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Veterinary Society of Surgical Oncology

c/o William S. Dernell DVM, MS, Diplomate, ACVS

Professor and Chair, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences
College of Veterinary Medicine,
Washington State University
PO Box 646610, Pullman, WA
99164-6610 USA

President and WSAVA Representative:
Dr. James Farese DVM, DACVS
Associate Professor, Surgical Oncology
Oncology Surgical Chief
PO Box 100126
Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences
College of Veterinary Medicine,
University of Florida
Gainesville FL 32610-0126
USA

Number of Members: 150

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Brief History

Despite the improvement of surgical equipment and techniques, the art of surgical judgement and how to integrate surgery with other modalities to reduce morbidity and improve outcomes. There are a number programs (or fellowships) in human medicine which provide specialist training in surgical oncology for residency-trained surgeons. These fellowships provide integrated education and training in tumor biology and pathology; diagnosis, staging, and treatment of cancers; and knowledge of the principles and practice of other modalities, such as radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy. Similarly, Colorado State University and the University of Florida offer one year post residency fellowship training in surgical oncology for veterinary surgeons. To date, more than 30 fellows have been trained at Colorado State University, the University of Florida, and the University of Illinois and these surgical oncologists play an important role in veterinary and collaborative research, education, and training. Members of the VSSO have helped to establish the Fellowships at CSU and UF as Flagship programs under the ACVS and all graduates of these programs earn the title, "ACVS Fellow of Surgical Oncology". There are a number of surgical oncology societies in human medicine and these societies play an important role in focusing attention on the surgeon's role in cancer research, education and treatment. Similarly, the veterinariay Society of Veterinary Oncology has been developed to highlight the role and value of trained surgical oncologists in treating animals with cancer, to coordinate and conduct clinical research trials to advance our knowledge and treatment of cancer, and to provide continuing education opportunities for referring veterinarians and general surgeons, and surgical oncologists.

The aims and objectives of the Society are to advance the art, science, and practice of surgery for the treatment of cancer in animals and people, and to disseminate knowledge to help provide the highest possible standard of surgical treatment for cancer.

Specific Objectives are to:

• to encourage and promote clinical research trials in surgical oncology
• Encourage and facilitate the publication of research trials at professional meetings and in veterinary and human journals,
• Facilitate communication between veterinary surgeons whose primary interest lies in oncology
• Improve methods of surgical treatment for animals with cancer, either alone or with a multidisciplinary approach.
• Promote and encourage mutual collaboration between veterinary surgeons with a special interest in surgical oncology and other branches of oncology
• Encourage and promote education in surgical oncology for professional veterinary students, graduate students and house officers, and graduated veterinariany surgeons