About Veterinary Dermatology of Richmond
Welcome to Veterinary Dermatology of Richmond!
At Veterinary Dermatology of Richmond, our mission is to improve the quality of our patient’s lives by offering compassionate, specialized dermatology care while increasing the knowledge of our referring veterinarians and clients. Dr. Nicola Williamson and Dr. Amy Shumaker, both board-certified veterinary dermatologists, have advanced training and expertise in managing allergic skin diseases. They have devoted their professional career to the understanding and treatment of allergies and skin diseases in animals. Therefore, we can discuss and offer various treatment options for most of the hundreds of skin disorders animals are susceptible to. Our diagnostic tests rule out other factors, such as allergies, mites, mange, skin cancer, or drug reactions.
What is a Board Certified Dermatologist?
The American College of Veterinary Dermatology (ACVD) is an organization of veterinarians formerly certified as specialists in dermatology. To be eligible for diplomate status, a licensed veterinarian (post-graduate training – 4 years of veterinary school) must complete an internship program (1 year) and a residency (3 years) in an accredited ACVD program. This additional training involves extensive training in anatomy, physiology, and pathology of the skin, clinical dermatology, research, and dermatopharmacology. After completing residency training, the certification process includes requirements for original research, publication in scientific journals, medical presentations, and demonstration of superior case management. The final step in the certification process is completing a multi-day comprehensive examination administered by the American College of Veterinary Dermatology. Only those dermatologists with diplomate status (Dip. ACVD or DACVD) are recognized as experts by the veterinary medical community.