Page 38 - Eclipse - Autumn 2015

Class notes & news from you
A DATE FOR YOUR DIARIES
Alumni Open Day - Saturday 17th October 2015 Did you graduate in 1950, 1955, 1960 1965, 1970, 1975, 1980, 1985, 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005 or 2010?
Whether it be 75 years since graduation or ve - we are opening up the RVC to all of you to celebrate these milestones in your career! We would love to host a reunion party for you all - bring along your family, meet up with friends and classmates and see how the College has changed. The date for 2015 is 17th October. We will arrange tours of the campus and of course open the doors of the Buttery Bar!
You should have recently received a letter from us about the event with booking details. If you have not yet heard from us but would like to come please contact the Development Of ce on 01707 666237 or email development@rvc.ac.uk
We hope you can make it!
Luisa Dormer (2014)
Luisa graduated from the RVC with an MSc in Veterinary Epidemiology, we spoke to her about her career.
What are you doing now?
I am currently working as an epidemiologist at the Animal and Plant Health Agency. The main purpose of my job is to provide support for epidemiological surveillance and research projects undertaken by the Department of Epidemiological Sciences, through data management and descriptive statistical analysis as well as contributing to the management and implementation of these studies. The work I do is very varied and involves working on a range of species, diseases and farming systems.
What aspect of the course prepared you best for your career?
The course content has been really relevant to my career and I have developed
a range of skills and a good understanding of epidemiological principles. I have found that as a result of the course, my thought processes are more in-depth and methodical and I am able to nd novel solutions to complex challenges.
What did you think of the teaching staff and research facilities?
The teaching staff were all very open, honest and friendly. They prepared us for how tough the course was going to be and were there ready to provide help and support as needed.
Many of the staff are experts in their eld and having the opportunity to listen to their experiences was really useful. The facilities at the RVC are great, with access to everything that you need. The collaboration with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine is very useful and provides increased access to world-class facilities.
Has the course at the RVC enabled your career goals as you had hoped?
The MSc has provided me with all of the skills required to be a successful epidemiologist and also given me a lot of con dence in my own abilities. My experiences from talking to potential employers have only been positive, with most recognising the value of the course and the skill set that graduates have. Prior to starting the course I hoped to one day be working as an epidemiologist for the APHA, whom I began to work for 3 days after completing it!