SENIOR CLINICAL TRAINING SCHOLARSHIP IN ANAESTHESIA
Duration: One year in the first instance, renewable for periods of one year up to a total of three years.
Aims of Senior Clinical Training Scholarship (SCTS)
The aim of this scholarship is to enable the Senior Clinical Training Scholar (SCTS) to gain a greater understanding of applied sciences related to anaesthesia, pain management, peri-operative medicine and critical care in both small and large animals. The scholar should also develop a critical approach to the scientific literature, be aware of the principles, benefits and limitations associated with evidence based medicine and to start to appreciate factors involved in scientific investigations.
The Scholar’s training programme will be under the supervision of the leader of the training program:
Prof Alice Bird MA VetMB AFHEA DipECVAA MRCVS
EBVS® European Specialist in Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia, RCVS Recognised Specialist in Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia
Teaching Professor, Principal Clinical Anaesthetist
The individual supervisor will be chosen from the current team of Anaesthesia Diploma holders at the QVSH
Time allocation
The majority of the 3 year programme will be spent conducting clinical anaesthesia and critical care under the direction of Alice Bird and the other diplomates. This will constitute the majority of the residency. The degree of responsibility assumed by the SCTS will be appropriate to the nature of the procedure, training and personal experience. Initially this will be limited to working closely with one of the diplomates in the first year. As the residency progresses increasing amounts of responsibility will be given to the SCTS until by the third year almost total case responsibility will be assumed with access to a senior member of staff as required. Additional time will be spent with the cardiology and imaging services at the Queen's Veterinary School Hospital to fulfil the ECVAA requirements. The SCTS will attend "in house" SCTSs discussion groups as well as journal club and book club weekly sessions. The SCTS will participate in the veterinary anaesthetic emergency service with senior support appropriate to the stage of training.
At least 25% of the programme will be spent ‘off clinics’ to allow time to fulfil all ECVAA credentials requirements such as conducting the clinical research investigations, preparation of scientific manuscripts, rotations though disciplines which are related to but are not anaesthesia and external veterinary anaesthesia rotations, to assist with experience and case log requirements. This off clinics time will also be used to attend conferences, for self-study relating to anaesthesia and for holiday.
The SCTS will be encouraged to attend relevant conferences on anaesthesia and related subjects. E.g. the conferences of the Association of Veterinary Anaesthetists, BSAVA, BEVA.
An example of the anticipated expectations of each of the 3 years of the residency program is summarised below, although this will be adapted to suit the individual candidate:
Year 1: The SCTS will concentrate on their primary clinical research project in order to allow enough time for collation of results and publication before the end of the residency. They will also start to develop the clinical skills required to allow full case responsibility in subsequent years. An externship to a training centre with a high equine caseload will be encouraged.
Year 2: Continuation of the research project and development of clinical skills. Depending on the candidate, teaching of undergraduate students will also be assigned. If the candidate is interested, formal teaching training can be arranged in the form of the Universities IFME course. This year will also include rotations through other disciplines at the QVSH and externally to cover ECVAA requirements (imaging, cardiology and intensive care). An externship to a training centre with a large equine caseload will be encouraged.
Year 3: Submission/publication of the research work. The SCTS will be assuming full case responsibility and increased teaching load of undergraduates e.g. seminars for students on clinical rotation and small group teaching. Teaching of interns in anaesthesia, analgesia and intensive care will be encouraged. Externships in this year will aim at providing experience in areas of veterinary anaesthesia that are not readily available in the department and that the SCTS and supervisor identify as lacking in the scholars previous years. The final aim is for the SCTS to be able to credential at the next available round of ECVAA diploma exams after the scholarship has completed.
Resources
This SCTS programme will be based at The Queen’s Veterinary School Hospital, University of Cambridge.
The Hospital facilities include:
- Fully equipped and staffed diagnostic facilities including X-ray, MRI, CT and ultrasound for small and large animal medical and surgical conditions.
- First opinion as well as referral level small animal work including a significant exotic pet caseload.
- First opinion large animal services
- Two large animal and five small animal theatres, with extensive anaesthetic and monitoring equipment including ultrasound and nerve stimulated local regional blocks.
- Interventional cardiology
- Radiotherapy
- Fully staffed nursing wards and intensive care facilities
- On site clinical pathology and histopathological staff and laboratories
- A well-stocked veterinary library and access to the local human teaching hospital (Addenbrooke's) library. University access to online journals.
- Easily accessible computer and internet facilities
Emergency service
The SCTS will participate fully in the out-of-hours rota gaining valuable and essential experience in emergency work and patient management including intensive care cases. Participation in the out of hours weekday and weekend rota is shared. Back-up cover is provided by senior surgeons, physicians, radiologists and anaesthetists.
Departmental Structure and SCTS Training
The Department has a well-established and highly successful SCTS programme with an outstanding achievement for specialist qualifications of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and the European College of Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia.
Teaching and Continuing Professional Development
Scholars have to prepare and attend presentations given by and to members of the department. In addition to this, continuing education presentations to patient owners, veterinary surgeons and nurses may be a requirement of the SCTS programme.
Excellent support will be provided to the SCTS from other clinicians in the small animal department including staff in surgery, imaging, internal medicine, neurology and clinical pathology.
Undertaking the University led IFME course, to gain a formal educational qualification will be available for those who are interested.
Funding is provided for CPD, currently £1,000 per annum plus £500 towards ECVAA enrolment fee (subject to change).
Research Programme
Clinically orientated research to advance the understanding and management of anaesthesia and pain management in small animals is an important and vital aspect of the SCTS training. The proposed topic of the research programme will be decided after discussions with the clinical supervisor. The SCTS will be allocated time during the first and second year of the SCTS to complete the clinical research project. The SCTS will be encouraged to apply for other research grants in order to gain experience in grant applications and management.
Undergraduate Teaching Participation
The SCTS will be encouraged to participate in
- 1st and 2nd year small group teaching.
- 4th and 5th year clinical and practical classes.
- 6th year clinical teaching in anaesthesia and intensive care. He or she will be expected to contribute to seminars, practicals and case rounds. This will provide the opportunity for the development of seminar presentation techniques, supervision of students performing anaesthesia, clinical case management and continuous assessment of students.
Collaborative Arrangements
Scholars are encouraged to spend short periods of study at alternative institutions. We have strong links to internationally acclaimed referral hospitals both in the United Kingdom and abroad, and externships are encouraged. The SCTS will be expected to organise externships with guidance from Prof Bird and their supervisor (if different).
Publications
The SCTS will be expected to prepare and publish at least two scientific papers in refereed journals during the programme as per the requirements of the ECVAA. The SCTS will also be encouraged to attend conferences. He or she will be expected to present papers on these topics at scientific meetings such as the Conferences of Association of Veterinary Anaesthetists, Annual Congress of the British Small Animal Association, or the British Equine Veterinary Association Congress.
Examinations
The qualifications that the applicant will study for are:
- The Diploma of the European College of Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia