ACVS Fellowship in Minimally Invasive Surgery
A founding fellow or fellow in minimally invasive surgery (MIS) is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS) who has obtained additional training and experience in MIS beyond surgery residency training; demonstrates expertise in MIS; and devotes a major portion of their professional effort to research and to the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of patients undergoing MIS therapies. Founding fellow or fellow status was achieved in the following disciplines:
- Small Animal Orthopedics (arthroscopy and fracture repair)
- Small Animal Soft Tissue (laparoscopy and thoracoscopy)
- Large Animal Orthopedics (arthroscopy, tenoscopy, bursoscopy, and fracture repair)
- Large Animal Soft Tissue (laparoscopy and thoracoscopy)
ACVS Fellowship Training Centers
ACVS-approved fellowship training centers provide specialized training in minimally invasive surgery. The training program is designed for ACVS Diplomates and veterinarians who have completed a residency at an ACVS Registered Residency Training Program. Both the fellow candidate who is pursuing training in MIS and the training institution must comply with the applicable minimum training standards. Fellow candidates must submit the training registration form and registration fee to the ACVS office within 30 days of starting the fellowship training program. Contact the program representative for information about the fellowship training centers.
- Minimum Standards for ACVS Fellowship Training in Veterinary Minimally Invasive Surgery (Small Animal Orthopedics)
- Minimum Standards for ACVS Fellowship Training in Veterinary Minimally Invasive Surgery
MIS Small Animal Orthopedics Fellowship Program — Approved Training Centers
- ACCESS Bone & Joint Center, Culver City, CA: Dr. Laurent P. Guiot
- H-Town Veterinary Specialists, Stafford, TX: Dr. Brian S. Beale
- University of Florida: Dr. Matthew Johnson
- VetSurg, Ventura, CA: Dr. Ian G. Holsworth
MIS Small Animal Soft Tissue Fellowship Program — Approved Training Centers
- Colorado State University: Dr. Eric Monnet
- Cornell University: Dr. Nicole Buote
- University of Florida: Dr. Brad Case
- University of Guelph: Dr. Ameet Singh
- University of California-Davis: Dr. Philipp Mayhew
- Washington State University: Dr. Boel Fransson
MIS Large Animal Orthopedics Fellowship Program — Approved Training Center
For information about the fellowship training center, please contact the program representative listed below:
- Colorado State University: Dr. Laurie Goodrich
MIS Large Animal Soft Tissue Program — Approved Training Centers
For information about the fellowship training center, please contact the program representative listed below:
- Colorado State University: Dr. Dean Hendrickson
- Cornell University: Dr. Eileen Hackett
- Washington State University: Dr. Claude Ragle
Fellowship training opportunities
The following ACVS-approved fellowship training center is currently accepting applications for fellowship training. To achieve the status of ACVS Fellow, the fellow candidate must meet all the fellowship training requirements and must be an ACVS Diplomate by the end of fellowship training. Interested applicants should contact the fellowship training center representative for more information.
ACVS Minimally Invasive Surgery (Small Animal Soft Tissue) Fellowship Training Program at Cornell University
Number of available fellowships: One
Proposed start date: September 1, 2025
Length of fellowship training: 12–18 months
Application deadline: April 1, 2025
Contact: Dr. Nicole Buote, njb235@cornell.edu
Establishing an ACVS Fellowship Training Center
ACVS Founding Fellows or Fellows interested in establishing a fellowship training center in MIS in one of the following disciplines should send the completed application form to the ACVS office or to the chair of the fellowship oversight program listed below.
- Application to establish an ACVS fellowship training center — MIS Small Animal Orthopedics
- Application to establish an ACVS fellowship training center — MIS Small Animal Soft Tissue
- Application to establish an ACVS fellowship training center — MIS Large Animal Orthopedics
- Application to establish an ACVS fellowship training center — MIS Large Animal Soft Tissue
ACVS Minimally Invasive Surgery Fellowship Oversight Committees
The Fellowship Oversight Committee is responsible for monitoring the fellowship program and for providing status reports to the Fellowship Committee on training centers, training candidates, and requests for program modifications. For questions regarding the MIS Fellowship Programs, contact the chair of the applicable fellowship program.
- MIS Small Animal Orthopedics Fellowship Oversight Committee Chair: Dr. Kim Agnello
- MIS Small Animal Soft Tissue Fellowship Oversight Committee Chair: Dr. Michele Steffey
- MIS Large Animal Orthopedics Fellowship Oversight Committee Chair: Dr. Ryan S. Carpenter
- MIS Large Animal Soft Tissue Fellowship Oversight Committee Chair: Dr. Jeremiah Easley
Volunteering to serve on a Fellowship Oversight Committee
The Fellowship Oversight Committees welcomes volunteers! Serving on the Fellowship Oversight Committee is a three-year commitment, with the possibility of reappointment. Fellows or Founding Fellows interested in serving on a Fellowship Oversight Committee should notify the ACVS office or the chair of the applicable Fellowship Oversight Committee by March 31. In April, the Fellowship Oversight Committee submits its nomination of volunteers to the Fellowship Committee for recommendation to the ACVS Board of Regents.
