About
The AWVS was created to support, inspire and educate women veterinary surgeons.
Get Involved
Please consider investing your time, money and or skills so we can continue our important work.
Become a Member
AWVS offers memberships for board-certified surgeons and surgery residents in ACVS and ECVS programs.
Committees
Get to know the AWVS Mentorship, Research, Communications and CE committees!
Publications
Check out articles committee members love and recommend some of your own.
Contact
Please feel free to contact us with any questions about membership or sponsorship.
Why Join AWVS?
AWVS is interested in the unique challenges that women veterinary surgeons face on a day to day basis including:
- Work life balance
- Pay equity issues
- Lack of women in leadership positions at universities
- Lack of women business owners
AWVS will provide mentorship at all surgical levels to both women and men.
"Inspiring veterinarians. Encouraging collaboration. Enabling women to realize their goals."
Leadership Team
Nicole Buote
President / Founder
Dr. Nicole Buote received her DVM from Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine in 2004. She then completed a rotating internship at Angell Animal Medical Center in Boston and a surgical internship at the Dallas Veterinary Surgery Center.
Valery Scharf
Secretary
Dr. Scharf is a small animal surgeon and assistant professor of Soft Tissue & Oncologic Surgery at the NC State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Her interests include minimally invasive and thoracic surgery and surgical education and mentorship.
Challenges Facing Women Veterinary Surgeons
Even though women are the majority of veterinary providers, there are many challenges facing women in surgery today: pay and promotion equity, instrument ergonomics, family leave, workplace dynamics, changes in academic medicine, resident education, and work-life balance. These issues can affect both men and women, majority and minority groups, and they affect our ability to do our jobs and live our best lives.
The Association of Women Veterinary Surgeons is a society of veterinary surgeons who have dedicated their professional lives to surgery but understand that a full life means needs more than a career. We want to provide you with mentorship, and opportunities to grow and help your fellow surgeons.
