Meet the Veterinarians

Alison qualified as a veterinary surgeon in 2016. Originally from Dublin, Ireland, she has been practicing in South Wales working solely with small animals. She is passionate about internal medicine. Alison has recently diversified into emergency and critical care medicine and is developing her skills as an out-of-hours veterinary surgeon. In her spare time, she enjoys travelling home to see her friends and family, and going for long walks with her rescue dog Olive. Alison joined FirstVet in March 2021.

Amanda qualified from the Royal Veterinary College in 2008. Since then she has worked exclusively in small animal practice, mainly in the London area. She has experience working in all different types of settings from private practices to charity hospitals and, more recently working as a locum veterinary surgeon. She has a postgraduate certificate in Small Animal Medicine and has a special interest in feline medicine and diagnostic imaging. Outside of work Amanda is a classical pianist and loves anything to do with interior design. She lives in north London with her husband, three children and two black cats!

Anita grew up in sunny Australia and graduated from the University of Sydney in 2009. Anita started out working in first opinion practice in Newcastle and Sydney. She has worked in some of the leading specialist and referral hospitals in Sydney, including Animal Referral Hospital (medicine internship) and University of Sydney Veterinary Teaching Hospital (rotating internship). She has also worked as an emergency clinician for several years. Whilst working full time, she graduated with a Masters in Veterinary Clinical Studies with Murdoch University in 2015. She moved to the UK three years ago to travel extensively in Europe. Anita returned to teaching veterinary students at the Royal Veterinary College (Beaumont Sainsbury Animal Hospital) in between 2017 and 2019. She has since moved back to first opinion private practice, working as a locum in London. Anita particularly loves small animal internal medicine and emergency medicine but has a growing fondness for pain medicine having recently learnt how to do acupuncture. Anita lives with her husband and rescued exotic shorthair cat, Norman, who only has one eye. Outside of work, she enjoys cooking, reading, travel, and spending time with friends and family. Anita joined FirstVet in November 2020.

Elizabeth qualified as a veterinary surgeon in 2012. Originally from Scotland she has been practicing in Lincolnshire since graduation working with a variety of species, big and small. After moving away from mixed practice she gained the GP certificate in small animal medicine in 2016. Currently she works in first opinion practice and emergency/critical care. Outside of work she enjoys cooking, swimming, raising her young family and walking her two labradors.

Carina qualified from the University of Tras-os-Montes e Alto Douro, North of Portugal in 2010. Since then, she has been working in small animal general practice. She has a wide range of interests, including internal medicine, feline medicine, and ultrasonography. Carina is also an Official Vet (OV) for Small Animal Export Certification. Carina regularly volunteers as a veterinary surgeon in Cape Verde islands, Africa. She speaks Portuguese, Spanish, a bit of French and of course English. In her spare time, she likes to spend time travelling and reading. Carina joined FirstVet June 2021.

Cathy qualified from the University of Liverpool in summer 2002, and immediately went to Thailand to participate in a stray dog neutering and wildlife conservation project. This meant that her first official patient after becoming a qualified vet was a sun bear! After returning, and spending a year in practice in the West Midlands, she has been working in small animal practice in the south-east of England since 2004. She was nominated for Petplan Vet of the Year on several occasions from 2013 onwards, and was a member of the winning veterinary practice team for Petplan Practice of the Year in 2018. She was also south-east Chair and trustee of a veterinary charity (BSAVA), which organises CPD - Continuing Education - for vets. In her leisure time she is at the beck and call of her four rescue cats, and enjoys walking, Pilates, gardening, and catching up with friends. Cathy joined FirstVet in May 2021.

Cindy graduated from Murdoch University in sunny Western Australia back in 1999. She worked nights at a busy 24 hour Emergency Veterinary Hospital while studying, and for 2 years after graduation. Cindy then headed to the UK on a working holiday so she could “get the travel bug out of her system” before settling down in Australia. Three visas later, she still has the travel bug, and has settled permanently in the UK! She has worked as a small animal vet in the North, South, East and West of England, as well as in Northern Ireland. Cindy now lives in Lancashire with her black cat Rameses III, who came in as a stray hit-by-car, and stole her heart. When she is not working as a vet, Cindy likes to play the cello, or travel the world. Her veterinary interests have led her to volunteer with sea lions in Australia, sled dogs in Alaska, young national vets in Mongolia, a dog shelter in Romania and the SPCA in Fiji. Cindy joined FirstVet in May 2021.

Danielle graduated from Glasgow university in 2017. She then moved south to the small rural town of Barnard Castle to work, initially in a mixed but mainly small animal practice. After two and a half years she then moved up to Morpeth and now works in a first opinion small animal practice in Newcastle. She has a keen interest in surgery and emergency medicine as well as ophthalmology and is currently working towards her CertAVP in small animal surgery with the university of Liverpool. In her spare time Danielle can be found running or walking her lurcher through the Northumberland countryside, or spending time with her three cats and her little old rescue African pygmy hedgehog. Danielle joined First Vet in October 2021.

Hannah Harvey graduated in 2015 from the Royal Veterinary College. She has worked in several small animal practices in Worcestershire and Nottinghamshire including being part of the vet teams at the Blue Cross and Dogs Trust charities. She has also volunteered with two street dog charities in Sri Lanka. Outside of work Hannah has two young boys who keep her very busy, a small terrier, Bamble, and two rabbits, Figgy and Cinnamon. Hannah joined First Vet in October 2025.

Hannah graduated from University of Glasgow in 2012 and has worked in multiple practices across the UK. She achieved a certificate in small animal surgery in 2017. Hannah has a particular interest in soft tissue and laparoscopic surgery. Outside of work she likes to explore the countryside with her family and cocker spaniel. Hannah joined FirstVet in October 2021.

Janet returned to the UK after graduating from the University of Veterinary Medicine, Slovakia, in 2017. She has worked in general and emergency practice, completed a rotating internship at a referral hospital, and has now passed the examinations to become licensed in the United States. Janet has a Persian cat named Cindy, who grew up travelling between Slovakia and Austria but now prefers long naps on the windowsill. She loves that FirstVet allows her to help pets and their owners in a calm, stress-free environment.

Jelena qualified from the University of Liverpool in 2007. She spent the first few years of her career working with 'all creatures great and small' before concentrating on companion animals for the past decade. She has a passion for being a GP vet and enjoys working with her clients to ensure the best day-to-day care of their pets, with a special interest in the management of chronic conditions in older patients. She also enjoys soft tissue surgery. Her own pets mean the world to her, and she loves nothing better than walking in the Mendips or Brecon Beacons with her dogs. Jelena joined FirstVet in September 2021.

Jennifer graduated with distinction from the University of Edinburgh in 2014. She gained valuable experience in small animal general practice across England and Scotland before pursuing a PhD in Feline Genetics and Genomics at the University of Edinburgh’s Small Animal Hospital and the Roslin Institute, with her research published in Genes.

Following her PhD, Jennifer has locumed in busy small animal practices in Scotland and Ireland. She has a keen interest in feline and canine internal medicine, with a particular passion for caring for geriatric patients.

Jennifer graduated from the Royal Veterinary College, London in 1993. She initially worked with both horses and small animals. After having children, Jennifer moved to working solely in small animal practice. She enjoys all aspects of veterinary practice but particularly loves seeing pet chickens alongside the dog, cats and small furries.

In her spare time, Jennifer likes to go for long walks with her Labrador Jemima and is a keen horse rider.

Kate graduated from RVC and has spent her veterinary career focused on the care of small animals. She is passionate about internal medicine and has completed a CertAVP in the subject, which compliments her love of ultrasonography, inpatient care and complicated medical cases! She relished her role leading a team of small animal veterinary surgeons in a hospital setting, and has always strived to educate and mentor others, which led her to gain her PGCE in Veterinary Education. In her spare time, Kate enjoys foraging with her young son and looking after their various animal family members.

Laura qualified from Murdoch University in Western Australia in 2008. Since then, she has worked in first opinion small animal practice throughout the UK. Laura enjoys all aspects of medicine cases. She has a particular interest in pathology and dermatology, and has recently completed a Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice with a focus on dermatology. Outside of work, Laura loves to travel and is an ardent foodie. She is kept entertained by her three-legged guinea pig, Peggy, and enjoys getting lost in the countryside with her Border Collie, Freya. Laura joined FirstVet in April 2021.

Lu graduated from Liverpool in 2007, having previously gained a Zoology degree there. After a short time in mixed practice, the last 13 years have been spent in Small Animal practice. Lu has an interest in both medicine and surgery and also acupuncture. She particularly enjoys looking after the clients and interacting with the pets. Lu lives in Wiltshire with her husband and two little boys who keep her busy! Over the years they have had a cat, four dogs, exotic pheasants, chickens, hamsters, fish, guinea pigs and a rabbit. With their love of animals and the outdoors, one day they hope to have their dream of a small holding! Lu enjoys spending her spare time at their allotment, in the countryside, at the beach and keeping fit. Lu joined FirstVet in October 2021.

Malu qualified in 2015 and has been working as a veterinary surgeon for small animals and exotics both in the UK and abroad. Malu’s keen interests are neurology, behaviour and wellbeing in all species.

She has a passion for communication and likes the education side of consulting, in which she gets to spread her knowledge to the real people caring for real pets.

Malu loves to spend her spare time outdoors or creating art. She is passionate about making a difference in animal welfare and has collaborated with local charities, having volunteered as an artist and as a veterinarian.

Malu is currently studying to get her MSc degree on animal behaviour and welfare at the University of Edinburgh.

Michelle achieved an undergraduate degree in neuroscience from Smith College in the USA before attending the Royal Veterinary College in London. She qualified in 2009 and completed the rotating Internship in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery at Dick White Referrals in 2011. Michelle always knew she would work with small animals and has developed a keen interest in Internal Medicine and Diagnostic Imaging. She lives in beautiful North Norfolk with her partner and their dog, Bonzo, who is the most popular member of the household! She finds the connection between an owner and patient paramount and the relationship between a vet and their client in service to this. Michelle joined FirstVet in October 2021.

Natasha qualified from the Royal Veterinary College, London in 2015. She went on to complete their Small Animal Rotating Internship in the university hospital for 12 months, before entering first opinion small animal practice in London. Natasha then moved to North Wales to continue working in small animal practice, both first opinion and emergency work. She has started a Certificate with the University of Liverpool in Dermatology, and also particularly enjoys soft tissue surgery and dentistry. Natasha joined FirstVet in May 2021.

Rachel qualified from the Royal Veterinary College, University of London in 1992. She has worked in multiple practices in the South of England, and spent 19 years working in Kent before moving to Devon with her husband and Willow, the tabby cat, in 2019. Rachel has a special interest and further qualifications in dermatology and feline medicine. In her spare time Rachel enjoys yoga and playing tennis. Rachel Sant joined FirstVet in October 2021.

Rebekah graduated from the Royal Veterinary College, London in 2007. After initially working as an exotics vet across Southern Africa where lions and elephants were frequently her patients of the day, she returned to the UK where she has worked in both general practice and referral hospitals for the last 11 years. Focussing her time now in small animal medicine she has developed a keen interest in the fields of Emergency and Critical Care, Neurology and Dermatology. She loves the variety of cases and creatures that veterinary work brings and is dedicated to providing the best standards of care for both her patients, and clients alike. Rebekah joined FirstVet in June 2021.

Rebecca graduated from the Royal Veterinary College, London in 2011 and, after a months volunteering in India, has been working in small animal practice.She has just completed her Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice (Small Animal Medicine) at the University of Liverpool. Rebecca enjoys internal medicine consults and is also keen on diagnostic imaging.Outside of work she enjoy spending time with her 2 children and has 2 terriers and a ginger cat at home too.

Sue qualified from Bristol university in 1984. She has over 40 years of experience caring for small animal pets and loves meeting new clients and their animals. Over the years she developed a particular interest in feline medicine and surgery and holds the ISFM Advanced Feline Behaviour Diploma. Her most recent clinical work was ten years in a cat clinic in Southern England as Clinical Director. Previously she worked in clinics in London including six years at a busy veterinary hospital seeing many emergency cases. She also worked for a spell at the S.P.C.A. clinic in the Fiji Islands and at a local R.S P.C.A. clinic. She is a qualified Official Veterinary surgeon and so has knowledge of exporting and importing pets since Brexit. Her spare time is spent kayaking and sea swimming in her local area and making a fuss of her own cat Colin, now 15 years old, who turned up at the clinic as a young stray. Sue joined FirstVet in February 2021.

I am Australian veterinarian who has been living in the UK for 2.5 years. I am passionate about animal welfare and preventative health and as well as my veterinary studies I have just completed a Masters in Animal Welfare Ethics and Law with the University of Edinburgh. Enthusiastic about accessible, compassionate and proactive veterinary care for every patient.​

Jo is a Registered Clinical Animal Behaviourist (CAB / ABTC) and a full member of the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors (APBC). She has worked with and studied cats, dogs and a variety of other animals. Jo has been actively involved in animal behaviour and welfare research for over 17 years. Having begun her training as a veterinary nurse with the PDSA, she then went on to gain her PhD in Biology (Animal Behaviour and Physiology) from York University in 2002. In 2016 she did further studies with Newcastle University on their MSc in Applied Animal Behaviour and Welfare. Jo has been running a successful behaviour consultancy service since 2014. She is a keen advocate of positive training methods and strongly believes that flexibility, adaptability and understanding are key to helping people achieve a happy and positive relationship with their pets. Jo is looking forward to meeting you and your pets.

Jo began her career with a degree in psychology followed by an MSc in Applied Animal Behaviour and Welfare from the University of Edinburgh in 2005. She trained as a Puppy School tutor and taught puppy classes for twelve years and was the North West area manager. Since 2006 she has been helping owners of dogs and cats in her own behaviour practice. In 2018 she moved to Dogs Trust and worked in Post Adoption support where she provided behaviour advice to over four thousand rescue dog owners. Jo joined Firstvet in 2022 and enjoys helping all kinds of behaviour cases. She specialises in puppy problems, has lots of experience working with aggression, and particularly enjoys talking to owners about their cats! She lives with her daughter, two cats and two very cheeky house rabbits!