Farm vet Ami Sawran has taken up her role of President of the Society of Practising Veterinary Surgeons (SPVS), marking a significant step towards securing the future of large animal veterinary care.
Ami, who has a PhD in Dairy Cattle Mobility and is a RCVS Advanced Practitioner in Camelid Practice, hopes her appointment will encourage other large animal and farm vets to join the organisation.
“I’m delighted to take on the Presidency and look forward to continuing the good work we’ve been doing representing the needs and best interests of members and the wider profession,” she said.
“I feel this role is a great opportunity to give better representation to farm and large animal vets and is a chance draw the farming industry into more conversations.
“This is also a chance for me to highlight how multifaceted the veterinary role is. From emergency work through to building business relationships with commercial farm clients – farm vets are required to have different people management and business management skills, to be able to deliver tailored service to a complex industry.
“More than ever, farming is facing many continuous challenges, so vets in this industry also need to constantly keep abreast of government initiatives, farm assurance schemes and understand how farm businesses work. All while also dealing with our own retention and recruitment pressures at practice level.”
Ami is a key member of the Farm Executive at VetPartners, the larger veterinary and animal healthcare group of which Westpoint Farm Vets is a part.
Speaking on representing the wider veterinary profession, Ami added:
“We have to future proof practices and evolve what it means to be a vet beyond just being able to provide a clinical fix and preventative healthcare.”
Ami explains that that membership of SPVS isn’t just for vets or people who are already managers.
She said: “We want to encourage people who want to learn about leadership, or to develop skills that aren’t necessarily learnt at vet school, or readily available to people in practice leadership or management.
“Being part of SPVS means you can join a cohort of people to bounce ideas off and gain new skills through CPD.
“As part of my new appointment, I also want to emphasise the importance of collaboration and being part of a community that provides support systems you can lean on, encouraging vets to show their potential and be guided through the SPVS leadership journey, so they feel fulfilled in their career and play a part in ensuring their business is sustainable.”
Since joining SPVS in 2020, Ami has been welcomed to the RCVS Fellowship, a learned society which promotes scientific excellence, furthers professional skills and practice, and acts as a trusted and authoritative voice within the veterinary profession.
Ami also holds a number of other industry positions, including sitting on the British Veterinary LGBTQ+ Committee, The Society of Practicing Veterinary Surgeons and the British Veterinary Camelid Society Boards.
Ami was awarded the first UK Bright Minds Practice Game Changer Award in 2023 for her dedication to improving practice culture and efforts to make farm practice more attractive, welcoming and inclusive for future farm vets.
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