Inaugural speech made at the RCVS AGM in Westminster.

The new president of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS), Sue Paterson, set out widening participation in the veterinary sector as the theme for her presidency as she made her inaugural address at the RCVS Annual General Meeting on Friday, 7 July.

Speaking to members gathered at One Great George Street, Westminster, Dr Paterson spoke about the importance of encouraging new people to train as veterinary surgeons and nurses and making sure that nobody felt like they were not from the right background for a career in the sector.

She told the audience: “As professions, and this means not just veterinary surgeons but veterinary nurses, we need to get out there and sell ourselves to the wider public. We have made a start but we need to become more inclusive and diverse. We need to do some myth-busting about the real requirements needed to be a vet or vet nurse.

“There is no doubt you do need to have good A-levels to study veterinary medicine, but beyond that bright students from any background can join our professions. You can be a veterinary surgeon or veterinary nurse if you are black or white; Muslim or Christian and from any socioeconomic background.”

Replacing Melissa Donald, who is now senior vice-president, Dr Peterson is the 152^nd president of the RCVS and the first to lead an all-female Officer Team. Junior vice-president Linda Belton and treasurer Tshidi Gardiner are also in the team, alongside Dr Peterson and Dr Donald. VN Council chair Belinda Andrews-Jones will attend Officer Team meetings as an observer.

Dr Paterson concluded her speech by saying: “If I can use my position as president of the RCVS over the next 12 months to convince just a few students that veterinary science is a rewarding career that perhaps they had never considered, if I can convince a couple of teachers to sign post their brighter students to career resources for veterinary science, then I will be happy that I have been able to make a difference.”

Image (C) RCVS