Jill Thomson

Graduated Bachelor of Veterinary Science from University of Pretoria, South Africa in 1974 (BVSc)

Admitted as Member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, UK in 1975 (MRCVS)

Awarded a doctorate in Veterinary Medicine, University of Edinburgh in 1982 (PhD)

Became a diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Pathology in 1996 (DipECVP)

Awarded the Certificate in Pig Medicine by examination in 1998 (CertPM)

Admitted to the RCVS Specialist in Veterinary Pathology (Farm Animals) in 2005

Career to date

1998 to date – Veterinary Manager of the Scottish Agricultural College (SAC)’s Veterinary Disease Surveillance Centre in Edinburgh. The laboratory provides veterinary diagnostic support to primarily veterinary practices in Central Scotland but accepts samples from the wider veterinary community throughout UK and from some European countries. The role of Pig Veterinary Specialist for SAC has been held since 1999. This involves an advisory and consultancy role, including farm visits and specialist investigations, particularly in the field of veterinary pathology. A wide range of porcine diagnostic tests has been developed at SAC Edinburgh as part of an ongoing programme to provide an industry-focussed portfolio of tests that are accredited to the ISO 17025 standard.

Research interest – porcine enteric diseases including porcine colonic spirochaetosis, swine dysentery, proliferative enteropathy and diet-related diarrhoea problems; disease management and control policies, development of diagnostic tests that are of benefit to the pig industry for disease control and health monitoring purposes.

Involvement with undergraduate education include being Lecturer in Pig Medicine at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Medicine, Edinburgh from 1995 to present and Lecturer in Pig Medicine at the Royal Veterinary College, London from 2004 to present.

Contribution to post-graduate education includes supervision of many students studying towards MSc and PhD degrees, publication of over 50 peer-reviewed scientific articles and contributions to chapters in Veterinary text books.

1982 to 1998 – Veterinary Investigation officer at the Scottish Agricultural College (SAC)’s Veterinary Disease Surveillance Centre in Edinburgh. Work involved post-mortem examination of a wide range of farm animal species, diagnostic histopathology and general reporting of clinical pathology cases, farm visits, advisory and extension work.

1976 to 1982 – University demonstrator and post-graduate research student in Large Animal Medicine Department, University of Edinburgh

1974 to 1976 – Veterinary assistant in equine and mixed practices in South Africa and UK

Professional Offices held

Member of the Executive Committee of the Pig Veterinary Society 1998 to 2001 and 2005 to 2009

Deputy Scientific Chairman 15th International Pig Veterinary Society Congress, Birmingham, UK

Junior Vice-president of the Pig Veterinary Society 2005-2006

Member of the organising committee of the 2006 European Society of Veterinary Pathology Conference, Edinburgh, August 2006

Vice-president of the Pig Veterinary Society 2006-2007

President of the Pig Veterinary Society 2007-2008

Member of the DEFRA Veterinary Stakeholder Group for control of Notifiable Diseases in the UK 2007-2008

Senior Vice-president of the Pig Veterinary Society 2008-2009

External examiner for post-graduate students in UK and several other countries.