Donald Farr CATS

Donald Farr Certificate in Anatomical Technology and Science

The ‘Donald Farr Certificate of Anatomical Technology and Science’ has been designed to document the knowledge that candidates use on a daily basis in carrying out their duties. This will be assesed by IAS approved examiners and if an appropriate grade is obtained the certificate will be awarded. The certificate can be completed as a standalone qualifcation or can be considered as the first step towards completing the Diploma. The Certificate is also an excellent way to demonstrate staff training, an area now being inspected by the Human Tissue Authority.

Download Application Form

Certificate of Anatomical Technology and Science was renamed in 2024 in honour of Donald Farr, one of the founding IAS members who died in late 2023.

Donald joined King’s College, London, in 1961 and rose to become the manager of the Department of Anatomy. With the rationalisation of medical schools in London in the 1980s, Kings College merged with St Thomas’ and Guys medical schools under the retained name of King’s College, London, and Donald was appointed manager over the new combined department. (continued below press “+”)

Story Continued

In 1984 he was one of the small group who founded the Institute of Anatomical Sciences and became its meetings organiser, and later was elected as the second institute chairman.

In Donald’s department worked an older man named Eric, who was the porter/cleaner and odd job man for the department. Eric had been a career military man right from the time of leaving school and had served in the parachute regiment having left school with no qualifications whatsoever.

Eric was a good worker but could not get promotion and a pay rise because of this lack of qualification, and one day told Donald he was leaving to become a dustman where he could earn more. Keen to be able to keep Eric in anatomy Donald set out visiting person after person to get Eric that promotion, and finally he had a meeting with the Vice Chancellor. There he explained that the institute had already spoken with several universities in an attempt to introduce a degree in anatomical sciences and a foundation level certificate, and although the universities were all interested and supportive they all felt there would not be sufficient uptake to make it worth their while.

And so the Vice Chancellor told Donald to go away and create and acceptable qualification with the IAS. And that is exactly what Donald did, and Eric was awarded the very first Certificate of Anatomical Technology and Sciences and gained that promotion and stayed in anatomy at Guys until he retired. That first CATS was so valued by Eric that when he died, he had left instruction that the certificate was to be displayed on his coffin, and it was!

Since then, the IAS has gone on to develop and run various education programmes and qualifications, ALL of which have been accepted by universities and colleges around the world, and it started with Donald Farr and his attempt to keep a valued member of staff.

Written by John Ben, IAS President, 2024

Donald Farr

Eric de Villiers with IAS President Prof Ian Parkin and the first CATS award

Application form

The application form will be assessed by 2 IAS approved examiners, and should:

be completed by the applicant and verified by the signature of their supervisor
include the duties that are carried out on a routine basis
indicate the practical work, communication, problem-solving involved in the duties
highlight how health, safety and legislation affect how the duties are carried out

Viva

A viva will take place in the applicants’ work place, conducted in a friendly manner with the intent to confirm that what is recorded on the form is what is undertaken by the applicant. Feedback of the applicants’ performance will be given on the day of the assessment.

Fees

The total cost of the certificate is £200, this covers any administrative and examiner travel expenses.

The initial £50 must be paid on submission of the application for the Certificate.
The remainder of £150 must be paid once the application has been processed and a date has been set for the viva.

If you, or anyone in your Department, feels that completing this qualification would be advantageous then please feel free to contact us.

Become a Member

Membership is open to persons in any discipline which recognises the need for anatomical training in their profession and to those who are sympathetic to the aims of the Institute.

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