Dr. Garner is a Diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners. A Diplomate is a veterinary medical specialist whose competence has been certified by a diploma granted by the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners. This specialist certification is above and beyond the typical certification necessary to practice veterinary medicine. The American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (ABVP) promotes and recognizes the highest standards in the art and science of contemporary veterinary clinical practice. The ABVP’s respected and fully-accredited certification process is designed for veterinarians who demonstrate expertise in a broad range of clinical subjects and display the ability to communicate medical observations and data in an organized, professional manner. ABVP Diplomates have a common desire and willingness to deliver superior, comprehensive, multi-disciplinary veterinary service to the public. To achieve this board certification diplomate status, the following criteria must be met.

• The veterinarian must be in clinical practice performing at exceptional levels of patient care for a minimum of six years before an application can be made.
• The veterinarian must demonstrate excellence in a broad range of clinical subjects by submitting clinical evidence and case histories sufficient for the ABVP to determine that the applicant practices medicine that is superior, comprehensive and multi-disciplinary. This application is reviewed by three separate authorities one of which is a current Diplomate of the ABVP. Over 50% of the applications made are rejected.
• The veterinarian must also submit two papers, ready for publication, that demonstrate personal advances in diagnostic, therapeutic or surgical skill that contributes new information to the knowledgebase of the veterinary profession.
• The veterinarian must pass a three day long test of his clinical proficency and knowledge in applied veterinary medicine and demonstrate clinical excellence in the species for which he is seeking diplomate status. Over 50% of the veterinarians who take this test fail to make a passing grade.
• The veterinarian must repeat this testing process every ten years, taking the same tests on updated information as new applicants. Dr. Garner passed this test in 1993 and again in 2002.

Once certified, the Diplomate of the ABVP is deemed a specialist in companion animal medicine. This differs from other AVMA specialty boards, which are devoted to specific disciplines or organ systems, ABVP awards species-oriented certification. Other non-ABVP specialists may specialize in opthalmology, or internal medicine, reproduction or surgery for example but these certifications are for all species with a focus on a single discipline. ABVP Diplomates on the other hand are certified for all disciplines, including internal medicine, surgery, opthalmology, reproduction, neurology, dermatology which focus on a specific species. ABVP Diplomates therefore demonstrate excellence in the care of the total patient. In 1993 Dr. Garner was certified in dogs, cats and other companion animals including but not limited to birds, small mammals, and reptiles. Dr. Garner was recertified in 2002 in canine and feline practice. There are about 84,000 veterinarians in the US and as of 02/2008 there were 451 or about 1 in 200 who have passed this rigorous certification process in canine and feline medicine and surgery. There are an additional 350 who have passed this certification in other species for a total of about 800 ABVP diplomates in the US today. For more information about ABVP Diplomate certification contact the ABVP at www.abvp.com or

American Board of Veterinary Practitioners, Inc.

618 Church Street, Suite 220
Nashville, Tennessee 37219
800-697-3383