A new chapter: The American College of Veterinary Hospice and Palliative Medicine

This is a guest piece written by Chelsea McGivney, DVM, MBA, and Tyler Carmack, DVM, CVA, CVFT, CTPEP, CHPV, CVPP, of Caring Pathways, and Coleen Ellis, CT, CPLP, Executive Director at IAAHPC. The views and opinions expressed are solely those of the authors. 

We’ve seen an important shift in recent years with greater adoption of veterinary hospice and end-of-life care. And in 2026, that trajectory took a defining leap forward.

A dedicated group of veterinary leaders formally announced the establishment of the American College of Veterinary Hospice and Palliative Medicine (ACVHPM), a proposed Recognized Veterinary Specialty Organization (RVSO) now seeking formal approval from the American Board of Veterinary Specialties (ABVS) and the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).

The formation of the ACVHPM marks the most significant institutional milestone in the history of veterinary hospice and palliative medicine. For the first time, the specialty is poised to have a formal home within the established framework of veterinary medical specialization, one that confers board certification, sets rigorous training standards, and elevates the discipline to full parity with other recognized veterinary specialties.

Scope and mission

The ACVHPM is dedicated to advancing the care of animals experiencing chronic, progressive, and quality-of-life-limiting conditions. Its clinical scope encompasses:

• Advanced, multimodal pain and symptom management
• Individualized, comfort-focused treatment planning
• Comprehensive quality-of-life assessment
• Skilled communication, including goals-of-care discussions and shared decision-making
• End-of-life planning, including euthanasia best practices
• Interdisciplinary collaboration across veterinary, allied health, and mental health professionals
• Bond-centered caregiver support, including anticipatory grief and bereavement care

This whole-patient, whole-family approach ensures that care at life’s most vulnerable stages is ethically grounded, goal-concordant, and centered on dignity, comfort, and the prevention of suffering.

A specialty whose time has come

The establishment of the ACVHPM is not merely an organizational milestone. It is the culmination of decades of advocacy, education, and clinical innovation by a community that refused to let the end of life be an afterthought in veterinary medicine.

Specialty recognition will provide veterinarians and pet owners alike with the confidence that care delivered during the most vulnerable stages of an animal’s life meets the highest standards of compassion, clinical excellence, and ethical responsibility.

The profession has come a long way from the days when end-of-life care was an undefined gap between diagnosis and death. With the formation of the ACVHPM, it takes its most decisive step yet toward making that care not just available, but exceptional.

Your voice matters

The American Veterinary Medical Association opens a public comment period when a new RVSO is under consideration, and those comments carry real weight in the approval process. As the ACVHPM moves through the ABVS application pathway, the veterinary community has an opportunity to shape the future of the specialty.

If you believe that animals with life-limiting conditions deserve board-certified specialists dedicated to their comfort and dignity, and that the veterinarians and teams who provide that care deserve formal recognition, let the AVMA hear from you.

The public comment period is open now through August 13th, 2026, visit the AVMA website to submit your support. Learn more about the ACVHPM at www.acvhpm.info.

This content was made in partnership with Caring Pathways, an AAHA End-of-Life Care accredited practice.

Photo credit: Chalabala via Getty Images Plus

Disclaimer: Trends™ content is meant to inform, educate, and inspire by providing an array of diverse viewpoints. Any content published should not be viewed as an official stance, position, or endorsement by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) or its Board of Directors.