Lessons learned: Shaping the evolution of veterinary specialty education

Abstract

In response to concerns regarding numerous complex issues facing the veterinary specialty profession, several organizations, including the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, have made a clarion call to the American Veterinary Medical Association to begin discussions surrounding the formation of an accrediting body for internships, residencies, and fellowships. A proposed name for such a body is the Accreditation Council on Graduate Veterinary Medical Education, in alignment with the Accreditation Council on Graduate Medical Education (ACGME); the term “graduate” refers to specialty education that occurs after the first 4 years of the MD or DVM degree. Although the structure and financing of graduate education differ between the human medical and veterinary professions, we can nevertheless learn much from the history of evolution of human medical specialization as we navigate the path ahead.