Being a Vet in the 21st Century

RE: Being a Vet in the 21st Century

Paul Stevens — Wed, 30 Jan 2019 17:28:01 GMT

Available now

RE: Being a Vet in the 21st Century

Alistair Graham-Evans — Fri, 25 Jan 2019 05:09:47 GMT

https://youtu.be/Od6hY_50Dh0

RE: Being a Vet in the 21st Century

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Fri, 25 Jan 2019 01:44:50 GMT

www.youtube.com/watch

RE: Being a Vet in the 21st Century

Paul Stevens — Thu, 24 Jan 2019 17:40:59 GMT

The So-You-Want-2-Be-A-Vet Test

RE: Being a Vet in the 21st Century

Paul Stevens — Thu, 24 Jan 2019 17:35:58 GMT

Hi JD

I think your mention of choice paralysis is interesting. I'm not sure what that is, but I am sure you will agree with me that it it is incumbent on the profession to ensure all people entering into Vet training are fully informed as to the nature of working as a vet.

By removing choices from people making decisions about their future, do we not risk tyranny by omission?

I simply seek to inform.

I'm grateful that you are joining the swelling concern with the 'health' of the profession and its sustainability in the future.

RE: Being a Vet in the 21st Century

Paul Stevens — Thu, 24 Jan 2019 17:20:01 GMT

Hi Holly
I apologise for any intrusion, I have not used your image on my site. I have simply linked to it from within a frame.
But I certainly do not wish to cause offence and have removed it.
Apologies again.

RE: Being a Vet in the 21st Century

Anthony Dennison — Mon, 21 Jan 2019 09:02:08 GMT

[quote user="Paul Stevens"]

Talk about timely. Impostor Syndrome is huge - especially in empathic vets - of which there are more and more each year.

[/quote]

Anyone else getting a strong hint of irony?

RE: Being a Vet in the 21st Century

Holly Norman — Sun, 20 Jan 2019 19:05:56 GMT

[quote user="Anthony Dennison"]

[quote user="Paul Stevens"]

Sorry. My bad

Wrong link. Try this one.

https://www.beingavet.org/but-who-should-you-ask

[/quote]

Still, no evidence of permissions to use the photos, one of which looks like it has been lifted from a V4P site?

You could have reduced that whole page to one sentence:

'Read my new book.'

[/quote]

I’ve only just caught up on this thread.

I would like like to make it clear that Paul Stevens has most definitely not contacted me to ask for permission to use MY photo on his website.

Needless to say, I do not appreciate my photo and my practice being featured on this website, nor opinions being put in my mouth.

i would suggest he removes it forthwith. Us corporates may have many flaws, but hey we’ve also got a BIG legal department!

RE: Being a Vet in the 21st Century

jd2008 — Sat, 19 Jan 2019 06:39:08 GMT

OK, I've had a read through the whole of the original thread dating back to 2015 and, frankly, it gets worse.

Please correct me if I am wrong, Mr Stevens, but am I correct in concluding that you:

a) enticed an unknown number of veterinary surgeons to complete a survey based on an instrument you are not trained to use

b) in doing so, collected data of a potentially sensitive and/or personal nature which was apparently not appropriately de-identified because you then

c) sent the 'results' back to participants upon request!! without any appropriate screening for vulnerable or at-risk participants.

I take it you still have all this data and, bearing in mind no ethical approval process was followed for your 'research', you are under absolutely no obligation whatsoever to ensure said data is stored securely then destroyed after a given time. Furthermore, there is nothing to stop you using and distributing that data (including personal details) in any way you choose.

Jesus wept

RE: Being a Vet in the 21st Century

jd2008 — Sat, 19 Jan 2019 04:11:38 GMT

Mr Stevens, I confess to finding this thread all rather bizarre. From what I can tell you have no established expertise - or even training - of any kind, in psychology yet appear to be claiming some kind of authority on the subject. (To be fair, you wouldn't be the first in our profession which, nowadays, is chock-full of armchair psych enthusiasts).

You will, no doubt, be familiar with the Dunning-Kruger effect.

Anyway, the reference to the Vet Personality Project in the blurb spruiking your book did ring a faint bell with me and I remembered this thread from quite some time back https://www.vetsurgeon.org/nonclinical/f/6/t/23066.aspx.
You may or may not remember, but in that thread you requested participation in a study with the assurance that the findings would be published. At the time, your use of the term "we" implied that you were part of a team of investigators and, therefore, likely affiliated with an academic institution but, in a later post, you confirmed no research institution involvement. The following was the text of your original post in that thread:

"The Vet Personality Project 2015 (VPP) www.vetsurvey.org

The VPP2015 is a literature and primary research project running from 2014 to October 2015.

Like many people, we are concerned about the future of our veterinary profession.

Increasing pressures and changing demographics are having a measurable effect on individuals' performance, health and career.

The project is exploring the relationships between a vet's personality traits and their career, health and happiness.

Our methodology is academically rigorous: We have performed extensive secondary and tertiary literature investigations - over 200 papers so far!

We are now asking for veterinary-specific data.
After collation, the results will be disseminated. Publication will contribute to making the profession stronger, sustainable and more fun.

We want all vets and students to participate: New grad? Old hand? Locum? Academic? Pharmaceutical advisor? First year student? Final year student? Cow vet? Specialist? UK, Ireland, USA, Europe, Asia, Australia, NZ?

We need all to help.

Additionally, we believe that participation in this research study will enable to improve their work life, broaden their view of the profession, stimulate ideas, and help sustain and invigorate the veterinary profession.

Participation qualifies for 1 hour CPD*

We are ready to conduct primary research with a targeted survey and are now inviting participants from a broad veterinary background.

all vets - clinical and non-clinical - everyone please.
veterinary students.

Participation is totally anonymous.

We are hoping for high numbers of respondents.

Our Survey and Blog can be found at www.vetsurvey.org Please do participate.

Dr Paul Stevens BA(Hons) BVSc MRCVS"

I am genuinely curious to know whether you have published the results of your survey via the usual peer-review process.

A search of various databases for such a publication has drawn a blank for me and your original website has been taken down leading me to come to the unfortunate conclusion that you have duped (perhaps not intentionally) survey participants into believing they were contributing to a properly conducted study which would ultimately provide a meaningful addition to the body of evidence regarding veterinary mental health when, in fact, they were helping you turn your hobby into a cash cow.

Would you concede that, without peer review, your study and results are meaningless? Does your publisher know? Have you told Rosie, Emma, Sophie and Svetlana?

What gives your book/website any more credibility than a tome on reproductive veterinary medicine written by a breeder?

Last, I can't help but wonder whether the growing number of people, such as yourself, misguidedly claiming mental health or well-being expertise and touting their wares to vets will, in fact, make the situation for young (or not so young) vets even worse by invoking choice paralysis for those attempting to seek out sources of help. Wouldn't that be ironic?

RE: Being a Vet in the 21st Century

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Fri, 18 Jan 2019 22:04:21 GMT

RE: Being a Vet in the 21st Century

Rob Davis — Fri, 18 Jan 2019 19:55:47 GMT

RE: Being a Vet in the 21st Century

Paul Stevens — Fri, 18 Jan 2019 19:07:02 GMT

Jane Shows us Around

RE: Being a Vet in the 21st Century

Paul Stevens — Thu, 17 Jan 2019 22:27:50 GMT

Talk about timely. Impostor Syndrome is huge - especially in empathic vets - of which there are more and more each year.

RE: Being a Vet in the 21st Century

Julie Innes — Thu, 17 Jan 2019 08:54:23 GMT

This is all completely alien to me! It would never have entered my head as a school student to approach the RCVS for their opinion . I saw practice. All the vets tried to put me off. I knew exactly what I was getting into and now I try to put off all the school work experience that come my way

RE: Being a Vet in the 21st Century

Iain Richards — Wed, 16 Jan 2019 09:13:44 GMT

Actually, the real answer is you go and find out and actually spend time with the vet.

RE: Being a Vet in the 21st Century

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Tue, 15 Jan 2019 17:36:41 GMT

[quote user="Arlo Guthrie"] He is just arguing that the RCVS (along with vets themselves, the BVA, the universities etc) are all likely to be biased in favour of recommending the profession.[/quote]

No they aren't (except maybe the dodgier universities).

RE: Being a Vet in the 21st Century

Arlo Guthrie — Tue, 15 Jan 2019 17:22:51 GMT

[quote user="Iain Richards"]OK, I can see that. But to take the argument further, does that imply that the only people who are not biased are not vets.....so can they give a considered view?[/quote]

I don't think so, no. Just means that if you are a GCSE student wanting a balanced picture, you should probably ask both practising vets and a few that have either left or retired (although, as he says, it is hard to know how you'd find those that have left).

RE: Being a Vet in the 21st Century

Iain Richards — Tue, 15 Jan 2019 17:18:32 GMT

[quote user="Arlo Guthrie"]

Kate Richardson the context is that Paul is trying to answer the question as to who a GCSE student could ask for an opinion about whether they should become a veterinary surgeon. He is just arguing that the RCVS (along with vets themselves, the BVA, the universities etc) are all likely to be biased in favour of recommending the profession.

That seems logical to me!

[/quote] OK, I can see that. But to take the argument further, does that imply that the only people who are not biased are not vets.....so can they give a considered view?

RE: Being a Vet in the 21st Century

Arlo Guthrie — Tue, 15 Jan 2019 16:19:52 GMT

[quote user="Kate Richardson"]

[quote user="Paul Stevens"]

I think you are missing the point of what I am saying: Which is that Institutions have an interest in attracting new members. Simple as that.

[/quote]

I’m not sure I understand what you are getting at Paul, re the RCVS- one has to be a fee paying member to practise as a vet and one has to have a veterinary degree to be able to be a member. So who else would the RCVS be interested in attracting in the way of new members?

[/quote]

That seems logical to me!

RE: Being a Vet in the 21st Century

Kate Richardson — Tue, 15 Jan 2019 15:58:26 GMT

[quote user="Paul Stevens"]

I think you are missing the point of what I am saying: Which is that Institutions have an interest in attracting new members. Simple as that.

[/quote]

RE: Being a Vet in the 21st Century

Anthony Dennison — Tue, 15 Jan 2019 15:41:13 GMT

[quote user="Paul Stevens"]I think you are missing the point of what I am saying: Which is that Institutions have an interest in attracting new members. Simple as that.[/quote]

And you have an interest in attracting people to buy your new book so you can 'earn/make/collect' money by using questionably written pieces that have little substance.

RE: Being a Vet in the 21st Century

Paul Stevens — Tue, 15 Jan 2019 14:40:44 GMT

I'm not sure why it's wrong.
My using the word 'make' seems to upset. No sure why. Do you not make money by working?

The RCVS 'collects' a fee from members. That money goes towards supporting the processses of the RCVS. Does the CEO of the RCVS 'collect' her salary?
Or does she 'earn' it? Or 'make' it?
I think you are missing the point of what I am saying: Which is that Institutions have an interest in attracting new members. Simple as that.

[quote user="Iain Richards"]your comment about the RCVS "making" money is just wrong[/quote]

RE: Being a Vet in the 21st Century

Iain Richards — Mon, 14 Jan 2019 19:58:25 GMT

Paul. I understand the passion and the desire that Rose is under no illusions, but your comment about the RCVS "making" money is just wrong. You must realise that without that fee there would be no profession?

RE: Being a Vet in the 21st Century

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Mon, 14 Jan 2019 16:26:05 GMT

[quote user="Anthony Dennison"]

You could have reduced that whole page to one sentence:

'Read my new book.'

[/quote]

Acksherly, Paul, RCVS does not stand for "Royal College of Vet Surgeons". It stands for Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. You obviously like writing –I think you might fit in well working for Adele Waters at the new super soaraway Vet Wreck.

And the RCVS does not "make" three or four hundred pounds every year from each veterinary surgeon.

You didn't once write another book under the pen-name of Josh Artmeier, did you?