We recently caught up with Edward Selvaig to discuss his career journey so far, how he’s been adjusting to his new role at Vets Now Glasgow in July as part of the latest cohort of rotating interns, and what it’s been like settling into life in a new city.
What inspired you to pursue a career in veterinary medicine?
I feel like I was slow to decide on being a vet. You hear stories about people who’ve wanted to be vets since they were as young as five, meanwhile when I was that age, I wanted to be a bus driver. Once I gave up on my dream of being a bus driver, I decided to pursue a career in medicine.
A few diversions later, I wound up studying at the Edinburgh Vet School. It was during my time there that I was fortunate enough to meet some truly inspirational vets who then inspired me to pursue this career. Better late than never I suppose!
Can you share a bit about your educational background and any previous experiences before joining us?
I was born and raised in Malta and lived there for most of my life. Originally, I had applied for medical school but wasn’t accepted, so I read for a BSc in Biology at the University of Malta instead. There isn’t an option to study veterinary medicine back home so when it came to vet school applications, I had to look overseas. I applied to study in the UK, got accepted into Edinburgh, and never looked back!
Malta unfortunately lacks specialist level care, so seeing the Royal (Dick) Vet School referral hospitals really broadened my perspective of what veterinary medicine could be. Now I am fortunate enough to find myself among another great team that I can learn so much from. Talk about good luck!
Edward SelvaigMy expectations were exceeded when I saw just how competent, resilient and compassionate these teams are. I’ve also been impressed by the level of collaboration all the aspects of the hospital have when it comes to running the show
What has been the most challenging case you’ve encountered here so far?
I fortunately can’t think of a specific case that has been particularly challenging at this stage, although I am sure that this will change soon enough. In a broader sense, I think that I find cases in which an animal is well loved but neglected uniquely challenging.
I think what I find frustrating about these sorts of cases is thinking of the time and money that has been invested into the animal in ways that aren’t beneficial or worse still, may even be detrimental. I think of things such as expensive collars and harnesses or boutique nutritionally incomplete diets. Meanwhile, important aspects of care such as flea and tick preventative, dental care, or appropriate diet aren’t prioritised.
I think this is where the role of vet needs to be that of an educator and an advocate for the animal. We need to appreciate that the owners obviously care deeply about their animal, but we need to find ways to redirect their efforts in a way that benefits the patient.
What aspect of working in this hospital has surprised you the most?
Two things really jump to mind here. Firstly, the nurses, ACAs and reception team are absolutely stellar! The people I spoke to before accepting this job all had mountains of praise for these teams. My expectations were exceeded when I saw just how competent, resilient and compassionate these teams are. I’ve also been impressed by the level of collaboration all the aspects of the hospital have when it comes to running the show.
The second thing is that the clinicians at Vets Now are so keen to teach despite how busy things can get! I can think of several occasions where vets go out of their way to help me in my learning or checking in to see if I have any questions about a case. It genuinely means so much to me, especially as a new graduate.
How do you manage the demands of this fast-paced environment while maintaining your well-being?
I think one thing that helps me is being very willing to ask questions when I’m stuck. I need to remind myself that I am new to both the job and the profession so there will be heaps of things that I do not know. Knowing this, I try and just skip the 10-20 minutes of fumbling and just ask for help. Lucky for me, the team here are always happy to help.
I try to reflect on the good things I do and learn as much as I can when things go wrong. Mistakes are a fact of both life and medicine, but the most important thing is to learn from them. I try to remind myself that a mistake is only a problem if you refuse to learn from it, which is easier said than done at times.
Of all the pieces of advice I have been given, the one repeated the most is to set a hard line between where work starts and my life ends. It’s definitely hard in a 24-hour hospital, that also has online patient monitoring software, but I try to leave everything that happens during a difficult shift on the clinic floor.
What areas of veterinary medicine are you most passionate about for your future career?
I have only been a vet for a handful of months, so I still love learning about all aspects of the profession. If I had to pick a specific area, it would be neurology. Each case is like a puzzle which can be incredibly satisfying to work up, and I am fascinated with the unique ways that these cases can present.
Outside of direct clinical work, I find wellbeing in practice to be an interesting area. We had lectures about concepts such as burnout and decision fatigue and how they can be addressed during my time at the R(D)SVS. This focus on wellbeing seems to be on the rise, which has been exciting to see. I think that vets are generally quite self-critical people, so when things go wrong it can cut deep.
Having tools and systems in place to protect ourselves is so important so that we can continue to do what we do in a healthy, sustainable way.
Edward SelvaigI have only been a vet for a handful of months, so I still love learning about all aspects of the profession. If I had to pick a specific area, it would be neurology. Each case is like a puzzle which can be incredibly satisfying to work up
How have you found the transition to Glasgow – both the city and the work environment?
Glasgow is such fun! Whenever I find myself with a little bit of free time, I tend to just ride around and explore. I love to stumble on hidden markets or bookshops in places you’d least expect. I have already found a few favourite haunts that have become integral parts of my weekly routine.
Since this is my first job, I’ve also been transitioning to work life which has been a huge learning experience. Luckily all the hospital team have been so welcoming and helpful which has made this transition feel so seamless.
What’s your go-to activity in Glasgow when you need to unwind after a long day at the hospital?
After a long day in the hospital, I hop on my bike and head straight to the gym. Powerlifting has been a great outlet during the weekdays, especially when I’ve been sat typing up letters all day.
During the weekends I try and make sure to fully disconnect from work and get some good quality rest. Odds are I’ll either be at a concert, or reading a fantasy novel at a cafe, or at a board game night with friends.