Abstract
It seems like just yesterday when everything started. The European College of Veterinary Pathologists (ECVP) was established in 1995 to advance veterinary pathology and promote high standards in the specialty within Europe. This emergence was not a matter of chance but the result of the efforts made by many veterinary pathologists gathered in the European Society of Veterinary Pathology (ESVP), over decades. In September 1994, during the ESVP Autumn meeting in Mondoví (Italy), the ESVP Board formally proposed the creation of the ECVP as a reflection of its “sister organization,” the American College of Veterinary Pathologists, already established in 1949, and as a consequence of the growing desire to harmonize the teaching and the practice of veterinary pathology across Europe by a certifying exam. Consequently, the ECVP was founded at the ESVP annual meeting in Edinburgh (UK) in 1995, under the procedures of the “umbrella” organization for Veterinary Specialization, the European Board of Veterinary Specialization (EBVS). Following the EBVS requirements, 85 charter members (founding members) of well-established reputation were selected from different European countries and they, collectively, established the College. In 1997, the ECVP Constitution and By-Laws were approved by the EBVS and the College started the process of “de facto” recognition of veterinary pathologists based on their curriculum vitae (accredited merits based on their years practicing veterinary pathology in Europe and the authorship of scientific publications). Through this system, a total of 182 “de facto” members were admitted in 1998 and, since then, all ECVP members have been board-certified by examination, with the first examination in 1999. The ECVP was fully recognized by the EBVS in 2007.
Today, the ECVP is the third largest EBVS College with 358 active diplomates in total (288 by exam), and it represents an organized effort to establish criteria for training and experience to qualify as a specialist in veterinary pathology. The ECVP’s major tasks are the organization of the certifying exam and training in veterinary pathology, maintaining both at high standards, as well as the continuing education and professional development of our diplomates. In collaboration with our “founding Society,” the ESVP, the annual ESVP/ECVP meeting facilitates the gathering of veterinary pathologists of all kinds: young residents, new diplomates who joyfully collect their diplomas, and diplomates and members of the Society, to learn about the last advances in our specialization. Every 3 years our ECVP/ESVP annual meeting is enriched by the participation of the European Society of Toxicologic Pathology (ESTP) and takes the very appropriate name of “Cutting Edge Pathology” meeting.
Preparations for our Cutting Edge Meeting 2020 in Turin were already advanced, when the coronavirus pandemic forced us to postpone…also just postponed and not canceled are the celebrations of the 25th anniversary of the ECVP.
Stay healthy!
Sincerely,
Your ECVP Council
Footnotes
Declaration of Conflicting Interests
The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.
Funding
The author(s) received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.
