What does DVM Mean?

Doctor of Veterinary Medicine

What does DACVECC mean?

Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care.

It means that a regular DVM has decided to continue his or her education in the specialty area of Emergency and Critical Care, and has become board certified.

What it takes:
After successfully completing vet school, the DVM is required to complete an internship for one year, follow up with a residency for three years, and successfully complete various other assignments such as publishing articles about critical care. Once the DVM has completed his or her qualifications, they may apply to take the exam. It takes two days to complete the exam, and it consists of three parts: written, oral, and practical. If the DVM passes all three sections, he or she becomes certified as a specialist, earning the DACVECC title.

Only a small group of DVMs in the United States are actually certified in critical care. Three board-certified practicing criticalists work at DoveLewis; that's the most in any hospital in Oregon. One of two veterinary technicians with a specialty in critical care in Oregon also works at DoveLewis.