Alun Williams

About me

including a photo I like

Alun Williams is Head of Department of Pathology and Infectious Diseases, The Royal Veterinary College, University of London. He graduated from Glasgow University Veterinary School (BVMS) in 1985 and after a short time in practice undertook investigations of the pathogenesis of Streptococcus suis type 2 meningitis in the pig at Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, leading to the award of PhD (1989). Alun then studied the pathogenesis of Haemophilus influenzae type b meningitis in children at University Department of Paediatrics, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford before moving to BBSRC/MRC Neuropathogenesis Unit, Edinburgh in 1990. He was appointed Senior Lecturer (1997) and then Reader (2000)at University of Glasgow Veterinary School and moved to Royal Veterinary College in 2003.

more to follow....

the Royal Veterinary College, London
CL Davis DVM Foundation
Association for Veterinary Teaching and Research Work

What I hope to get out of this project

a UK-wide (at first) on-line learning environment in veterinary pathology for undergraduate veterinary students, other science-based students and post-graduate students

My best learning experience

multiplication bingo

and why it was good

interactive learning in 1970s that was fun - and a forerunner of so much of today's learning philosophies

Pathology that interests me

mechanisms of death and destruction....and how cells/tissues/organs/whole animals combat it

Pathology that is difficult

Everyone finds some things more difficult than others. Try considering "difficulty" as just a state of mind. My 8-year-old son understands the basic concepts of pathology! The important thing initially is to understand the overarching concepts and it helps if one knows the normal structure and function of particular organs and tissues. Causes of pathology lead to abnormal structure, abnormal function and result in sub-clinical disease or clinical signs. There are a limited number of types of insult that can occur to any animal/organ system and an equally limited number of ways in which tissues can respond. Dysfunction of that organ/tissue results in a restricted number of clinical signs. Appreciate that and all that one needs is to build up the details....