Marking Stress Awareness Month with Professor Rob Pettitt
April is Stress Awareness Month and the University of Liverpool Veterinary Alumni Association caught-up with alumnus and current Professor of Small Animal Orthopaedics, Rob Pettitt (BVSc 2002).
April is Stress Awareness Month, which reminds us to pause and reflect on our mental health. The ULVAA caught-up with Rob Pettitt (BVSc 2002), Professor of Small Animal Orthopaedics at the University of Liverpool’s Small Animal Teaching Hospital. Rob has been an active mental health advocate within the vet school community, as well as supporting initiatives in the wider veterinary profession. He was the very deserving winner of Volunteer of the Year in the 2018 University of Liverpool Staff Awards in recognition of all that Rob does to champion mental health. Here, Rob kindly tells us about his veterinary career and shares some words on mental wellbeing.
What inspired you to pursue a veterinary career?
I wanted to be a vet during my teenage years. But I was also a typical 16-year-old who was more interested in non-academic endeavours and felt like I had no chance of getting into university (let alone completing the course). So, I sought a different career and joined the Royal Navy. I enjoyed my time but when I left, I decided to investigate being a vet again. I was inspired by great and enthusiastic vets who I saw practice and am still friends with today. The rest is history, as they say, and I have no regrets at all.
Do you have any memories from your time as a vet student at Liverpool to share? Did anyone inspire you as a student?
I absolutely loved vet school from day one. I treated it like a job and so spent Monday to Friday working 0830-1730. This included reading notes on the train to and from Liverpool, and then spending my evenings and weekends with the family. My eldest was three-months old when I started university, so I enjoyed being able to spend quality time with him. I did not get too involved with university social activities as a more mature student, but I did make lifelong friends. I thoroughly enjoyed my time overall.
I did lambing at Ness Heath and went back for two extra years as I enjoyed it so much – seeing the lambs at Leahurst each year brings back great memories! I originally wanted to be a farm vet as I always enjoyed the farm visits but then Mark Glyde (my orthopaedic lecturer in third year) converted me with his infectious enthusiasm. From that day forward it was a no brainer. I would like to think I may have had the same effect on my students over the years. I currently work with Liverpool alumni so maybe something hit home with them at least...
Tell us about your career since graduating from Liverpool. When did you know you wanted to specialise in small animal orthopaedics?
I worked in a general practice in Nantwich for three years after graduating, before being offered a locum lecturer position at Liverpool as one of the orthopaedic surgeons had left. I accepted the offer and, apart from a short error of judgement when I worked elsewhere, I have been here ever since. I knew when I graduated that I wanted to do orthopaedics and my first job just cemented those thoughts. I loved those first orthopaedic surgeries where cases went well, and patients could walk again without a limp – a satisfaction I still get to this day.
Do you have any career highlights to share?
I have been so lucky with my veterinary career. It has taken me around the Northern Hemisphere from lecturing in America, operating in Africa to teaching in Thailand and India. The highlights of my career have been numerous and varied.
There was the time I flew to Cameroon to operate on a chimpanzee with an angular limb deformity – we had to operate in an open-air building in the jungle itself and every vet in Cameroon was there to watch. I also led the team that performed the only (to-date) successful total hip replacement in a horse and last year I performed a GDV and foreign body removal on a jaguar.
I must also share that my favourite repeating memory is seeing our vet school students graduate and become fully-fledged veterinary surgeons – it is why I am still at Liverpool.
What led you to become an advocate for mental health awareness in the veterinary profession?
I had a major mental health issue several years ago now and it was the scariest moment of my life. At the time everything was too much and taking time out to look after your mental health was not considered normal and was frowned upon.
Having recovered from that episode I learned to manage my mental health in the same way I manage my physical health. The Mind Matters Initiative was created by the RCVS and when the RCVS CEO, Lizzie Lockett, delivered a presentation I knew I had to do more for others. It was interesting to note the sharp intake of breath by members of the audience when it was suggested to take time out if you are not feeling mentally strong – fortunately, we have come a long way since then, but there is still a way to go! It is a real passion of mine and my door is always open to members of the vet school community who want a sympathetic ear.
What words would you share with current veterinary students or alumni around managing stress and maintaining mental wellbeing?
We always tell our students that money should not be the main concern when seeking their first job. It is far more important to have a supportive practice who will help you make the transition from being a vet student to being a qualified vet than it is to earn a high salary but be left alone at a branch practice in week one.
The best analogy I can use is that life is like a water butt: the stresses of life are the water coming in to the butt, and to prevent the butt overflowing it is imperative that we develop skills and release mechanisms (whether that be exercise, a support network, or seeking professional advice). I had to wait for my water butt to overfill before I started to put those release strategies in place – nowadays when life pressures build up, I disappear out on my bike to clear my head. I am then able to think more rationally and implement the strategies that I have developed to reduce my feelings of stress.
The other comment I would add is that consider colleagues and friends too – it may not be you that is having a tough time coping, but you may notice others who are. Do not be afraid to ask them if they are OK and ask the question again if you still think someone is struggling. It may take two or more attempts before someone confides in you.
Thank you, Rob, for helping us to mark Stress Awareness Month. It is so important to talk about mental health and to remind us to take a moment to check-in with ourselves.
If you would like to share a story with the ULVAA this month, write to us at ulvaa@liv.ac.uk