About
What ISVS is for.
ISVS was created by specialists who wanted somewhere to share what they know, bring others in, learn from colleagues in other countries, and build a community that supports itself. It is run by specialists, for specialists, and for the people who will become them.
Why it exists
Specialisation is unevenly distributed
In some places a specialist can walk down the corridor and ask a colleague. In others there is no colleague to ask, and no route into a specialty for the people who want one. Many specialists are the only one of their kind in a hospital, a city, or a country.
ISVS puts both groups in the same room. Members share resources, teach, mentor and discuss cases with each other. Most of what happens here is specialists talking to specialists. Some of them are building specialty training where it has not existed before.
Members give some of what they know and get a good deal back.
What we hold to
Four commitments
01
Collaboration carries specialties to new places
We share ideas, resources and structures. A training structure built at one site becomes the starting point for the next.
02
Specialists teach at every stage
Mentoring and teaching run across countries and time zones, for colleagues at every point in their careers.
03
Structured training builds specialists
Supervised residencies, defined competencies and examination are what the title rests on. We use the word in that sense.
04
Nothing here is for sale
Membership is free and the member area carries no advertising or commercial recruitment. Teaching opportunities in the training programme are paid, and are the only paid work connected to the society.
How the society works
Membership, teaching, training, governance
Membership
Free, and open to board-certified specialists, residents in a recognised programme, and specialist nurses and technicians, anywhere in the world. Applications are checked.
Teaching
Optional. Programme Directors, Clinical Instructors, Faculty and Board Members are paid for the teaching and mentorship they give to the training programme.
Training
Trainees take paid posts at partner VHI institutions in India, where we are building credentialed specialty training. They are enrolled by their institution.
Governance
The board sets standards, establishes training posts and shapes how the society runs. Board membership is one of the four positions.
Membership is free. Applications are checked.
Tell us your specialty, your credential and the college that examined you. We send a login to the member area, usually within two working days.