The Ombuds Blog: ACVIM Creates Ombuds Program for Veterinary Residents

December 10, 2025

ACVIM Creates Ombuds Program for Veterinary Residents

According to a new webpage, the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (the international certifying organization for veterinary specialists), has created an Ombuds program to serve residents in training and post-residency candidates pursuing certification. A committee of Ombuds follows IOA standards and can assist with residents with concerns about a Residency Training Program or a the ACVIM Board-certification process.

The new ACVIM Ombuds are available in all of the ACVIM specialties and have appointments in outside institutions:

Cardiology -- Sandra Tou (North Carolina State College of Veterinary Medicine)
Large Animal Internal Medicine -- Corinne Sweeney (University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine) and Keith Poulsen (University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine)
Neurology -- Gregg Kortz (University of California, Davis / VCA Sacramento Veterinary Referral Center)
Nutrition -- Claudia Kirk (University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture) Oncology -- Ruthanne Chun (University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine)
Small Animal Internal Medicine -- Andrew Bugbee (Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences) and Katie McGonigle (University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine)

(ACVIM Ombuds.)

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Organizational Ombuds

Organizational Ombuds serve as a confidential, independent, neutral and informal dispute resolution resource for a specific entity. They are accessible to a defined population and can advocate for fairness. These unique characteristics distinguish Organizational Ombuds from Classical Ombuds, mediators, arbitrators, and other alternative dispute resolution professionals. The term "Ombuds" is shorthand for "Ombudsman," "Ombudsperson" and "Ombuds Officer," which also are used widely.

Some other variants include:

Brazil -- Ouvidor

Croatia -- pravobranitelji

France -- médiateur/defénseur

Germany/Austria -- Ombudspersonen and Ombudsleute

Italy -- difensore

Netherlands -- ombudspersoon

Norway -- ombudet

Poland -- Rzecznik

Portugal -- provedor

Russia -- омбудсмен

Spain -- ombudsman organizacional

Sweden -- studentombud

Switzerland -- ombudsmann

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