The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies has become the first place in the UK to offer reptile training recognised by the European College of Zoological Medicine.

Kevin Eatwell, who is part of the School's Exotic Animal and Wildlife Service, has been awarded diplomat status by the European College of Zoological Medicine (ECZM).

This will enable him to offer training to residents at the School wishing to gain European accreditation in the area of herpetology, which covers reptiles.

The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, which is part of the University of Edinburgh, also gained the endorsement of the ECZM to train residents to treat reptiles following a visit by its president.

The diplomat status recognises Mr Eatwell as a specialist in Europe. In addition, he is also one of only two RCVS diploma holders in reptile medicine in the UK.

To qualify as an ECZM diplomat a vet needs to meet stringent criteria. This includes the time spent specialising in a particular field as well as three first author and a minimum of three second co-author publications relevant to the specialty.  

Many of Mr Eatwell's scientific papers followed on from a dissertation, which was funded through an educational grant through the RCVS Trust.

As a diplomat for the European College of Zoological Medicine, Mr Eatwell will input into the ECZM training criteria for vets specialising in the care and treatment of reptiles.

Mr Eatwell said: "I am delighted to have achieved such status by the European College of Zoological Medicine. It is very exciting to be involved in the education of specialist veterinary surgeons throughout Europe. This will also open the door for residents at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies to obtain European qualifications relating to the specialist treatment of reptiles."

Mr Eatwell is one of only a handful of ECZM diplomats in the UK and the first in herpetology. Other ECZM diplomats cover disciplines including avian, small mammals and wildlife and conservation.

Cherry Bushell, Director of the RCVS Trust, said: "It's always wonderful to hear that the grants awarded by RCVS Trust do help make a difference to young vets and to the development of animal care in the UK and overseas.  We congratulate Kevin on his achievement and wish him every success in the future."

The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies also has the UK's first European resident in Small Mammal Medicine, Elisabetta Mancinelli, who is being supervised by Anna Meredith, head of the Exotic Animal and Wildlife Service.

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