Why the Fellowship matters and why you should consider joining

Like many people my career, and therefore my pathway to becoming a Fellow of the RCVS, has been one of chance events, accidents and stumbles. When I first became a vet, like many others, I intended to go into practice, but ended up going into academia with the intention of staying there for a few years. I was there for 22 years.

That career in academia ultimately sparked my interest in joining the Fellowship of the RCVS when it re-launched in 2016 with its three new routes to entry.

Joining the Fellowship appealed to me because of my love of research and because I could see that, under the Chairmanship of my predecessor Nick Bacon, there was a new vibrancy to the scheme.

This was demonstrated by not only an increasing number of people joining, but a broader range of the profession including more women, more people outside academia, and people of a slightly younger demographic. The Fellowship should be open to anyone who has made a difference in their branch of the profession.

As the new Chair of the Fellowship Board, which is responsible for setting the criteria and process for joining the Fellowship and meeting its strategic aims, I am in a fantastic position to build on Professor Bacon’s excellent work and continue that process of transformation.

During my three-year tenure my ambition is to further the role of the Fellowship both within the profession and wider society.

We need to be looking at some of the issues and debates floating around and seeing how the Fellowship, as a learned society with a pool of expertise and knowledge, can contribute from a scientific point of view.

It is important that animal owners and wider society understands what we as veterinary scientists can bring to these debates and we need to constantly communicate the value of evidence-based science in public life.

The Fellowship, and individual Fellows, also have a role to play in reaching out to and mentoring our younger colleagues, particularly when we are aware that there is a retention issue and that some younger vets are feeling frustrated with the profession and maybe even considering leaving it.

I still remember the people that gave up their time and provided advice for me when I was younger. This was incredibly valuable and features as some of the key moments in my career. If we can similarly inspire our younger colleagues then it is an endeavour that will reap many benefits.

All of this is very worthwhile – but it also depends on keeping that momentum and energy going within the Fellowship, to ensure we are getting new blood and new ideas. So why should you consider applying to become a Fellow?

Well, being a vet can often be rewarding on a day-to-day basis, but when we’re so busy dealing with the immediate problems in front of us, it can be more difficult to get that long-term sense of achievement.

What you want to be able to do is look back over your career and say – I achieved something, I changed something and that I contributed in some way to the evolution of the profession and how we engage with the animal-owning public. I think that, with its new energy and its ambitious strategy, the Fellowship is the ideal place to gain that, particular, sense of satisfaction.

I am really keen for people to at least be thinking about becoming a Fellow – even if it’s not something for now but in a few years’ time – and what I would recommend is talking to someone in your peer group or your company or your university who has become a Fellow in the past few years.

Ask them questions about the requirements, about the process, about the evidence you need and so on – we are very keen on mentoring prospective Fellows on how to apply.

Over the next few months, I’m also keen to provide examples of Fellows who have come through more unusual or newer routes. We need more Fellows from primary care practice as well; there are many vets in primary care who have achieved a great deal – it is important to document these achievements to build a compelling case and I would encourage colleagues to consider this.

The Fellowship Team here at the RCVS is also a fantastic resource and will be able to put you in touch with other Fellows – myself included – to provide advice about joining the Fellowship.

Please consider joining us in helping to raise the profile of the profession and visit the College’s dedicated Fellowship page where you can find out all about the application process.

Also check out the Directory of Fellows where you can find out more about who is in the Fellowship, their areas of interest and expertise and become inspired by some of the great work they are doing.