RE: MA BVetMed BSc PhD DVA DVOphthal DipECVO MRCVS RSVP ASAP PBAB - Is it all too much?

WTF_dinosaur — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 12:00:04 GMT

I don't agree with this at all, I feel veterinary surgeons work hard on extra courses and 'top up's' I feel they should be given the credit for it in their title. I do also feel that anyone working with a Veterinary Surgeon should know what the initials mean, and if asked should be able to tell the public. I personally always look up extra initials when I book any of my babies in to my local practice so I have a idea of who I am talking to and what they have specialist interest in. With my dogs as I could see that one of our local vets has interests in orthopaedics so booked straight in with him rather than someone with a interest in cardiology I am sure both where able to tell me the same information but I want my babies to see the best vet they could for their condition like I am sure every pet owner in England does. Maybe it would make more sense to have a list of initials and what these initials mean, which courses and at which level the veterinary surgeon has taken in order to receive these extra letters. I think it would be a great shame for hard working Veterinary surgeons to lose these initials as I know when I qualify I would be horrified if someone took away my RVN SA, and any extra titles I would feel I had earned. I do however agree with Alison MBVNA is a trivial title, maybe keep the titles to actual qualification. I think the choice should be there for the public to look up their vets professional interests.

(Sorry about the rant and most likely poor grammar and spelling)

Thankyou

WTF_Dinosaur (soon to be RVN SA)

RE: MA BVetMed BSc PhD DVA DVOphthal DipECVO MRCVS RSVP ASAP PBAB - Is it all too much?

Alison Clare Hickman — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 13:54:06 GMT

I am absolutely in agreement with this. Titles are meaningless if they are jargonised to the profession they relate to...I find the public's general understanding, when faced with a list of initials (even MRCVS) is extremely poor. Most owners have not one jot of a clue as to what the titles mean...only that they must mean something and possibly the more the vet has the more qualified he/she must be? To how an example to this end, I was memorably advised by one client on seeing the multitide of letters after one surgeons name "Hmmm - only one more letter and we've got the alphabet there, no idea what they mean, do you?. Still it's a shame he made *****'s nail bleed when he clipped them. Don't suppose ****'s has got a certificate in that then?" ... I also believe that the more letters stated after a name can (not always) be a bit of an ego trip for the individual. I can safely say I am proud to put RVN after my name but have had the recent desire to also put MBVNA...not necessary really and it means nothing to my clients compared to RVN. So I am too not without ego...(I will stop as I've now 'outed' myself!). Toadster, RVN. (full stop!)