An interview with Alison Hammond, winner of the Petplan Vet of the Year 2024
April 26, 2024
As our final piece leading up to World Veterinary Day on Saturday 27th April, we’re pleased to bring you an interview with the Petplan Awards 2024 Vet of the Year, Alison Hammond.
When she was nominated as a finalist in the Vet of the Year category at the Petplan Veterinary Awards 2024, Alison Hammond humbly stated she hoped, whatever the outcome, that she could continue to enjoy her work and contribute to the profession.
Alison has been in general practice since she graduated in 1986 and has been in her current role at Mainstone Vets for just over 23 years. There she has contributed to the practice achieving Cat-Friendly Status, promoting Positive Pawprint best practice and organising activities as Community Liaison with local schools.
At the Petplan awards ceremony, which took place in Manchester, she went on to be crowned with Vet of the Year for 2024. We have no doubt she will continue to contribute positively to her practice and the profession itself by simply being a part of it.
Following the award win, we sat down with Alison to get her thoughts on receiving it, her career so far and what advice she would give to those entering the veterinary profession in the future.
What does the award win mean to you?
It is very rewarding to receive affirmation from your peers in the profession, that your approach to being a vet, and how you treat your patients, clients and colleagues is appropriate and applauded, but it has also been quite humbling to receive congratulations from so many clients, accompanied by some lovely comments.
Who do you credit as having a positive influence in your career?
The way my career has developed has been the result of many factors, some work related and some not, but I have always tried to learn something from everyone I have worked with, whether they were vets, nurses, support staff, vet students or even work experience students. My former employer, Ken MacLeod, supported me for over 20 years, and from him I learnt a tremendous amount, about both the science and the art of being a vet surgeon.
What’s next for you? Are you working towards anything personally or for the practice in general?
I will continue to work with my colleagues to improve the services and care we provide for our patients, and support the team.
What one piece of advice would you give to graduate vets or those thinking of going into veterinary in the future?
Have confidence in your abilities, but never be afraid to ask for help or support, not just in relation to clinical work. The veterinary world is a rewarding yet very challenging one, but you will be part of a very supportive community.
To learn about the other Petplan winners and finalists from IVC Evidensia, take a look at the full story here.
When she was nominated as a finalist in the Vet of the Year category at the Petplan Veterinary Awards 2024, Alison Hammond humbly stated she hoped, whatever the outcome, that she could continue to enjoy her work and contribute to the profession.
Alison has been in general practice since she graduated in 1986 and has been in her current role at Mainstone Vets for just over 23 years. There she has contributed to the practice achieving Cat-Friendly Status, promoting Positive Pawprint best practice and organising activities as Community Liaison with local schools.
At the Petplan awards ceremony, which took place in Manchester, she went on to be crowned with Vet of the Year for 2024. We have no doubt she will continue to contribute positively to her practice and the profession itself by simply being a part of it.
Following the award win, we sat down with Alison to get her thoughts on receiving it, her career so far and what advice she would give to those entering the veterinary profession in the future.
What does the award win mean to you?
It is very rewarding to receive affirmation from your peers in the profession, that your approach to being a vet, and how you treat your patients, clients and colleagues is appropriate and applauded, but it has also been quite humbling to receive congratulations from so many clients, accompanied by some lovely comments.
Who do you credit as having a positive influence in your career?
The way my career has developed has been the result of many factors, some work related and some not, but I have always tried to learn something from everyone I have worked with, whether they were vets, nurses, support staff, vet students or even work experience students. My former employer, Ken MacLeod, supported me for over 20 years, and from him I learnt a tremendous amount, about both the science and the art of being a vet surgeon.
What’s next for you? Are you working towards anything personally or for the practice in general?
I will continue to work with my colleagues to improve the services and care we provide for our patients, and support the team.
What one piece of advice would you give to graduate vets or those thinking of going into veterinary in the future?
Have confidence in your abilities, but never be afraid to ask for help or support, not just in relation to clinical work. The veterinary world is a rewarding yet very challenging one, but you will be part of a very supportive community.
To learn about the other Petplan winners and finalists from IVC Evidensia, take a look at the full story here.
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