The Association of Primate Veterinarians (APV) is an international organization consisting of over 400 veterinarians concerned with the health, care and welfare of nonhuman primates (NHPs). APV was informally initiated in 1973 by a key group of attendees at the Workshop in the Clinical Care of Nonhuman Primates, March 7-8, 1973 (National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland). The organization became more formally recognized, as the Association of Primate Veterinary Clinicians, when bylaws were established at the Annual Workshop in 1979. In 1983, the organization's name was changed to the Association of Primate Veterinarians. Our current membership consists of veterinarians who work with, provide and oversee care for a wide variety of NHP species in a broad range of settings. These settings include research facilities in major universities including the National Primate Research Centers, industry, and zoos as well as breeders and importers of primates for research. Our objectives are to promote the dissemination of information relating to the health, care and welfare of nonhuman primates; to provide a mechanism by which primate veterinarians may speak collectively on matters regarding nonhuman primates; and to promote fellowship among primate veterinarians.