Residency Programmes
The residency programmes at the Universidad CEU Cardenal Herrera’s Hospital Clínico Veterinario are approved by the relevant European colleges and lead to eligibility for European specialist certification. They combine specialized clinical training with academic and research activities. The standard duration of a residency programme in each of the disciplines is three years.
Current residency programmes
Large animal surgery
Hospital Clínico Veterinario (HCV) – Universidad Cardenal Herrera CEU Supervision:
Dr. Ana Velloso Álvarez (DACVS-LA, DECVS)
This programme is designed to provide intensive, supervised clinical training for the development of advanced competencies in large animal surgery, within a multidisciplinary hospital environment involving specialists, clinicians, residents, rotating interns and students.
Clinical activities include:
Communication with referring veterinarians and animal owners
Participation in and development of research projects
Emergency duty shifts
Participation in national and international conferences, internal training sessions and student teaching
Surgical and perioperative management of referrals and hospitalized cases in accordance with the guidelines of the European College of Veterinary Surgeons (ECVS)
Progressive training in advanced surgical techniques, including soft tissue surgery, orthopaedics, arthroscopy, laparoscopy, emergency surgery and intensive care
Programme structure
Clinical training
93-100 weeks supervised by an ECVS Diplomate. This includes participation in elective and emergency surgery, hospitalization, intensive care, clinical rounds, and surgical decision-making in complex cases.
Internal rotations
Mandatory rotations in:
Imaging diagnosis (radiography, ultrasound, & CT/MRI where available)
Large animal anaesthesia and analgesia
Equine internal medicine
Anatomical pathology applied to surgery
External rotations
Rotations at accredited institutions to gain experience in:
Specialist equine surgery
Ruminant and farm animal surgery
Advanced orthopaedic, arthroscopic, and laparoscopic techniques
Perioperative management in intensive care units
Research and publications
Active participation in clinical research. Minimum objective: two peer‑reviewed publications submitted or accepted for publication. Presentation of research at national and international conferences.
Teaching and academic activities
Participation in:
Clinical teaching of veterinary students
Internal seminars
Journal clubs
Book clubs
Mock exams and ECVS exam preparation sessions
Emergency on-call duty
Alternate weeks at the large animal surgery service. This includes management of acute abdominal conditions, complex wounds, fractures, trauma, and surgical emergencies.
Off-clinic time
6–10 weeks per year dedicated to:
Preparation of research projects and manuscripts
Personal study
ECVS exam preparation
Annual leave
4 weeks a year, in accordance with institutional regulations.
Equine internal medicine
The Equine Internal Medicine Residency Programme at CEU UCH’s Hospital Clínico Veterinario provides advanced training in equine medicine and intensive care and is supervised by Dr Valentina Vitale (ECEIM Diplomate).
This is an advanced training program in equine internal medicine designed to lead to European College certification following successful completion of the examination. The programme and examination ensure that the candidate’s competence meets the criteria for level 8 of the European Qualifications Framework for Lifelong Learning (doctoral level).
The curriculum is competency-based, with a minimum requirement of three years of full-time specialized veterinary training, which is equivalent to 180 ECTS credits in accordance with EU Directive 2005/36/EC. The programme focuses on specialized training in equine internal medicine, with defined learning objectives and assessment criteria. Those who successfully complete it are then eligible for the ECEIM examination and subsequent European Diplomate certification.
Clinical activities include:
- Communication with referring veterinarians and animal owners.
- Participation in and development of research projects.
- Emergency duty shifts.
- Participation in national and international conferences, internal training sessions and student teaching.
- Medical management of referrals for elective procedures or hospitalized patients.
- Preparing clinical reports.
Programme structure:
- Clinical training: 93 weeks supervised by an ECEIM Diplomate.
- Attendance at least one ECEIM Summer School.
- External rotations in clinical pathology and diagnostic imaging (total of 4 weeks).
- Internal rotations in anatomical pathology and anaesthesia.
- Research and publications: participation in clinical research (minimum target of two peer-reviewed publications).
- Teaching and academic activity: participation in clinical teaching, seminars, journal clubs,book reading and mock examinations.
- Emergency on-call duty on alternate weeks.
- Off-clinic time: 4 weeks per year for research writing and personal study.
- Annual leave: 4 weeks per year.
Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia
The Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia Residency Programme at CEU UCH’s Hospital Clínico Veterinario includes training in anaesthesia and analgesia in both small and large animals and is supervised by Dr Laura Gómez Fernández (ECVAA Diplomate).
This programme is designed to deliver intensive, supervised clinical training for the development of advanced competencies in small- and large-animal anaesthesia, within a multidisciplinary hospital environment involving specialists, clinicians, residents, rotating interns and students.
Clinical activities include:
- Communication with referring veterinarians and animal owners.
- Participation in and development of research projects.
- Emergency duty shifts.
- Participation in national and international conferences, internal training sessions and student teaching.
- Anaesthetic management of clinical cases and training in techniques in accordance with ECVAA guidelines.
Programme structure
- Clinical training: 106 weeks supervised by an ECVAA Diplomate.
- Internal rotations in diagnostic imaging and cardiology.
- External rotations in intensive care, anaesthesia for MRI patients and anaesthesia in farm animals.
- Research and publications: active participation in clinical research. Minimum target of two peer-reviewed publications).
- Teaching and academic activity: participation in clinical teaching, seminars, journal clubs,book reading and mock examinations.
- Emergency on-call duty: 1 week out of 4, in small and large animals.
- Off-clinic time: 7-10 weeks per year for research writing and personal study.
- Annual leave: 4 weeks per year.
Anatomical Pathology
Cardiology
CEU UCH’s Hospital Clínico Veterinario offers an American residency programme in veterinary cardiology, directed by Dr Inmaculada Cerrada, who is a European and American diplomate and an RCVS-recognized specialist in veterinary cardiology.
The programme is designed to provide advanced, comprehensive and structured training in clinical and interventional cardiology, preparing residents to meet international standards of specialization.
Two programme formats are available:
- Five-year combined programme, integrating the residency with the completion of a PhD.
- Three-year programme, focusing exclusively on specialized clinical training.
The service is equipped with state-of-the-art technology, including transthoracic and transoesophageal echocardiography, electrocardiography, Holter monitoring (recording and interpretation) and a state-of-the-art cardiac interventional operating theatre. Within this environment, residents receive training in procedures such as: transarterial or transvenous closure of patent ductus arteriosus, treatment of pulmonary stenosis, implantation of pacemakers and heartworm extraction.
The programme also incorporates a one-week placement in a human interventional cardiology hospital, where the resident carries out observational activities, broadening their perspective on advanced techniques.
Academic training is complemented by:
- Daily clinical rounds
- Weekly journal, ECG and book clubs
- Structured internal seminars
Residents are expected to give at least one annual clinical presentation to the entire hospital, and to undertake a research project and present this at major international conferences, such as ECVIM-CA or the ACVIM Forum, and aiming for subsequent publication.
Residents play an active role in teaching undergraduates and rotating interns, participate in emergency duty shifts, and maintain direct communication with both referring veterinarians and animal owners.