RCVS Award Ceremony - take two

Veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses who were unable to attend July's RCVS Day collected their awards this week at a ceremony held at the College (5 October).  Attendance at the 8 July event had been affected by the previous day's terrorist activities. 

Mrs Hill presented a Fellowship by Meritorious Contribution to Learning to Joe Brownlie, for his contribution in the field of "Pathogenesis of viral infections". 

She then went on to award Diplomas to the following veterinary surgeons:

• Diploma in Cattle Health and Production to John Cook
• Diploma in Laboratory Animal Science to Bethan Foden
• Diploma in Small Animal Medicine to Emma O'Neill
• Diploma in Small Animal Surgery (Orthopaedics) to Martin Owen and to Robert Rayward
• Diploma in Veterinary Dermatology to Anette Loeffler
• Diploma in Zoological Medicine (Mammalian) to Sharon Redrobe

For the first time this year, VNs were invited to July's RCVS Day to receive their awards, and several of those who could not make it to the summer event came to the College this week. Mrs Hill presented Rachel Cowin with her Certificate in Veterinary Nursing and gave Diplomas in Advanced Veterinary Nursing (Medical) to Lara Graham, Nicola Hayward and Simone Wilde. A Diploma in Advanced Veterinary Nursing (Surgical) was presented to Alison Young.

Following the award ceremony, President Lynne Hill addressed the assembled group of veterinary surgeons, veterinary nurses and their families by offering a review of the past year and the challenges to come. She commented on changes ahead for everyone in the profession, particularly with regard to medicines:

"The imminent implementation of the Competition Commission requirements and the new Medicines legislation will change the way we all do business with our clients and will affect, and indeed is already affecting, our very businesses," she outlined. 

"We will have to look at the business models that have been dear to us all for many years and change them," she said, adding that although change in the short-term would be difficult, "I hope that in the long term, the profession will be stronger and that businesses will have a firmer foundation for survival."

She went on to discuss the changing demographics within the profession and the fact that veterinary surgeons of both sexes were demanding a more balanced lifestyle: "We should not forget that every generation brings change and each and every one of us wants a more balanced life, with the chance to see our children grow up and time to enjoy the fruits of our labours.  Is there anything wrong in that?  Of course not, and I feel that women have helped to speed that process up, which is to the benefit of everyone," she commented.

ENDS

For more information please contact:

Lizzie Lockett (020 7202 0725) [email protected]
External Affairs Department
RoyalCollegeof Veterinary Surgeons

NOTES FOR EDITORS

1. The RCVS is the regulatory body for veterinary surgeons in the UK and deals with issues of professional misconduct, maintaining the register of veterinary surgeons eligible to practise in the UK and assuring standards of veterinary education.