Aidan McAlinden Joins The Improve International Group as Academic and Content Director To Accelerate Programme Development

Aidan McAlinden MVB, MSc, CertSAS, DipECVS, MRCVS has been appointed to succeed one of the Improve International Group’s founders and current Academic and Content Director, David Babington later this year. Aidan is a veterinary surgeon with 20 years of postgraduate training and experience. He holds the RCVS certificate and ECVS Diploma in small animal surgery and is an RCVS and EBVS® European Specialist in small animal surgery. 

As Europe’s market-leader in postgraduate veterinary education and certification, the Group continues to focus on developing new practical and online courses to support the veterinary community at every stage of their career. 

Aidan will play a key role in this growth, more specifically in: 

• Enhancing the clinical relevance of the course portfolio from Improve Veterinary Education  
• Advancing the new career path ‘My Veterinary Career and My Veterinary Nurse Career’, developing initiatives and ensuring the veterinary community have a structured, attainable way to develop professionally  
• Upholding academic rigour and optimising examination experiences as a leader at the International School of Postgraduate Veterinary Studies (ISVPS) 

Aidan completed his residency training programme at the UCD-Veterinary Teaching Hospital and worked in the UK as a specialist surgeon for several large multi-disciplinary referral hospitals. In 2012, he became Assistant Professor of Veterinary Surgery at UCD. Here, he was involved in undergraduate teaching, curriculum development and collaborated with several clinical research groups. Aidan successfully developed and established the first multi-disciplinary referral hospital in Northern Ireland (Northern Ireland Veterinary Specialists) in partnership with CVS Referrals in 2019 and continues to operate a theatre list and supervise trainees one day per week. 

Aidan McAlinden said: “Education and teaching have always been my main passion and I have been heavily involved in the development, delivery and assessment of postgraduate education alongside my busy clinical practice for many years. By working with the whole Improve International Group team, I will be doing my utmost to fulfil the company’s potential for growth within the profession and will promote the development of its training programmes worldwide both now and in the future.” 

David Babington added: “I am delighted to welcome Aidan to the Improve International Group and hand over the baton of this highly rewarding and important role. There are many projects and initiatives that will benefit from his experience and leadership in the years to come. This is an exciting time for the Group as we continue to innovate and adapt to the needs of veterinary professionals across the world.” 

Heber Alves, CEO of the Improve International Group said: “It is with immense pleasure and anticipation that I welcome Aidan to our team. As we navigate the dynamic landscape of veterinary education, Aidan’s multifaceted expertise in surgery, oncology, research, and education will be instrumental in shaping the evolution of Improve International Group. His dedication to supporting veterinary professionals echoes our own, making him an excellent fit for our mission. With Aidan on board, I am not only excited about the knowledge and experience he brings, but also about the fresh perspective that will challenge us to grow and improve. I look forward to the remarkable journey ahead, collaborating with Aidan in the pursuit of excellence in veterinary education.”