Introducing Mark Pass, a former winner of the AMTRA SQP of the year award, an OTC Gold Standard SQP and the author of one of AMTRAs most recent CPD modules - Lungworm Dictyocaulus viviparus in Cattle.

Mark has been a RAMA for nearly 20 years and is dedicated to championing the positive role and impact RAMAs can have across the animal medicines industry. In a profession facing into a skills shortage, he also believes the expertise RAMAs bring can really help support the profession. He shares with AMTRA his own personal RAMA journey.

Mark’s current role is as a Field Trainer - Ruminant and Equine at Zoetis, which he started in February 2024. He says: "My new field-based role within Zoetis is to provide commercial and technical support to our customers on the health, diagnostics and disease control for cattle, sheep and horses. I support SQPs and vets by providing technical and commercial advice and product training, focusing on recommendations and creating value for customers."

Mark started his journey in the animal health industry back in January 2005 when his career led him to Beeston Animal Health, a sister company of the Willows Veterinary Group where went on to qualify as an R-SQP in 2006 & achieved Gold Standard status in 2013.

Mark says: "I was the lead AMTRA RSQP (RAMA) for Beeston Animal Health and the Willows Vet Group in Cheshire. Whilst the majority of my customers were dairy farmers, I also served and advised plenty of beef, sheep, pig & poultry farmers, as well as equine and companion animal customers. As lead R-SQP at Beeston and the Willows I looked after some 400 ovine customers, with approximately 45,000 sheep, 400 dairy farms with 70,000 cows as well as 7000 suckler cattle. As an R-SQP I played a vital role, alongside vets, improving health and performance of herds and flocks alike whilst also increasing efficiency and cost effectiveness on farm. The role is year-round and involved daily commitment to providing pro-active advice and guidance to farmers."

Sharing how AMTRA RAMA training has made a difference to his career Mark says: “I take my continuing professional development very seriously and I’m always trying to be current in my knowledge and thinking. When the gold standard SQP scheme was first introduced I was one of the very first SQP’s to join, and I’ve continued to be an active gold standard SQP ever since.

• In 2013 he won the Over The Counter ‘Farm SQP of the Year 
  
• In 2014 he won the coveted main Over The Counter SQP of the year award
• He was named as a finalist for the ‘Animal Health Advisor’ of the year award 2018 in the prestigious Food and Farming industry awards was the runner-up for the award in a category where SQPs were judged alongside vets
• During 2020, Mark was named as a finalist for ‘Farm Educator’ of the year award in the Ceva Animal Welfare Awards
• In 2022, he was named the winner of the Nutritional Expertise Award at the National SQP Awards in London

When asked if he feels the role of a RAMA (SQP) is fully understood across both the profession and the public, Mark believes there is more to do to raise awareness and understanding. He says: Unfortunately, I don’t feel the role is understood enough by the public; this may be down to the name of the qualification (SQP), and I don’t feel the terminology of RAMA has caught on yet as much as it should have done. A lot of hard work has been done to promote the RAMA name to the public, and I’m very hopeful that we are getting there but these things take time."

"However, in recent years I do feel it’s a lot more understood within the profession but there is still work to do to ensure that the true impact SQPs/RAMAs can make is properly capitalised upon, especially in a profession facing into a huge skills shortage."

"One thing that can help is for AMTRA RAMAs to wear their pin badges – which we all get once we gain our qualification. This can provide a great talking point, especially with the public and is a great way to start a conversation and explain what a RAMA is. I would always say where your badge with pride. I certainly do!"

When it comes to areas of special interest for Mark, being part of the development of a flock health performance monitoring programme, is something he is very proud of as he explains: “About 13 years ago, I was instrumental in setting up the Willows & Beeston Sheep Club, a joint venture between the Willows Vet Group and Beeston Animal Health, providing a comprehensive flock health and performance monitoring programme for local sheep farmers, that has had national industry recognition. This was a scheme that I was heavily involved in and worked very closely alongside the designated vet providing advice to clients regularly.

"We created bespoke annual flock plans with routine FWEC plus drench checks and client meetings throughout the year with industry professionals, which I played a key part in organising. The advice provided covered nutrition, parasite control, sheep health, vaccinations, lambing, tupping, synchronisation protocols, ram MOTs, correct use of medicines, and much more. Two areas of particular interest to me include anthelmintic resistance and eradication of sheep scab in the UK. These two areas have led to my increased involvement with SCOPS (Sustainable Control of Parasites in Sheep)."

"Over the last few years, I’ve been a member of the farm animal clinical board at VetPartners, whilst I was also involved in training vets on parasitology within the group. More recently, I have been working on the COWS steering group as an active member."

Today, in his new role as a ‘Field Trainer in Ruminant and Equine’ at Zoetis, Mark continues his great work and is excited to be in a role that in his words will ‘ give me a real chance to spread my knowledge to a national health audience’.

"I take my role as a R-SQP (RAMA) very seriously and am acutely aware of the huge responsibilities it entails. In my previous role I always endeavoured to give the best possible advice to each customer. I have strong moral compass and will always strive to promote responsible use of medicines and best practice. More recently in 2022, I completed a masters in veterinary pharmacy at Harper Adams University, qualifying with a Master of Science (MSc) degree with merit. I believe the Veterinary Pharmacy Course has enabled me to further solidify my skillset in this area whilst improving and expanding my knowledge base to enhance the service I can provide in my current role with Zoetis."

"I’m proud to be a trained and trusted guardian of the correct use of all UK licensed POM-VPS & NFA-VPS animal medicines. I along with other SQP’s sit alongside practicing veterinary surgeons in providing a full animal health service to animal keepers - a role that is incredibly fulfilling."

For more information on becoming a RAMA/SQP visit: What is a RAMA (SQP)? - AMTRA