The 2008 ACVP Role Delineation Survey and Initial Data Analysis: From the Role Delineation Task Force

Abstract

The American College of Veterinary Pathologists commissioned a role delineation survey to define the specialized tasks, knowledge, and tools that define the current practice of veterinary clinical pathology and veterinary anatomic pathology. The survey also identified when competence was acquired for each task (i.e., before certification or after certification). The response rate by diplomates was high, with approximately 50% of practicing pathologists within each specialty responding to each survey. Using the survey results, all tasks for each specialty were classified as either appropriate or unsuitable for testing in the certifying examinations. The role delineation survey data will facilitate the creation of test plans that objectively define the content in each certifying examination, the evaluation and enhancement of training curricula, and the optimization of continuing education opportunities for practicing veterinary pathologists.

In 2006, the Council of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists (ACVP) determined that a study should be performed to define the roles of practicing veterinary anatomic pathologists and veterinary clinical pathologists. This activity was intended to provide objective data to be used 1) to demonstrate that the certification examinations are fair, relevant, and legally defensible; 2) to improve the curricula of training programs in veterinary pathology; and 3) to guide the creation of continuing education programs for established veterinary pathologists. A Role Delineation Task Force of 9 ACVP diplomates comprising 6 anatomic pathologists and 3 clinical pathologists was selected by the Council to design and oversee the study.

In response to requests from the ACVP, 5 consulting firms with recognized credentials in professional testing services provided proposals. In 2007, the ACVP engaged CASTLE Worldwide to help define the current roles, tasks, and requisite knowledge of practicing veterinary anatomic pathologists and veterinary clinical pathologists.

Methods

To define the questions to be used in the role delineation surveys, separate, face-to-face focus groups of ACVP diplomates from each veterinary pathology specialty and with representation from diverse areas of practice were held in November 2007. Focus group members are listed in Table 1. CASTLE staff led by Dr. James Henderson, the supervising consultant, facilitated these focus groups. Working separately and in combination, the anatomic pathology and clinical pathology focus groups defined the relevant Elements of Practice (broad activities of the profession), Tasks (more specific activities within each Element of Practice), Foundational Sciences (broad disciplines of importance to proficient professional practice), Specific Sciences (more specific areas of knowledge within a Foundational Science), and Tools (methods and instruments employed in undertaking their regular Tasks) used by veterinary pathologists in the current professional practice of each specialty. These groups also provided recommendations on demographic questions to be used to better understand and use survey responses.

Table 1.

ACVP role delineation focus groups.

Clinical Pathology	Anatomic Pathology
Linda Berent, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO∗	Cory Brayton, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
Sam Harbo, Battelle Memorial Institute, Richland, WA	Gary Coleman, US Army, Fort Belvoir, VA∗
Armando Irrizary, Eli Lilly & Co., Greenfield, IN	Valerie Hamilton, Merck, West Point, PA
Tarja Juopperi, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD	Fred Hoerr, Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, Auburn University, Auburn, AL
Ty McSherry, IDEXX Veterinary Services, Irvine, CA	Guenther Hoffmann, Covance Laboratories, Madison, WI
Leslie Sharkey, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN	Shelley Honnold, US Army, Frederick, MD
Sue Tornquist, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR∗	Jeremy Johnson, IDEXX Veterinary Services, West Sacramento, CA
Greg Travlos, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC	David Malarkey, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC
Dana Walker, Bristol-Myers Squibb, East Syracuse, NY	Rebecca Papendick, San Diego Zoo, San Diego, CA
	Rachel Reams, Eli Lilly & Co., Greenfield, IN
	Mark Simpson, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
	Heath Thomas, GlaxoSmithKline, King of Prussia, PA
	Dennis Wilson, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA∗

^∗Also a member of the Role Delineation Task Force.

The information from the focus group sessions was used by Dr. Henderson and the Role Delineation Task Force to create the ACVP role delineation surveys for each specialty. All active ACVP diplomates were asked to complete the survey for their specialty during February and March 2008. Diplomates certified in both veterinary anatomic pathology and veterinary clinical pathology were asked to complete both surveys. Diplomates were instructed to answer each question in the context of the respondent's current role and practice. For this survey, current roles, tasks, and skills are those used in today's practice, regardless of their age, novelty, or complexity. Objective information regarding the current roles and required knowledge of individual practicing pathologists offers the best guidance for design of relevant educational programs and selection of appropriate examination content. Diplomates were specifically instructed not to offer their opinions on what tasks, knowledge, and tools might be important to the practice of veterinary pathology in the future. Emeritus (retired) ACVP diplomates were excluded from the survey because responses based on their past roles or opinions might not accurately reflect the actual current practice of the veterinary pathology specialties.

Usable responses were received from 713 of 1,237 anatomic pathology diplomates and 133 of 266 clinical pathology diplomates, resulting in response rates equaling or exceeding 50%. The testing consultant expressed confidence that this high response rate would produce reliable data.

The rating scales for each category of question used in the surveys (Elements of Practice, Tasks, Foundational Sciences, Specific Sciences, and Tools) are provided in Table 2. Mean scores and standard deviations were calculated for each survey item. Mean ratings from all diplomates and from a subset consisting of diplomates certified in 2003–2007 were calculated separately. Data provided by diplomates certified recently (since 2003) were analyzed based on the premise that information acquired from recently qualified practitioners may more accurately reflect the demographics and real-world roles of entry-level veterinary pathologists than would responses obtained from all diplomates. In general, responses from all diplomates and recent diplomates were similar. A posthoc comparison of results obtained from diplomates employed by academic institutions and by industrial firms was undertaken to determine the similarities and differences in roles of veterinary pathologists in these two broad practice settings. This latter evaluation was performed to examine potential differences in training and certification needs of pathologists practicing in these two environments.

Table 2.

Rating choices available to survey respondents.

Items Evaluated	Rating Scale	Rating Responses
Element of Practice, Tasks, Foundational Sciences, Tools	Point of acquisition–-When a qualified pathologist should have proficiency in this area.	0 = not applicable to my role; 1 = expected of new diplomats; 2 = learned after certification has been earned
Element of Practice, Tasks, Foundational Sciences, Specific Sciences, Tools	Criticality–-The level of harm incurred when someone in the respondent's role is unable to perform the task competently.	0 = no harm or not applicable; 1 = minimal harm; 2 = moderate harm; 3 = substantial harm; 4 = extreme harm
Element of Practice, Tasks, Foundational Sciences, Tools	Frequency–-The time and/or frequency that the respondent performs the task in his or her own role.	0 = never; 1 = rarely, about once per year; 2 = sometimes, about once per month; 3 = often, about once per week; 4 = repetitively, once or more daily

Survey Results

The questions asked and the results obtained from the role delineation surveys for each veterinary pathology specialty are available in the Role Delineation Study Report on the ACVP Role Delineation and Training Program Development web page (http://www.acvp.org/roledelin/index.php). Detailed survey results from all diplomates and from recent (2003–2007) diplomates of each specialty are listed separately. In addition, comparisons of results from diplomates of each specialty employed by academic institutions and industry are available.

Utilization of the Role Delineation Data

The ACVP will use the results of the role delineation surveys to perform several distinct but overlapping functions of great importance to the organization.

Generation of objective specifications for crafting certifying examinations

One obvious use for the role delineation data is the creation of written Test Plans; that is, examination specifications that guide the selection and distribution of examination content for each specialty. Such Test Plans define the tasks that should be evaluated during the certifying examinations and the relative weight or emphasis of examination content to be assigned to each task. Written Test Plans are a critical means of ensuring that certifying examinations are objective measures of proficiency in important job-related tasks, and therefore are legally defensible.

Anatomic Pathology and Clinical Pathology Test Plan Working Groups were appointed by the ACVP Council in the fall of 2008 to create separate Test Plans for each specialty (Table 3). Most members had ACVP Examination Committee experience. Two members from each Working Group also had served on the ACVP Role Delineation Task Force to provide continuity. The 3 charges given to these working groups were to:

Set threshold criteria based on role delineation survey results to define tasks and knowledge that should be evaluated within the certifying examinations for veterinary clinical pathology and veterinary anatomic pathology. The criteria were established to emphasize specific tasks because legal precedent and scientific literature indicate that the most suitable data to use in defining appropriate content for professional certifying examinations are current tasks.

Identify tasks and knowledge that should not be evaluated within the formal certifying examinations for veterinary clinical pathology and veterinary anatomic pathology. Tasks may be excluded based on role delineation survey data or because some important tasks cannot be adequately evaluated in a traditional examination setting.

For the tasks that should be assessed in the certifying examinations, develop a systematic process to determine the relative distribution (emphasis) of each task within the examination content.

Table 3.

Test plan working groups.

Clinical Pathology	Anatomic Pathology
Linda Berent, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO∗	Mark Ackermann, Iowa State University, Ames, IA†
Dorothee Bienzle, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada†	Brad Bolon, GEMpath Inc., Longmont, CO∗
David Honor, Wyeth Research, Chazy, NY†	Gary Coleman, US Army, Fort Belvoir, VA∗
Marie Petrites-Murphy, Marshfield Clinic, Paducha, KY†	Dale Dunn, Covance Laboratories†
Judy Radin, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH†	Krista LaPerle, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH†
Leslie Sharkey, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN†	Shelley Honnold, US Army, Frederick, MD
Sonjia Shelly, Veterinary Diagnostics, Davis, CA†	Margaret Miller (Chair), Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN†
Mary Anna Thrall, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO†	Anne Ryan, Pfizer, Groton, CT†
Sue Tornquist (Chair), Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR†	Trenton Schoeb, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL†
Glade Weiser, Heska, Loveland, CO†	Paul Stromberg, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH†
	Scott Terrell, Disney's Animal Kingdom, Bay Lake, FL†

^∗Served on the ACVP Role Delineation Task Force.

^†Experience on the ACVP Examination Committee.

The Test Plan Working Groups identified those tasks that should and should not be assessed in each examination based on role delineation survey results. The tasks that should be included in the clinical pathology and anatomic pathology certifying examinations are listed in Table 4 and Table 5, respectively. Tasks that should not be included in the certifying examinations are listed in Table 6 (clinical pathology) and Table 7 (anatomic pathology). The criteria used to define tasks and knowledge to be included in certifying examinations are explained in the Test Plans that are available to ACVP members, training faculty, candidates, students, and the general public (http://www.acvp.org/roledelin/index.php).

Table 4.

Clinical pathology tasks to be tested in the certifying examination.

1. Gather technical and scientific information and expert opinions using appropriate sources to generate a study designed to achieve optimal results.

2. Recommend ancillary or follow-up testing for the principal investigator or clinician by integrating previous results and/or other information to aid in the description, understanding, or diagnosis of a disease process.

3. Understand the operating principles of current pathology instrumentation in order to appropriately collect and analyze samples and to interpret the data.

4. Direct the collection of samples using acceptable and/or prescribed methods in order to support reliable pathology analysis.

5. Describe light and electron microscopic observations using a systematic approach and appropriate, specific medical terminology to provide a complete and accurate record.

6. Interpret light and electron microscopic observations using a systematic approach and appropriate, specific medical terminology to characterize the pathogenesis of disease or formulate a diagnosis.

7. Describe hematologic and hemostasis data using a systematic approach and appropriate, specific medical terminology to provide a complete and accurate record.

8. Interpret hematologic and hemostasis data using a systematic approach and appropriate, specific medical terminology to characterize the pathogenesis of disease or formulate a diagnosis.

9. Describe clinical chemistry data using a systematic approach and appropriate, specific medical terminology to provide a complete and accurate record.

10. Interpret clinical chemistry data using a systematic approach and appropriate, specific medical terminology to characterize the pathogenesis of disease or formulate a diagnosis.

11. Describe data generated from the analysis of urine and other body fluids using a systematic approach and appropriate, specific medical terminology to provide a complete and accurate record.

12. Interpret data generated from the analysis of urine and other body fluids using a systematic approach and appropriate, specific medical terminology to characterize the pathogenesis of disease or formulate a diagnosis.

13. Describe data generated from immunoassays using a systematic approach and appropriate, specific medical terminology to provide a complete and accurate record.

14. Interpret data generated from immunoassays using a systematic approach and appropriate, specific medical terminology to characterize the pathogenesis of disease or formulate a diagnosis.

15. Use molecular methods and novel testing techniques using a systematic approach and appropriate, specific medical terminology to describe, interpret, and characterize the pathogenesis of disease or formulate a diagnosis.

16. Use immunocytochemistry, cytochemistry, and other specialized microscopic techniques using a systematic approach and appropriate, specific medical terminology to describe, interpret, and characterize the pathogenesis of disease or formulate a diagnosis.

17. Apply proper statistical tests in accordance with the nature of the data to ensure the appropriate interpretation of results.

18. Provide a contextual interpretation by integrating clinical and nonclinical data to aid in the description, understanding, and/or diagnosis of a disease process.

19. Write clinical pathology reports using training, experience, professional judgment, and other information to convey the interpretation in a clear, concise, and accurate manner.

20. Evaluate data for evidence of preanalytic and analytic error through inspection to determine whether verification and troubleshooting are required to obtain reliable results.

21. Resolve quality assurance problems identified internally or externally through review and evaluation using scientific knowledge and skills in order to maintain result reliability.

Table 5.

Anatomic pathology tasks to be tested in the certifying examination.

1. Design experiments and diagnostic investigations by formulating hypotheses and applying basic scientific principles in order to conduct studies and provide valid conclusions.

2. Review antemortem data and history using a systematic process in order to support the collection of relevant samples.

3. Guide sample collection through oral and written directions to clinicians, scientists, and technicians to ensure representative and diagnostic quality specimens.

4. Collect gross morphometric data by weighing and measuring tissues, lesions, organs, whole animals, and other specimens to perform quantitative data analysis.

5. Collect specimens according to protocols or professional judgment for histology, cytology, and other testing for subsequent analysis or archiving in order to preserve sample integrity.

6. Describe gross and microscopic morphologic observations using a systematic approach and appropriate, specific medical terminology to provide a complete and accurate record.

7. Select applicable histochemical, immunocytochemical, immunohistochemical, molecular, and other assays using professional judgment to understand pathogenesis or make accurate diagnoses.

8. Evaluate tissue morphology through examination of gross, histologic, ultrastructural, and cytologic specimens to characterize tissue responses or generate morphologic diagnoses.

9. Interpret immunohistochemistry, immunocytochemistry, and in situ hybridization in the context of morphology to characterize tissue responses.

10. Integrate individual animal data by correlating clinical pathology, toxicology, diagnostic imaging, microbiology, and other test results with morphology to characterize the pathogenesis of disease or formulate a diagnosis.

11. Interpret normal variations and common and spontaneous alterations and diseases using knowledge of species, breed, strain, sex, and age to provide appropriate context for the significance of the findings.

12. Identify artifacts in tissue sections and other samples using professional judgment and expertise to identify those that could be misinterpreted or impede the ability to assess the tissue response accurately.

13. Communicate pathology findings and their significance through clear and concise oral and written reports to regulators, clinicians, scientists, and other stakeholders to provide appropriate context for decision making.

Table 6.

Clinical pathology tasks identified as unsuitable for evaluation by examination.

1. Develop investigational techniques and assays in clinical pathology using knowledge of materials and methods to answer scientific questions and provide diagnoses.

2. Contribute to the study design and application of appropriate clinical pathology endpoints and test systems in cooperation with principal investigators in order to ensure optimal study results.

3. Instruct clinicians, technical staff, and other professionals addressing the appropriate utilization and collection of samples in order to ensure the highest quality of clinical pathology results.

4. Independently construct a hypothesis-driven investigation using the scientific method in order.

5. Collect samples using prescribed and other acceptable methods in order to support reliable pathology analysis.

6. Archive samples and/or related data using defined procedures in order to maintain a retrievable database for quality assurance and legal purposes.

7. Author manuscripts using training, experience, and other information in order to disseminate information and/or advance scientific knowledge.

8. Deliver scientific or technical presentations using training, experience, and other information in order to disseminate information and/or advance scientific knowledge.

9. Communicate the significance of clinical pathology results using clear, concise oral and written language in order to convey the potential implications for a subject, patient, or population (animal and/or human).

10. Communicate clinical pathology knowledge to individuals with a variety of backgrounds (e.g., veterinarians, other professionals, technical staff, and lay people) using clear, concise oral and written language in order to facilitate their comprehension of the information.

11. Respond to formal inquiries from regulatory agencies or other groups by using pathology expertise to address questions and concerns.

12. Define standard operating procedures in accordance with prescribed methods in order to ensure acceptable levels of quality and consistency.

13. Evaluate specimens, reagents, instruments, and personnel training by inspection, review, and documentation in order to ensure the validity of data.

14. Develop assays by designing, testing, and validating principles, materials, and methods in order to create novel or improve current assays.

15. Conduct reviews of reports and manuscripts by using scientific knowledge and professional judgment to ensure the scientific rigor and/or usefulness of the information presented.

16. Design appropriate sample handling protocols using training, experience, professional judgment, and other information in order to minimize the exposure of personnel to infectious or toxic agents.

17. Design standard protocols in compliance with federal and/or state regulations for hazardous laboratory chemicals and biohazardous waste to minimize human and animal exposure and environmental contamination.

18. Recognize the public health significance of infectious agents by monitoring the incidence of disease in order to inform appropriate regulatory agencies and/or individuals potentially facing the impact of the diagnosis.

19. Design clinical pathology testing strategies for disease surveillance using appropriate methods in order to optimally manage animal populations.

20. Integrate clinical pathology data collected from animals with the knowledge of comparative pathology to identify the potential implications of natural and experimental disease for a subject, patient, or population (animal and/or human).

21. Instruct veterinary students in the principles and applications of veterinary clinical pathology using didactic, laboratory, practical, and/or group discussion to establish baseline knowledge and skills.

22. Instruct veterinary pathology residents through advanced training in veterinary clinical pathology using didactic, laboratory, practical, and/or group discussion to facilitate proficiency in veterinary clinical pathology.

23. Provide continuing education and training in veterinary clinical pathology to practitioners, scientists, technical staff, and other personnel using didactic, laboratory, practical, and/or group discussion to meet each group's needs and goals.

24. Provide mentorship and guidance to trainees and colleagues by sharing professional experience and knowledge to facilitate their professional development.

25. Participate in professional development activities by addressing identified interests and needs in order to enhance proficiency as a veterinary clinical pathologist.

26. Provide education in aspects of veterinary clinical pathology to the general public using appropriate channels in order to increase awareness of the profession.

27. Serve on professional and scientific committees by contributing professional knowledge and experience to promote and improve the profession and benefit society.

Table 7.

Anatomic pathology tasks identified as unsuitable for evaluation by examination.

1. Coordinate research and diagnostic investigations with collaborators and multidisciplinary teams using knowledge of comparative pathophysiology to ensure valid experimental design and interpretation of results.

2. Develop investigational techniques in pathology and animal models of disease using knowledge of materials and methods to answer scientific questions and provide diagnoses.

3. Use animal models of disease by leveraging knowledge of comparative pathology, experimental pathology, and translational research in order to improve animal and human health.

4. Perform necropsies in accordance with established protocols and using professional judgment to understand pathogenesis and/or diagnose disease.

5. Photograph gross and microscopic observations using current technology in order to support documentation, analysis, and publication.

6. Perform morphometric and other analyses using tissue sections or images to provide quantitative interpretations.

7. Perform critical reviews of literature and data by referencing electronic and printed sources to validate protocols and analyses.

8. Refine the characterization of tissue responses to injury by evaluating specimens using specialized microscopic techniques in order to increase understanding of the pathologic process.

9. Interpret advanced tissue-based cellular and molecular biology data in the context of morphology to characterize tissue responses.

10. Integrate pathologic and epidemiologic findings by applying understanding of disease mechanisms in order to characterize the emergence and transmission of disease in human and animal populations.

11. Organize complete data sets from groups of animals by using or creating retrievable and analyzable formats in order to enable statistical analyses, as appropriate, and characterize and interpret study results.

12. Communicate information about animal disease, diagnosis, and pathogenesis to the public through consultation and appropriate media to inform the public of health risks.

13. Discuss scientific findings by participating in public forums, hearings, or confidential meetings to educate regulators, governmental officials, and the general public.

14. Publish scientific findings in peer-reviewed literature by authoring manuscripts in order to educate the profession and society.

15. Disseminate knowledge by authoring articles, abstracts, reports, and proceedings, and by making presentations at scientific meetings in order to educate the profession, scientific community, and the general public.

16. Testify as an expert witness or as the pathologist of record by responding to legal requests and proceedings in order to furnish evidence, interpret findings, and provide professional opinion.

17. Conduct reviews of research designs, proposals, results, and manuscripts in accordance with the scientific method in order to ensure correct interpretation of results and conclusions.

18. Supervise technical staff by providing training and oversight to ensure consistent quality and compliance with applicable internal and external regulations and standards.

19. Conduct pathology peer review in accordance with standard operating procedure or accepted standards of practice to ensure consistency in identification, grading, and terminology for findings.

20. Resolve discrepancies derived from pathology peer reviews using a pathology working group or involving internal or external sources of expertise to achieve consensus.

21. Ensure that laboratory procedures provide meaningful results in accordance with standard operating procedures or scientific principles in order to ensure reproducibility and validity.

22. Author standard operating procedures in accordance with prescribed methods in order to ensure acceptable levels of quality and consistency.

23. Conduct laboratory inspections in accordance with standard operating procedures, regulations, and professional standards in order to ensure acceptable levels of quality and consistency.

24. Monitor disease prevalence and trends within assigned populations by maintaining and querying existing databases and through professional networking to detect shifts and disease incidence that might indicate an emerging disease threat.

25. Recognize novel manifestations of disease through knowledge of disease prevalence and trends, pathologic evaluations, and literature review to detect emerging diseases.

26. Train veterinarians, veterinary students, and the public through oral and written communication to recognize clinical signs and lesions to aid in detection of disease threats.

27. Detect diseases of importance to public or animal health by evaluating sentinel animals or wildlife populations, performing necropsies, collecting appropriate specimens, and analyzing environmental threats in collaboration with other scientists to characterize disease threats.

28. Report disease occurrence in compliance with regulatory requirements or guidelines in order to maintain adequate information to serve the public's needs.

29. Develop rational disease mitigation strategy by assessing risk and applying understanding of environmental conditions, host-agent interactions, and animal populations to minimize the impact of disease.

30. Characterize pharmacologic and toxicologic responses in animals by performing pathologic assessments of tissues and other samples to determine efficacious and safe exposure and to provide appropriate risk assessment.

31. Integrate animal disease information with animal population management to provide insight on risk assessment for human and animal populations.

32. Conduct reviews of research designs, proposals, results, and manuscripts in accordance with the scientific method in order to provide constructive criticism, enhance the quality of research, and improve the utilization of research resources.

33. Educate regulators, scientists, and officials about veterinary pathology using professional training and expertise to share knowledge about animal disease recognition and pathogenesis.

34. Serve as an expert consultant by applying the knowledge of comparative pathology to respond to animal disease inquiry and advance human and animal health.

35. Instruct undergraduate, professional, and graduate students, postgraduate veterinarians, and peers in the discipline of pathology through lectures, laboratories, discussions, clinical service, mentoring, and other educational means in order to impart knowledge and advance the profession's role in society.

36. Promote personal and professional development by consulting with pathologists, other scientists, regulators, other professionals, and the public sector about veterinary pathology and by attending scientific meetings, seminars, and workshops in order to enhance professional skills.

37. Mentor students, residents, and pathologists using experience and knowledge about organizations and career opportunities in order to enhance the professional development of the individual and strengthen the profession.

38. Train technical staff, students, residents, professional peers, and other professionals in the skills and procedures of veterinary pathology by using knowledge, skills, and experience to impart technical proficiency.

39. Train personnel in appropriate specimen handling using standard protocols, experience, professional judgment, institutional policies, and other information to minimize exposure of personnel and the environment to hazards.

40. Serve on professional and scientific committees by contributing professional knowledge and experience to promote and improve the profession and benefit society.

41. Model the responsible conduct of research through instruction, mentoring, and professional behavior to maintain the integrity of the scientific process and the practice of veterinary medicine and pathology.

42. Mentor graduate students and postdoctoral trainees in research by directing and facilitating the creation of research ideas, experimental design, laboratory experiences, and the dissemination of findings in order to develop new investigators.

Selecting the content of certifying examinations

Following approval by the ACVP Council, the Test Plans will guide future ACVP Examination Committees during the selection of test items for certifying examinations. Test Plans based on objective role delineation data will allow the Examination Committee to select appropriate examination content, demonstrate that content is relevant to the current practice of veterinary pathology, effectively defend the content of the certifying examinations in response to potential legal challenges, and design and implement improvements to examination content, processes, and structure. The Test Plans and Role Delineation Survey Report will be used by the Examination Committee to:

Assign each examination question to a specific task included in the Test Plans.

Create and select new questions that meet the specifications of the Test Plans.

Exclude questions from examinations that do not meet the specifications cited in the Test Plans.

Balance the relative distribution of tasks covered in examination content as detailed in the Test Plans.

Retrieve archived questions by task and other relevant information for possible use on future examinations. In fact, this capability will be an essential means of standardizing the examinations from year to year, and it should also lessen the work load on the Examination Committee by reducing the number of new questions that must be written for each examination.

As the Examination Committee uses the Test Plans, opportunities to improve the format and structure of future examinations should be considered.

Improvement of veterinary pathology education

Using role delineation data and the Test Plans, training coordinators and mentors in veterinary pathology training programs will be able to improve the educational experience for their trainees. Access to objective role delineation data will allow training program faculty to:

Optimize theoretical (knowledge-based) and applied (task-oriented) activities to better prepare trainees for the certifying examination and successful practice of veterinary pathology.

Identify and fill gaps in training curricula to provide a more balanced and complete educational program.

Establish standardized means for assessing proficiency for pathology tasks that are essential for entry-level competence but that cannot be reliably or readily tested in a written examination format.

Objective and accessible Test Plans should assist educators in maximizing the students' learning experiences while simultaneously easing the burden on training faculty.

Improvement of continuing education for ACVP diplomates

Role delineation survey information will assist the ACVP in identifying and providing the most relevant continuing education opportunities that support the most important roles for practicing veterinary pathologists in each specialty. Tasks essential to the effective practice of veterinary pathology that are mastered after certification are important topics for continuing education programs.

Defense of the ACVP

A major concern of the ACVP Council in this litigious age is to protect the organization and its members from the stress and expense of lawsuits, especially those that might be brought by individuals who have been unsuccessful in their attempt(s) to pass a veterinary pathology certifying examination. The definition of the key roles and tasks of veterinary pathologists using objective role delineation data, the existence of written test specifications (the Test Plans) based on this information, and the regular use of the Test Plans in creation of the certifying examinations will facilitate defense of the ACVP by demonstrating that the examination content is relevant and appropriate to the current practice of each veterinary pathology specialty. The role delineation survey data and Test Plans also will assist the ACVP in creating and executing a documented process to objectively set a fair and reasonable minimal passing score (“cut score”) for each certifying examination. Finally, the experience gained in the current endeavor will allow the ACVP Council to oversee future efforts to design and execute new role delineation surveys on an intermittent basis to evaluate shifts in the current roles of veterinary pathologists and to predict changes in the professional roles of veterinary pathologists in the future.

Looking Forward

The role delineation documents and Test Plans should be reviewed once every few years to determine whether new surveys are needed to capture shifts in the professional roles and responsibilities of practicing veterinary pathologists. Based on these reviews, role delineation surveys likely should be repeated every 3 to 7 years; rapid changes in the profession would justify more frequent surveys. Each time new role delineation surveys are available, the Test Plans should be updated or re-created to reflect the evolution of the tasks, knowledge, and tools required in the current practice of veterinary clinical pathology and veterinary anatomic pathology.

The role delineation surveys conducted in 2008 were specifically designed to evaluate the current roles of veterinary pathologists. The Role Delineation Task Force determined that asking questions about both the present roles and the future of the profession in the same survey instrument would further complicate a survey that already was quite complex. Accordingly, the ACVP may want to consider creating another survey to explore future trends arising within the profession. Such a “forward-looking” analysis likely would provide information to enhance educational programs intended to prepare trainees and current diplomates for future roles in veterinary pathology.