School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine

Professor Christopher Loughrey, Head of the School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine at the University of Glasgow and Professor Lisa Boden, Head of the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and Dean of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Edinburgh, have been appointed as Vice-Chairs of the Veterinary Schools Council (VSC).

The appointment of Professors Loughrey and Boden to these newly created leadership roles represents a significant milestone in VSC’s history and comes in response to its recently expanded membership and continued determination to grasp both the challenges and the opportunities facing veterinary schools. They will take up their positions on 1^st August and serve alongside Professor Stuart Reid CBE, President & Principal of the Royal Veterinary College, who has been reappointed as Chair until 2027. Together, they form an experienced and talented leadership team that will work with and on behalf of the Council to shape policy, share best practice and contribute its expertise to veterinary education and research both nationally and internationally.

Professor Loughrey is an appointed member of RCVS Council, an elected Fellow of the RCVS, Honorary Professor at the University of Sydney and Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology. He held the substantial academic leadership appointment as the International Dean for the College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences at the University of Glasgow between 2018-2024. He is a Professor of Experimental Cardiology and is currently the Executive Deputy Editor of Cardiovascular Research and has served on the Editorial board of the British Journal of Pharmacology.  He is Principal Investigator of a British Heart Foundation Programme Grant where his research advances our understanding of human cardiac disease including the molecular mechanisms associated with heart failure and myocardial infarction.

Professor Boden is a UK (RCVS) and European veterinary specialist in veterinary public health and population medicine, with a PhD in Veterinary Epidemiology and a Master of Laws in Medical Law and Ethics. She holds a Personal Chair in Population Medicine and Veterinary Public Health Policy at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies at the University of Edinburgh and is one of the co-Directors of EPIC (Scottish Government’s Centre for Expertise in Animal Disease Outbreaks). She is also a member of the Scottish Science Advisory Council. She leads a programme of One Health research to improve preparedness and response to threats to human, animal and ecosystem health and well-being in the global north and in fragile and conflict affected states.

Professor Boden said: “I am delighted that Professor Loughrey and I are to work together as Vice-Chairs of the Veterinary Schools Council, bringing a combined, broad perspective to advance the veterinary education sector in the UK, Ireland and the Netherlands. I look forward to collaborating with Chris and Stuart to ensure the Council brings its influence to bear on important matters for the veterinary profession and to wider society.”

Professor Loughrey said: “We are privileged to work as Vice-Chairs of the Veterinary Schools Council for the next two years and would like to thank Professor Stuart Reid for his continued and transformational leadership and formidable support of the Council. As Vice-Chairs, we bring a broad range of complementary experiences, knowledge of the profession, and a strong signal that fostering cross-institutional cooperation lies at the heart of what VSC contributes to the veterinary profession.

Our leadership roles in multiple international cross-disciplinary consortia and partnerships provide us with a comprehensive perspective on the challenges within the higher education sector and experience of driving meaningful policy discussions that result in real impact. We look forward to the opportunity to contribute to VSC with responsible, inclusive and empathetic leadership.”

Professor Reid said: "I am absolutely delighted to be working with Lisa and Chris and our excellent secretariat as the Veterinary Schools Council seeks to address the challenges our sector faces. The evolution of VSC and the maturing of our voice will be greatly bolstered by the remodelled leadership team ensuring greater focus and strengthened commitment to our several stakeholders."

The Veterinary Schools Council (VSC) is the representative body for veterinary schools in the United Kingdom, Ireland and the Netherlands. It has 11 UK members and two non-UK associate members.

VSC’s mission is to promote excellence in veterinary education, research and clinical service, to lead pedagogical conversations both nationally and internationally, and to demonstrate veterinary schools’ unique contribution to animal welfare and public health.

The Council comprises the leaders of each member school and is an authoritative voice on matters relating to veterinary education. Through the Council and its committees, VSC engages in representative and policy work to ensure that member schools are recognised for their experience, innovation and commitment to academic excellence and the proper care of animals.

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First published: 15 July 2025