RCVS Veterinary Pathology Liaison Group

1
RCVS Veterinary Pathology Liaison Group

• An introduction

2
History I

• Royal College of Pathologists
• Formed in 1963
• Not restricted to medical pathology
• Previously under Royal College of Physicians
• The only UK post-graduate qualification for many
  years
• No specialty pathology group in RCVS
• Most other specialties had Certificate Diploma
• Veterinary pathology not part of establishment

3
History II

• Training Education
• Mainly left to RCPath SAC
• Trainees representative
• Training not funded for Vet Path
• Other issues
• Recruitment
• Accreditation of Labs
• Support for trainees
• Educational standards
• Assumed to be covered by RCPath
• RCVS representative on SAC

4
Practitioners Specialists

• How many UK veterinary pathologists?
• No-one is sure
• RCVS specialist status
• By application fee
• Qualifications
• Experience
• Availability for consultation
• Comparatively small number registered
• Industrial pathologists effectively excluded
• Implies there are few specialist pathologists
• Poor message for recruitment

5
Later developments

• Meetings between RCVS RCPath
• First in 1994
• Presidents of both Colleges 1999
• Establishment of ECVP and ECVCP
• MRCPath not the only qualification
• RCPath, ECVP ECVCP no mutual recognition
• Meeting at RCVS 2003
• 17 attendees
• Chaired by Richard Halliwell
• Many sectors represented
• RCVS agree to another (smaller meeting)

6
VPLG

• 5 Members RCVS Member
• Limit imposed by RCVS
• Try to represent as many interests as possible
• Industry
• Academia
• Government
• Trainees
• Clinical Pathology
• Commercial diagnostic
• Veterinary Research
• Annual Meeting
• Reporting to Education Committee of RCVS
• Because funded
• Spiritual home of Veterinary Pathology
• Veterinary pathology has no other representation
  in RCVS

7
Current Membership

• Kevin Isaacs
• Chairman/Industry
• RCVS Representative RCPath SAC
• Examiner RCPath
• Chair BSTP Education Sub-committee
• Alun Williams
• Academic
• Professor of Pathology, RVC
• Gen Sec AVTRW
• Examiner ECVP
• Mike Sharp
• Government Service
• Head Pathology VLA
• Joy Archer
• Clinical Pathology
• Specialty Adviser and Examiner RCPath (Clinical
  Pathology)
• Laboratory Accreditation Scheme
• Examiner ECVCP
• Aude Roulois

8
Agenda I

• Constitution of the group
• Pragmatic approach
• Full time employment
• Track record
• Currently involved in political sphere
• Willing to participate
• Impossible to directly represent all interests
  with 5 members
• Members will be replaced approximately every 3
  years
• Promotion Recruitment
• CD-ROM Careers in Veterinary Pathology
• Started by RCPath SAC
• Taken over by VPLG
• SPVS Final Year seminar
• BSTP last year
• The Roadshow
• Industry run in the past
• Web sites
• RCVS
• RCPath

9
Agenda II

• Information gathering for informed argument
• Size and demographics of veterinary pathology
• Directory Communications
• Manpower requirements
• Undergraduate education
• Maintenance of standards
• Specialist status
• Reformed recently
• Trainee support
• All examinations
• Promote and support residency programmes
• National/European co-ordination
• Education Modules
• Advanced certificate in Veterinary Practice
• Pathology Clinical Pathology Modules
• Liaison with other RCVS groups
• Education committee
• Redrafting VSA, Guide to Professional Conduct
• European issues

10
The future

• THEY who should be doing something, is US
• If pathologists dont act, no-one else will
• We need politically active pathologists
• Informed replacements for the current group
• Open minded approach
• Energetic and proactive
• Without support, all initiatives will subside
• Feedback, participation and input is essential
• Communications
• Attempt to maintain contact
• Word of mouth
• Web sites
• RCVS Newsletter
• Information
• Courses
• Meetings
• Political issues
• Feed the agenda
• Raise new issues