...BSAVA & VIN enter a new era
It is with great pleasure that the British Small Animal Veterinary Association and the Veterinary Information Network (VIN) announce the beginning of a new relationship that will see BSAVA members enjoy access to the most up-to-date veterinary information and the ability to share their experiences in a safe, reliable online environment.
Two of the most important roles of BSAVA are to advance veterinary knowledge and to bring the profession closer together. When BSAVA looked to extending the way it provided CPD and generating a stronger sense of community within its membership, it became clear that the service we envisioned was nearly identical to what VIN has been providing colleagues worldwide since 1991. Thus, the Officers of BSAVA have been meeting and discussing with VIN co-founder and President, Paul D. Pion, DVM, DipACVIM (Cardiology) and the rest of the VIN team to work out how we can combine our expertise, experience and information. From the start, discussions focused upon how to bring the excellent online content and community that VIN offers with a British ‘flavour’ to BSAVA members – without BSAVA expending huge resources trying to “reinvent the wheel” that VIN has built so well.
A crucial element of the relationship is the view we share about impartiality and a non-commercial approach to information and community. From the start, VIN and BSAVA agreed that the independence of an advertising and sponsor-free environment is critical to the maintenance of a trusting and engaging community. In addition, in keeping with our shared commitment to investing in the future of our profession, we agreed that all veterinary students and academics would be offered free membership.
The result of our discussions is GrapeVINe™. This will offer all that VIN offers, plus a BSAVA membership community. Over time, GrapeVINe™ will evolve in ways that bring a true British character to the already vibrant content and community that VIN provides. And, with the help of the BSAVA membership, we will grow the already impressive family of VIN consultants to include more UK specialists.
Clearly, this is a long-term project that is still in its early days. To ensure that the quality of service is never impacted by too rapid growth, GrapeVINe™ will be rolled out in a staged and controlled process to the membership, beginning with new graduates from the class of 2009.
All final-year student members of BSAVA will be able to continue to access VIN free of charge from the time they graduate until the end of the year as part of their bonus time of being a BSAVA member, and then when they renew as First-Year Qualified members in January they will benefit from the exclusive access to all the VIN content with GrapeVINe™.
Quote from Ed Hall of BSAVA
"The launch of GrapeVINe™ fulfils the mission of BSAVA to provide the best in science and education, and in an exciting and new format. My hope is that in the future, when asked how one knew how to save the life of a pet with a complex problem, we will say it was made easier because of the ideas and support we received from BSAVA and worldwide colleagues ‘on the GrapeVINe™’"
Quote from Paul Pion of VIN
"All of us at VIN are proud to be working with BSAVA. GrapeVINe™ is the culmination of over 4 years of discussions with the BSAVA leadership. From the start, all of us at VIN envisioned VIN as a platform upon which many organizations could combine resources to make 1 plus 1 equal much more than 2. However, I’ll freely admit that after many years of trying, I had become sceptical that any veterinary association could embrace the open, somewhat chaotic social and information environment and advertising and sponsorship-free governance that is a core philosophy of the VIN community. It has been my honour and pleasure to get to know BSAVA and the BSAVA leadership. I believe that together we will demonstrate that collaboration based upon what is best for our profession, long-term – as opposed to what is best for the individual or individual organization, today, is the route to ensuring that our profession remains veterinary owned and governed and able to best serve the medical and emotional needs of our clients and patients – and the bond they share."
What is GrapeVINe™?
■ A partnership between the British Small Animal Veterinary Association and the Veterinary Information Network
■ More than a website – an online home for BSAVA members, offering access to the most up-to-date veterinary information and linking them to the collective knowledge and experience of colleagues – both specialists and generalists – from the UK and worldwide veterinary community
■ A safe online home where BSAVA members can share information.
■ A forum for discussing veterinary matters – diagnostic and therapeutic challenges, emerging diseases, and non-clinical issues – in a supportive and friendly online community
■ A way of achieving life-long learning without having to leave your home or office
■ A place to belong. A place to find information and collegial support – whenever you need it
