Taking strides to integrate sustainability into the School of Veterinary Medicine
The new ‘One Health’ fourth year module at the University of Surrey’s School of Veterinary Medicine, provides students with teaching and learning around One Health and Sustainability topics.
Developed with colleagues, Dr Cait Finnegan led the creation and development of the new module which takes a more planetary approach to One Health, ensuring clear links are made to sustainability and to equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI). With consideration of a holistic health approach in the role of the veterinary professional, the module explores infectious disease modelling and surveillance, emerging disease threats and pet travel, global health, trade and zoonotic disease, antimicrobial resistance and alternatives to antibiotics, the environmental impact of veterinary medicine and animal agriculture, the role of faith and culture in veterinary medicine, and the consideration of EDI and allyship in the profession.
Dr Cait Finnegan and Fellow of the Institute, Hannah Davies created a panel discussion for new graduates on championing sustainability when they enter the veterinary workplace. This session was delivered in collaboration with Vet Sustain, a community interest company devoted to enabling and inspiring veterinary professionals in sustainability, and Investors in the Environment (iiE), an environmental accreditation scheme supporting organisations in fostering sustainable change.
From left to right: Emily Appleby (Investors in the Environment), Giustina Diana (Investors in the Environment), Becky Sedman (Vet Sustain), Hannah Davies (School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Surrey) and Dr Cait Finnegan (School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Surrey).
During the session, speakers and veterinary students explored the tools available to support sustainable development in practice, such as the new environmental sustainability module in the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) Practice Standards Scheme, the iiE environmental accreditation scheme, and the Greener Veterinary Practice Checklist, Environmental Sustainability Policy Template and Green Procurement List from Vet Sustain.
The panel session was designed to complement a new assignment, designed by Hannah Davies, for students to complete when conducting a sustainability audit. The audits take place at some of the veterinary practices that partner with the University of Surrey for delivery of intramural rotations. The practices selected for the audit have been leading the way in driving sustainable change through initiatives such as calculating their carbon emissions, embracing the 3Rs and the circular economy to reduce their waste, championing staff wellbeing, reducing use of nitrous oxide anaesthetic gas, promoting biodiversity at the practice premises, encouraging responsible use of medicines, educating the local community, and promoting the highest standards of animal health and welfare.
During the assignment, students will go on a virtual tour of the practice to see what sustainability initiatives they have implemented, consider how they fit within Vet Sustain, iiE and RCVS frameworks, and suggest where improvements could be made.
Hannah Davies and Dr Cait Finnegan won the University of Surrey’s Environmental Improvement Award for their work in developing this veterinary module. It is hoped that this module will encourage veterinary students to better understand how sustainability relates to the veterinary profession and what role veterinary professionals can play in contributing to the One Health and climate change agenda and a movement towards net zero.
This project aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) SDG4 (quality education) and SGD17 (partnerships for the goals).
Read the latest University of Surrey UN SDG report here.
Related sustainable development goals
