The Clinical Team
A Specialist surgeon has attained the highest level of qualification possible to treat your pet. To be called a Specialist in the UK, the veterinary governing body (the RCVS) requires that:
"an individual must have achieved a postgraduate qualification at least at Diploma level, and must additionally satisfy the RCVS that they make an active contribution to their specialty, have national and international acclaim and publish widely in their field."
A Diploma level surgical qualification is awarded by either:
The RCVS (RCVS Specialist)
The ECVS (European Specialist)*
The ACVS (American Specialist)*
*Members of the ECVS & ACVS can also apply for RCVS specialist status.
To attain the ECVS or ACVS Diploma vets must undertake a minimum of three years of specialty training (a residency) under direct supervision of an existing surgical specialist. During this time, ECVS candidates must complete at least 400 specialist level surgeries, publish a minimum of two research papers in peer reviewed journals, present at least five times including at National or International Conferences, and undertake further training in anaesthesia, internal medicine, diagnostic imaging and pathology.
If the requirements of the residency are met, the candidate is then required to pass a rigorous three day examination process and, once the diploma is obtained, surgeons must re-certify every five years to ensure they remain up to date with the demands of the profession.