People

Core

Clinical Skills

Clinical & advisory

Name	Prof Stephen May
Position	Deputy Principal & Vice Principal (Teaching)
Extension	6270
Email	smay@rvc.ac.uk

Stephen May – Academic Director LIVE Centre, Professor of Equine Medicine and Surgery and Vice-Principal for Teaching at The Royal Veterinary College, University of London.

Stephen graduated in veterinary science from Cambridge University in 1980. His clinical interests include the diagnosis and treatment of lameness problems in the horse. In this regard, he is particularly interested in equine radiology, and bone and joint disease, in all its aspects, including surgical and medical therapy, physiotherapy and rehabilitation, generally. He has obtained RCVS Diplomas in Veterinary Radiology and Equine Orthopaedics, and is recognised by the RCVS as a Specialist in Equine Surgery (Orthopaedics), and by the ECVS as a Specialist in Large Animal Surgery. His research interests are centred on the inflammatory mediators associated with various equine diseases, particularly cartilage degeneration in equine osteoarthritis. In 2003, Stephen was awarded Fellowship of the RCVS for meritorious contributions to learning.

Stephen is currently Deputy Principal and Vice-Principal for Teaching at the Royal Veterinary College, responsible for academic leadership in all areas of teaching, learning and assessment, and for the College’s teaching and learning strategy. In 2002, he was responsible for the award of £250,000 by HEFCE FDTL-4 and Department of Employment for the Optimising Computer-Assisted and Traditional Assessment in Veterinary Education (OCTAVE) project. The project maximises the use of computer-aided assessment, in formative and summative examinations, and has led to the development of objective structured veterinary practical examinations. In 2005, he was responsible for the College’s successful bid for £4.9 million from HEFCE to develop the Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning in Lifelong and Independent Veterinary Education (LIVE), the centrepiece of which is the recently completed state-of-the-art clinical skills facility, enabling the College to educate outstanding professionals who are capable and committed independent learners from the moment they enter university until they retire.

Publications

Equine Surgery
Diagnostic Imaging
Arthritis
Education

May, S.A. and Wyn-Jones, G. (1984) Repair of a proximal radius fracture in a horse. Veterinary Record 115, 516-518.

May, S.A., Wyn-Jones, G. and Brouwer, G.J. (1985) Disuse osteopaenia predisposing to a long bone fracture in a horse. Equine Veterinary Journal 17, 329-331.

Wyn-Jones, G., Peremans, K.Y. and May, S.A. (1985) Case of quadrilateral flexural contracture in a 10-year-old pony. Veterinary Record 116, 685-687.

Wyn-Jones, G. and May, S.A. (1986) Surgical arthrodesis for the treatment of osteoarthrosis of the proximal intertarsal, distal intertarsal and tarsometatarsal joints in thirty horses: A comparison of four different techniques. Equine Veterinary Journal 18, 59-64.

May, S.A. (1986) The treatment of lameness. Equine Veterinary Journal 18, 348-350.

May, S.A., Duncan, A.W. and McDonald, S. (1986) Remodelling of a long-standing non-union of a canine femoral shaft. Veterinary Record 119, 207-208.

Gerring, E.L. and May S.A. (1987) Repair of radius fractures: a measure of progress. Equine Veterinary Journal 19, 89-90.

May, S.A. and Wyn-Jones, G. (1987) Identification of hindleg lameness. Equine Veterinary Journal 19, 185-188.

Harrison, L.J., May, S.A. and Edwards, G.B. (1991) Surgical treatment of open splint bone fractures in 26 horses. Veterinary Record 128, 606-610.

Harrison, L.J., May, S.A., Richardson, J.D., Mills, G. and Dixon, P. (1991) Conservative treatment of four cases of incomplete long bone fracture of a hindlimb in four horses. Veterinary Record 129, 133-136.

Cauvin, E.R.J., Tapprest, J., Munroe, G.A., May, S.A. and Schramme, M.C. (1999) Endoscopic examination of the tarsal sheath of the lateral digital flexor tendon in horses. Equine Veterinary Journal 31, 219-227.

Weller, R., Maierl, J., Bowen, I.M., May, S.A. and Liebich, H.-G. (2002) The arthroscopic approach and intra-articular anatomy of the equine temporomandibular joint. Equine Veterinary Journal 34, 421-424.

Arkell, M., Archer, R.M., Guitian, F.J. and May, S.A. (2006) Evidence of bias affecting the interpretation of the results of local anaesthetic nerve blocks. Veterinary Record 159, 346-349.

Weller, R., Pfau, T., Babbage, D., Brittin, E., May, S,A. and Wilson, A.M. (2006) Reliability of conformational measurements in the horse using a three-dimensional motion analysis system. Equine Veterinary Journal 38, 610-615.

Weller, R., Pfau, T., May, S.A. and Wilson, A.M. (2006) Variation in conformation in a cohort of National Hunt racehorses. Equine Veterinary Journal 38, 616-621.

May, S.A. and Baker, J.R. (1985) A giant cell tumour (osteoclastoma) of the tibia in a horse. Equine Veterinary Journal 17, 477-479.

May, S.A., Wyn-Jones, G. and Peremans, K.Y. (1986) The importance of oblique views in radiography of the equine limb. Equine Veterinary Journal 18, 7-13.

May, S.A., Wyn-Jones, G., Church, Sally, Brouwer, G.J. and Jones, R.S. (1986) Iopamidol myelography in the horse. Equine Veterinary Journal 18, 199-202.

Church, Sally, Baker, J.R. and May, S.A. (1986) Gastric retention associated with acquired pyloric stenosis in a gelding. Equine Veterinary Journal 18, 332-334.

May, S.A. and Wyn-Jones, G. (1987) Contrast radiography in the investigation of sinus tracts and abscess cavities in the horse. Equine Veterinary Journal 19, 218-222.

May, S.A., Patterson, Luise J., Peacock, Philippa J. and Edwards, G.B. (1991) Radiographic technique for the pelvis in the standing horse. Equine Veterinary Journal 23, 312-314.

May, S.A. and Harrison, L.J. (1994) Radiography of the hip and pelvis. Equine Veterinary Education 6, 152-158.

May, S.A. (1996) Radiological aspects of degenerative joint disease. Equine Veterinary Education 8, 114-120.

Weller, R., Cauvin, E.R.J., Bowen, I.M. and May, S.A. (1999) Comparison of radiography, scintigraphy and ultrasonography in the diagnosis of a case of temporomandibular joint arthropathy in a horse. Veterinary Record 144, 377-379.

Boswell, J C, Schramme, M C, Wilson, A M and May, S A (1999) Radiological study to evaluate suspected scapulohumeral joint dysplasia in Shetland ponies. Equine Veterinary Journal 31, 510-514.

Weller, R., Taylor, S., Maierl, J., Cauvin, E.R.J. and May, S.A. (1999) Ultrasonographic anatomy of the equine temporomandibular joint. Equine Veterinary Journal 31, 529-532.

Weller, R., Livesey, L., Maierl, J., Nuss, K., Bowen, I.M., Cauvin, E.R.J., Weaver, M., Schumacher, J. and May, S.A. (2001) Comparison of radiography and scintigraphy in the diagnosis of dental disorders in the horse. Equine Veterinary Journal 33, 49-58.

Groth, A.M., May, S.A., Weaver, M.P. and Weller, R. (2009) Intra- and interobserver agreement in the interpretation of navicular bones on radiographs and computed tomography scans. Equine Veterinary Journal 41, 124-129.

May, S.A., Lees, P., Higgins, A.J. and Sedgwick, A.D. (1987) Inflammation: a clinical perspective. Veterinary Record 120, 514-517.

Lees, P., Higgins, A.J., Sedgwick, A.D. and May, S.A. (1987) Applications of equine models of acute inflammation. Veterinary Record 120, 522-529.

Sedgwick, A.D., Lees, P., Dawson, J. and May, S.A. (1987) Cellular aspects of inflammation. Veterinary Record 120, 529-535.

Sedgwick, A.D., Hooke, R.E., Lees, P. and May, S.A. (1987) Modulation of lymphocyte activating factor activity (interleukin-1 like activity) and acute phase proteins in pertussis-induced air pouch inflammation by muramyl dipeptide. Agents and Actions 21, 113-120.

May, S.A., Hooke, R.E. and Lees, P. (1988) The effect of drugs used in the treatment of osteoarthrosis on stromelysin (proteoglycanase) of equine synovial cell origin. Equine Veterinary Journal Suppl. 6, 28-32.

May, S.A., Hooke, R.E. and Lees, P. (1988) Bone fragments stimulate equine synovial lining cells to produce the inflammatory mediator prostaglandin E2. Equine Veterinary Journal. Suppl. 6, 131-132.

May, S.A., Hooke, R.E. and Lees, P. (1988) Identification of a connective tissue degrading enzyme in bovine inflammatory exudate. Research in Veterinary Science 45, 259-261.

May, S.A., Hooke, R.E. and Lees, P. (1989) The identity of the E-series prostaglandin produced by equine chondrocytes and synovial cells in response to a variety of stimuli. Research in Veterinary Science 45, 54-57.

May, S.A., Hooke, R.E. and Lees, P. (1990) The characterisation of equine interleukin-1. Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology 24, 169-175.

Alwan, W.H., Carter, S.D., Bennett, D., May, S.A. and Edwards, G.B. (1990) Cartilage breakdown in equine osteoarthritis: Measurement of keratan sulphate by an ELISA system. Research in Veterinary Science 49, 56-60.

Lees, P., May, S.A., Cambridge, H., Sedgwick, A.D., White, D., Hooke, R.E., Russell, C.S., Dawson, J. and Andrews, M.J. (1990) Pathophysiology of Inflammation and Joint Diseases: Mechanisms, Mediators and Medicines. Veterinary Pharmacology Toxicology and Therapy in Food Producing Animals.
Unipharma, Budapest. pp. 197-204.

May, S.A., Hooke, R.E., and Lees, P. (1991) Late stage mediators of the inflammatory response: Identification of interleukin-1 and a casein-degrading enzyme in equine acute inflammatory exudates.
Research in Veterinary Science 50, 14-17.

May, S.A., Hooke, R.E. and Lees, P. (1991) Isolation of equine peripheral blood mononuclear cells using Percoll. Research in Veterinary Science 50, 116-117.

Alwan, W.H., Carter, S.D., Dixon, J.B., Bennett, D., May, S.A. and Edwards, G.B. (1991) Interleukin l like activity in synovial fluids and sera of horses with arthritis. Research in Veterinary Science 51, 72-77.

May, S.A., Hooke, R.E. and Lees, P. (1991) Adverse conditions in vitro stimulate chondrocytes to produce prostaglandin E2 and stromelysin. Equine Veterinary Journal 23, 380-382.

May, S.A., Hooke, R.E. and Lees, P. (1992) Interleukin-1 stimulation of equine articular cells. Research in Veterinary Science 52, 342-348.

May, S.A., Hooke, R.E. and Lees, P. (1992) Inhibition of interleukin-1 activity by equine synovial fluid.
Equine Veterinary Journal 24, 99-102.

May, S.A. and Knottenbelt, D.C. (1992) Tumour necrosis factor: Physiology and Pathology. Equine Veterinary Education 4, 62-65.

May, S.A., Hooke, R.E. and Lees, P. (1992) Equine chondrocyte activation by a variety of stimuli. British Veterinary Journal 148, 389-397.

May, S.A., Hooke, R.E. and Lees, P. (1992) Species restrictions demonstrated by the stimulation of equine cells with recombinant human interleukin-1. Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology 30, 373-384.

Spiers, S., May, S.A., Bennett, D. and Edwards, G.B. (1994) Cellular sources of proteolytic enzymes in equine joints. Equine Veterinary Journal 26, 43-47.

Spiers, S., May, S.A., Harrison, L.J., Bennett, D. and Edwards, G.B. (1994) Proteolytic enzymes in equine joints with infectious arthritis. Equine Veterinary Journal 26, 48-50.

May, S.A., Hooke, R.E., Peremans, K.Y., Verschooten, F. and Lees, P. (1994) Prostaglandin E2 in equine joint disease. Vlaams Diergeneeskundig Tijdschrift 63, 187-191.

May, S.A. (1994) Degenerative joint disease (osteoarthritis, osteoarthrosis, secondary joint disease).
In: Manual of Small Animal Arthrology. Eds. J.E.F. Houlton & R.W. Collinson. BSAVA Publications, Cheltenham. pp.62-74.

Osborne, A.C., Carter, S.D., May, S.A. and Bennett, D. (1995) Anticollagen antibodies and immune complexes in equine joint diseases. Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology 45, 19-30.

May, S.A. (1995) Infectious agents and joint diseases. British Veterinary Journal 151, 229-231.

May, S.A. (1995) Tumour necrosis factor, equine arthritis and clinical research. Equine Veterinary Journal 27, 160-161.

Carter, S.D., Osborne, A.C., May, S.A. and Bennett, D. (1995) Rheumatoid factor, antiheat shock protein (65 KDa) antibodies and anti-nuclear antibodies in equine joint diseases. Equine Veterinary Journal 27 , 288-295.

Bird, J.L.E., May, S.A. and Bayliss, M.T. (2000) Nitric oxide inhibits aggrecan degradation in explant cultures of equine articular cartilage. Equine Veterinary Journal 32, 133-139.

Bird, J.L.E., Platt, D., Wells, T., May, S.A. and Bayliss, M.T. (2000) Exercise-induced changes in proteoglycan metabolism of equine articular cartilage. Equine Veterinary Journal 32, 161-163.

Frean, S.P., Gettinby, G., May, S.A. and Lees, P. (2000) Influence of interleukin-1β and hyaluronan on proteoglycan release from equine navicular hyaline cartilage and fibrocartilage. Journal of Veterinary Pharmacology and Therapeutics 23, 67-72.

Viitanen, M., Bird, J., Miasi, P., Smith, R., Tulamo, R.M. and May, S.A. (2000) Differences in the concentration of various synovial fluid constituents between the distal interphalangeal joint, the metacarpophalangeal joint and the navicular bursa in normal horses. Research in Veterinary Science 69, 63-67.

Viitanen, M., Bird, J., Schramme, M., Smith, R., Tulamo, R. and May S. (2001) Synovial fluid studies in navicular disease. Research in Veterinary Science. 71, 201-206.

Viitanen, M.J., Wilson, A.M., McGuigan, P., Rogers. K.D. and May, S. (2003) The effect of foot balance on the intra-articular pressure in the distal interphalangeal joint in vitro. Equine Veterinary Journal 35, 184-189.

Viitanen, M., Bird, J., Smith, R., Tulamo, R.M. and May, S.A. (2003) Biochemical characterisation of navicular hyaline cartilage, navicular fibrocartilage and the deep digital flexor tendon in horses with navicular disease. Research in Veterinary Science 75, 113-120.

Goodman, S.A., May, S.A., Heinegard, D and Smith, R (2004). Tenocyte response to cyclical strain and transforming growth factor beta is dependent upon age and site of origin. Biorheology 42(5): 613-628.

Baillie, S, Pierce, S E and May, S A (2010) Fostering integrated learning and clinical professionalism using contextualised simulation in a small-group role-play. Journal of Veterinary Medical Education 37(3), 248-253.

May, S.A. and Head, S.D. (2010) Assessment of technical skills: best practices. Journal of Veterinary Medical Education 37(3), 258-265

Baillie, S., Crossan, A., Brewster, S., May, S., Mellor, D. (2010) Evaluating an Automated Haptic Simulator Designed for Veterinary Students to Learn Bovine Rectal Palpation. Simulation in Healthcare, in press.

Tomlin, J.L., Brodbelt, D.C. and May, S.A. (2010) Veterinary students’ understanding of a career in practice. Veterinary Record, 166, 781-786.

Tomlin, J.L., Brodbelt, D.C. and May, S.A. (2010) Influences on the decision to study veterinary medicine: Variation with sex and background. Veterinary Record, 166, 744-748.

Dale, V.H.M., Pierce, S.E. and May, S.A. (2010) The importance of cultivating a preference for complexity in veterinarians for effective lifelong learning. Journal of Veterinary Medical Education 37(2): 199-205.

Dale, V.H.M., Pierce, S.E. and May, S.A. (2010) The role of undergraduate research experiences in producing veterinary scientists. Journal of Veterinary Medical Education 37(2):164-172.

Baillie, S, Shore, H., Gill, D. and May, S.A. (2009) Introducing peer assisted learning into a veterinary curriculum: A trial with a simulator. Journal of Veterinary Medical Education, 36, 174-179.

Welsh, P., Jones, L., May, S., Nunn, P., Whittlestone, K. and Pead, M. (2009) Approaches to defining day-one competency: A framework for learning veterinary skills. OIE Scientific and Technical Review 28, 771-776.

Dale, V., Head, S. and May, S.A. (2008) Students’ first impressions of a new, more integrated curriculum with increased self-directed study time. In Gourlay, L. and Saxby-Smith, S. (Eds.) Excellence in Teaching Conference 2008, King’s Institute of Learning and Teaching, pp. 21-33.

Dale, V., Palmer, D., and May, S.A. (2008) Instilling a research ethos into an undergraduate science programme. In: Struthers, J., Laidlaw, A., Aiton, J., Humprhis, G. and Guild, S. (Eds.) Research-Teaching Linkages: enhancing graduate attributes. Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary Medicine. Quality Assurance for Higher Education, St Andrews, pp. 76-78.

May, S. (2008) Modern Veterinary Graduates Are Outstanding, but can they get better? Journal of Veterinary Medical Education 35 (4), 573-580.

Dale, V., Sullivan, M. and May, S.(2008) Adult Learning in Veterinary Education - Theory to Practice. Journal of Veterinary Medical Education 35(4), 581-588.

Pirkelbauer, B., Pead, M., Probyn, P. and May, S. (2008) LIVE: The Creation of an Academy for Veterinary Education. Journal of Veterinary Medical Education 35 (4), 567-572.

Tomlin, J., Pead, M. and May, S. (2008) Veterinary Students’ Attitudes toward the Assessment of Clinical Reasoning Using Extended Matching Questions. .Journal of Veterinary Medical Education 35 (4) 612-621.

Tomlin, J., Pead, M. and May, S (2008) Attitudes of Veterinary Faculty to the Assessment of Clinical Reasoning Using Extended Matching Questions. Journal of Veterinary Medical Education. 35 (4) 622-630.

Baillie, S., Crossan, A., Forrest, N. and May, S.A. (2008) Developing the ‘Ouch-o-meter’ to teach the safe and effective use of palpation. In: Haptics: Perception, Devices and Scenarios. Springer, Berlin. pp.912-917

Gray, C.A., Blaxter, A.C., Johnston, P.A., Latham, C.E., May, S., Phillips, C.A., Turnbull, N. and Yamagishi, B (2006) Communication education in veterinary education in the United Kingdom and Ireland: The NUVACS project coupled to progressive individual school endeavours. Journal of Veterinary Medical Education 33, 85-92.

May, S.A. (2003) The Royal Veterinary College, London.Journal of Veterinary Medical Education 30, 215-217.