b'EMPOWERED TO INSPIRE, ACHIEVE AND LEAD TOGETHEREMPOWERED TO INSPIRE, ACHIEVE AND LEAD TOGETHEREMPOWERED TO INSPIRE, ACHIEVE AND LEAD TOGETHEREMPOWERED TO INSPIRE,VETERINARY WOMAN CHAMPIONS FOR CHANGEACHIEVE & LEAD TOGETHERAmi SawranBVSc, CertAVP (CP), PGCertVPS, PhD, MRCVSCLINICAL DIRECTOR FOR WESTPOINT AND A MEMBER OF THE SPVS BOARDAmi Sawran is Clinical Director at Westpoint Farm Vets in Chelmsford, a member of the Clinical and Farm Executive boards at VetPartners and SPVS Junior Vice President. She is actively changemaking in the areas of improving practice culture, raising the profile of farm practice and empowering vets to improve the welfare of camelids. Find out more about how Ami is working to make a difference.Please summarise how you are working towards changethat has been championed by BVA and BCVA, and Im grateful in the veterinary professions and why do you feel this isfor that.important?When I joined SPVS, I said it was because I want to leave the As you might have gathered, I struggle to keep single focus. profession better than I found it, but Ive realised that I dont I have a few priorities for changemaking!I want to live the profession better than I found itto enjoy I do a lot of camelid work that has historically not beenthe more positive experiences and work life that comes from standard fare in farm practice. I think this is partly becausefighting for inclusivity and psychological safety at work. SPVS S U M M A R Y university teaching in these areas has been limited, making forhave recognised how important this is, and through being onI graduated into a farm internship at theunderconfident vets handling unfamiliar species, and perhapsthe board, I have chaired sessions with Affinity Futureswho RVC and felt a little lost afterwards, sonot understanding the commercial benefit of extending carebrilliantly promote and facilitate workplace inclusivity.decided to stay in academia, pursuingoutside of traditional livestock. This means camelid care canThirdly, I feel strongly about raising the profile of farm practice. a PhD in Dairy Cattle Mobility whilebe shunted around, making it stressful for new vets trying toIt can be overlooked and under-represented in high level keeping my hand in with teaching andhandle owner expectations and nuanced medicine. My aim isdiscussions, and we are still fighting damaging misinformation locum charity work at the RSPCA.to empower vets to use their transferrable skillsto elevatethat prevents students entering this rewarding field. I still Imoved to 100% farm practice in thetheir confidence alongside the welfare of camelids. receive queries from students who are told that farm practice South East where Ive been ever since,I do this through providing CPD, second opinion services andis not for women. We can acknowledge that there are real save for a brief stint in mixed practice inrunning the Camelid Clinical Interest Group for VetPartners. barriers to entering farm practice including EMS accessibility Cumbria.I believe in sharing knowledge that will better the welfareand discrimination, given the AVS reportbut there areI became a clinical director of Westpointof our patients, so developed a comprehensive open accessopportunities in farm for those that break traditional moulds, Farm Vets in Chelmsford in 2018, and laterformulary. and colleagues to welcome you.joined the VetPartners Clinical and FarmThe next is improving practice culturearguably moreHow do you feel this is making a difference?Executive boards.challenging in ambulatory practice (which can often be underrepresented in soft-skill CPD). Like many, IveI felt a tangible shift in the atmosphere and attitudes within experienced how poor leadership and little emphasis onmy practice. Knowing the benefit that my leadership style, and positive regard in practice can demoralise. I dont want that forthat of my boss had, it was only right that it be shared, even anyone, so I share real-life examples and tools that colleaguesif that meant having difficult discussions with audiences that can use to explore and elevate their culture. This is somethingdidnt want to hear it.Attitudes are changing, but it takes time to turn a tide. 56www.veterinarywoman.co.uk'