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History

Specialisation in Veterinary Anaesthesia started in the United Kingdom in 1964, when the Association of Veterinary Anaesthetists (AVA) of Great Britain and Ireland was formed. The main object of the association is ‘to promote the study of and research into the subject of anaesthesia in animals and to disseminate the results thereof to the public’. Gradually, more and more European veterinarians joined the Association and in 1991 the latter was renamed as the 'Association of Veterinary Anaesthetists' (AVA).

The European College of Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia (ECVAA) was established as an organization independent of the Association of Veterinary Anaesthetists (AVA) by decision of the General Meeting of the AVA on 26th April 1993 at Giessen, Germany. The College was inaugurated on 1st January 1995 and was formally registered in the Netherlands on 22nd May 1997 as a non-profit organisation.

Initially, the AVA working party on European College development appointed six established specialists who were considered the "Grandparents" of the speciality. They were initiators of veterinary anaesthesia in Europe, and had contributed to the subject over many years.

The Grandparents were:

  • Prof. Dr. Rudolf Fritsch (Germany)

  • Dr. Leslie W. Hall (UK)

  • Dr Claes-Henry Hansson (Sweden)

  • Prof. Ronald S. Jones (UK)

  • Prof. Dr. Evert Lagerweij (The Netherlands)

  • Dr. Barbara M.Q. Weaver (UK)

The ECVAA is greatly thankful and indebted forever to its "Grandfathers" who contributed to its birth. They were all made Honorary Members of the College - see Hall of Fame.

The Grandparents nominated seven ‘Invited Specialists’, to form the Interim Board of the College. They were to serve for a maximum of five years to prepare the definitive organization of the College, according to its Constitution and the Bylaws.

The Interim Board were:

  • Dr. Polly Taylor (UK), President

  • Prof. Urs Schatzmann (Switzerland), Vice-President

  • Prof. Dimitris Raptopoulos (Greece), Secretary

  • Dr. Kathy W. Clarke (UK), Member

  • Prof. Frank Gasthuys (Belgium), Member

  • Prof. Yves P.S. Moens (Belgium), Member

  • Prof. Avril E. Waterman-Pearson (UK), Member

The Board acted as an Interim Credentials and Examination Committee for veterinarians who wished to be considered for de facto  recognition as specialists. After recognition as Specialists all the de facto appointed specialists became Founding Diplomates of the College.

All members of the AVA were invited to apply for de facto registration; the ECVAA Constitution (Article 4, section 2c) set out the necessary criteria for acceptance. Application for de facto recognition was possible for up to three years after the inauguration of the College, i.e. up to 31st December 1997. During this period 44 de facto specialists were appointed.

The first examination for the title of Dip ECVAA took place in autumn 1997, when one candidate sat the exams, and passed.

The Interim Board served until 1999, when the first Executive Committee of the ECVAA was elected at the General Meeting in Newcastle, UK.

Members of the first ECVAA Executive Committee:

  • Prof. Frank Gasthuys (Belgium) President

  • Prof. Urs Schatzmann (Switzerland) Vice-President

  • Prof. Dimitris Raptopoulos (Greece) Secretary

  • Prof. Ron Jones (UK) Treasurer

  • Dr. Polly Taylor (UK) Past-President

  • Prof. Klaus Otto (Germany) co-opted member

  • Dr. Görel Nyman (Sweden) co-opted member

 Members of the first Examinations Committee (formed in 1998):

  • Prof. Urs Schatzmann (Switzerland) Chairman

  • Dr Avril Waterman (UK)

  • Dr. Yves Moens (Belgium)

  • Dr Polly Taylor (UK) ex officio member

  • Prof Ron Jones (UK) co-opted member

  • Dr. Ludo Hellebrekers (Netherlands) co-opted member

  • Dr Leslie Young (UK) co-opted member

Members of the first separate Credentials and Education Committee (formed in 2005):

  • Prof. Dimitris Raptopoulos (Greece) Chairman  

  • Dr Sabine Kastner (Switzerland)

  • Ms. Alex Dugdale (UK)

  • Dr Kathy W Clarke (UK)

  • Dr Alessandra Bergadano (Switzerland)

  • Dr. J Ignacio Cruz (Spain)

The ECVAA continues to run in association with the AVA. The AVA is the ‘shop window’ for veterinary anaesthesia, dealing with political issues, organising scientific meetings and supporting education. The ECVAA deals with certification and maintenance of the standards of specialisation in Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia and operates under the regulations of the European Board of Veterinary Specialisation (EBVS).

Together, the ECVAA and the AVA seek to improve the standards of veterinary anaesthesia across Europe.

Past Presidents of the ECVAA

  • 1995-1999: Polly Taylor (UK)

  • 1999-2002: Frank Gasthuys (Belgium)

  • 2002-2005: Dimitris Raptopoulos (Greece)

  • 2005-2008: Kathy Clarke (UK)

  • 2008-2011: Yves Moens (Austria)

  • 2011-2014: Klaus Otto (Germany)

  • 2014-2017: Federico Corletto (UK)

  • 2017-2020: Lynne Hughes (Ireland)

Some further aspects of the history of Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia, and of the ECVAA, may be found in the following reference: Steffey EP,  'A History of Veterinary Anaesthesia' in The wondrous story of Anesthesia. Eds Edmond I Eger II, Lawrence J Saidman and Rod N Westhorpe. Springer 2014; 293.