This month we’re celebrating John Pate of the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies as our October member of the month!
John was nominated by a colleague for inspiring his students to succeed and reminding them that no matter what your background, equine practice could be for you. His nomination also highlighted his dedication to raising money for Marie Curie in memory of his Mum. So let’s get to know him…
“If you asked me 20, 30 years ago if I’d become an equine vet, I would be very surprised,” John laughed. “I certainly had no interest in horses growing up.”
So how did he end up here? A few EMS placements and one particularly encouraging vet changed everything. “He told me that just because I wasn’t horsey didn’t mean I couldn’t be an equine vet,” John shared. “That really opened the door for me.”
Now, John passes that same message on to his students: “If you want to do it, it can be possible and we will help you in any way we can.”
His most-commonly given piece of advice to students? Don’t panic. He reminds them that things will go wrong but so as long as they can keep calm, at least externally, they’re doing a great job.
Beyond the clinic and classroom, John’s dedication extends to charitable causes. In September, he ran four marathons to raise money for Marie Curie, a charity close to his heart. “My mum passed away after a long battle with cancer, and Marie Curie looked after her in her final weeks,” he said. “I’ve wanted to repay that favour for a long time.”
And he’s not done yet, he’s gearing up for the London Marathon next year, too! You can donate to John’s cause here.
When asked what he loves most about being a BEVA member, John didn’t hesitate: “I use the BEVA app far more often than I should probably admit to,” he laughed. “Having access to CPD, resources, and journals like EVJ is just so helpful.”
You can listen to our full chat with John on the BEVApod channel.
Do you know someone who deserves a shout out? Someone who is absolutely crushing it at work? We want to hear about them. Nominate someone for our Member of the Month campaign today.
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