Читать книгу Leadership in Veterinary Medicine - Clive Elwood - Страница 31

Knowledge leadership in veterinary medicine can be traced centuries back, such as through the production of treatise in China c. 2500 BCE. Formally, the veterinary profession was begun through the leadership of Claude Bourgelat who founded Lyon Veterinary School and Alfort School in 1765. This was followed by establishment of the ‘London Veterinary College’ by Charles Vial de St. Bel (a graduate of Lyon) in 1791. The development of veterinary nursing as an independent profession in the United Kingdom continues with milestones such as with the first veterinary nurse to sit on Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) Council and, in 2012, development of a new Code of Professional Conduct including, for the first time, a declaration to be made by Registered Veterinary Nurses on professional registration.

Interactions between humans and animals are complex and multilayered (ranging from practical to psycho‐social to transpersonal) and are the subject of deep interest, study, and debate (Haraway 2008). Humans use, and relate to, animals in multiple ways, to provide food, security, research subjects, transport, assistance, objects of veneration and worship, companionship, and sources of profit. As companions, pets remind us to be joyful and mindful, they bring life (and death) into a home, take us out of ourselves and provide reasons for living. What a responsibility that places on veterinary professionals! On a prosaic level, we can see that the motivational drivers and ‘purpose’ of the veterinary professions have developed and diversified over time from care of farm animals, to care of military animals, through to support of animal health and production, welfare and use of animals in medical research, to leisure and pet care. The picture of the profession (including practice type, gender balance, ownership structures and governance) is continually changing with societal needs and expectations. The profession is embedded in society and serves many different functions, including being a source of ‘entertainment’ through books, TV shows, and even stadium tours (Figure 2.1).

Figure 2.1 The veterinary sector sits within and in relation to society; it is a complex, open, and adaptive/responsive system.

Throughout the history of the veterinary professions, globally, there are examples of great achievements that have impacted human society, e.g. the eradication of Rinderpest. Achievements in other areas, e.g. food production (breeding, animal health), drug development, nutrition, and medical research can be readily identified. More recently, the veterinary profession's role in global One Health is gaining prominence and recognition (Gibbs 2014; Natterson‐Horowitz 2015).