Who We Are

Who We Are

History of ACVR

Biery DN, Rhodes WH, Gillette E. Roentgen’s Mysterious Rays: 100 Years of Progress. Vet. Forum 1995;12(11):20-22.

The American College of Veterinary Radiology (ACVR) was founded in 1961 to determine competence of voluntary candidates in veterinary radiology and to encourage the development of teaching personnel and training facilities in veterinary radiology.

An organizing committee for the American Board of Veterinary Radiology was selected in 1961 by members of the Educators in Veterinary Radiologic Science who had organized in 1957 with the purpose of developing a specialty group in veterinary radiology. The members of the organizing committee were Drs. W. C. Banks, W. D. Carlson, M. A. Emmerson, W. H. Rhodes and G. B. Schnelle. The organizing committee selected six other charter members, Drs. Cawley, Hage, Maksic, Manning, Spurrell, and Thom. Temporary recognition was given by the Council on Education of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) in 1962 to this organizing committee for the American Board of Veterinary Radiology. In 1965 the organization had eleven charter members.

The first examination was given in conjunction with the 1965 AVMA meeting in Portland, Oregon. Six candidates were examined and all were successful. The AVMA granted final approval to the American Board of Veterinary Radiology in 1966. The College was incorporated under the laws of the State of Illinois in 1966 as a nonprofit educational organization. In 1969, the name of the organization was changed to the American College of Veterinary Radiology.

The objective of the ACVR is “the advancement of the art and science of radiology” by:

  • Protecting the public against incompetence in the practice of radiology by conducting investigations and examinations to determine the competence of voluntary candidates for certificates issued by the College.
  • Conferring certification upon candidates who have successfully demonstrated their proficiency in the field of veterinary radiology.
  • Encouraging the development of teaching personnel and training facilities in veterinary radiology.
  • Providing guidelines and approving residencies, training programs and fellowships in the field of veterinary radiology under consideration by the Council on Education of the AVMA.
  • Advising veterinarians who desire certification in the field of veterinary radiology as to the course of study and training to be pursued.

In July 1991, the Executive Council of the ACVR voted to support the development of an affiliate organization in the field of radiation oncology. The Radiation Oncology Committee of the ACVR was charged with developing a proposal for submission to the American Board of Veterinary Specialties (ABVS) of the AVMA. In April 1992, the Executive Council of the ACVR appointed an organizing committee, Drs. D. Thrall, P. Gavin, E. Gillette, and M. Dewhirst, to continue the development of the new affiliate organization. A petition to establish the Affiliate of Radiation Oncology was submitted to the ABVS in December 1992. In April 1993, the ACVR Executive Council unanimously approved the members of the Organizing Committee to be charter diplomates of the Affiliate. Provisional recognition of the Affiliate was given by the ABVS in March 1994 and final recognition by the AVMA Council on Education and House of Delegates in July, 1994.

The first certification examination was administered to 12 candidates in Philadelphia in August 1994, in conjunction with the ACVR Annual Meeting. All 12 candidates were successful. Officers of the Affiliate were elected through an open nomination process and a secret mail ballot from all Diplomates. The President of the Affiliate of Radiation Oncology serves as a member of the ACVR Executive Council. The Affiliate is governed by the ACVR Constitution and by By-Laws approved by the ACVR Executive Council. In 2002 the name of this organization was changed pursuant to suggestions from ABVS to Recognized Specialty of Radiation Oncology.

At its February 26, 2019 meeting, the American Board of Veterinary Specialties (ABVS) met to review the petition from Equine Diagnostic Imaging to seek provisional recognition as a Recognized Veterinary Specialty (RVS) within the American College of Veterinary Radiology. The ABVS voted to grant provisional recognition to Equine Diagnostic Imaging.

During the developmental period, any member of the American College of Veterinary Radiology (ACVR) that obtained diplomate status on or before the year 2023, with an interest in equine diagnostic imaging, is qualified to take the EDI certifying examination.

After 2023, candidates must have met the minimum requirements of an approved ACVR-EDI specialty residency in order to take an ACVR-EDI specialty qualifying examination.  Following successful completion of the qualifying examination, candidates can take the ACVR-EDI certifying examination.  Candidates will achieve ACVR-EDI certification upon successful completion of the certifying examination.  See Frequently Asked Questions pertaining to ACVR-EDI.

As of January 1, 2019, the ACVR membership includes 686 active Diplomates. There are 573 Diplomates in Radiology, 95 Diplomates in Radiation Oncology, 18 Diplomates holding dual certification, and 300 Society Only Members. The College has 4 Emeritus, 32 Retired, and 1 Associate Member. There are 142 Resident Members-in-Training; 119 Residents in Radiology and 23 in Radiation Oncology. The ACVR also sponsors four specialty societies. The Veterinary Ultrasound Society (VUS) has 695 members, the Society of Veterinary Nuclear Medicine (SVNM) has 115 members, the CT/MRI Society has 648 members, and the Large Animal Diagnostic Imaging Society (LADIS) has 193 members.

In 1995, Dr. Darryl Biery was asked by the editor of Veterinary Forum to write an article in celebration of veterinary radiology related to the 100 year anniversary of Roentgen’s discovery of x-rays.  This article was co-authored by Drs. Rhodes and Gillette and published in Veterinary Forum.*

*Article copyright VetLearn, Inc., 780 Township Line Rd., Yardley, PA 19067; Phone: 267-685-2451; Fax: 267-685-1221; website: www.vetlearn.com. All rights reserved. On 12/13/2011, the ACVR was given written permission by VetLearn, Inc. to include the above-referenced copyrighted article for personal use in the history section of the ACVR website.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Who We Are