Veterinary Nurse and ONCORE tutor Emma Gerrard, has been appointed BSAVA regional chair and council representative – and is the first veterinary nurse to represent the association in this role.
A first for the BSAVA and for a vet nurse
The BSAVA announced that Emma is the first veterinary nurse to be appointed chair of a BSAVA regional committee and a representative on BSAVA Council.
She will follow previous Chair of the Wales/Cymru region, Kate O’Sullivan, in April 2021.
Emma has been a BSAVA committee member since 2013, and has also served on the BSAVA Membership Development Committee. She also recently became the new Editor of the BSAVA Pocketbook for Vet Nurses.
A massive achievement
She said: “Being appointed the first VN Council Representative and Regional Chair is a massive achievement for myself and my nursing colleagues. It hasn’t been possible for a VN to fill a Regional Officer role until now.
“I know how long and hard colleagues have worked in order to make this happen and, for that, I am grateful. As the Committee Chair, I would really like to fly the flag for nurses I hope to inspire and empower nurses to join the Association and illustrate what opportunities are available.”
BSAVA president Professor Ian Ramsey said: “Nurses have already served the Association with distinction in many of our Committees for several years and this is another step towards recognising the importance of nurses within the veterinary team and therefore within the Association. I look forward to seeing more nurses coming forward to help shape the Association in the future.”
Delighted to see these opportunities for veterinary nurses
As a personal reflection, I’d like to say that it was wonderful to see this news – veterinary nurses play such a key role within practice and within the veterinary profession, and it is vital that they also have the opportunity to lead and advance our profession through appointments such as this. I have have been so lucky to have worked with Emma on ONCORE courses over the past few years, and I have absolutely no doubt that she will be extremely effective in this role, and will most definitely fly the flag for veterinary nurses. I really hope that this inspires nurses to apply for similar roles.
Jill Macdonald RVN DipAVN (Surgical) FHEA
Director of ONCORE ePD
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