Page 53 - Eclipse - Autumn/Winter 2022

CLASSNOTES

My vet career after completing

the BVetMed Gateway course

Jonathan Holt (BVetMed, 2018)

was always lucky enough to know I was based in Camden during the
what I wanted to do with my life – my Gateway programme, and lived right
favourite day out as a kid was taking next to lecture halls in College Grove.
I our family pets to the vet! However, This meant I didn’t have to commute
I was struggling to get the grades to and from uni and could concentrate
I would need for a direct entry into on settling into my surroundings (and
vet school. I was considering doing arguably the heart and soul of the city).
another degree to top up my personal The Gateway programme isn’t really like
statement but then I found out about any other foundation course – it’s more Both gave me friends for life and a
the RVC Gateway programme. This of an extension to the five-year Vet Med strong support network for my studies
sounded the ideal solution, as I would degree, with many overlapping topics. and beyond – an undeniable helpline for
stay at the same university, and it would This creates a great grounding for the any questions/difficulties I had.
provide a great transitional course into start of the five-year course and lets you
veterinary medicine. hit the ground running. In third year, I moved to Potters Bar for
my clinical studies. This allowed me to
I still had to continue striving to build up Vet school provides so many
my CV, as the Gateway programme has opportunities to really explore your really explore what type of vet I wanted
a high ratio of applicants per place. I interests and find your passions. I to be and embrace having cases of my
had to broaden my experience of animal implore any student to really take own at the Queen Mother Hospital for
work, so I undertook a summer job on advantage of all the opportunities they Animals (QMHA). I waited until after my
a dairy farm, which paid for me to have have. My placements, again, allowed exams until looking for a job, as I didn’t
riding lessons. I saw practice at my me to access areas I would never be want any distractions. Passing my finals
local vets every weekend and did dog able to in ordinary life – working with was the proudest day of my life and I still
agility classes. This was all on top of my the elephants at Blackpool Zoo being get goosebumps thinking about it!
busy sports schedule of football and a highlight! An important aspect was My first job was an intern at The Donkey
athletics – but this only showed I had a joining the social and sports clubs. Sanctuary’s brand-new hospital in Devon.
good chance of managing the work-life I joined football with the RVC and This was a great experience getting to
balance at vet school! athletics with the University of London. treat my favourite animals and being in a
supportive environment to set me off in
my career. Having 3,500 donkeys under
my care was a surreal experience! There
was a big teaching aspect to this job
as well, which I really embraced. I ran
practical courses for farrier colleges, and
I even came back to the RVC to give a
lecture on donkey welfare!
I knew I still had a strong interest in
surgery so decided to bring my skills up
to scratch and go to a neutering clinic
in India for a month – your vet passport
really gets you to some interesting
places! I entered small animal general
practice for a couple of years, rounding
off my skills before completing an
internship at Glasgow University’s animal
hospital. I’ve now returned to my home
county of Lancashire to locum and study
for my certificate in surgery.
My career has had many twists and turns
and I expect there will be many more to
come! I think the best part of being a vet
is all the opportunities it gives you – it’s
impossible to ever be bored!

53