A Diplomate is a board certified veterinarian in a specific area of veterinary medicine such as Internal Medicine, Surgery, Ophthalmology, Dermatology, etc. The designation of Diplomate represents the highest level of certification an individual can attain in their area of specialization. In order to attain the rank of Diplomate, the individual must have graduated from an accredited veterinary school, complete a one year internship, successfully complete a three year specialized residency training program and satisfactorily complete the board certification examination in their area of expertise. The entire process requires a minimum of eight additional years of education after college to complete. Only Diplomates can be considered Specialists in veterinary medicine.

The Equine Specialty Hospital is the only private practice for horses in the state of Ohio that has board certified specialists in surgery and internal medicine.

We invite you to read further about specialists in veterinary medicine at the College of Veterinary Internal Medicine ( www.ACVIM.org ) and the College of Veterinary Surgeons ( www.ACVS.org ) websites.