History

The ACVR was founded in 1961

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.

First Certification Examination was given in 1965

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.

Recognized Specialty of Radiation Oncology Established in 1994

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. See the History of the Recognized Specialty of Radiation Oncology for more information.

Current Status

As of May 8, 2013, the ACVR membership includes 482 active Diplomates. There are 400 Diplomates in Radiology, 65 Diplomates in Radiation Oncology, 17 Diplomates holding dual certification, and 210 Society Only members. The College has 5 Emeritus, 17 Retired, and 1 Associate Member.

Any veterinarian actively participating in a residency training program leading to the radiology or radiation oncology board certification examination is a Resident Member-in-Training. There are 100 Resident Members-in-Training; 87 Residents in Radiology and 13 in Radiation Oncology.

The ACVR also sponsors four specialty societies. The Veterinary Ultrasound Society (VUS) has 434 members, the Society of Veterinary Nuclear Medicine (SVNM) has 98 Members, the CT/MRI Society has 424 Members, and the Large Animal Diagnostic Imaging Society (LADIS) has 133 members.