The AMTRA MAH (Marketing Authorisation Holder)
examination is the industry’s own training and qualification scheme. The
syllabus and training has been provided by AMTRA in liaison with NOAH’s
Education Committee. It is a requirement for all NOAH member company
representatives promoting POM-V, POM-VPS and NFA-VPS medicines and also
for non-member companies in the NOAH Compendium to take the examination
and be entered on the AMTRA Register. It is a very high level
academically recognised qualification and holders are ideally placed to
provide high quality advice to veterinarians, SQPs, pharmacists and
other users of animal medicines.
(1)TOP STUDENTS’ BIOGRAPHIES
AMTRA MAH Examinations April 2009
1st : Emma Southgate, Novartis Animal Health Limited (Overall
winner)
I am currently working for Novartis Animal Health on the companion
animal side. I joined Novartis in May 2008 and have been managing
clinics in parts of Essex and north east London. Recently I have been
promoted to Senior Territory Manager and I hope to move into Key Account
Management.
I am a qualified veterinary nurse and moved into sales just over 4
years ago after working as a small animal nurse in Essex. Working in the
industry satisfies both my love of science and animals and I find this
continually drives me to want to learn more.
I have a great passion for pug dogs and in my spare time I enjoy
walking my own pug George and catching up with family and friends.
2nd : Margaret McGuinness, Vetoquinol UK Limited
I have been with Vetoquinol UK Ltd since July 2007 as Territory
Manager for Scotland, having previously spent 14 years as a Medical
Representative and Field Trainer. My job is very varied as it involves a
lot of travelling, often to beautiful parts of the country, calling on
both Small Animal and Large Animal Vets. Vetoquinol sell a wide range of
products, including anti-infectives, anaesthetics, NSAIDs and
nutraceuticals for both companion animals and cattle. As well as the
commercial aspects of the job, I enjoy the educational side - I do lots
of in-practice training meetings and my company provides well-respected
educational support for many of its disease areas, including very
popular CPD meetings.
I enjoyed the challenge of doing the AMTRA training, and even the
exam! I particularly liked the week-long course at Harper Adams,
especially the lab sessions which brought it all to life, and felt that
this was important in helping to consolidate what I knew previously,
what I had learned via product training at Vetoquinol and what was in
the AMTRA manual.
I live by the coast in the West of Scotland and enjoy walking,
painting, my 2 cats and occasionally borrowing the odd dog or children
for the day!
AMTRA MAH Examinations July 2009
1st : Melanie Read, Boehringer Ingelheim Limited (Overall
runner-up)
I graduated with an honours degree in Applied Biology in 2001, since
then I have had a variety of research roles, with my main interest being
microbiology. I was fortunate enough to spend three months in Brazil
researching zoonotic diseases towards a PhD. Before joining Boehringer
in May 2008, I worked in 'human' pharmaceutical sales for Merck Serono,
so had a lot to learn in joining the veterinary sales industry as a
territory manager. I am responsible for the small animal portfolio
covering East Anglia, but in terms of disease areas, focus mainly on
cardiology and osteoarthritis. The AMTRA exam has enabled me to have a
better understanding of the veterinary industry and to appreciate the
huge array of species and diseases that vets and nurses have to deal
with on a daily basis. I live north of Cambridge with my husband of 18
months and enjoy travelling whenever possible.
2nd : Christopher Lawrence, Boehringer Ingelheim Limited
I am currently working for Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica as a
territory manager covering mainly the Midlands and parts of
Lincolnshire.
I predominantly look after companion animal practices promoting a
range of POM-V products in the disease areas of osteoarthritis and heart
disease and also a number of nutraceuticals.
I graduated from Sheffield Hallam University in 2005 with a 2:1
degree in human biology. After university I worked for Wyeth
Pharmaceuticals as a medical representative before joining Boehringer
Ingelheim in May 2008.
I currently live in the centre of Birmingham and outside of work I
enjoy going to the gym, playing snooker and spending time with friends
and family.
Undertaking the AMTRA MAH course vastly increased my knowledge of
animal disease and physiology and I found the course interesting and
enjoyable.
AMTRA MAH Examinations September 2009
1st : Mary Else, Novartis Animal Health Limited (Overall 3rd)
Born & bred in Derbyshire on a small beef farm, dad always insisted
that there was no job for me at home, so I’d better go and get some
“papers” and a job elsewhere!
Graduated from Nottingham University in 1991, with BSc (Hons) in
Agricultural Science, before working in Australia on a dairy & arable
farm.
I spent the last 18 years working around the country in the
agricultural trade both in nutrition and animal health, with Youngs
Animal Health, Rumenco and Cornwall Farmers Ltd, before settling down
with a Welsh sheep farmer. This prompted a move to my current position
as Key Account Manager with Novartis Animal Health Ltd in South Wales
from July 2008.
I look after the farm animal side of the business (sheep & cattle
only) as part of the Welsh team, and deal with the agricultural trade,
selling Novartis’ range of Endo and Ectoparasiticides. Stock numbers are
high, farmers are “shrewd” and prices & competition are keen, coupled
with the challenge of dealing with the variety of characters who trade
here life is rarely dull!
Having already experienced one round of AMTRA exams as an SQP, I
wasn’t particularly looking forward to another lot to gain my MAH,
especially as everyone else on the course at Harper Adams seemed to be
15 years or so younger than me! Passing it was a real relief, the
qualification does give you more confidence in talking “technical” when
the need arises and certainly helps me to run SQP CPD training sessions
for those all important points!
2nd : Ashley Theasby, Merial Animal Health Limited
I am employed by Merial Animal Health as the Territory Manager for
the South West of England covering Devon and Cornwall. My role involves
managing both trade and vet customers in relation to our production
animal product portfolio.
I graduated from the University of Exeter in 2001 with a BSc.
Geography degree. Prior to working for Merial (where I have been for the
last 12 months) I was employed in the horticulture industry and have
greatly enjoyed the new learning opportunities and challenges presented
with the change from plant to animal science.
I recently completed building my own house so have only just begun to
enjoy the luxury of spare time again which I fill by keeping fit at the
gym and surfing and reading a good book”.
