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Making a Difference: World Vets Latin America Veterinary Training Center

World Vets Training Center Staff. From left to right, Dr. Hernan Perez, Dr. Francisco Fonseca and Dr. Lester Tapia

At the end of 2011, World Vets celebrated the grand opening of our Latin America Veterinary Training Center located in Granada, Nicaragua. This center was established to provide free surgical instruction and training to Latin American veterinarians and upper level veterinary students. Outfitted with modern equipment such as gas anesthesia, central oxygen, pulse oximeters, fluid pumps, autoclave, centrifuge and ultrasound, we strive to teach and practice high quality veterinary medicine at this facility.

We currently employ three full time Nicaraguan veterinarians who provide weekly training sessions in Spanish as part of this program. Prior to their employment, they had volunteered with World Vets as veterinary students during our Nicaraguan field clinics. They now provide high quality instruction in surgical techniques, safe anesthesia, patient safety and comfort as well as pain management. To date we have had over 100 participants receive training as part this program. Veterinarians and students have come from all over Nicaragua and have even traveled from Mexico, Guatemala and Peru to take part!

World Vets was recently presented with an award from La Universidad Catolica del Tropico Seco de Esteli (UCATSE), in association with their Agricultural Science Department, based in Esteli, Nicaragua. This award was given in recognition of the invaluable support that we have provided to their students in helping to shape their futures as veterinarians.

World Vets CEO/Founder, Dr. Cathy King, receives an award from representatives of UCATSE in Nicaragua

Our training center not only provides quality instruction and training to veterinarians and students. It is also provides quality veterinary care that benefits many communities outlying the city of Granada who do not have access to veterinary services for their animals.

As a result of this program, we have provided over 3500 safe surgical procedures at no cost to local pet owners and for street dogs. What's more, our Nicaraguan veterinarians provide a door to door service for rural animals; picking them up for surgery and returning them home following recovery.

Follow our activities at the training center here or visit its website

See pictures of World Vets Latin America Veterinary Training Center in action

A donation to World Vets keeps our veterinary and training programs running. It also makes a difference in the lives of all the animals impacted by our aid worldwide each year. With your support we can continue to help these animals in need.

World Vets is a registered 501c3. All donations to World Vets are tax deductible.

Become a Member!

Membership not only provides support for our international veterinary aid projects, it also allows you to secure a position on one of our projects as a volunteer before it is advertised to the general public. Read more about membership.

Volunteer!
Volunteer opportunities exist not only for veterinary professionals but students as well as those who just simply love animals. See upcoming volunteer opportunities here

2013 Project Spotlight: San Andres Island

With support from Fondation Brigitte Bardot, World Vets sent its first team to San Andres Island in 2012 for a pilot project. Our team's visit also made history as being the first foreign veterinary brigade to provide free veterinary services on the Island. Before our initial visit and campaign, it had only been Colombian veterinarians from the mainland that provided irregular veterinary relief.

What prompted our visit and subsequent large scale spay/neuter and preventive health campaign was the request and an invitation from the San Andres Island Department of Health. They had been urged into action as a result of the worsening plight of its small animal population, consisting of health issues as well as their overpopulation. Given San Andres Island is not very big, it became quite apparent that animal health is not only an animal welfare issue but a concern for public health and safety as well.

This year we scheduled two visits and subsequent veterinary campaigns to aid local efforts in controlling the island's small animal population as well as tackling disease control and prevention. Read about one of our success stories from this project here.

We also have an upcoming volunteer opportunity as part of our San Andres Island field service project. Read more about it here and join us in San Andres Island this December!

New! Custom Trip Option for Groups

Do you work at a veterinary practice or are you part of a veterinary faculty at an academic institution? Are you looking for an international volunteer opportunity that you and your colleagues and/or faculty and students can do together?

Starting in 2014, World Vets has a great volunteer opportunity for groups to Granada, Nicaragua. Read more here

Learn more about us at worldvets.org