The appointments mark the first time a veterinary nurse has been appointed as a director at the Royal Veterinary College (RVC).
This demonstrates its recognition and commitment to continuing to lead veterinary nursing education and clinical excellence while enhancing the quality, creation and dissemination of world leading veterinary nursing evidence.
In this new role, Perdi Welsh, with the assistance and support of Hilary Orpet, will provide leadership and direction for the School of Veterinary Nursing, helping to incorporate the RVC’s strategic objectives in teaching, clinical practice and research into the continuing development and growth of the school.
As keen advocates of veterinary nursing and highlighting the important role they play in both the clinical and research settings, both Perdi and Hilary intend to adopt a transformative approach to nursing at the RVC.
This includes introducing progressive solutions to issues facing the wider veterinary profession including recruitment, retention and career development opportunities.
Perdi and Hilary have a long history of successful collaboration, having first worked together in a clinical setting at the RVC’s Queen Mother Hospital for Animals.
In 1994, they set up the RVC’s first school of Veterinary Nursing with the College of Animal Welfare.
Since then, they have worked closely multiple times, including co-authoring The Handbook of Veterinary Nursing, which was the only veterinary nursing textbook of its kind when first published.
Perdi Welsh, newly appointed director of veterinary nursing at the RVC, said: “I am absolutely delighted to have been appointed as director of veterinary nursing and am excited to get started.
“I’m looking forward to working with Hilary and our fabulous VN colleagues here at the RVC on innovative projects to positively impact the advancement of veterinary nurses and the veterinary nursing profession.
“Over the coming months, Hilary and I will be defining and sharing our vision and goals with the RVC community.
“We will continue exploring ways to provide increased training and professional progression opportunities for veterinary nurses from different qualification routes and diverse clinical backgrounds. We’re at a critical time in veterinary nursing, and we’re keen to play our part in contributing to the advancement of our profession.”
Hilary Orpet, newly appointed deputy director of veterinary nursing at the RVC, said: “I think this is giving us an amazing opportunity to expand our horizons and develop a connected community of veterinary nurses at different stages of their career.
“I have worked with Perdi over many years and on many different projects and working with such a creative and productive team will ensure that veterinary nursing at the RVC is leading the profession.”
