School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine

Residency in Veterinary Anatomic Pathology

WHY THIS PROGRAMME

The University of Glasgow School of Veterinary Medicine offers four-year combined Masters and Residency Programmes in Veterinary Anatomic Pathology, subject to funding availability.

The purpose of the residency programme is to provide broad-based theoretical and practical experience in diagnostic and investigative veterinary pathology. The experience is orientated mainly towards pathology of small and large domestic animals, but opportunities exist to acquire experience with zoo and wild animals, reptiles, avian and aquatic species, and laboratory rodents.

The emphasis is on independent learning and development of descriptive and interpretive skills in diagnostic pathology. Residents are expected to become competent at relating tissue alterations to clinical and functional parameters of disease and at interpreting aspects of clinical chemistry and haematology (at a level appropriate for anatomic pathologists). Furthermore, they are expected to develop some experience in techniques routinely used in diagnostic and investigative pathology, such as immunohistochemistry (IHC), polymerase chain reaction (PCR), in situ hybridisation (ISH), fluorescent in situ hybridisation (FISH) and PCR-based assessment of antigen receptor rearrangement (PARR).

The purpose of the training programme is to prepare residents to sit the qualifying examinations of pathology specialty boards: American College of Veterinary Pathologists (ACVP) and/or European College of Veterinary Pathologists (ECVP) and/or Royal College of Pathologists (FRCPath).‌‌

PROGRAMME STRUCTURE

As part of practical training for board certification the programme entails intensive contribution to the diagnostic activities of the department as outlined below.

• Residents provide supervised contribution to evaluation and reporting of biopsy cases submitted through the Veterinary Diagnostic Services of the School.
• Residents become proficient in the evaluation and reporting of post-mortem cases submitted for either diagnostic or teaching purposes.
• Residents regularly attend and contribute to weekly rounds in the pathology division, consisting of slide conferences reviews and discussion, gross pathology rounds and journal clubs. In addition, residents participate in interdepartmental seminars organised with residents and faculty of other clinical disciplines for review and discussion of clinical and pathological findings of specific cases.
• Residents take responsibility for the preparation of cases submitted to the Wednesday Slide Conference (WSC) of the Joint Pathology Centre (JPC).
• The programme also incorporates a supervised research project leading to a Master in Veterinary Medicine (MVM) degree requiring a written dissertation and aimed at producing a publication in an international peer reviewed scientific journal. Residents arriving with a PhD or equivalent qualification will publish at least 1 paper in a peer-reviewed journal from their research.

The programme also includes some contribution to undergraduate practical teaching:

• Residents contribute to practical instruction of students of the BVMS curriculum. This includes contributing to the supervision of final year students during the professional phase rotations in the PM room, instruction of third year students in the gross specimen description classes and PM demonstration classes and contribution to supervision of undergraduate veterinary students during their Extramural Studies (EMS) and Tier 1 selective placements in the PM room.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Residents in must possess a veterinary degree registrable with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS). Registration is not required at the time of application but it is mandatory for the appointed candidate before starting the programme.

Residents must have completed twelve months of post-graduate training or work experience in a field of the veterinary profession that has relevance to the discipline of anatomic pathology. Completion of a PhD in a relevant discipline and/or experience in clinical practice are both considered as adequate training.

Where applicable, candidates for a residency programme need to provide evidence of formal certification in English language competency and proficiency (IELTS score 6.5).

HOW TO APPLY

When available, funded residency positions are advertised on the relevant pages of the ACVP and ECVP websites. Application is through an online procedure. Preliminary enquiries can be addressed to Angie Rupp.