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RCVS opens nominations for 2025 Honours and Awards
Stuart Reid was the 2024 recipient of the Queen's Medal.
Nominations can be made across eight categories.

The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) has launched nominations for its 2025 Honours and Awards.

Nominations are open until Friday, 13 December 2024 for members of the profession to recommend colleagues, or themselves, for RCVS’ awards categories.

This year there are eight awards open for nominations, celebrating the careers of people from across the veterinary field. This includes veterinary surgeons, veterinary nurses and laypeople (those who are not an MRCVS or registered veterinary nurse) in the UK and abroad.

Among the RCVS awards which are open for nominations is the Queen’s Medal, for a veterinary surgeon who has had a distinguished career with sustained achievements throughout. Veterinary nurses can be nominated for the Veterinary Nursing Golden Jubilee Award, which celebrates veterinary nurses with distinguished careers who can act as an ambassador for the veterinary nursing profession.

The RCVS International Award is for veterinary surgeons, veterinary nurses or laypeople who have significantly contributed to issues associated with the RCVS mission.

The RCVS Impact Award recognises a veterinary surgeon or veterinary nurse who has recently undertaken, or is currently undertaking, a project or initiative that has an impact on the veterinary sector. This includes animal health, animal welfare and public health.

The RCVS Inspiration Award celebrates veterinary surgeons or veterinary nurses who inspire and enthuse others throughout their career. For those who have demonstrated compassion to fellow professionals, as well as the animal-owning public, there is also the RCVS Compassion Award.

Students are recognised with the RCVS Student Community Award, for those who support their fellow students and the veterinary school community.

Finally, Honorary Associateship is awarded to laypeople who have contributed to the veterinary sector – such as scientists, journalists and charity-workers. This award is not open to those on the RCVS Register.

As with last year, several of the awards are open for self-nomination. These awards are the RCVS International Award, the RCVS Impact Award, the RCVS Inspiration Award, the RCVS Compassion Award and the RCVS Student Community Award.

RCVS has asked that those who self-nominate themselves complete their nomination form in the third person, using their own name and preferred pronouns, in order to prevent bias.

After the deadline, the RCVS Nominations Committee will produce a shortlist from all the valid nominations, which will be put to the RCVS Council at its March 2025 meeting, The Veterinary Nursing Golden Jubilee Award will be assessed separately by the VN Council.

RCVS president Linda Belton said: “Recognising the outstanding contributions that our friends and colleagues have made, and continue to make, as we all strive to advance and protect animal health and welfare, as well as public health, is so important.

“The power of recognition cannot be underestimated.”

For more information visit RCVS’ Honours & Awards page.

Image © RCVS

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Vets launch new podcast for pet owners

News Story 1
 Two independent vets have launched a podcast to help owners strengthen their bond with pets. Dr Maggie Roberts and Dr Vanessa Howie, who have worked in both veterinary practice and major charities, are keen to use their experience to enable people to give pets a better life.

The venture, called Vets Talking Pets, provides advice and information on a range of topics, including how to select a suitable pet, where to obtain them and how to get the best out of your vet. Maggie and Vanessa will also discuss sensitive subjects, including end-of-life care, raw food diets and the cost of veterinary care.

The podcast can be found on all the usual podcast sites, including Podbean, Apple, Amazon Music and YouTube. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
RCVS Regional Question Time heads to Edinburgh

The RCVS is to bring its Regional Question Time (RQT) to Edinburgh for 2026.

The event will take place at Novotel Edinburgh Park in Edinburgh on Wednesday, 20 May 2026.

It will begin with supper and drinks at 6.30pm, with an evening programme from 7.30pm. This will start with an update on RCVS' activities, followed by questions and answers with representatives.

RCVS is encouraging an 'open dialogue', in which queries can be raised in a friendly, informal environment.

While discussions are expected to be audience-led, the RQT is expected address major issues including the VSA, the CMA's remedy package and the VN Vision project.

Tim Parkin, RCVS president, said: "It's an important time for the professions, and I'm looking forward to meeting colleagues in Scotland as we navigate this period of change together so we can come out stronger."

Tickets can be booked here.