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Medivet has today unveiled a new Extra Mural Studies (EMS) programme for veterinary students.
The company has created more than 50 ‘EMS Champion Clinics’, each of which has demonstrated a commitment to training and offers the breadth of work to be of most value to EMS placement students. Support for students will be led by a designated ’EMS Champion’ in each Champion Clinic. Acting as a mentor, they will meet with each student at the start of their placement to introduce them to the practice and agree their learning objectives. They will then meet with them regularly during their placement to monitor their progress and provide feedback and support.
Commenting on the launch of the EMS Champion Clinic programme, Medivet Senior Partner, Head of Vet Development and Future Vet Recruitment, Dr Daniel Preter said: “We currently welcome around 150 EMS students annually and the number is increasing every year. We aim to make their time with us as useful and meaningful as possible and, as importantly, we want them to feel guided and cared for throughout their EMS journey.
“We consulted the Association of Veterinary Students (AVS) in the development of our EMS Champion Clinic programme and have heeded its recent call for practices to formalise the structure of placements in order to provide more consistency and support. We believe our new programme will provide our students with the structure to ensure that they experience safe and productive learning during their time with us.”
Mr David Charles, President of the AVS, said: "While students and recent graduates always speak highly of the benefits of EMS, we’re aware that some of them face problems because the experience can vary from placement to placement. The fact that Medivet is dedicating time and resources into its new EMS Champion Clinic programme shows a real commitment to this aspect of veterinary student training. It will benefit a huge number of current and future students on their EMS placements."
Mr Ben Haythornthwaite, a recent EMS student with Medivet, said: “I learned so much during my EMS placement with Medivet and it was enjoyable at the same time. Vet students can be apprehensive before starting a placement because we’re not always fully briefed on what’s expected of us, so I think the appointment of an EMS Champion in the practice, who will offer support pre-, during and post-placement, is a useful initiative. It will ensure that future students get even more out of their time at Medivet.”
Medivet’s HR Director, Mr James Dickens added: “This new programme forms part of our wider HR Strategy to make Medivet a great place to work. We can offer students a fantastic career path in both clinical and non-clinical roles while offering industry leading training and development.”
Medivet is a veterinary-led group of more than 280 branches and 15 fully staffed 24-hour veterinary centres and hospitals across the UK. Underpinned by its partnership ethos, it is forging a national community of passionate vets, offering exceptional veterinary care to patients all under one roof.