The Honey Bee Veterinary Consortium (HBVC) proudly announces that the first cohort of veterinarians has been awarded the Certificate in Honey Bee Veterinary Medicine (CertHbV), marking a significant milestone in pollinator health and veterinary medicine.
The HBVC is a diverse network of professionals from across veterinary medicine and animal science who share a commitment to bee health, beekeeping, food security, and the well-being of all pollinators.
Since January 2017, U.S. livestock producers—beekeepers included—have been required by federal law to obtain either a Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD) or a prescription from a licensed veterinarian to administer antibiotics to their animals. This regulation was introduced to address the global threat of antimicrobial resistance caused by overuse and misuse of antibiotics.
In response to this need, HBVC has dedicated itself to educating and training veterinarians in honey bee health. The consortium provides continuing education opportunities through national and state-level meetings, which include hands-on hive inspection workshops. HBVC also collaborates with numerous universities and veterinary colleges and has established student chapters at several veterinary schools.
Additional resources include a quarterly newsletter and the “Find a Bee Vet” service on the HBVC website, which helps beekeepers connect with veterinarians experienced in working with bees.
Now, HBVC has launched a formal certification program to provide veterinarians with the specialized knowledge, skills, and competencies necessary for working with honey bee patients and beekeeper clients. The CertHbV designation helps identify professionals who have completed focused education and training in honey bee medicine.
As of June 2025, ten veterinarians have been awarded the CertHbV status in recognition of their significant contributions to the field. These newly certified veterinarians will play a pivotal role in developing and overseeing the forthcoming certification exams, for which a growing number of candidates are actively preparing.
This certification is especially timely. The winter of 2024 saw record-high overwintering losses of managed bee colonies across the United States, underscoring the urgent need for knowledgeable veterinary support in apiculture. Importantly, this is the first certification offered to U.S. veterinarians in the field of invertebrate health.
The individuals who received CertHbV status are:
Dan Dombrowski DVM, MS, CertHbV
Tracy Farone DVM, CertHbV
Terry Ryan Kane DVM, MS, CertHbV
Britteny Kyle DVM, MSc, PhD candidate, CertHbV
Randy Lynn DVM, MS, DACVCP, CertHbV
Elizabeth Mackey DVM, CertHbV
Joerg Mayer DVM, CertHbV, University of GA
Kristol K. Stenstrom DVM, CertHbV
Lindsay Wilson DVM, CertHbV
