The American College of Veterinary Surgeons. The first twenty-five years

The American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS), founded in 1965 and recognized by the AVMA in 1970, maintains high standards for surgical training programs and administers rigorous certifying examinations. It provides educational outreach to the veterinary medical profession by presenting scientific programs at ACVS annual meetings, sponsoring the Veterinary Surgical Forum in the USA and Europe, and publishing a refereed journal, Veterinary Surgery. The ACVS offers research grants and other awards to surgical residents, and encourages its members to pursue original investigations and contribute to the veterinary literature. In its silver anniversary year, it is appropriate to recall the aspirations and accomplishments of this forward-looking specialty organization.