VETPARTNERS’ newest graduates have been given the perfect introduction to life as an equine ambulatory vet at a residential week packed with learning opportunities and social activities.
VetPartners Equine New Graduate Week was attended by 24 newly qualified vets from our equine and mixed practices, who headed to Liphook Equine Hospital from all over the UK for informative lectures and hands-on practical sessions.
As well as being an opportunity to welcome new vets to the VetPartners equine team, the week was designed to help them bridge the gap between learning at university and working in practice.
Specialists from within VetPartners shared their knowledge with their new colleagues on a broad range of topics, including emergencies, medicine, wounds, foaling, cardiac murmurs and lameness. The graduates tested their knowledge in fun quizzes and visited the University of Surrey for an afternoon of sessions focusing on colic.
There was also a chance to relax and get to know each other better during evening social activities, including pizza and curry nights and bowling.
The week was organised by Liphook Equine Hospital clinical director Tom Hughes, a member of VetPartners’ Equine Executive Board, with the aim of giving graduates a solid foundation on which to build their veterinary career.
Tom said: “It has been a great opportunity for experienced vets to share their skills and knowledge with our newest vets. The week has been focused on giving them lots of handy tips and techniques and real-life veterinary skills that will make life easier when they’re back in the workplace, rather than science theory which they’ll have learned at vet school.
“The response from our delegates was extremely positive and we’re delighted with how successful this year’s New Graduate Week has been and also with how it has grown since we launched the programme over three years ago.
“We’re seeing more graduates join VetPartners because running events like this gives practices the confidence to employ newly qualified vets. They recognise that VetPartners is here to help support new graduates and help nurture and mentor them, and it’s not just the practice’s responsibility.”
Bryony Fossett attended New Grad Week just days after starting her working life at Gillvervet in Lancashire. She graduated from Surrey Vet School in July.
Bryony said: “The week has been very thorough and covered a lot of useful topics and I’ll go back to my new job feeling much more confident. The knowledge I’ve gained will be invaluable when I’m out on the road visiting patients.
“It has also been great to meet other new grads who are, just like me, at the very beginning of their careers. I’ve made friends who I will keep in touch with, and it’s great knowing that we can talk to each other about how we’re doing in our jobs and we can contact each other to share tips and advice.”
As well as running New Grad Week, VetPartners offers on-going support to graduates, running courses throughout the year aimed at graduates and young vets, including sessions on reproduction, diagnostic imaging and dentistry, and supervised castration clinics.
For media enquiries, please contact Jo Browne, PR & Communications manager (South), email: jo.browne@vetpartners.co.uk