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An acknowledged expert on wild and exotic animal medicine has joined The University of Nottingham and will be sharing her time between the School of Veterinary Medicine and Science (SVMS) and Twycross Zoo.
Sharon Redrobe, Clinical Associate Professor in Zoological Medicine, will help to develop zoological veterinary research and run clinical rotations at the zoo for final year vet students.
Sharon is a Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) specialist in zoo and wildlife medicine and holds the RCVS Diploma in Zoo and Wildlife Medicine and the RCVS Certificate in Laboratory Animal Science. She has worked exclusively with exotic species for 16 years and has over 70 journal and book publications. Sharon holds an Honorary Senior Lectureship at the University of Bristol and was previously the Head of Veterinary Services at Bristol Zoo Gardens for 10 years. She is also the veterinary advisor and a trustee of Ape Action Africa.
Sharon said: “This is a very exciting development in the training of UK vet students. Zoo and exotic pet medicine is an important and expanding area of vet medicine. Every single vet student graduating from The University of Nottingham will have had training at one of the best zoos in the country. Twycross Zoo is to be commended for assisting with this exciting opportunity to train the next generation of vet students.”
Vet school students undertake an innovative lecture-free year of clinical rotations embedded with the school’s Clinical Associates. These include first opinion and referral small animal, farm and equine practices as well as other organisations which specialise in exotics, zoo animals, pathology and poultry.
This new approach to a vet student’s final year of training was developed by The University of Nottingham’s School of Veterinary Medicine and Science — the first veterinary school to be built in the UK for 50 years.
Twycross Zoo is proud to be a Clinical Associate and take an active part in training future vet students. Each student will spend two weeks at the zoo working with the vets and keepers and learning about aspects of international conservation programmes, captive management, zoo vet care and get involved in diet analyses, training and enrichment of the animals. Students will also spend a couple of days at local practices dealing with exotic pet animals. Students are assessed on their clinical rotations for clinical competence and professionalism.
Professor Gary England, Foundation Dean of SVMS said: “I am personally delighted that we have been able to recruit Sharon Redrobe to the School. Sharon is an internationally-recognised specialist in the field of zoo animal and wildlife medicine and she will make a huge contribution to the research and teaching mission of the School at The University of Nottingham. Sharon is working closely with Twycross Zoo, one of our Clinical Associates and I know that this will strengthen our links with the zoo and ensure that our clinical veterinary students have an unrivalled clinical teaching experience”.
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Notes to editors: The University of Nottingham is ranked in the UK's Top 10 and the World's Top 100 universities by the Shanghai Jiao Tong (SJTU) and Times Higher (THE) World University Rankings.
More than 90 per cent of research at The University of Nottingham is of international quality, according to RAE 2008, with almost 60 per cent of all research defined as ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’. Research Fortnight analysis of RAE 2008 ranks the University 7th in the UK by research power. In 27 subject areas, the University features in the UK Top Ten, with 14 of those in the Top Five.
The University provides innovative and top quality teaching, undertakes world-changing research, and attracts talented staff and students from 150 nations. Described by The Times as Britain's “only truly global university”, it has invested continuously in award-winning campuses in the United Kingdom, China and Malaysia. Twice since 2003 its research and teaching academics have won Nobel Prizes. The University has won the Queen's Award for Enterprise in both 2006 (International Trade) and 2007 (Innovation — School of Pharmacy), and was named ‘Entrepreneurial University of the Year’ at the Times Higher Education Awards 2008.
Nottingham was designated as a Science City in 2005 in recognition of its rich scientific heritage, industrial base and role as a leading research centre. Nottingham has since embarked on a wide range of business, property, knowledge transfer and educational initiatives (
www.science-city.co.uk) in order to build on its growing reputation as an international centre of scientific excellence. The University of Nottingham is a partner in Nottingham: the Science City.
Twycross Zoo East Midland Zoological Society is a registered charity (No 501841) and aims to “care for our world’s animals and environments through conservation, communication and integrity”.
Twycross Zoo is the world’s most comprehensive collection of primate species. Twycross is a popular visitor attraction for families and school children welcoming over 500,000 visitors annually. Opening times for visitors are summer 10.00 am-5.30 pm and winter 10.00 am-4.00 pm; the Zoo is open 364 days a year only closing Christmas Day.