Charlotte Pace, a veterinary cardiology nurse from the Royal Veterinary College, has become the first nurse in the UK to earn a place on the Academy of Internal Medicine for Veterinary Technicians (AIMVT) in the cardiology department.

AIMVT is a group of veterinary technicians working specifically in Internal Medicine, who come from universities, specialty practices, referral practices, general practices, and research facilities across the world.

Each year the organisation receives hundreds of applications from veterinary technicians eager to become a part of the academy in its five department areas, Large Animal Medicine; Small Animal Medicine; Cardiology; Oncology; and, Neurology.

Charlotte Pace, a veterinary nurse for nine years, earned her chance to secure a place on the academy by completing 6,000 hours of work and 75 recorded case studies, which are both requirements during the AIMVT application process.

Charlotte was then one of 22 selected to travel to Anaheim in California, USA, where she took two exams, a three and a half exam in cardiology and a one and a half hour general medical exam.

The application process for a place on AIMVT was tough and selection is strict, making it a remarkable achievement for Charlotte, who's ecstatic that she has been awarded with a place.

Charlotte said: "It's a great moment for me personally and the Royal Veterinary College. The facilities and working environment, which included the teaching, experience and staff helped me during the application process and were factors in me being awarded a place on the AIMVT.

"I lost my husband four years ago due to complicated cardiac disease, which led to my initial interest in the subject and why I became a cardiology veterinary nurse in the first place. The application process gave me a new sense of purpose and focus, and is recognition for the long hours I've put in and my desire to progress further in the field of cardiology."   

Charlotte set up a charity in her husband's name called the Chris Pace Trust. The charity was created following a holiday in 2004, where Chris helped a local school in Namibia get their computer fixed and sent them supplies to keep it working when back in the UK. In Chris' memory, Charlotte and her family decided to help the school further. £16,000 has so far been raised, with the Namibian government matching whatever the charity raises. Further details can be found at http://thechrispacetrust.org/.

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