Chi siamo
ISVPS è un’organizzazione fondata nel 2003 da un gruppo di veterinari con idee simili e con l’obiettivo di fornire qualifiche accessibili ed equilibrate per i medici veterinari che lavorano a tempo pieno in uno studio professionale. Il General Practitioner Certificate è stato proposto per soddisfare le esigenze dei medici veterinari che desiderano ottenere una qualifica post-laurea senza dover assentarsi per troppo tempo dal loro lavoro.
Il team ISVPS
Il team ISVPS è composto da un consiglio direttivo, da un consiglio per le valutazioni degli esami, dai coordinatori degli esami di ciascun stato, da un consulente legale, da un consiglio accademico e da un team di esaminatori specializzati. Molti dei nostri direttori sono veterinari diplomati ai College Europei o Americani, con una importante esperienza clinica e didattica. I nostri coordinatori agli esami forniscono supporto e consulenza durante l’intero processo di valutazione e di preparazione dell’esame. Il Consiglio accademico è composto da dieci specialisti veterinari di diverse discipline cliniche provenienti da tutto il mondo. Questo approccio del team ISVPS assicura che i metodi di valutazione e gli esami siano continuamente verificati per raggiungere i più alti standard qualitativi e per garantire costanza e uniformità nel tempo. Ciò permette anche di sviluppare innovativi metodi valutativi utili alla pratica clinica e adeguati alle sfide che ne derivano.
Tutti i corsi dei nostri providers sono accreditati da ISVPS per garantire che i più alti standard qualitativi vengano mantenuti. Nell’ambito del processo di accreditamento ISVPS richiede ai providers un pool di relatori approvati dal Consiglio Direttivo, con lo scopo di raggiungere in ogni fase del processo di accreditamento livelli standardizzati a livello Europeo.
Il Consiglio accademico
Il Consiglio accademico fornisce anche informazioni preziose sui requisiti di formazione e valutazione nei diversi stati, permettendo così ad ISVPS di sviluppare nuovi metodi di valutazione all’avanguardia. ISVPS si sforza costantemente di garantire che tutti i certificati siano standardizzati a livello internazionale, ma riconosce anche che alcune differenze geografiche devono essere considerate per garantire una valutazione equa delle conoscenze e delle competenze dei candidati in tutto il mondo.
Academic Board Members
Tim Charlesworth (Academic Chairman)
John Houlton (Surgery UK)
Emma O’Neil (SAM: UK)
Lorenzo Crosta (Exotics: Spain and Italy)
Mary Fraser (Nurses UK)
Laura Jones (RVN, UK)
Gualtiero Gandini (Neurology, Italy)
Nicki Grint (Anaesthesia and Analgesia, UK)
Jodi Westropp (Internal Medicine, US)
ISVPS Senior Team
RCVS Recognised Specialist in Feline Medicine
European Veterinary Specialist in Internal Medicine
After graduating from the University of Reading in 1994 with a BSc in Animal Science, Sheila studied veterinary medicine at the University of London, graduating in 1998. Sheila then spent five years in small animal practice before undertaking an Feline advisory Bureau Residency in Feline Medicine at the University of Bristol. Since completing her residency, Sheila has spent 10 years in small animal medicine referral practice as well as a working for two commercial veterinary laboratories. She acquired the ECVIM Diploma in Internal Medicine in September 2010 and is a European Veterinary Specialist in Internal Medicine and an RCVS Recognised Specialist in Feline Medicine. Sheila has lectured nationally and internationally on all aspects of Feline Medicine.
Her passion has always revolved around education and providing the highest level of continuing professional development for vets and vet nurses in practice. Her role as director of ISVPS allows her to fulfill a lifelong dream of being at the forefront of veterinary education and provision of high quality postgraduate qualifications globally. Certification allows recognition of both veterinary surgeons and vet nurses for their dedication and hard work to further enhance their knowledge in their respective areas of interest.
Ana is Operations Manager and Legal Consultant for ISVPS. She has joined the organization with great enthusiasm aiming to further develop the high standards set up from start.
She graduated at law in Coimbra, Portugal and previously worked in several major companies improving her skills in client management, quality control and supervising client management teams. She has also worked on a legal office as a consultant. She joined the Improve International company in 2007 as business manager overseeing the delivery of the portfolio of courses in the different managed courses from Oporto that include Portugal, Spain, France, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Netherlands, Japan, Mexico, Chile and Peru. She also works as the HR coordinator in the offices as well as a legal consultant.
Her range of expertise allows her to provide support on different areas with upper management on new projects and coordinating the existing ones.
Tim graduated from Cambridge in 2001 and after a brief period in mixed practice moved to Eastcott in Swindon. Tim went on to gain the RCVS Certificate in small animal surgery in 2006 followed by the RCVS diploma in Small Animal Surgery (Soft Tissue) in 2012. Tim is currently an RCVS Recognised Specialist in Small Animal Surgery (Soft Tissue) and is Head of Surgery at Eastcott Referrals where he enjoys a large and diverse caseload having particular interests in minimally invasive surgery, surgical oncology and emergency surgical conditions.
Tim has examined for the RCVS both at certificate and diploma levels and is currently a committee member of the Association of Veterinary Soft Tissue Surgery (AVSTS). Tim has lectured both nationally and internationally on a wide range of topics and has a passion for developing and improving systems for post-graduate education.
Paula is a Registered Veterinary Nurse based in the UK and after working alongside us for several months, she has joined ISVPS on a permanent basis from January 2022. With a background in veterinary education both in the UK and in China, Paula brings experience of teaching, supporting candidates and assessment. With a Masters in Education, Paula is well placed to be working as International Accreditation and Assessment Manger. Outside of work Paula enjoys taking landscape and wildlife photos whilst walking in the beautiful Somerset countryside with her two Labradors, Coco and Boris. She also enjoys relaxing with her two cats, Zen and Pebbles and experimenting with recipes for cooking new dishes, gleaned from travelling adventures.
Georgia uses experience gained since joining ISVPS as an Examination Coordinator in 2017 to oversee international academic standards and to manage partnerships with both training providers and validation partners.
Georgia has an undergraduate degree in Creative Industries (from the Queensland University of Technology, in Australia), and an undergraduate degree in Veterinary Medical Sciences (from the University of Nottingham). In 2022 she completed a Postgraduate Advanced Certificate in Educational Studies: Educational Assessment from the University of Cambridge in association with Cambridge Assessment.
Georgia hopes to use both her experience in assessment and her veterinary background to support and strengthen the ISVPS team.
As a Registered Veterinary Nurse Hannah has worked in practices and welfare organisations around the world, including managing a hospital team for a veterinary charity and in a wildlife rescue centre in North Sulawesi, Indonesia. With a certificate in assessing candidates, Hannah also has experience in coaching and training student nurses and vets.
Hannah joined ISVPS in 2021 as Lead Coordinator and supports our coordinators around the world, helping them deliver the best possible support to our candidates.
As well as spending time with her cat Kev (who has been with her since her days as a student vet nurse), she also loves to travel and competes with her horse, Brook.
ISVPS Country Representatives
Maria José Agüero, born in San Juan, Argentina, graduated in Social Work and has lived in the city of Porto, Portugal since 2014.
She began her academic career at the Universidad Nacional de San Juan, Argentina (2008/2012), having also studied at the Instituto Politécnico de México, Mexico City (2012) and at Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Mexico City (2013). Maria completed her studies at the Instituto de Serviço Social do Porto, Portugal (2014/2016) and has participated in different projects in the social and healthcare area in Argentina, Mexico, and Portugal.
Deborah Groß was born in Germany and now lives in Austria. She graduated in Veterinary Medicine at the University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna and her focus is on avian medicine and dog nutrition.
She enjoys exploring nature with her dog and spending time with her parrots and chickens. Deborah also likes to make parrot toys, dog leashes and loves cooking and baking. She is really happy and proud to join the ISVPS team!
Emma qualified as a veterinary surgeon in 2015 and has worked in a variety of practices, both private and charitable, practicing small animal medicine and surgery. For the last four years she has mainly worked in Emergency and Critical Care.
Emma joined the Academic team at ISVPS in 2022 and her role involves reviewing examination content and coordinating with specialists. Emma is passionate about improving animal welfare through education including outreach programmes and teaching, including small animal, farm animal and wildlife projects.
In her spare time, Emma travels and walks with her Staffy, makes copper jewellery, writes and cooks vegan food
Georgina is a registered veterinary nurse, with 14 years’ experience working in practice in both first opinion practice and a large multidisciplinary referral hospital in the South West of England. Georgina gained the ISVPS certificate in anaesthesia in 2015 through Improve International and became the lead nurse of the dentistry and maxillofacial department. Anaesthesia is a learning passion for Georgina and she thrived in the variation of anaesthesia and patient care required for the departments maxillofacial trauma patients. Her role also included assisting with the teaching of the dentistry residents and supporting their studies for the European diploma in dentistry.
Georgina joined ISVPS in January 2020 and is an examination coordinator for the nurses certificates.
In her spare time, Georgina enjoys growing vegetables at her allotment, traveling and spending time with her two cats, Fresco and Kilo.
Hannah is an experienced Registered Veterinary Nurse, having qualified in 2011 from Harper Adams University. Hannah has worked in a variety of practices, including a mixed hospital in Devon, with her main passions being in diagnostic imaging and emergency and critical care. Hannah joined ISVPS as an examination coordinator for the nurses certificates in January 2022.
Outside of work, Hannah enjoys exploring the Cotswold countryside with her partner and Cockapoo, learning campanology, and baking a new recipe.
Ivete Ribeiro studied Music at the Music Conservatory in Aveiro. In 2009 she graduated in Languages and Publishing Studies in the University of Aveiro, where in 2012, she obtained a Masters in Languages, Literatures and Cultures. In 2014 she attended a course of International Commerce and in 2016, she completed a post-graduation in Legal Translation of French in the same university. In 2009, she started working as a music teacher at the elementary school. Before joining the ISPVS as French Examination Coordinator, she worked in a 3D Printing Company’s customer service team. She has also been working as a French translator of legal documents since 2010.
Marialetizia Villa is a qualified Veterinary Technician, and joined ISVPS as the Italian Examination Coordinator c/o SCIVAC, Cremona (IT) in 2014. Marialetizia has scientific training, high level of experience about sales line management, employee relations with pet shop, veterinary pharmacy, wholesaler.
Marialetizia’s role includes coordination and management of sales activities as consultant for product for animal health, coordination of breeder’s line events, employee relationship with veterinary and organisation veterinary scientific’s events. Marialetizia’s strengths are team oriented, problem solving, excellent independent business and team worker capacity, able to maintain and develop professional relations.
After qualifying in 2014 as a Registered Veterinary Nurse, Naomi has worked in a variety of small animal practices in the South West of the UK, including most recently at a 24-hour Veterinary Hospital where she joined the Out of Hours department as an Emergency and Critical Care Nurse.
After developing her clinical skills and knowledge in Veterinary Nursing, Naomi was keen to pursue her career in a non-clinical role and she is proud to have joined the ISPVS team in February 2021 as an Examination Coordinator.
Outside of work Naomi enjoys cooking and walks in the countryside with her two dogs. She also has an artistic side and loves to draw pet portraits in her spare time.
Rosangel Carella Ferrante was born in Caracas, Venezuela, and is currently studying languages at the University of Porto, where she has been living since 2015.
During all these years she developed a strong knowledge in the area of customer service with the Spanish and Portuguese market.
She loves reading, traveling, learning new cultures and taking photos in her free time.
Silvia Signor graduated in Veterinary Medicine at the Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna 2018. After a break to travel and volunteer, she started working as a veterinary surgeon in 2019 and has worked as a General Practitioner in Italy and the UK. Silvia joined ISVPS as Italian Examination Coordinator in 2021.
Silvia enjoys her role in ISVPS because she strongly believes that improving the knowledge of vets is essential to improving animal health.
Wendy Liu graduated from Shandong University in 2008 in English and International Business, she devoted herself to animal health and welfare career as soon as she graduated. And in the year 2020, Wendy joined the ISVPS team of exam coordinators, she is responsible for ISVPS candidates in China. She loves life, loves work and loves small animals. She enjoys serving the candidates because improving the medical level of animal care means improving the welfare of small animals.
She keeps two dogs and two rabbits with the family, and joins the local stray animals rescue organization, this makes her more busy but at the same time makes her feel more fulfilled.
She is really happy and proud to join this team!
ISVPS Support Team
Claire joined ISVPS at the beginning of 2018 as an Examination Administrator. She is responsible for supporting the international team of coordinators and assisting the ISVPS finance team.
Previously Claire worked for nine years in the small animal department of a local long established, independent veterinary practice. She then worked for a financial company assisting a team of paraplanners.
Claire has a dog and a horse, so outside of work can be found spending time with them and competing with her horse.
Accreditation Committee:
To achieve ISVPS accreditation a course provider must provide/fulfil the set criteria, which is evaluated by the accreditation committee. Please refer to the accreditation page for further details.
Validation Review Panel:
This is not a formal committee of ISVPS but is an integral part of the examination process. The Validation Review Panel is responsible for reviewing and benchmarking all submitted examination questions. Members of the Validation Review Panel are General Practitioner Certificate holders and academics.
