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VMD work placement fills gap in knowledge about vet medicines

Published on: 22 Feb 2022
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Image: © Tyler Olson / Adobe StockImage: © Tyler Olson / Adobe Stock

I have always been fascinated by the myriad of veterinary drugs lining the shelves of the clinical practices I’ve visited during my time at vet school.

Yet, how those drugs – that I as a future veterinarian will be prescribing every day – come to market was something I knew so little about. So, when the opportunity arose to attend a placement at the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD), I knew it was the perfect chance to fill the gap.

Initially intended to be based at the VMD headquarters in Surrey, due to COVID the placement was held online during the first two weeks of July 2021. I was one of six students from a range of UK veterinary schools selected to attend.

An array of workshops, lectures and Q&A sessions were delivered by the various teams that make up the VMD. Each team provided an insight into its core roles, such as assessing the efficacy of anti-parasite products (efficacy team), understanding how to classify suspected adverse drug reactions (pharmacovigilance team), and actions that need to be taken when premises are non-compliant with drug regulations (enforcement team). In addition, revision of pharmacology essentials, and insight into working as a Government vet were useful featured sessions.

One of the placement’s highlights was the student-led journal club, where each student selected a novel, peer-reviewed journal article relevant to the work of the VMD. Students were tasked with summarising study objectives and results, criticising study methods, and suggesting implications of the results and any actions to be taken by the VMD.

Article topics, which were presented to VMD staff, included: clinical trials applying existing veterinary drugs to new species; monitoring residues in fish; and comparing different 3D-printed dosage forms. This task was a great opportunity to improve our presentation skills, literature searching and ability to critique publications.

My placement with the VMD has given me a wealth of knowledge that I have already been able to apply to day-to-day clinical practice during final-year rotations and clinical EMS. Examples have included knowing where to look for a medicine’s Summary of Product Characteristics, how to report suspected adverse reactions, having a broader understanding of how to use the prescribing cascade and having a greater appreciation of drug residue limits.

Above all, my initial aim of better understanding how veterinary drugs come to market has absolutely been exceeded beyond my expectations. It has delivered key information on veterinary medicines that no clinical placement could ever provide.

Thank you to Vicky Herbert and Helen Swift for organising a fantastic two weeks.