ATU to announce head of Ireland’s newest veterinary programme at Ploughing

Atlantic Technological University (ATU) is set to officially announce Professor Patrick Pollock as its newly appointed Head of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery.

ATU is set to make the announcement at the National Ploughing Championships, in advance of the formal launch of the programme in November.   

This announcement comes as ATU continues to expand its healthcare education offerings, following the successful launch of new Pharmacy and Physiotherapy programmes in August. 

The new five-year Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery (BVMS) programme, open to students from September 2026, will be based at ATU’s Letterkenny campus in Donegal, with one semester delivered at Mountbellew. The programme will be supported by significant investment in veterinary teaching and clinical facilities and will initially offer 40 places. Applications will open via the CAO on the 5th of November 2025 under the CAO code: AU375.

ATU’s BVMS is designed to align with Veterinary Council of Ireland (VCI), European System of Evaluation of Veterinary Training (ESEVT) and the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) professional accreditation standards. 

As professional accreditation involves the assessment of the entire programme of education, final accreditation can only be granted after the first cohort of students graduate from the programme, however the programme has been externally validated and pre accreditation visits with the VCI have been planned for year one and year three of the program prior to the final accreditation process after the first cohort of students complete the course. 

By increasing the number of training places available in Ireland, ATU aims to enhance provision of veterinary education nationally, giving more students the opportunity to study veterinary medicine in the country, and ensuring that Ireland’s communities have access to world class veterinary care. 

Dr Orla Flynn, President of ATU said: “We are proud to be one of the leaders in this national initiative, which will not only expand access to veterinary education in Ireland but also strengthen rural veterinary services and drive innovation in this discipline.

“I’m especially delighted to welcome Professor Pollock to ATU. His exceptional international experience and leadership in veterinary education will be instrumental in shaping the success of our new veterinary offerings. Professor Pollock brings not only clinical and academic excellence, but also a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities in rural and global veterinary practice. His appointment marks a significant step forward in our mission to deliver world-class veterinary education in Ireland.” 

Professor Patrick Pollock, a globally recognised equine surgeon and educator, brings decades of experience to the role. He has led major veterinary hospitals at the Universities of Edinburgh and Glasgow and is the world’s first Professor of Remote and Rural Veterinary Medicine. 

Speaking ahead of the National Ploughing Championship, Professor Pollock said: "ATU Veterinary is more than a vet school - it’s a veterinary community, serving the people and animals of Ireland and beyond. Our graduates will emerge resilient, confident, and ready to make a difference anywhere in the world." 

Dr Joanne Gallagher, Head of School of Veterinary, Agriculture and Environmental Science, added: “This is a transformative moment for veterinary education in Ireland. ATU’s BVMS will support student learning through the delivery of a systems-based, spiral curriculum with early clinical exposure creating new opportunities for students across the country and beyond to study veterinary medicine in Ireland”.

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ATU welcomes students, educators, and the general public to visit the stand to learn more about this exciting new chapter in Irish veterinary education at the National Ploughing Championship at Block 2, Row 9, Stand 197 from Tuesday 16 to Thursday 18 September.