Ever wondered why there is a unique organisation called the VOA? Where did it come from? How did it start? Right here in this podcast episode is where you will find the answers to these questions- plus a whole lot more. What better way to spend a spare thirty minutes?
Professor Stuart Carmichael is one of the leading lights in the field of veterinary osteoarthritis (OA). In a career spanning many decades, he has worked with many of the true greats of the veterinary profession. His passion for making animals’ lives better is tangible and infectious. It was a privilege to sit down and chat with Prof Carmichael.
In this discussion, we delved deep into the origins of the VOA and the journey from its inception in 2016 until now. We discussed Prof Carmichael’s career from graduation the present. The Prof explained how he made the unlikely move for a surgeon, into the realm of the chronic medical condition that is OA.
From the position of being an almost lone voice advocating for a better understanding of veterinary OA, Prof Carmichael has been instrumental in encouraging interest in this subject. One can finally feel a significant groundswell in our profession taking an interest in improved osteoarthritis care.
To help address the enormous unmet need in veterinary osteoarthritis care both in the UK and globally, Prof Carmichael argues for the kind of multidisciplinary approach which ultimately led to the creation of the VOA.
VOA started small in 2016 and was mainly in-person. Activity and engagement really took off when a more digitally oriented approach was implemented.
Prof Carmichael is extremely proud of what the collective has achieved to date. One standout is the Blue Paw Award (which is available to all members whatever their professional role). This has really democratised education on OA and means that we all have the same basic knowledge from the start. Another is the VOACON: an incredibly positive, diverse and inclusive conference which really is unique.
Anyone involved in veterinary OA care can and should consider joining and getting involved in the VOA. The VOA needs the wide range of knowledge, skills and experience that exists in our professions. Together we can achieve even more to make the lives of our animal companions better.
Biography:
Professor Stuart Carmichael has wide experience as a specialist clinician in orthopaedics and in veterinary business management.
He is a Diplomate, a past Specialist, and a current Fellow of the RCVS. He has been the Director of both Queen Mother Hospital and Small Animal Hospital at Glasgow.
He has also been the National Referrals Director at Vets Now Ltd, a Director at Fitzpatrick
Referrals Ltd and a visiting Professor at the University of Surrey.
Charity roles have included acting as a Board member and Chair of International Cat Care and as a trustee and Board member of Blue Cross.
He is currently running a veterinary consultancy business, Joint Adventures Ltd., is a Co-Founder and Board member of the Veterinary Osteoarthritis Alliance and is also Director and Co-founder of Aim-OA Ltd., providing a web-based Disease Management System for chronic osteoarthritis in dogs.
You can contact Prof Carmichael via info@vet-oa.com
Digital OA monitoring tool, Aim-OA: https://www.aim-oa.com
This podcast was sponsored by the Nupsala MSK Clinic www.nupsala-msk.co.uk a state-of-the-art veterinary referral centre in Leicestershire.
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JOIN VETERINARY OSTEOARTHRITIS ALLIANCE TODAY www.vet-oa.com
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Oct 8 202441 mins