With just under four weeks
left to submit applications to the RCVS for its 2021 round of Fellowships, the RCVS Fellowship Board is encouraging a
more diverse range of veterinary surgeons to come forward to join the learned
society.
The deadline for submitting an
application to join the Fellowship under one of the three routes to entry –
Meritorious Contribution to Clinical Practice, to Knowledge or to the
Profession – is 5pm on
Monday 15 February 2021 with prospective Fellows needing to
submit an application form with supporting evidence.
The Fellowship Board, the body
responsible for governing the learned society, is particularly keen to see more
female applicants this year as, since the Fellowship was relaunched in 2016,
less than one-third of successful applicants to the Fellowship have been women.
Dr Mary Fraser FRCVS, an
academic based at the University of Stirling and the RCVS Fellowship Board
Member for Projects and Engagement, explains: “We have seen a remarkable uptick
in the number of people joining the Fellowship – including women – over the
past few years since it was re-developed and re-launched. However, there is
still quite a stark imbalance between men and women, both in terms of the
current composition of the Fellowship and those who are currently applying.
“While this may, in part,
reflect the age and career stage of those who tend to apply to join the
Fellowship, the profession has been majority female for some time now and so in
order to help the Fellowship to be more representative of, and remain relevant
to, the profession at large, we would be really keen on more women applying to
join.
“There may be very many
brilliant female vets out there from all parts of the profession who are
wondering whether they’ve done enough to warrant joining the Fellowship or who
may wonder what it entails. I would like to reassure you that if you have done
any of the following: played a leadership role within the professions, advanced
the public understanding of veterinary work or helped to advance knowledge in a
particular subject area by publishing research and papers, then you are
certainly eligible to apply.
“If you are thinking about
applying but are unsure what it entails or whether you meet the criteria, you
are always welcome to contact us on fellowship@rcvs.org.uk
for an informal chat and guidance about your application.”
Dr Mandisa Greene, RCVS
President, added: “I am really encouraged to see this effort to improve
diversity within the Fellowship. It is important this learned body
encourages women, and
others from backgrounds that may currently be under-represented, to apply so it can begin to reflect more evenly the demographics
within our profession and society at large. Increasing diversity in all areas
is one of my priorities as President, and I am certain our professions, animal
health, welfare and the public we serve will be better for it. “
The full list of requirements
for applying for the Fellowship, including the criteria for the three specific
routes, can be found online, where you will also find the application form and supporting documentation.
To get an idea about those who
are currently members of the Fellowship and their achievements the RCVS also
has developed a Fellowship Directory which includes biographical details, areas
of specialism/interest and field of work.
