Your data on MRCVSonline
The nature of the services provided by Vision Media means that we might obtain certain information about you.
Please read our Data Protection and Privacy Policy for details.

In addition, (with your consent) some parts of our website may store a 'cookie' in your browser for the purposes of
functionality or performance monitoring.
Click here to manage your settings.
If you would like to forward this story on to a friend, simply fill in the form below and click send.

Your friend's email:
Your email:
Your name:
 
 
Send Cancel

“It’s time to help others like me”
Miguel hopes to use his diverse background to help other VNs from abroad achieve RVN status.
VN Council candidate will use his background to ‘break barriers’ 

As veterinary professionals share their concerns over the impact of Brexit, one RVN who trained overseas aims to help others who wish to register in the UK.

Portuguese-born Mr Miguel Borralho is standing for election in this year's VN Council elections, together with Susan Howarth, Andrea Jeffrey and Marie Rippingale.

Currently employed at a small animal practice in North London, Miguel hopes to use his diverse background to help other VNs from abroad achieve RVN status.

In his manifesto, Miguel writes: ‘Having trained overseas, and having different experiences over the years, makes me who I am today. It’s time for me to help others like me, my equals, all the VNs that for many reasons are still not registered but want to join us.’

Miguel was born in the small town of Portalegre, Portugal, and has worked in small animal practice ever since. Two years ago Miguel made the move to London, where he completed his exams and assessments, qualifying as an RVN in May 2016.

If elected to VN Council, Miguel says that he aims to make RVNs even more important to practice by helping them to achieve their goals. This includes helping them to achieve specialisations in different fields of veterinary medicine.

‘By having this opportunity I will also be giving one extra quality, that is my language; my Portuguese will allow me to help break some barriers,’ he notes. ‘My goal is to make life as an RVN as simple and as focussed to veterinary care as possible, and make this profession one of the most enthusiastic and lovely.’

Become a member or log in to add this story to your CPD history

Applications open for MMI research grants

News Story 1
 RCVS' Mind Matters Initiative (MMI) has launched round two of its veterinary mental health research grants.

Researchers have until 11.59pm on Wednesday, 28 May 2025 to apply for a grant for research which reflects MMI's 2025 focus areas.

Only one Impact Grant was awarded last year, and so this year there are two Discovery Grants and one Impact Grants available. Each Discovery Grant is worth £5,000 and the Impact Grant is worth £15,000.

For more information or to apply, email researchgrants@rcvs.org.uk to contact the MMI team.

 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Germany livestock import ban lifted

The UK government has amended its ban on the import of livestock, meat and dairy products from Germany.

Defra said the decision follows 'rigorous technical assessment' of the measures applied and the current situation. "If the situation changes, we will not hesitate to take necessary action in response to the FMD outbreaks in the European Union to protect our domestic biosecurity," it said.

The ban was implemented in January following an outbreak of foot and mouth disease (FMD) near Berlin. Personal imports of meat, milk and dairy products will remain in place at a country level.