 1949, the tion was amended on August 14, 1960. The Academy redesigned itself as the American term “Diplomate” supplanted the term Board of Veterinary Public Health. A copy of “Fellow.” the Constitution and Bylaws of the American Board of Veterinary Public Health dated No- The prerequisites as originally prescribed for vember 30, 1949, stated that the name of the applicants wishing to take the Board Examina- organization would be “The American Board tion were: of Veterinary Public Health.” Perhaps this 1. An applicant must be a graduate from a designation was prompted by the fact that veterinary school recognized by the Ameri- “Board” is a more accurate term for the pur- can Veterinary Medical Association. pose of the organization, which is the examina- 2. Have an M.P.H. or equivalent degree from tion and certification of veterinarians in the a school of public health recognized by the specialty of veterinary public health. Likewise, American Public Health Association the name of the corresponding specialty in (APHA) and at least six (6) years of experi- human medicine, the American Board of Pre- ence in a recognized civilian or military ventive medicine and Public Health, which was public health agency and has made a dis- officially recognized earlier in 1949, may have tinct contribution to the advancement of inspired the change from “Academy” to veterinary public health. Four (4) years of “Board.” Whatever the circumstances, the additional experience along with recog- designation was professionally and technically nized accomplishments in veterinary public appropriate. The American Board of Veteri- health may be substituted for an advanced nary Public Health was officially incorporated degree. as a nonprofit organization under the jurisdic- 3. Possess a license to practice veterinary tion of the District of