International Day of Veterinary Medicine: sustainability in UCD's Clinical Skills Centre

Couch stuffings, bicycle tyres, out-of-date hospital equipment. The Clinical Skills Centre in UCD School of Veterinary Medicine takes pride in its recycled, reused and sustainable classroom materials.   

Marking International Day of Veterinary Medicine on December 9th, we speak to Centre manager and clinical skills tutor Mark McCorry and senior laboratory attendant Tracey Murphy.

Mark explains why reusable equipment is preferable for hands-on, practical classes designed to build muscle memory and technique in student vets and veterinary nurses. 

Tracey shows off some of the ingenious ways the Centre reimagines everyday items as educational tools. She collects donations of unwanted equipment from Blackrock Clinic - and would welcome similar (mutually beneficial and environmentally minded) relationships with other hospitals. 

UCD School of Veterinary Medicine has a five-year veterinary medicine programme with 150 students in each year and a four-year veterinary nursing programme with between 35 and 45 in each year.