Professor David Argyle elected RCVS Junior Vice-President for 2020-21

At the June meeting of RCVS Council, members elected Professor David Argyle to be the RCVS Junior Vice-President for 2020-21.

Professor Argyle FRCVS (pictured right) is Dean of the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and has been an appointed member of RCVS Council representing the University of Edinburgh since 2011. Professor Argyle stood as one of three candidates for Junior Vice-President – the others being Dr Melissa Donald and Dr Danny Chambers – and was elected by majority vote by his peers on RCVS Council at its meeting on Thursday 4 June 2020.

In his election statement to his colleagues on RCVS Council, Professor Argyle said: “After serving on Council since the beginning of 2012 (and serving on Education, Standards, Recognised Veterinary Practice, Scientific Advisory and chairing the Advancement of the Professions Committee), and recently having had the privilege to serve on the COVID-19 RCVS Taskforce, I would like to offer myself to serve as Junior Vice-President for 2020/2021.

“Alongside the major issues facing the professions relating to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important to support the College in driving forward standards. This is a hugely challenging time for the professions, but also one of opportunity, and will require cohesive and inclusive leadership.

"The RCVS has set out an exciting forward-looking strategy with animal welfare and the public at its core, but also with a focus on the health of our professions (vets and nurses) and ensuring a strong future through innovative leadership and world-leading educational standards.”

Speaking after his election, Professor Argyle added: “With our new strategy it is important we maintain momentum in delivering our priorities alongside supporting the profession in recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. I am immensely proud to be able serve the College in this role and be able to make a difference for our professions.”

Professor Argyle is a graduate of the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Glasgow. After a period in practice he returned to Glasgow to complete a PhD in Oncology/Immunology. He was Senior Lecturer in Clinical Oncology at Glasgow until 2002 when he became Head of Veterinary Oncology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA.

In 2005 he returned to Edinburgh University to the William Dick Chair of Veterinary Clinical Studies. In 2009 he became the Dean for postgraduate research and international research for both medicine and veterinary medicine and in 2011 he became the Head of the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies.

He is an RCVS/European Specialist in Veterinary Oncology and Diplomat of the European College of Internal Medicine in Oncology. His major research interests are cancer and stem cell biology.

Professor Argyle will take up the position of Junior Vice-President at the Annual General Meeting of the RCVS which takes place on Friday, 10 July 2020, where he will join the Officer Team of Dr Mandisa Greene as RCVS President, Dr Niall Connell as Senior Vice-President and Professor Susan Dawson as Treasurer.

RCVS Council members had previously elected Dr Kit Sturgess to be Junior Vice-President but he was not re-elected to RCVS Council during this year’s elections.