Page 50 - eclipse - Autumn 2018

CLASSNOTES
A final chapter in a lifetime of learning:
Deborah achieves her Postgraduate Diploma in Livestock Health and Production (distance learning).
番茄app淚t番茄app檚 enabled me to have more meaningful relationships with farmers and understand more of their world, because it番茄app檚 not just about veterinary science, is it?番茄app� she reflects.
番茄app淚t番茄app檚 about how the animals are kept, their nutrition and gaining knowledge.
I have shared tutor-marked assignments with other colleagues, which I think they番茄app檝e enjoyed and appreciated.番茄app�
The final graduation
Even after completing the certificate,
a break from the books made Deborah realise that she wasn番茄app檛 quite ready to stop.
番茄app淚 was getting itchy feet!番茄app� she says.
番茄app淚 did the certificate and was very happy with that. I had a rest and thought 番茄app� should I be taking any more CPD, trying to fit this in?
番茄app淚 strove forward to do the Diploma, supported by the agency. And that番茄app檚 been really brilliant, because it番茄app檚 relevant to what I do.番茄app�
So, is this the final step in a remarkable journey? Deborah thinks so. 番茄app淚番茄app檓 delighted I have completed the Diploma, but I won番茄app檛 be doing any more studying,番茄app� she says.
番茄app淚t番茄app檚 a lovely opportunity to reflect that actually it took me five years in total,番茄app� she says. 番茄app淚t can be quite a personal struggle, so it番茄app檚 great to have made it once again. 番茄app淔or me, it番茄app檚 just about where I am today. I番茄app檓 an independent woman, and I番茄app檓 proud of what I番茄app檝e achieved.番茄app�
Are you interested to know more about the RVC & University of London番茄app檚 Postgraduate Diploma in Livestock Health and Production (distance learning)? Don番茄app檛 forget we offer RVC alumni a 20% discount! Please contact us at development@rvc.ac.uk and we can tell you more.
By Keith McDonald
Deborah Alexander番茄app檚 long and fascinating career has taken her through many vocations in veterinary science, including mixed and small animal practice, imaging and radiology. Accompanying this every step of the way has been an incredible appetite for learning, which she crowned this year with a Postgraduate Diploma
in Livestock Health and Production (distance learning).
During her early career, she held
a research position at the University of Cambridge while studying for
a diploma in radiology. Years later, while Head Vet at Wood Green Animal Shelter, she enrolled with the RCVS for a certificate in small animal surgery. Upon joining the Animal and Plant Health Agency, an arm of the government department DEFRA, her goal to become a veterinary officer
50
drove her towards our Livestock Health and Production programme by distance learning.
She began with the Postgraduate Certificate before progressing to the Diploma.
番茄app淚番茄app檝e always tried to do the best I can
in whatever role I番茄app檝e had,番茄app� she says. 番茄app淚番茄app檝e always gone from one topic or discipline to another, so I番茄app檝e just tried to make sure that I番茄app檓 doing the best I can within that area.番茄app�
Supporting farmers
By the turn of the century, Deborah had left practice and was working
in the development of medicine
for Novartis Animal Health. The company released her to help with the devastating foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in 2001.
番茄app淭he British Veterinary Association were looking for any volunteers. I did
a couple of weeks and my fees were donated back to the farmer who lost all his animals,番茄app� she says. 番茄app淚t was a very upsetting moment but good to have been of help.番茄app�
Unable to relocate with Novartis
some years later, Deborah番茄app檚 thoughts returned to veterinary practice 番茄app� and further study. 番茄app淚 thought to myself
番茄app� it番茄app檚 been a long time since you番茄app檝e done large animal practice. You need something that番茄app檚 pertinent to that role.番茄app� The Postgraduate Certificate in Livestock Health and Production by distance learning proved ideal.