Location: Cambridge, UK
Institution: University of Cambridge
UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE DEPARTMENT OF VETERINARY MEDICINE
THE QUEEN’S VETERINARY SCHOOL HOSPITAL
SENIOR CLINICAL TRAINING SCHOLARSHIP IN ANAESTHESIA
TWO SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AVAILABLE:
ONE SCHOLARSHIP TO START IN SEPTEMBER 2023, OR AS SOON AS POSSIBLE THEREAFTER;
ONE SCHOLARSHIP TO START IN JANUARY 2024
Scholarship application procedure
Scholarship applicants should supply the following documents:
• A completed SCTS Application Form (SCTS 1)
• A Curriculum Vitae
• A covering letter giving reasons for wishing to undertake the Scholarship in the Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge
Please ensure that the above documents are submitted as one document and as one attachment. There is a dedicated place for applicants to copy and paste a CV and a Covering Letter on the SCTS Application Form (SCTS 1).
Applications should be submitted via e-mail to vetmed@vet.cam.ac.uk with the above documents as one attachment no later than the closing date: Midnight on Thursday 11 May 2023.
It is the responsibility of the applicant to request references from three referees. Please ask referees to send these in prior to the interview date as stated below. References should be sent by email to vetmed@vet.cam.ac.uk with ‘SCTS Reference’ in the subject line. Failure to provide these may result in a delay to offer.
The Department will endeavour to notify scholarship applicants who have been shortlisted for interview within ten days of the closing date for applications. Interviews will be held on Friday 26 May 2023.
Selection criteria for applicants
The following are essential:
• Either Membership of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, or possession of a veterinary degree that qualifies the holder for Membership of the RCVS (Registration must be in place prior to the start date)
• An interest in a career in specialist-level veterinary anaesthesia
• Completion of a rotating internship or at least two years’ experience in small animal practice
• Experience of working, and willingness to work, as part of a team
• Willingness to seek, and to accept, guidance and supervision
•Ability to prioritise tasks and demands
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written
• Ability to deal with a wide range of people and excellent interpersonal skills
• A good understanding of the professional context of veterinary medicine
• Ability to work flexibly and to deal with both uncertainty and rapidly changing situations
• Ability to communicate the basic aspects of veterinary anaesthesia to veterinary undergraduates
• For applicants for whom English is not their first language, a score of 7.5 in IELTS (with no element under 7), or a score of 100 in TOEFL (with no element less than 24 – internet based test)*
The following are preferred:
• Good basic clinical skills and knowledge of general medicine and surgical techniques
• Basic experience in clinical research and scientific publication
• An interest in teaching anaesthesia, analgesia and peri-operative medicine
• A good understanding of general practice conditions in the UK
• Experience with both large and small animals
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:
Dr Chiara Adami, DMV, DipACVAA, DipECVAA EBVS® European Veterinary Specialist in Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia, RCVS Recognised Specialist in Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia, PGCertVetEd, PhD Associate Teaching Professor
The individual supervisor will be chosen from: Dr Chiara Adami, DMV, DipACVAA, DipECVAA EBVS® European Veterinary Specialist in Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia, RCVS Recognised Specialist in Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia, PGCertVetEd, PhD Associate Teaching Professor and Dr Alice Bird, MA, VetMB, Dip.ECVAA, MRCVS Clinical Anaesthetist
With additional supervision from: Dr Hanna Machin DMV, MVetMed, Dip. ACVAA, MRCVS Clinical Anaesthetist
Time allocation
The majority of the 3 year programme will be spent conducting clinical anaesthesia and critical care under the direction of Chiara Adami 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 internal medicine, cardiology and imaging services at the Queen’s Veterinary School Hospital. During veterinary anaesthesia rotations, the SCTS will attend “in house” SCTSs discussion groups, morbidity and mortality focus groups, 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. The scholar will also rotate through the critical care and recovery room in order to gain experience in perioperative medicine and advanced case management.
At least 20% of the programme will be spent in conducting the clinical research investigation, preparation of scientific manuscripts, rotation though discipline which are related to but are not anaesthesia, external veterinary anaesthesia rotations to assist with experience and caselog requirements and, upon request, visiting an anaesthesia unit in a human medical hospital.
Time will also be allowed for further study, conference attendance and holiday time.