Diplomat and specialist veterinarian? Who's who?

Pet owners often ask what a Diplomate actually is and how exactly it differs from a veterinary specialist. Diplomates are internationally certified specialists in a subfield of veterinary medicine (e.g., equine surgery or ophthalmology). This demanding training currently represents the highest level of specialization in veterinary medicine. To obtain the title, one must complete several years (usually 3-4 years) of practical and academic training—a so-called residency—which is led and supervised by a college (an association of international specialists in the respective field of veterinary medicine). At the end of this training, there is a multi-day examination before an international committee, in which practical and theoretical expertise, as well as the scientific literature of the past 4-5 years, are tested. Upon passing the examination, the candidate is awarded the title "Diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Medicine…" (e.g., Ophthalmology) or "Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Medicine…".

And what makes a veterinary specialist a veterinary specialist?

Becoming a veterinary specialist also involves several years of advanced specialization in a specific field of veterinary medicine—but at the national level. Here, the training is generally offered and supervised by the veterinary association. In general, the specialist veterinary training is very practically oriented. At the end, there is also an examination on theoretical and practical expertise in the respective field before a committee of the responsible veterinary association. Upon passing the examination, one receives the title "Specialist Veterinarian for… e.g., horses."

Two Diplomates work at our clinic:
Dr. Silvia Stadler, DACVO (Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmology) & Dr. Eva Haltmayer, DACVS-LA (Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgery) and 3 equine specialists: Dr. Silvia Stadler, Mag. Sophie Salomon & Dr. Christian Franz