As a second-year veterinary medicine student at the RVC, receiving the AVTRW Diamond Jubilee award was extremely valuable for contributing to my research project on ‘Clinicians’ Views on a New Core Syllabus of Veterinary Anatomy’.

The project aimed to evaluate the clinical relevance of a newly proposed veterinary anatomy syllabus by gathering views from first-opinion clinicians through an anonymous survey. Twenty-two clinicians provided feedback on the syllabus representativeness across body systems and the practical challenges faced by new graduates.

Results showed well-represented areas in the syllabus, such as cardiovascular and reproductive systems, alongside underrepresented topics like equine musculoskeletal anatomy and non-canine dental anatomy. Besides, clinicians also highlighted difficulties new graduates face in applying anatomical knowledge practically and suggested more hands-on training and the inclusion of clinical exemplars, such as cherry eye and gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV).

Receiving the AVTRW Diamond Jubilee award and presenting my work at the 78th AVTRW conference at Harper & Keele Veterinary School was an incredibly rewarding experience, especially for me as a student doing a formal research project for the first time.

I received valuable feedback on my presentation and my research from professionals in clinical and educational fields, and I also had the opportunity to connect and communicate with them.

This valuable opportunity inspired my passion for research and veterinary education, and I am committed to continuing my career in these areas in the future.