After 5 years at Glasgow University Veterinary School, during which I developed an interest in pain and behaviour medicine, I moved south of the border to a large mixed practice in Newcastle upon Tyne. Two years there gave me a great start to my career, built my confidence and let me grow some really positive social relationships. However, it also showed me that my heart was in companion animal medicine much more than farm or equine work. After a brief stint in another local practice, I embarked upon a Masters degree in Applied Animal Behaviour and Animal Welfare, which began in Edinburgh and took me via London, all the way to the jungles of Indonesia! On my return I settled back in the North East, and began offering behaviour clinics, alongside more traditional general practice work and mentoring less experienced colleagues. When an opening came up at R&P for a hospital vet with the scope to offer additional behaviour and pain clinics, I jumped at the chance!  

What motivated you to continue developing your career, and to want to progress within Robson and Prescott? How has R&P/IVC supported you in this?

I've always been motivated to help our patients live lives as pain-free and fulfilling as possible. Part of what drew me to the position at R&P was a mutual excitement about training in veterinary acupuncture so that I could offer this service. Within a few months of starting the role I was in Scotland for intensive training so that I could bring this back to the clinic. Soon after that, I was supported in starting the ISFM Advanced Feline Behaviour Certificate, which I completed in 2018, shortly after the birth of my second child! I was also encouraged to undertake training in coaching and mentoring to support our less experienced colleagues. This started me on a path towards leadership.

Has your perspective of the veterinary industry changed as you've progressed from a solely clinical role, into mixed clinical and senior leadership?

I think the industry has changed quite a bit since my graduation, as well as my perspective changing. I'm learning lots more about people, and how they think! Few veterinary surgeons begin their training because they love business and management, but it's so important - if no one is keeping the business going then we won't get the chance to do what we love - making animals better! However problem solving is definitely a skill easily transferrable between clinical and leadership roles.

What is the best thing about working at Robson and Prescott, and living in the North East of England?

I suspect if you ask most of our colleagues they'll give the same answer - it's the great team. We have fun, we support each other, we do our best for the patients every day. Like any 'family', we have our ups and downs, but they are definitely the reason we love what we do.

What does a typical week look like for you at Robson and Prescott? (if there is such a thing!)

Mondays and Tuesdays you'll mostly find me in the small animal hospital - examining patients, making diagnostic and treatment plans and updating worried caregivers. This usually leads to performing an ultrasound or two, maybe an endoscopy or some radiographs. There will likely be a couple of pain clinic patients having a review or an acupuncture session, and a catch-up with our wonderful hydrotherapist - we tend to share a lot of patients! I'll continue to check in with our great nursing team about those hospitalised patients throughout the day. In the afternoon I might do some export certification for a patient travelling abroad and then try to sit down with one or two of our recent graduates for some support and coaching over a cuppa.

Wednesdays tend to be a bit more of an office day - we will often have a leadership meeting in the morning and then I'll try to catch up on reports, paperwork etc. There's usually a cheeky patient to see at some point though.

On Fridays I will usually be seeing behaviour cases at our Staithes Lane branch, where it's nice and peaceful for our more anxious or reactive patients. It's a tiring but rewarding day.

I still do a share of our 'on-call' rota so depending on the week this might flow into a night on call and a morning of consulting on the Saturday.

Is there any advice you would give to vets just starting out in their careers?

I think the most important thing is to never lose sight of the patient in front of you - just do the best that you can for them. And to remember that when people are angry or argumentative, they're usually worried and frightened, so keep that in mind when deciding how best to communicate with them.