First group studying for animal health certificate meets
Participants in the Harper Adams study day |
The first cohort of candidates for the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s new postgraduate certificate in companion animal health care met on Saturday 11 September for a study day at Harper Adams University College in Newport, Shropshire.
The day included a talk by Erica Martin, a Harper Adams veterinary surgeon
specialising in small animals, who outlined the different veterinary
surgery business structures and their range of services. There was also
discussion about opportunities for co-operation between the pharmacy
and veterinary professions. The day included case study work and advice
on how to handle pets.
The pet health certificate programme was introduced earlier this year
at the same time as the relaunch of the Society’s postgraduate
diploma in veterinary pharmacy (PJ, 13 March, p333). The certificate
is obtained by completing two course modules (“Companion animals
and public health” and “Companion animal health care”)
and attending the study day. The modules are assessed through workbooks
and written assignments.
The study day took place immediately after two consecutive three-day
residential periods at Harper Adams for candidates for the revised diploma
in veterinary pharmacy. Diploma candidates must complete the residential
modules entitled “Veterinary pharmacy” and “Livestock
health and husbandry” in addition to the companion animal distance
learning modules. Diploma candidates are also required to undertake 75
hours of recorded practical experience, submit a dissertation and sit
oral and written examinations.
Both courses are studied with the aid of a new veterinary pharmacy textbook
written by joint course directors Steven Kayne, a community pharmacist
in Glasgow, and Michael Jepson, former head
of pharmacy practice at Aston University.
Course information and registration forms can be obtained from Lorraine
Fearon, Veterinary Pharmacists Group, Royal Pharmaceutical Society, 1
Lambeth High Street, London SE1 7JN (tel 020 7572 2409; e-mail lorraine.fearon@rpsgb.org).
|
The
Pharmaceutical Journal