Page 37 - Eclipse - Autumn 2015

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Bev Panto (2009)
Bev graduated from the RVC in 2009, but didn’t leave for over a year, instead taking a job with the College’s eMedia unit. During this time, she was
the ‘WikiMaster’, managing the online veterinary encyclopaedia, WikiVet, which is still going from strength to strength today. She also spent time collaborating with universities in Kenya and Tanzania, and working with VetAid, a veterinary charity
working with farmers and tribespeople in East Africa. As a result of this work, Bev was involved with the development of a new module for RVC students on International Development; teaching vet students about the opportunities, challenges and responsibilities they face as ‘global citizens’.
She moved into a small animal and exotics practice
in Horsham where she spent three years, where she also carried out regular pro bono work at a large local wildlife charity. Since then, she has focussed her career on wildlife and exotics medicine, and is the Veterinary Of cer at the RSPCA Stapeley Grange Wildlife Hospital and Cattery in Cheshire. She is
now responsible for the veterinary care of over 6,000
animals a year, and cares for all British wildlife species.
There is limited undergraduate training in wildlife medicine in vet schools worldwide, and Bev has carried out a number of studies investigating attitudes towards wildlife in practice, and graduate con dence and competence in this eld. In part as a result of this work, she has since developed the UK’s rst wildlife clinical rotation, for nal year students at Liverpool University to get hands on practical experience with a wide range of British Wildlife, and is now an honorary lecturer at Liverpool University. She regularly travels around the country providing wildlife CPD to vets and nurses.
Her clinical work is extremely varied – ranging from the ubiquitous pigeons, to birds of prey, seals, otters and even, recently a stray Raccoon dog, with which she appeared on the BBC’s The One Show. With such a fascinating set of patients, Bev is no stranger to the media, and was recently seen on ITV’s Give a Pet a Home, showing Julian Clary how to safely anaesthetise a Kestrel for physiotherapy of a fractured wing.
She hopes to continue her work, particularly in wildlife education to better equip veterinary graduates for dealing with the many wildlife casualties that will present to them in practice. Bev still volunteers overseas on various charity campaigns with both domestic and wildlife every year.
Our congratulations to Bev who has just became Mrs Bev Groves - married on the 17th July 2015.