Page 58 - Eclipse - Autumn/Winter 2023

Reflecting on a veterinary-based career

Fiona MacGillivray (BVetMed, 1993)

etting a place to study
veterinary medicine at
the RVC, in 1993, has
Gbeen one of my proudest
achievements – particularly as I had to
re-sit my A-levels. I remember we had
some phenomenal teachers: Jim Bee
contorting himself to bring to life the
development of the neural tube, David
Noakes sharing his vast knowledge of
cattle reproduction, and my favourite
subject, pharmacology, being explained
by the inimitable Peter Lees.
After graduating in 1998, there was a
high demand for mixed practice jobs, and
I ended up joining a two-man practice
in Dumfries. I’d hoped to find a practice
with more vets from whom I could learn
during my first 12 months; fortunately,
the farmers proved a huge help in
building my confidence working as a new
graduate. However, after eight months,
I decided to look for a different job with
more veterinary support and moved to a
practice in Cheshire.

After a couple of years, I decided to
locum and worked for many different
practices, ranging from 100%
companion to 100% large animal. It
was great meeting new people and
experiencing the dynamics of other
practices. However, in 2007 I was ready
for a new challenge and decided to and Horticulture Development Board guest with experience or expertise
join the Animal Health industry, first as (AHDB) launch the BVDFree England in communication, cows or coffee,
technical advisor for ruminant products campaign, and this work was recognised sometimes all three! Former guests
with Merial Animal Health, then moving to when I was shortlisted as finalist for the include vets Sarah Tomlinson and
Elanco as their dairy marketing manager. Veterinary Marketing Association Young Alasdair Moffatt, dairy farmers Karen
Marketer of the Year Award in 2017. In Halton and James Robinson, and
In my technical and marketing roles,
I encountered vets who complained addition to delivering technical, marketing coming soon, the renowned animal
that some clients were “difficult” and and project management consultancy, behaviourist Temple Grandin and
unwilling to make changes based on MacVet provides communication skills international bestselling author and
their advice. This was interesting to hear training for farm vets. former FBI agent Joe Navarro!
and, to better understand why some In 2022, I received a Master of Research You can listen to the show on all
people are perceived as difficult, I started degree from the University of Nottingham. podcast platforms or visit
to study communication. My research involved the analysis of www.macvetltd.co.uk/podcast
vet-farmer nonverbal communication; the
With the experience gained from working findings were recently published in the
in corporate businesses for almost nine Journal of Dairy Science.
years, and to allow me the flexibility to
learn more about communication and My latest venture is The MacVet
how people interact, I left industry and Podcast, launched in May 2023, and
set up the consultancy MacVet Cattle we already have more than 1,600
Communications in 2016. Our first listeners. Every fortnight we release
project was to help the Agriculture new episodes, where I interview a
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