BSAVA’s new chief outlines aspirations for his year in office

Dr Philip Lhermette, who took the reins from John Chitty at the end of the BSAVA congress, wants to make his mark and bring veterinary education into the 21st century. He has three strategic aims that will underpin his year in office.
His aims for the year are:
• Veterinary education in the 21st century. Dr Lhermette will oversee the opening of 21st century veterinary education facilities at the refurbished BSAVA headquarters, Woodrow House, where science and CPD sessions for members will take place. BSAVA will be developing opportunities for new CPD, both in the UK and abroad.
• Driving the veterinary agenda forward. He will work with BSAVA’s policy groups to address challenges faced at local, national and international level, and provide support services to members with the aid of a five-year strategic plan to help deliver services to members in the most effective way.
• Holistic support for the veterinary profession. Dr Lhermette will champion further initiatives to support a “no blame” culture across the profession, focus on greater engagement with students and increase support for graduates in their first three years in practice, with a view to retaining more graduates in clinical practice.

He said: “Being able to give something back to the profession I love is a great honour and I am very proud of BSAVA’s role in supporting members and creating a brighter future. Once you leave the small world you inhabit in general practice and start to understand where we fit into the global picture as a profession, you realise the importance of communication and cooperation.

One of the major challenges ahead will be Brexit and the impact it will have on jobs, pharmaceuticals, research and many other aspects of veterinary life and life in general, so we are working in close association with BSAVA and others to try to mitigate the impact these changes will have on the profession.”