trainees

the future of the profession

Trainees are the future of the profession and I think it is the responsibility of those in established positions to lead the way in ensuring that they get the support they need.

Ultimately, we need to secure better funding for more positions in veterinary schools but persuading people to part with large sums of money is no easy task in any walk of life. This is a matter that must be pursued consistently and doggedly but there are also other things we can do.

formal tuition

There is a widely held belief that trainees, whether learning on the job or in residencies, would benefit from more formal presentations and practical tuition to help them prepare both for their working life and for post-graduate qualifications.

Whilst this type of tuition has been made available to toxicological pathologists by the British Society of Toxicological Pathologists (BSTP) for many years, there has never been a similar course for veterinary pathologists.

We have now put a programme in place that we hope will become a valuable educational resource for trainees and a valuable refresher for experienced pathologists.

informal tuition & placements

Trainees require supervision and support from colleagues and senior members of the profession. Short-term placements for trainees in pharmaceutical, government or diagnostic labs represent valuable training opportunities. This Society could be a portal that enables informal contacts and placements to be made more easily.

representation & networking

In generating meaningful courses for trainees, they need to represent themselves. Networks of trainees have been established in the past (e.g. Royal College of Pathologists, the BSTP and vetpathtraining.co.uk) but this Society may be better placed to act as a focal point.