Designation recognizes advanced expertise and leadership
The American College of Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia (ACVAA) Board of Directors has named Dr. Reza Seddighi, a professor at the UT College of Veterinary Medicine, a Founding Fellow in Pain Management. The designation recognizes his expertise and commitment to advancing comprehensive, evidence-based pain care for veterinary patients.
The fellowship addresses a growing need in veterinary medicine. Pain management is integral to the care of surgical, trauma, oncology, and chronically ill patients, yet advanced, specialty-level training in pain medicine and regional anesthesia has varied across veterinary residency programs. The ACVAA program provides a rigorous credentialing pathway for residency-trained veterinary specialists who demonstrate advanced clinical expertise, leadership, and scholarly contributions in pain management.
Dr. Seddighi says pain management has always been one of the most meaningful aspects of his work as a veterinarian. “Animals cannot tell us where or how much they hurt, so we have a responsibility to recognize pain, understand its complexity, and use the best available evidence to treat it.” Deeply honored to be named a Founding Fellow in Pain Management by the ACVAA, Dr. Seddighi considers it more than a personal recognition. “This fellowship is an opportunity to help strengthen pain education, advance clinical practice, and inspire the next generation of veterinarians to make pain assessment and compassionate, evidence-based pain care an essential part of every patient’s treatment.”
As a Founding Fellow, Dr. Seddighi joins a group of veterinary specialists whose credentials were reviewed and approved during the fellowship’s founding application period. Founding Fellows will help shape the development of the program and support future training of specialists in veterinary pain management.
Graduates of the ACVAA Pain Management Fellowship will serve as clinical leaders, educators, and resources within the veterinary community. Their work will advance understanding of pain physiology and treatment, promote evidence-based pain-management strategies, and help improve outcomes and quality of life for animal patients.
Dr. Seddighi is involved in the teaching of all aspects of animal anesthesia and pain management of small, large, and exotic animals. He presents seminars on advanced anesthesia and analgesia topics, including anesthetic management of animals with coexisting disease, cardiac disease, geriatric anesthesia and analgesia, management of anesthetic complications, and the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of anesthetic and analgesic medications.
Dr. Seddighi is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia and a specialist in veterinary anesthesia and pain management. He earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and Doctor of Veterinary Science degrees from Shiraz University, a Master of Science degree from the University of Illinois, and completed his residency in veterinary anesthesia and analgesia at the University of Illinois. He is also certified in veterinary medical acupuncture and in veterinary and human advanced cardiac life support.
