ACVR Insight e-News - January 2024

January 2024

A Message from ACVR President, Dr. Ryan King

Dear Colleagues and Friends,

Happy New Year! I hope you had an opportunity to put away the keyboards and turn off the viewing stations, whether those be segmenting or interpreting, for at least a few minutes over the holidays.

Let me take an opportunity to say a huge “Thank You” to Dr. Zwingenberger for her extended role as ACVR President. Allison’s tremendous leadership, organization, and attention to detail have resulted in many new initiatives and have set ACVR up for continued success.

Which is excellent news, as ACVR has a busy year ahead in 2024!

Possibly our largest task at hand is to transition the preliminary exam to reflect our most recent job task analysis. I hope that many of you were able to attend the business meeting and participate in discussion of the JTA.

There is always much speculation, spreading of rumors, and a moderate amount of disinformation when it comes to both the preliminary and certifying exam. So far, I’ve fielded questions and comments along the lines of “I heard that we no longer need to learn Nuclear medicine?” to “Strontium is so 2022.”

I’m certainly not able to dispel all of the rumors in a newsletter, nor do I have all of the answers. What I can say is this: The JTA is a tool to ensure that our exams best reflect the most critical, and most common, tasks we perform. By its nature, it often results in some important tasks, and some important skillsets, being dropped from the examination. This does not suggest that we should not continue to teach, and learn, these important topics. Similarly, this should not suggest these topics are outdated or no longer performed; in fact, some developing topics (AI, PETCT) simply have not yet made the cut for testing. Rest assured, we’re evaluating mechanisms to ensure that our residency programs continue to produce ACVR Diplomates who are the experts in our field, even in topics that may no longer make, (or have not yet made!), the cut for the examinations.

The exam committees have a busy year ahead, working with HumRRO (our JTA consulting group) to develop new exam content, and to make a shift to a new exam blueprint with a section of common content for the exam for EDI and DI.

Lastly, let's not let rumors regarding the examination content or administration spread. Have a look at Dr. Nykamp’s excellent Q&A! Or reach out to one of our exam directors, or a member of council, for clarification on any questions you, or your residents may have.

In a related topic, we are working on creating a new position within the ACVR that reflect the growing demands of our College. As Dr. Zwingenberger discussed at the meeting, and in the November newsletter, the first is the Director of Residency Standards. This position will help develop and implement standardized credentialing protocols for veterinary radiologists, aligning with industry best practices and accreditation requirements. In addition to working with the Director of Education to curate and develop new educational resources, the position will provide oversight and strategic direction for the Residency Standards Committee and act as a liaison between RSEC and ACVR Council.

Keep an eye out for a job posting on this position. If you think it is of interest to you, I would encourage you to apply or reach out for additional information.

Lastly, for this first newsletter of 2024, I’ll take an opportunity to remind every member of our college that ACVR Executive Council, Committee Chairs and Members, and Society Leadership are all here to ensure your college is the leader in veterinary imaging and radiation oncology. If you have questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to reach out. And if you’d like to volunteer to help, we always have openings available! Have a look here to see what might interest you!

Very best for 2024!

Reach out any time to chat.

Ryan King

President, American College of Veterinary Radiology

President@acvr.org

Ordering a Print Copy of VRU

As of January 1, 2024, Veterinary Radiology & Ultrasound has been enrolled in Member Direct Print on Demand (MD POD), which allows members to purchase print subscriptions of the journal’s whole 2024 volume at a substantially reduced rate. Single issues of the journal can also be purchased through Sheridan but only at the regular e-only rate; the discount rate does not apply to single issues.

Please see below the discount rate, discount code, and information on how orders can be placed.

2024 Discount Rate: 80% off the institutional online subscription rate.

2024 Discount Code: V1KZDRN66HG0

Eligibility: The 2024 discount code is valid only for whole volume subscriptions (2024 volume) through 31 December 2024. The discount does not apply to single issues.

How to Order:

Purchase directly from Sheridan POD webstore

Anyone can use the Sheridan POD webstore to easily order and purchase individual subscriptions using a credit card. ACVR members can apply the Member Direct POD discount code to get the discounted rate.

For instructions on ordering through the Sheridan POD webstore, instructions here.

Radiation Oncology Examination Application Open Now

Radiation Oncology residents interested in sitting for the 2024 Examination can now apply to sit for the exam! The RO Residency Standards and Essentials Committee (RO-RSEC) will review the completed application form. Completed applications will NOT be accepted after January 31, 2024. Once approved, applicants will have an invoice added to their account to pay the examination fee.

Click here to begin the application.

Residency Program Forms Due to RSEC by January 31

This is a reminder to ACVR Residency Directors that RSEC forms required to maintain your residency program are due by January 31, 2024. The forms being requested are:

Semi-Annual Resident Reviews (required for EACH resident in your program)
Program Approval/Reapproval Form (if due for reapplication)
Annual Update Form (if not due for reapplication

Links to these forms can be found on the Forms Pertaining to Residency Directors page of our website.

If you are unsure whether your program is due for reapproval or just an annual update, please contact ACVR Administrative Staff at acvr@pamedsoc.org.

Resident Research Grant Proposals Due January 31

Four or more research grants, in the amount of up to $7,500 each, will be awarded by the American College of Veterinary Radiology to an ACVR resident-in-training for basic or clinical research in veterinary imaging or radiation oncology. Of these, up to two grants will be funded by the ACVR, one by the Veterinary Ultrasound Society (VUS), one by the CT/MRI society. Additional grants may be provided by the Nuclear Medicine Society, the Large Animal Diagnostic Imaging Society, and/or the Zoological, Exotic, Wildlife Diagnostic Imaging Society.

The proposals should be submitted with the expectation of completing the project within one year of the award and within the proposed budget. To learn more about the Resident Research Grant submission process, click here.

Questions?

Contact ACVR Administrative Staff at acvr@pamedsoc.org.

Purchase Apparel from the ACVR Diplomate Shop!

We’re thrilled to unveil a brand-new shopping destination crafted exclusively for ACVR Diplomates! Featuring an array of options including polos, vests, jackets, and more, these pieces are designed to promote comfort while stylishly representing the field of veterinary radiology.

But that’s not all – our collection extends to accessories that showcase your ACVR pride. From stylish hats to spacious bags perfect for carrying essentials to conferences and clinics, our offerings are tailored to reflect your commitment to excellence.

Visit the Diplomate Shop

Volunteer to Serve on an ACVR Committee!

Did you know the ACVR has over 25 active committees? ACVR needs you! Our college depends on committee and society volunteers to ensure its success, so we hope you’ll consider volunteering for a committee or a society!

We have positions for a variety of interests...grant funding, residency standards, exam committee, and many more!

Committee Volunteer FAQ

Q: What if I don’t have much time to offer?

A: We have committees with a variety of time commitments!

Q: What if I’m a new diplomate? Do I have the experience to serve on a committee?

A: We have positions open for new diplomates, experienced diplomates, and everyone in between.

Q: I don’t have anything to offer to an ACVR committee!

A: Everyone brings a unique perspective, and each one is meaningful! We’re sure your contributions will make a positive impact.

Visit the Administration and Committees page of our website to learn about committee opportunities and to volunteer.

Discount of Wiley Books for ACVR Members

ACVR Members can save 35% on titles from Wiley.com using our special promo code. To view the promo code, or for more information on this discount, click here!