"The majority of our profession is in general practice and yet the different ways of knowing and thinking relevant to first opinion practice have often not received much attention.”

RCVS Council candidate Stephen May is passionate about education

Much of the veterinary profession works in general practice. However, the differences between primary care and second opinion practice - as well as those who deliver the services - often go unrecognised.

RCVS Council candidate professor Stephen May believes that the traditional model of delivery of clinical veterinary education, through university-owned teaching hospitals, is unlikely to be the best preparation for a career in primary health care. Instead, he feels that the profession needs to pay more attention to what he describes as ‘the scholarship of primary health care’.

“The majority of our profession is in general practice and yet the different ways of knowing and thinking relevant to first opinion practice have often not received much attention,” he explains. “This means a significant number of graduates emerge with developing professional identities more similar to their hospital-based university teachers than that of the expert general practitioner."

To read our full interview with professor May visit vetcomunity.com.