Professor Stuart Reid CBE, Principal of the Royal Veterinary College (RVC), has today been announced as the new Chair of the Veterinary Schools Council (VSC), the representative body for veterinary schools in the UK, Ireland and Netherlands.
Professor Reid has held the position of Principal at the RVC since 2011 and is a Recognised Specialist of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) in veterinary epidemiology. He is also a diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Public Health, of which he was the first elected president. He has served on numerous committees including the Scottish Science Advisory Committee and the Veterinary Products Committee and has been a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh since 2001. He was awarded a CBE in 2018 and was elected to the National Academy of Medicine in the USA in 2019.
In addition to serving as President of the RCVS in 2014-2015, Professor Reid has chaired the European Committee on Veterinary Education and was Honorary Secretary to the American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges. He now succeeds Professor Susan Dawson as Chair of the VSC.
Stuart will now lead the Council in its mission to shape policy, share best practice and contribute its expertise to the national and global discourses on veterinary education and research.
Of his new role, Professor Stuart Reid said:
“I am honoured to chair the Veterinary Schools Council for the next three years and would like to thank Professor Susan Dawson for her tireless work in leading and guiding the Council throughout her tenure, and particularly through the pandemic.
“As a member of Council for many years I can attest to the importance of collaboration between veterinary schools in addressing shared issues including Covid-19, Brexit and One Health. I firmly believe that together we are stronger, and intend to do all I can to ensure that UK veterinary schools remain world leading at this time of great change.”
Professor Susan Dawson, immediate past Chair of the Veterinary Schools Council, said:
“Stuart is an experienced leader who is widely respected across the veterinary profession. His experience spanning veterinary education and research will be invaluable as he leads the Veterinary Schools Council and I congratulate him on his new role.”
In related news, Professor Tim Parkin, Head of the School of Veterinary Science at the University of Bristol, and Professor Chris Proudman, Head of the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Surrey, have been nominated to join Professor James Wood on RCVS Council.
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Notes to editors:
1. The Veterinary Schools Council is the representative body for veterinary schools in the UK, Ireland and Netherlands. Consisting of nine UK members and two non-UK associate members, it provides a source of informed opinion on matters concerning veterinary education, from the welfare of students and academic researchers to links with government and industry. The Council engages in representative and policy work to ensure that the voice of veterinary schools is recognised for its experience, innovation and commitment to the proper care of animals. For more on the work of the Veterinary Schools Council, see: www.vetschoolscouncil.ac.uk.
2. For more information on this press release, please contact Lucy Chislett, Communications Officer at lucy.chislett@medschools.ac.uk or call 020 7419 5427.
