In this People Match Podcast, we speak to European specialist in small animal internal medicine Katherine Clarke, at Davies Veterinary Referrals.

We find out all about her journey to passing her European College of Veterinary Internal Medicine diploma exams and hear her advice to any vets out there looking at taking their next career steps.

𝗞𝗔𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗘 𝗖𝗟𝗔𝗥𝗞𝗘 𝗕𝗩𝗦𝗰 𝗕𝗦𝗔𝗩𝗔 𝗣𝗚𝗖𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗦𝗔𝗠 𝗠𝗥𝗖𝗩𝗦 𝗗𝗶𝗽𝗘𝗖𝗩𝗜𝗠-𝗖𝗔

𝗘𝗕𝗩𝗦 𝗘𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗔𝗻𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗲

Katherine graduated from the University of Bristol in 2011. She subsequently worked in a first opinion, small animal practice in Shropshire, and during this time she started her certificate in small animal internal medicine.

After three years at this practice she moved to the midlands to complete an Internship at Willows Veterinary Centre and Referral Service, gaining her certificate during this time.

She joined the team at Davies in May 2018 and completed a three-year residency programme in small animal medicine in May 2021. She attained the European Diploma in Small Animal Medicine in 2022.

On her role at Davies, speaking on its website, she said: “It is a privilege to be a member of the exceptional multidisciplinary team here at Davies. The standard of care and facilities available to our patients are excellent across the whole practice. I enjoy being part of the outstanding internal medicine team.”

In this VN Times podcast editor Lacey Pitcher speaks to Laura Hughes about the importance of conversations surrounding nutrition.

Laura is a veterinary nurse development manager at Purina PetCare who firmly believes that supporting nurses has a direct impact on animal welfare. This conversation includes:

• what the Purina Institute offers nurses

• CentreSquare resources and tools

• a teaser of what Purina will be offering at BVNA congress

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𝗟𝗔𝗨𝗥𝗔 𝗛𝗨𝗚𝗛𝗘𝗦

Laura qualified as a veterinary nurse in 2002 and worked across first opinion, referral, and rescue centre practices before joining Purina. Since then, she has worked in various roles across the Purina business.

Her current role is to support veterinary nurses in practice as well as technical training for the Purina Veterinary Nutrition Partners.

Laura’s aim is to further develop the awareness of Purina’s research and to inspire more people to be passionate about nutrition.

Andrew Wallace had originally planned on farming rather than being a vet, but entered vet school and has never looked back.

From a mixed-practice start, through a spell as a locum here and in New Zealand, he later switched to equine practice and is now director and a vet at Buckingham Equine Vets, which he co-founded in 2011.

In this inspirational podcast, exclusive to People Match, Andrew runs us through his career and outlines 10 key points to help vets young and old find joy of their own in first opinion practice life.

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𝗔𝗡𝗗𝗥𝗘𝗪 𝗪𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗔𝗖𝗘 𝗕𝗦𝗰 𝗕𝗩𝗦𝗰 𝗖𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗘𝗣 𝗖𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗔𝗩𝗣(𝗘𝗟) 𝗣𝗴𝗗𝗶𝗽𝗩𝗣𝗦 𝗠𝗥𝗖𝗩𝗦

Andrew is director and veterinary surgeon at Buckingham Equine Vets, a first opinion and medicine referral practice. He graduated from the University of Liverpool in 2003 and subsequently moved into mixed then equine-specific veterinary practice.

In 2011 he co-founded Buckingham Equine Vets, which is currently a six-vet team and the Equestrian Business Awards’ Vet Practice of the Year.

He is a RCVS certificate holder in equine practice, and most recently in equine lameness, and holds a postgraduate Diploma in Veterinary Professional Studies. He is passionate about helping others achieve happiness in first opinion practice.

Emergency and critical care is a relatively young specialism, but one that will only continue to grow – and that has benefited from its own dedicated congress for two decades.

Racheal Marshall, head of clinical nursing at Vets Now, ECC specialist Simon Hagley and Arlene Connor, national referral nursing lead for IVC Evidensia’s UK referrals division, discuss their ECC experiences and what’s in store for the congress’ 20th anniversary.

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𝗥𝗔𝗖𝗛𝗘𝗔𝗟 𝗠𝗔𝗥𝗦𝗛𝗔𝗟𝗟 𝖱𝖵𝖭 𝖢𝖾𝗋𝗍𝖵𝖭𝖤𝖢𝖢

Head of Clinical Nursing, Vets Now

Racheal qualified as a vet nurse in 2003 and subsequently worked in a busy mixed practice. After a short period as a lecturer in veterinary nursing she joined Vets Now in 2008 as a clinic nurse, before becoming principle nurse manager and then district manager.

Racheal achieved the Veterinary Nursing Certificate in Emergency and Critical Care in 2011 and took up her current position as head of clinical nursing at Vets Now in 2014. She is a member of the veterinary and nursing standards team, responsible for clinical and professional standards within the clinics.

Racheal was an elected member of RCVS VN Council (2016-2020), was VN Council chair and sat on RCVS Council (2017-2020) and was chair of the VN Futures Board (2019).

𝗦𝗜𝗠𝗢𝗡 𝗛𝗔𝗚𝗟𝗘𝗬 𝖡𝖵𝖲𝖼 𝖣𝗂𝗉𝖠𝖢𝖵𝖤𝖢𝖢 𝖣𝗂𝗉𝖤𝖢𝖵𝖤𝖢𝖢

Specialist in Emergency & Critical Care, Referral Clinician in ECC, Vets Now Manchester

Simon obtained his veterinary degree from the University of Bristol in 2011, after which he moved to Australia to complete a rotating internship. He returned to the UK for two years, where he worked in a busy emergency hospital before completing an internship and residency in Emergency and Critical Care at UC Davis in 2019. After settling back in the UK, Simon joined Vets Now Referrals in Manchester and is currently clinical lead for the hospital.

Simon has written several book chapters for core veterinary critical care textbooks and is a lecturer and examiner for post-graduate ECC certificate qualifications in the UK.

His interests include all areas of acute medicine with a specific focus on fluid therapy, electrolyte and glucose derangements and shock.

𝗔𝗥𝗟𝗘𝗡𝗘 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗡𝗢𝗥 𝖱𝖵𝖭 𝖢𝖾𝗋𝗍𝖵𝖭 𝖤𝖢𝖢

National Referral Nursing Lead (UK Referrals Division), IVC Evidensia

Arlene qualified as a VN in 2003 and subsequently worked in a small animal practice in central Scotland. She joined Vets Now 24/7 Emergency and Specialty Hospital in Glasgow in 2013 as a surgery nurse, before becoming Clinical Nursing Manager in 2014.

In 2017, Arlene became head of clinical operations for Vets Now’s referral hospital sites across the UK, which saw her represent referrals within Vets Now as a member of the Veterinary and Nursing Standards group and at the company’s clinical strategy board.

In 2021 Arlene moved to a similar role at IVC Evidensia, within its newly created referral division, taking the lead on the referral nurse strategy for the UK. Within her team, Arlene is responsible for the clinical and professional standards within the hospitals and is part of the team responsible for opening new IVC Evidensia referral hospitals in the UK.

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𝗦𝗣𝗢𝗡𝗦𝗢𝗥𝗘𝗗

Vets Now is the leading provider of emergency veterinary care for small animals in the UK. With 60 out-of-hours clinics nationwide, Vets Now is committed to delivering a responsive emergency and critical care service for cats, dogs, and other small animals.

It also partners with more than 1,400 veterinary practices across the UK to provide its clients with a seamless out-of-hours emergency care service.

On 9-10 November in Leeds, Vets Now delivers the UK’s leading date in the ECC CPD calendar, its emergency and critical care congress, which will deliver up to 75 hours of CPD to veterinary professionals looking to enhance their knowledge in this field.

For tickets and full information about the congress, visit https://www.vets-now.com/congress/

With a growing number of practices being acquired by corporate groups, the age-old tradition of buying into an independent practice is slowly becoming a thing of the past, leaving many ambitious young vets with little option but to start from scratch.

In this VBJ First Opinions Podcast, editor James Westgate talks to a young couple who did just that – building their “dream practice” from the ground up, with a little help from VetDynamics along the way.

Claire Smith and Josh Willmot from Beacon View Veterinary Clinic join First Opinions to discuss the ins and outs, and ups and downs, of going it alone – from the inauspicious start that saw them open their doors to the public just a month before COVID forced them closed again, to the pride at building a successful, thriving business under the most difficult of conditions.

They are joined by veterinary business expert Alan Robinson, who offers his thoughts on the processes of starting a practice and some important tips for those considering this route for themselves.

Many veterinary students are about to graduate as new vets, and are looking to secure their first roles in the profession.

In this People Match Podcast, Fiona Stephens, head of veterinary connections at VBD (publishers of Vet Times) discusses the current jobs market, when it’s optimum to start the search, tips for CVs and how to prepare for interview.

A video version of this interview, in which Dr Stephens reviews a selection of CVs to demonstrate the dos and don’ts of CV writing, is available at http://bit.ly/3lFrJcI

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𝗙𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗔 𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗣𝗛𝗘𝗡𝗦 𝗕𝗩𝗦𝗰 𝗠𝗥𝗖𝗩𝗦

Dr Stephens has worked in the veterinary industry for more than 25 years and is skilled in veterinary medicine, communication, recruitment, HR, mentoring, business development and leadership. Having finished a degree in physiology from the University of Oxford, she then embarked on her veterinary studies and graduated from the University of Bristol in 1996.

She worked in clinical practice for 18 years, with roles spanning large mixed practices, high-end small animal hospitals and charity work in the Bahamas. She has a particular interest in imaging, and completed a Postgraduate Certificate in Diagnostic Imaging. Having enjoyed being a clinical director, in 2014 she moved into management full-time and worked initially as a regional director, and for three years headed up recruitment for a large, family- owned veterinary group in the south-east.

Dr Stephens joined VBD in October 2021. Now, as head of veterinary connections, she will be bringing a veterinary voice to VBD as she looks forward to engaging with veterinary professionals at all levels, helping VBD achieve its aim to improve the veterinary workplace by providing relevant information and support to the veterinary profession. She is happy to be hear from anyone who can help to further develop VBD’s value and role within the veterinary profession.

Skin cytology is quick, inexpensive, non-invasive and can be applied to several lesion types.

To accompany her article in issue 28 of Vet Times, dermatology specialist Irina Matricoti joins us for this Vet Times Podcast to explain more.

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“Skin cytology – practical tips for first opinion practitioners” was published in Vet Times Volume 53, Issue 28, Pages 6-10, and is available at https://www.vettimes.co.uk/article/skin-cytology-practical-tips-for-first-opinion-practitioners/

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𝗜𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗔 𝗠𝗔𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗖𝗢𝗧𝗜, 𝗗𝗩𝗠 𝗗𝗶𝗽𝗘𝗖𝗩𝗗

Irina obtained her degree in 2008 from the University of Bologna. Afterwards, she worked in small animal practice and, during 2008-10, completed a postgraduate programme in veterinary cytology.

Between 2016 and 2019, she completed a residency programme in veterinary dermatology and became a European-certified specialist. Irina works as a dermatology specialist in private practice and at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of the University of Bologna.

Increasingly milder winters and wetter summers are already benefiting some parasites, while vet professionals will also need to be across the increased risks of novel vector-borne pathogens posed by a warming climate.

Ian Wright discusses possible impacts and effects of climate changes on UK pet parasites in this Vet Times Podcast.

𝗜𝗔𝗡 𝗪𝗥𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧, 𝗕𝗩𝗠𝗦 𝗕𝗦𝗰 𝗠𝗦𝗰 𝗠𝗥𝗖𝗩𝗦

Ian is a practising vet and co-owner of The Mount Veterinary Practice in Fleetwood, Lancashire.

He has a master’s degree in veterinary parasitology and is head of the European Scientific Counsel Companion Animal Parasites (ESCCAP) UK and Ireland, guidelines director for ESCCAP Europe, and editorial board member for Companion Animal and VetCPD Journal.

An accompany article to this podcast was due to appear in issue 31 of Vet Times (Volume 53, Issue 31), and will be online at www.vettimes.co.uk in due course.

In this episode of the VN Times podcast we join Congress Times editor Tom Jackson as he speaks with BVNA president Charlotte Pace, who provides some practical advice for veterinary nurses who may wish to develop the knowledge and skills required to successfully and confidently support cardiology patients in their care.

Charlotte looks at the definition of heart disease – which presents differently in different species – before going on to discuss the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine’s consensus statement guidelines for the classification, diagnosis, and management of cardiomyopathies in cats and dogs.

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𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗟𝗢𝗧𝗧𝗘 𝗣𝗔𝗖𝗘 𝗕𝗔(𝗛𝗼𝗻𝘀), 𝗥𝗩𝗡, 𝗩𝗧𝗦(𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆-𝗜𝗠), 𝗣𝗚𝗖𝗲𝗿𝘁(𝗩𝗲𝘁𝗘𝗱), 𝗙𝗛𝗘𝗔

Charlotte qualified as a veterinary nurse in 2003, while working in practice in London. In the same year she moved to the RVC to work as a medicine nurse. In 2006, she became the dedicated cardiology nurse for the RVC Queen Mother Hospital for Animals.

In 2010, Charlotte passed American veterinary technician exams and became the first nurse to hold the cardiology qualification outside the US. Since 2012, she has taught veterinary nurses on both degree and diploma programmes.

Charlotte returned to veterinary practice in 2015 – she works at Vets4Pets in Cambridge – and continues to write and lecture on veterinary cardiology.

She is BVNA president for 2022-23.

Despite a high prevalence in older cats, degenerative joint disease is still relatively underdiagnosed and, therefore, undertreated.

To discuss OA consideration, we welcome Sarah Caney to this Vet Times Podcast.

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𝗦𝗔𝗥𝗔𝗛 𝗖𝗔𝗡𝗘𝗬 𝗕𝗩𝗦𝗰 𝗗𝗦𝗔𝗠(𝗙𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲) 𝗣𝗵𝗗 𝗠𝗥𝗖𝗩𝗦

Internationally recognised as 1 of 12 RCVS specialists in feline medicine working in the UK, Sarah has always enjoyed seeing a mixture of first opinion and referral feline medicine patients, and has a particular interest in elderly cat medicine.

Sarah founded Vet Professionals in 2009 and has authored a number of the Vet Professionals Caring for a Cat series of books, including Caring for a Cat with Hyperthyroidism and Caring for a Cat with Chronic Kidney Disease.

Sarah regularly conducts online research with cat owners and has published widely in prestigious international journals.

A regular contributor to Vet Times, she wrote “Degenerative joint disease: diagnosing arthritis in cats” (Volume 53, Issue 12, Pages 6-10), which is now available online at www.vettimes.co.uk/article/degenerative-joint-disease-diagnosing-arthritis-in-cats/

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𝗦𝗣𝗢𝗡𝗦𝗢𝗥𝗘𝗗

This podcast is sponsored by Zoetis, manufacturer of Solensia.

Many (61%) of cats above 6 years of age have osteoarthritis¹. If left untreated, the pain can become worse over time. Help owners spot the signs of feline osteoarthritis and assess more easily if their cat is hiding or hurting, with our online osteoarthritis checklist, at https://bit.ly/44jgI2v

For more information on Solensia, speak to your Zoetis Account Manager or visit www.solensia.co.uk

𝖱𝖤𝖥𝖤𝖱𝖤𝖭𝖢𝖤

𝟣. 𝖲𝗅𝗂𝗇𝗀𝖾𝗋𝗅𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖫𝖨 𝖾𝗍 𝖺𝗅 (𝟤𝟢𝟣𝟣). 𝖢𝗋𝗈𝗌𝗌-𝗌𝖾𝖼𝗍𝗂𝗈𝗇𝖺𝗅 𝗌𝗍𝗎𝖽𝗒 𝗈𝖿 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗉𝗋𝖾𝗏𝖺𝗅𝖾𝗇𝖼𝖾 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖼𝗅𝗂𝗇𝗂𝖼𝖺𝗅 𝖿𝖾𝖺𝗍𝗎𝗋𝖾𝗌 𝗈𝖿 𝗈𝗌𝗍𝖾𝗈𝖺𝗋𝗍𝗁𝗋𝗂𝗍𝗂𝗌 𝗂𝗇 𝟣𝟢𝟢 𝖼𝖺𝗍𝗌, 𝘝𝘦𝘵 𝘑 𝟭𝟴𝟳(𝟥): 𝟥𝟢𝟦-𝟥𝟢𝟫.