New Veterinary School at Surrey University will redefine the landscape of Veterinary Medicine for generations
The School of Veterinary Medicine started with a group dedicated people including Professor Noel Fitzpatrick and Professor Sir Christopher Snowden who together had the vision that it was the right time to build what could become one of the foremost Veterinary Schools in the world.
Professor Noel Fitzpatrick recalls the conversation in the room that day and shared how
“we hoped the school would make a real difference, and would inspire the hearts and minds of students to be earnest advocates for the greater good of animals, society and the planet.”
Professor Noel Fitzpatrick added:
“Since the very beginning when there were only a handful of us in a room deciding to travel this journey together, we knew there would be only one reason big enough, and that reason wasn’t just to provide the most magnificent buildings which we are opening today, it wasn’t just that the University of Surrey could build one of the greatest vet schools in the world, it was because we wanted to light an unquenchable fire in the bellies of students yearning to look after all animals and the health of all species.
We only have one planet, we are all animals upon it; vets look after all implants, drugs, food provision, disease vigilance and animal habitats globally, and we should therefore only have one medicine. My dream was for a vet school that wouldn’t just say we adopted a one health initiative where both humans and animals would win, we want to be right at the core of a revolution in one medicine. We want to innovate, inspire and invigorate young people that they truly can become the advocates of animals globally. We want to encourage our students to explore extra-mural studies in a wider range of settings, to gain a deeper understanding of what makes learning relevant and exciting.
I would like to thank Professor Sir Christopher Snowden for his visionary commitment to this vet school; there is no question that this school would never have happened without him. Special thanks and congratulations should also go to Professor Roberto Marcello La Ragione and Professor Lisa Roberts without whose efforts the early stages of the new vet school would never have taken root and grown to where we are today. We are all deeply indebted to their hard work, dedication and tenacity.
A recent survey stated that 50% of all vets are disenchanted within a decade of leaving vet school because the job wasn’t what they thought it would be. We had a vision where we would deliver a degree structure which was truly focussed on what you dream about when you are sixteen years old, when you are desperate to become a vet. I fully intend to be part of a team that will kindle that fire throughout professional life to shine a light onto the world that badly needs ambassadors of purpose and integrity to be the caretakers of health on Earth, both now and for long after I’m gone and these new buildings will still be standing. This is our legacy, and we are intensely proud to be part of this evolution in health education. The revolution starts here.”
Without the vision and ambition of The University of Surrey and the core group of founding partners, we would not have reached this incredible milestone. Professor Noel Fitzpatrick’s own practice, Fitzpatrick Referrals is also a proud and integral part of this journey, as one of the nine key strategic partners.