Key posts filled for SRUC Vet School

A VET with more than 20 years of clinical experience has been appointed by Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) as part of its development of a new School of Veterinary Medicine.

Vivienne Mackinnon, who has worked in a variety of public and private settings and is an active member of BVA Scotland, has been appointed as director of veterinary partnerships, developing active and effective links with the profession.

This dedicated appointment, which sits in the Veterinary School’s senior management team, will develop partnerships in the public and private sectors to enable the delivery of clinical training rotations, essential to the distributed approach to veterinary education SRUC considers one of its fundamental teaching principles.

In addition, nine further posts – including head of interprofessional education, veterinary programme director, veterinary lecturers and veterinary senior lecturers – overseen by the new head of veterinary education Professor Jim Anderson, have been filled in preparation for the roll out of the new curriculum.

These posts will play a vital role in growing Scotland’s first tertiary model of veterinary teaching and learning with successful appointees taking up their new roles over the coming months to help shape the future of the SRUC Vet School.

Professor Caroline Argo, Dean of Veterinary Medicine and Head of School, said: “These new foundation posts are vital in supporting our growth agenda in this essential area.

“They are a critical element of the new school’s set-up to support our contribution to the development of Scotland’s natural economy as a driving force behind the promotion of resilience, diversity and sector fit among our veterinary graduates, embedding them in real-world experience and practice from the outset. Vivienne, as Director of Partnerships, is fundamental in providing that experience.

“All of our key appointments to date have shared their excitement in our sense of purpose and mission and we hope to continue that trend with all of our new appointments in the coming months.”

Caroline, Vivienne and Jim will be attending the Highlands and Islands Veterinary Services Scheme Annual Conference 2023 at the Kingsmills Hotel in Inverness today and tomorrow, where they will be discussing the SRUC Vet School and how they are developing a complementary approach to help address gaps in rural mixed practice.

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