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A two-year completely online, comprehensive Small Animal Medicine Distance Learning (DL) program – with a structured route towards postgraduate certification and a post nominal qualification.
Work your way through the specialist-developed materials, at your own pace, with help and support available from registered specialists on the online forum.
Weekly lessons for each Module includes relevant clinical material – to update and build on prior knowledge; the latest diagnostic and therapeutic options; and case studies to work through to consolidate the module content. The innovative learning platform provides interactive short assessments and quizzes, video lectures, reference articles and demonstrations of clinical techniques all supported by the specialist discussion board.
Small Animal Medicine DL is the only small animal medicine training program within Australia/New Zealand accredited by the International School of Veterinary Post Graduate Studies ISVPS for the General Practitioner Certificate in Small Animal Medicine.
Register your interest now for
Small Animal Medicine DL 2021
- Enrolments opening soon!
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Year 1 Modules
Module Tutor:
Bruce Parry, Veterinary Clinical Pathologist and Professor Emeritus, University of Melbourne
Module Developer:
Nick Bexfield, BVetMed, PhD, DSAM, DipECVIM-CA, FSBoil, MRCVS
Key learning objectives:
Module Tutor:
Lydia Hambrook, FANZCVS, Registered Specialist (Small Animal Medicine)
Module Developer:
Jame Swann, MA, VetMB, MVetMed, DipACVM, DipECVIM, MRCVS
Key learning objectives:
Module Tutor:
Bruce Parry, Veterinary Clinical Pathologist and Professor Emeritus, University of Melbourne
Module Developer:
Marta Costa DVM MSc FRCPath DipECVCP MRCVS EBVS® European Specialist in Veterinary Clinical Pathology
Key learning objectives:
Module Tutor:
TBC
Module developer: Andrew Holdsworth BSc, BVSc (Hons), DipECVDI, MRCVS
Key learning objectives:
Module Tutor:
Mellora Sharman, BVSc, MVM, PGradCert, PhD, FANZCVS, DECVIM-CA
European Specialist in Small Animal Medicine
Module Developer:
Scott Kilpatrick BSc (Hons) MSc BVM&S DipECVIM-CA MRCVS
Key learning objectives:
Module Tutor:
Mellora Sharman, BVSc, MVM, PGradCert, PhD, FANZCVS, DECVIM-CA
European Specialist in Small Animal Medicine
Module Developer:
Scott Kilpatrick BSc (Hons) MSc BVM&S DipECVIM-CA MRCVS
Key learning objectives:
Module Tutor:
Philip Brain, BVSc, FACVSC (Small Animal Medicine) FAVA
Module developer:
Susana Silva CertSAM DipECVIM-CA MRCVS
Key learning objectives:
Module Tutor:
Ann Thompson, BVSc, MANZCVS, MSc, GCHEd, DACVIM
Module developer:
Nick Bexfield BVetMed PhD DSAM DipECVIM-CA FSBiol MRCVS
Key learning objectives:
Module Tutor:
Ann Thompson, BVSc, MANZCVS, MSc, GCHEd, DACVIM
Module developer:
Nick Bexfield BVetMed PhD DSAM DipECVIM-CA FSBiol MRCVS
Key learning objectives:
Module Tutor:
Veronika Langovva, MVDR, MACVSC Medicine, FANZCVS (Oncology)
Module Developer:
Ana Lara, DVVM, MSc, PhD, PgCert, MedEd, FHEA, DipACVIM, ECVIM-CA (Oncology)
Key learning objectives:
Year 2 Modules
Module Tutor:
Patrick Kenny, BVSc (Hons), DACVIM (Neurology), DECVN, FHEA, MRCVS
Module Developer:
Raquel Trevail, DVM, DipECVM, MRCVS
Key learning objectives:
Module Tutors:
Brad Gavaghan, BVSc, MANZCVS, FANZCVS, Specialist Cardiologist
Fiona Meyers, BVSc (Hons), PhD, MANZCVS, DACVIM
Module Developer:
Kieran Borgeat, BSc (Hons), BVSc, MVetMed, CertVC, DipACVIM, DipECVIM-CA, MRCVS
Key learning objectives:
Module Tutors:
Brad Gavaghan, BVSc, MANZCVS, FANZCVS, Specialist Cardiologist
Fiona Meyers, BVSc (Hons), PhD, MANZCVS, DACVIM
Module Developer:
Kieran Borgeat, BSc (Hons), BVSc, MVetMed, CertVC, DipACVIM, DipECVIM-CA, MRCVS
Key learning objectives:
Module Tutor:
Claire Sharp, BSc, BVMS, MS, DACVECC
Module Developer:
Simon Tappin, MA, VetMB, GPCert (SAP), CertSAM, DipECVIM-CA, MRCVS
Key learning objectives:
Module Tutor:
Mellora Sharman, BVSc, MVM, PGradCert, PhD, FANZCVS, DECVIM-CA
Module Developer:
Simon Tappin, MA, VetMB, GPCert(SAP), CertSAM, DipECVIM-CA, MRCVS
Key learning objectives:
Module Tutor:
To be confirmed
Module Developer:
Kerry Simpson, BVM&S, PhD, FACVSc, DipECVIM-CA, MRCVS
Key learning objectives:
Module Tutor:
Thurid Johnstone, DVM, PhD, DECVIM-CA
Module Developer:
James Swann, MA, VetMB, MVetMed, DipACVIM, DipECVIM, MRCVS
Key learning objectives:
Module Tutor:
Thurid Johnstone, DVM, PhD, DECVIM-CA
Module Developer:
Joana Agguiar, MVM, MVetMed, DipECVIM-CA, MRCVS
Key learning objectives:
Module Tutor:
John Hutt, BVSc (Hons), CertVD, MANZCVS, DACVD Specialist Dermatology
Module Developer
Rosario Cerundolo, DVM, CertVD, DipECVD, MRCVS
Key learning objectives:
Module Tutor:
Edith Hampson, BVSc, PhD, FANZCVS
Module Developer:
Sally Turner, VetMB, DVOphthal, MRCVS
Key learning objectives:
"The program is very well designed. I like the variety of the set-up and slides which helps break it up and the cases they discuss while going through the module. I'm very happy I chose you guys!"
"As a vet in practice for 30 years and busy locuming, this is a great chance to revise the forgotten, and latest ,information at your own pace and boy don't we all need it! "
"This program was truly excellent. Lots of detail in the slides and hand-outs. Excellent mix of providing information, using questions to check understanding and all with the proper clinical relevance. Feel much more confident in how I would approach and treat these conditions. Specialist response to questions was quick and detailed."
Ann graduated from the University of Queensland in 1997. After graduation she worked in general practice in Melbourne and the UK before returning to the University of Queensland Veterinary Teaching Hospital. While at UQ …
Dr Gavaghan graduated with a Bachelor of Veterinary Science degree from the University of Queensland in 1985 and was accepted as Member of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists (Canine Medicine) …
Prof Bruce William Parry BVSc, PhD
Claire is a senior lecturer in the College of Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary and Life Sciences. She did her veterinary training at Murdoch, graduating with a BSc, BVMS(Hons), in 2002.
Edith Hampson is a Queensland graduate with more than 20 years experience who has worked both in small animal veterinary practice and in research centres. Edith is passionate about eyes and loves teaching ophthalmology.
Dr Fiona Meyers graduated as a veterinarian from the University of Queensland in 1996. After graduation, she worked in small animal practice in the United Kingdom and Australia for 2 years before undertaking a PhD at the …
Dr John H C Hutt BVSc(Hons) CertVD MANZCVS DipACVD John graduated from the University of Queensland in 1988. He worked in general practice in Brisbane for 18 months before travelling to the UK in 1990, where he worked in …
Dr Lydia Hambrook BVSC (Hons) FANZCVS (Small Animal Medicine) Lydia graduated from the University of Melbourne in 2002. After gaining experience in mixed, equine and small animal practice she commenced a residency in Sma …
Dr Mellora Sharman BVSc MVM PGradCert PhD FANZCVS DECVIM-CA EBVS® European Veterinary Specialist in Small Animal Internal Medicine Member of European College of Veterinary Internal Medicine – Companion Animals
Philip H Brain graduated from the University of Sydney in 1985 and after 13 years in general practice, completed a residency program in small animal medicine at the Veterinary Specialist Centre, North Ryde, NSW.
Thurid graduated in Veterinary Science from Leipzig University, Germany, and then completed a PhD with focus on canine and feline urinary tract infections at Massey University in New Zealand.
Dr Veronika Langova graduated in Brno, Czech Republic in 1992. She was admitted to the Australian College of Veterinary Scientists as a Member in Small Animal Medicine in 2000. In 2005, she attained Fellowship in Small A …
AU $1000 initial deposit to secure your place. The balance of fees must be paid a minimum of 30 days prior to program start 1st May 2021.
All prices are inclusive of compulsory 10% GST
Full Payment Upfront (Total payable AU $12,490 inc gst)
All prices are inclusive of compulsory 10% GST
Payment Plan through VetEdPay* (AU $12,490 + $195 administration fee
All prices are inclusive of compulsory 10% GST
*Please note: By selecting this option for payment you are connecting with VetEdPay, an external finance provider.
Terms and Conditions apply to all bookings.
Please find the terms and conditions here.
You must be a graduated Veterinary Surgeon with a minimum of 1 year clinical experience, please check with Improve, to ensure your suitability. It is the responsibility of the delegate to ensure you meet the program entry criteria.
You will spend on average 5 hours per week on reading and working through the interactive materials on the platform. You may spend significantly more time if you are engaging with the specialist tutor and your colleagues on the discussion forum and posting cases and questions, preparing cases, forum interaction etc.
After the module month is over, you will continue to have access to the SAM DL interactive material however the specialist tutor for that month’s module will no longer be available for answering questions. You will still have access to the discussion forum and the ability to view archived questions/tutor responses and can discuss module content/questions with other delegates.
It is advised to make use of the specialist tutors for each month’s module by asking questions on the discussion board for that month. If you have questions on a makeup module that is complete the discussion board is also open to colleagues engaging and answering. The idea of the forum discussion boards are that colleagues in the program, from around the world, can help each other and add thoughts and ideas on makeup questions
The program must be completed within 6 months of the final module. GPCert candidates then have up to four years to satisfy ISVPS assessment requirements and obtain the GPCert and will have continued access to the program.
This program completes the learning objectives of the GPCert SAM syllabus and is not intended to fully cover the ANZCVS Membership requirements. The program will provide a solid clinical and practical knowledge that will definitely benefit those undertaking further study in small animal medicine and a number of our program participants have used it for preparation.
Yes. Location of study does not affect/change this global program. We can accept delegates across Australia, New Zealand & the Pacific region*
Additionally, all content is pre-recorded so can be viewed at any time of day (i.e. time zone differences will not impact your access to content). However, you may need to allow extra time for tutor responses (as tutors will be based in Australia).
If you intend to sit the GPCert(SAM) qualification through ISVPS, their requirements are based around online assessment. ISVPS are an independent accrediting and awarding body – please contact the ISVPS directly for further information (australia@isvps.org).
*Be aware if you are not from these geographic regions you will be referred to nearest Improve International Office who can help you enrol in the SAM DL program.