ECC Congress 2023
Speakers
Dates: 9 & 10 November 2023
Venue: Royal Armouries, Leeds
Dates: 9 & 10 November 2023
Venue: Royal Armouries, Leeds
At Vets Now Congress, our speakers are renowned for their expertise, experience and engaging presentation skills, and they are dedicated to sharing their knowledge and insights with other veterinary professionals.
Throughout the event, our speakers will cover a range of topics related to emergency and critical care, including trauma, toxicology, advanced surgical techniques, and more. You’ll learn about the latest research, real-world case studies, and practical tips to help you provide the best possible care to your patients.
During the conference, you’ll have the opportunity to network with other veterinary professionals, share your experiences and insights, and deepen your understanding of emergency and critical care.
We are excited to introduce Dr. Stephen Hearns as the keynote speaker for this year’s Vets Now Congress. Dr. Hearns, a consultant in emergency and aeromedical retrieval medicine, brings vast experience from his work with Scotland’s Emergency Medical Retrieval Service and two decades of voluntary service with the Arrochar mountain rescue team. His career demonstrates a commitment that aligns with our mission of saving pets’ lives.
Dr. Hearns’ unique experiences, from serving as a medical officer on international expeditions to establishing the UK’s first expedition medicine course, highlight his dedication to the field. His dedication to emergency medicine reflects our own devotion to offering the highest standard of care for our patients.
Following theatre training at Manchester Polytechnic University and business training with the Open University, Alan Orme has been working in the training and education sector for over 20 years, 14 of which include working with veterinary team members as both role-player and facilitator.
Alan’s experience as an experiential learning specialist is particularly valuable in developing the skills of individuals to work effectively with clients. Both presenters, along with Geoff Little are Directors of In-Communication.
Although a relatively new company, the three individuals between them have over 60 years’ experience delivering Veterinary Clinical Communication Skills Training. Christine and Geoff are veterinary surgeons, and all three are very aware of the pressures practice team members are subjected to, in today’s work environment.
Visit our programme agenda to learn moreRCVS Advanced Practitioner in Emergency and Critical Care Head of Edge Programmes
MVB CertAVP(ECC) MSc(VetEd) MAcadMEd FHEA FRCVS
Aoife Reid graduated from University College Dublin in 2001. She spent some time in equine, mixed practice and small animal practice. She entered small animal emergency practice in 2006 and has worked in this area ever since.
She joined Vets Now in 2009 and was appointed Head of Edge Programmes in 2014. Aoife has completed her CertAVP (ECC) and is an RCVS Advanced Practitioner in Emergency and Critical Care. Aoife has overall responsibility for the Vets Now Edge induction programmes, including Cutting Edge and AdvantEdge.
She is a Member of the Academy of Medical Educators, a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and has a Masters in Veterinary Education. She also works part-time for Pet Bloodbank UK as part of the Scottish regional blood collection team.
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Advanced Practitioner in Zoological Medicine Avian and Exotic Veterinary Surgeon Great Western Exotics
BSc BVMS CertAVP (Zoo Med) ANZCVS (Avian Medicine and Surgery) MRCVS
Ashton studied in Western Australia and moved to the UK following graduation. Following a short stint in general practice, she completed her ECZM residency in Avian Medicine and Surgery at Great Western Exotics. Following this, Ashton has stayed at Great Western Exotics, working solely with exotics and zoo animals.
Ashton gained her Certificate of Advanced Veterinary Practice in Zoological medicine in 2020, became an Advanced Practitioner in Zoological Medicine in 2021 and gained membership by examination to the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists avian chapter in 2022.
Ashton’s clinical interests include anaesthesia, parrot behaviour and small mammal surgery.
Visit our programme agenda to learn moreEBVS® European Specialist and RCVS-Recognised Specialist at Southern Counties Veterinary Specialists Founder, Director and CPD Provider at Chiron Vet CPD Ltd
BVSc PGDip(VCP) CertAVP DipECVS MRCVS EBVS
Barney qualified from the University of Liverpool in 2013 prior to working in 100% small animal practice for 18-months. Knowing he wanted to become a specialist surgeon, he completed a rotating internship at Southern Counties Veterinary Specialists (SCVS) prior to a second rotating internship at the University of Bristol’s Langford Small Animal Hospital.
He then returned to SCVS to complete a three-year residency during which time he completed the RCVS Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice, before passing his ECVS Diploma in 2021 to become an EBVS® European Specialist and RCVS-Recognised Specialist in Small Animal Surgery.
Barney’s clinical interests are wide-ranging but he particularly enjoys emergency surgery, oncological surgery, thoracic surgery, and fracture repair.
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Beth Thomas RVN VTS (SAIM) – Internal Medicine Nurse, Vets Now Referrals Manchester.
She qualified in 2014 in the lovely county of Yorkshire and then made her way across the Pennines in 2016. Beth has worked in mixed practices, both first opinion and referral before she decided to peruse a full-time position within small animal internal medicine.
Beth gained her Veterinary Technician Specialist (VTS-SAIM) status in small animal internal medicine in 2021 and is currently looking for her next educational adventure! She enjoys emergency medicine, endocrinology and haematological disease.
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BSc(Hons) RVN Cert VNECC NCert (Anaesthesia) VTS (ECC) RECOVER BLS & ALS Instructor
Chloe qualified as a veterinary nurse in 2012, gained her ECC certificate in 2016, and her VTS (ECC) in 2018. She most recently completed her certificate in anaesthesia and is RECOVER BLS/ALS instructor certified. She has a strong background in ECC, having spent 90% of her veterinary career in emergency and critical care positions. Chloe is currently the clinical lead of her 24/7 hospital who also provide imaging and cardiology referral services.
Her main focus over the years has been her continual learning and progression as an ECC nurse; as well as focusing on the level of care we give to our patients and clients. Chloe is impassioned about sharing this knowledge through teaching and developing both vets and technicians within her position at her current hospital to provide gold standard care.
Chloe is on the review board for the RCVS ‘inFOCUS’ veterinary journal and has provided lectures and workshops internationally. Chloe is highly experienced and passionate about all aspects of emergency and critical care nursing, but her specific interests include critical care patients including renal and septic patients, and cardio-respiratory patients. In her downtime, Chloe likes to cook extravagant meals and go for long walks on the South Downs with her husband, children and 2kg chihuahua.’
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European recognised Specialist in Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia
MA VetMB MVM DipECVAA MRCVS
Chris graduated from the University of Cambridge in 2013 and worked both in first opinion and referral practice in north Wales. In 2016 he started a combined residency and master’s programme in anaesthesia and analgesia at the University of Glasgow.
He became a Diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia in 2021. He joined Vets Now Glasgow in 2022 and is enjoying the challenge of helping to set up the anaesthesia service. He is interested in all aspects of small anaesthesia particularly analgesia and perioperative care.
Visit our programme agenda to learn moreChristine Magrath played a significant role in introducing communication skills training into the curricula at UK vet schools, whilst working at the VDS. For this work, Christine was awarded an Honorary Fellowship from the RCVS and presented with the Chiron award from the BVA.
Christine has co-authored book chapters and published articles on the subject and also tutors medical students. Christine was a partner in a small animal hospital in St Helens and is a past President of SPVS.
Visit our programme agenda to learn moreECVECC Resident in Small Animal Emergency and Critical Care at Vets Now Glasgow.
Cormac graduated from University College Dublin in 2017. Following this he completed a rotating internship at Vets Now Hospital Glasgow. He subsequently spent several years working as an emergency clinician for Vets Now. In 2022, Cormac completed an Emergency and Critical Care Internship in Vets Now Glasgow, and the same year he started a residency in Emergency and Critical Care.
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Senior Educational & Child Psychologist
MA (Hons), PGDE, MEdPsy, PhD, DEdCPsy
Craig practises as a Senior Educational & Child Psychologist, as well as a private therapist and consultant for the Warwick Schools foundation. He has 15+ years research and education experience, with strong implementation expertise through skills in psychology, coaching, programme facilitation and therapy. He continues to grow his therapeutic skills at the University of Oxford in Psychodynamic Psychotherapy. Craig is a Chartered Psychologist with the British Psychological Society (BPS), a registered Practitioner Psychologist with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and a board member of the Open Journal for Educational Psychology. His particular specialism is orientated towards the implementation of evidence-based preventative mental health programmes, attachment, trauma-informed practice, reflective supervision, and therapeutics.
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National Clinical Lead in Emergency & Critical Care
VetMB MA CertVA DACVECC DECVECC MRCVS
American, European and RCVS Recognised Specialist in Emergency and Critical Care
Following graduation in 1995 from Cambridge, Dan worked in mixed practice for 5 years, where he gained the RCVS Certificate in Veterinary Anaesthesia. In 2000, he moved to a large hospital-based emergency clinic in Manchester, where he remained for 8 years. In 2008, Dan embarked upon a residency at the RVC, obtaining his American Diploma in Emergency & Critical Care in 2011, followed by his European Diploma in 2015. Since then he was in charge of the ICU at Bristol Vet School before joining Vets Now Referrals at Glasgow in January 2015.
Dan is currently National ECC Lead for Vets-Now although still contributes to the 24-hour Emergency & Critical Care referral service at the Glasgow hospital, as well as to the Vets-Now ECC Residency training program. Dan is interested in all aspects of emergency and intensive care, but particularly in septic patients, animals needing ventilatory support and critically ill cats, as well as in how human factors influence our ability to provide care in difficult or stressful environments. Dan has lectured and demonstrated widely on various aspects of ECC.
Visit our programme agenda to learn moreDan provides an array of insights into human performance gained from his perspective across numerous disciplines. Formally an international athlete, sports coach, pilot instructor, and airline pilot, he now delivers training and support for veterinary teams.
Dan led the Human Factors training programme at a major UK airline and has since developed and delivered non-clinical training to both veterinary and healthcare professionals. He represented Great Britain both as an athlete and a coach and has a great passion for supporting teams so that they can consistently achieve their goals.
Across all fields, Dan has consistently identified that understanding ourselves as humans, both individually and collectively is the basis for delivering positive change.
Since co-founding VetLed in 2016, Dan has collaborated with experts from veterinary medicine, aviation, psychology, and healthcare when developing training material, campaigns, patient safety tools, and cultural initiatives for veterinary teams.
Visit our programme agenda to learn moreAssociate Professor Emergency and Critical Care Medicine Director, Extracorporeal Therapy
VMD, DACVECC
Dr. Erica Reineke is a board-certified veterinary specialist in emergency and critical care medicine. Dr. Reineke attended veterinary school at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine where she also completed her internship and emergency and critical residency.
She joined the faculty at the University of Pennsylvania in 2007 where she is currently an Associate Professor of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine and is the director of the trauma center and extracorporeal therapy service. She is an invited speaker both nationally and internationally speaking on topics related to emergency medicine. Her research and clinical interests include treatment strategies in feline urethral obstruction, shock, and respiratory distress.
Visit our programme agenda to learn moreBVSc CertAVP(SAM) PgCert VPS DipECVIM-Ca(Internal Medicine) MRCVS
Harry graduated from the University of Liverpool in 2014, following which he undertook a rotating internship in the North West of England. Harry undertook a residency in veterinary internal medicine at the University of Liverpool and was awarded European specialist status in 2021.
Harry has published research in internationally recognised scientific journals and spoken at international conferences. His interest areas include nephrology/urology and emergency and critical care.
Harry also works as emergency ambulance crew with the NHS.
Visit our programme agenda to learn moreCulture Lead
BVetMed MRCVS
Dr Jenny Guyat BVetMed MRCVS is a former ECC vet, an ICF-accredited professional coach and Trainer and Culture Lead at VetLed. She is a multi-passionate entrepreneur who also runs a coaching business and a glamping business. After 7 years in clinical practice, Jenny began her diversification journey. She helped establish Pet Blood Bank UK before project managing the opening of 17 new Vets Now clinics in her role as Business Development Manager.
After a year as Head of Customer Development at Vets Now, she joined Vet Dynamics and spent 4 years coaching and mentoring independent practice owners before setting up Vet Harmony in 2017. In April 2023 Jenny joined the VetLed team and is a trainer, coach and mentor on Human Factors in veterinary medicine. She weaves into her work a wide range of tools from her varied background in veterinary practice management, high-level communication skills and her intuitive coaching skills whether working with individuals or with practices.
She lives in Devon with her husband, daughter and 2 cheeky cats, and loves being by the sea!
Visit our programme agenda to learn moreECC Nurse
RVN Cert VNECC VTS ECC
Jess qualified as an RVN in 2013. In 2014, Jess started working in a referral hospital during which time she realised her true love for ECC! Since then Jess has gained her Vets Now ECC certificate and then she went on to qualify as a Veterinary Technician Specialist in Emergency & Critical care in 2018. Jess has a strong interest for anything sepsis, respiratory, trauma or CPR related!
In her downtime Jess enjoys hiking in the mountains, spending time on the farm and shopping!
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Clinical Nurse Manager
RVN VTS(ECC)
Kath qualified as a registered veterinary nurse in 2000 and has worked the majority of her career in emergency and critical care prior to joining the Vets Now Glasgow Hospital. She holds a Veterinary Technician Speciality in Emergency and Critical care.
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Director, Emergency/Critical Care Services Small Animal Clinical Sciences
MS, LVMT, VTS(ECC)
Leslie has been a credentialed veterinary technician for over 30 years. After graduating from the veterinary technology program at SUNY Delhi in 1989, she joined the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine where she is now the Director of Emergency/Critical Care.
Leslie enjoys the unpredictable nature of emergency/critical care and the diverse caseload it provides. She enjoys teaching veterinary and veterinary technician students in the clinical and laboratory settings. Leslie is also a passionate advocate for the veterinary technician profession. She is involved with her state technician association, NAVTA, and serves on the NAVTA Veterinary Nurse Initiative Committee, as well as being a member at large on the AVECCTN board.
Leslie is a RECOVER CPR certified instructor. She also serves as the President of the Tennessee State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners. In addition to her veterinary technician degree, she holds a BS in Business Management and an MS in Management and Leadership.
Visit our programme agenda to learn moreNational Medicine Lead
BVetMed DipACVIM MRCVS
National Medicine Lead for IVC Evidensia UK. Lucie graduated from the RVC in 2004 and following 2 years in practice, returned there to undertake first a rotating internship and subsequently a residency in small animal medicine. Following completion of her residency, Lucie worked for the University of Bristol and Langford Veterinary Services as a teaching fellow and internal medicine clinician.
Lucie has also worked as an Internal Medicine Consultant for a clinical laboratory and was the Head of Education for BSAVA between 2018 and 2021. Lucie joined Vale Referrals as an Internal Medicine clinician in September 2021 and became the IVC Evidensia National Lead for Medicine in June 2022.
Lucie’s clinical interests lie in nephrology, urology and immune mediated disease.
Visit our programme agenda to learn moreMandisa Greene is the Medical Director at Vets Now.
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Specialist in cardiology and Clinical Director at Chestergates Veterinary Specialists
BVSc PhD DipECVIM-CA(cardio) FHEA FRCVS
Liz graduated from the University of Liverpool in 2006. She started out in mixed practice before undertaking a rotating internship at the Queen’s Veterinary School Hospital, University of Cambridge. Following this she embarked on a PhD at the University of Manchester and was awarded her doctorate in 2013 for her thesis on cardiac calcium handling in heart failure and ageing.
After a further period in small animal practice, Liz started her residency in small animal cardiology at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh in 2014. She then joined the University of Liverpool’s Small Animal Teaching Hospital in 2016 as a senior lecturer, and was successful in achieving her specialist status in 2017. She joined Chestergates Veterinary Specialists in 2020, setting up a new cardiology service and is currently Clinical Director.
Liz is also a Director of the Veterinary Thought Exchange. In 2022 Liz was awarded Fellowship of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons for meritorious contributions to clinical practice.
Visit our programme agenda to learn moreTeaching Fellow – School of Veterinary Nursing, Royal Veterinary College
Deputy Co-course director for Certificates in Advanced Veterinary Nursing
Anaesthesia Nurse – Queen Mother Hospital for Animals, Royal Veterinary College
Dip AVN (SA) DipHE CVN DipVN PGCert VetEd FHEA RVN
Niamh Graduated from University College Dublin in 2011 with her diploma in veterinary nursing, she then moved to the UK and obtained her advanced diploma in 2015 from Myerscough College. She obtained her PG Cert in veterinary education in 2019 from the Royal Veterinary College.
She currently works as an anaesthesia nurse at the Queen Mother Hospital for Animals and a Teaching Fellow for the School of Veterinary Nursing at the Royal Veterinary College. She is the module leader and Deputy Co-Course Director for the new postgraduate and graduate certificates in advanced veterinary nursing (anaesthesia designation) offered by the RVC. She is also the module leader for the anaesthesia module of the undergraduate veterinary nursing course.
Niamh is also the editor and a contributor for the new book “The Veterinary Nurses’ Practical Guide to Small Animal Anaesthesia”.
Visit our programme agenda to learn moreSpecialist in Emergency and Critical Care
LMV PgCert CertAVP(ECC) DipECVECC MRCVS
Neus graduated from The Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona in 2009, and then completed a rotating internship at the university before working in a referral hospital for a year in Barcelona.
On moving to the UK, Neus then worked in first opinion practice in Liverpool for two years before beginning an Emergency and Critical Care internship at the Vets Now 24/7 Emergency and Specialty Hospital, Glasgow. In January 2017, Neus began her residency in emergency and critical care with the ECC team in Glasgow. Neus completed her residency in January 2020.
Neus sat and passed her board exams becoming a European Diplomate in Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care in September 2020 and continues to work in Glasgow as a referral clinician in ECC.
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Nutrition Manager
MSc BSc(Hons) RVN CertSAN CertVNECC VTS(Nutrition)
Nicola works as the Nutrition Manager for IVC Evidensia. Nicola graduated from Hartpury College with an honours degree in Equine Science, and subsequently qualified as a veterinary nurse in 2002.
Nicola has written for many veterinary publications and textbooks and is the editor of Aspinall’s Complete Textbook of Veterinary Nursing. Nicola is one of the Consultant Editors for The Veterinary Nurse. Nicola has won the BVNA / Blue Cross award for animal welfare, the SQP Veterinary Nurse of the Year and the SQP Nutritional Advisor of the Year.
Nicola has recently gained her Master’s degree in Advanced Veterinary Nursing with Glasgow University.
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Head of Clinical Nursing
RVN CertVNECC
Racheal qualified as a veterinary nurse in 2003 and subsequently worked in a busy mixed practice. After a short period working 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, where she is a member of the Veterinary and Nursing standards team responsible for the clinical and professional standards within the clinics.
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Area Clinical Manager at Vets Now
Bsc(Hons) VetMB CertAVP(ECC) PhD MRCVS
Visit our programme agenda to learn moreEmergency & Critical Care Referral Clinician
Serena graduated in Naples, Italy in 2014. After enrolling in a rotating internship in a busy referral centre in Novara, she continued to work with their ECC team for two additional years. She then moved to the United Kingdom where she worked as an out of hours vet before joining the Vets Now team in Glasgow, where she completed her ECVECC residency training in 2021.
Serena is currently working in The Vets Now Hospital in Manchester as an ECC clinician. She enjoys all aspect of acute medicine especially respiratory emergencies and sepsis. When not working, she enjoys travelling, concerts and spoiling her cat Luca.
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Lecturer in Emergency and Critical Care
BVSc DipACVECC MVetMed MRCVS
Simon graduated from the University of Bristol in 2011 with degrees in veterinary science and veterinary pathogenesis. After a rotating internship at the Royal Veterinary College and two years in a busy 24 hour small animal hospital, he completed a residency in emergency and critical care at the Royal Veterinary College.
He is currently a lecturer in emergency and critical care at the Royal Veterinary College, London. Clinical and research interests combined include immunomodulation, cardiovascular monitoring, patient side ultrasonography and aspiration pneumonia.
Visit our programme agenda to learn moreRCVS Advanced Practitioner in Emergency and Critical Care Head of Edge Programmes
MVB CertAVP(ECC) MSc(VetEd) MAcadMEd FHEA MRCVS
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 2 years, where he worked in a busy emergency hospital before completing an internship and residency in Emergency and Critical Care at the University of California Davis in 2019. After settling back in the UK, Simon joined the team at 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. He is committed to enhancing the level of veterinary training with the ultimate goal of improving patient care and promoting staff wellbeing.
Visit our programme agenda to learn moreArea Clinical Manager, Area F – Vets Now
BVM&S PgCertSAECC MRCVS
Steph graduated from The University of Edinburgh in 2013, and after 18months in general practice made the transition to ECC and completed the Cutting Edge Programme in 2015. Originally in the Liverpool clinic, she has since worked in various different clinics throughout the company as Principal Vet, and latterly managed the VetsNow clinics in Scotland and the North East of England.
She completed her ECC certificate in 2020 and has been actively involved in didactic training with the Cutting Edge programme, IVC graduate academy and delivering the ECC elective with The University of Surrey.
Visit our programme agenda to learn moreConsultant in Emergency and Aeromedical Retrieval Medicine
MB ChB FRCEM FRCS FRCP FRGS DIMC DRTM
Stephen is a consultant in emergency and aeromedical retrieval medicine. He works with Scotland’s Emergency Medical Retrieval Service. This aeromedical retrieval service delivers pre-hospital critical care for major trauma patients, rural hospital secondary retrievals and major incident responses. He has been an active voluntary member of Arrochar mountain rescue team for 20 years and holds the Mountain Leader Award.
Stephen acted as medical officer on seven international expeditions in mountain, desert, jungle and arctic environments before establishing the first expedition medicine course in the UK. Stephen is attracted to the challenges of emergency medicine in demanding remote environments with limited resources.
Stephen’s main interest is optimising team performance in high pressure situations.
Visit our programme agenda to learn moreOOH Nurse Admin Manager/ Clinical Nurse Manager
RVN BSc (Hons), Cert VN ECC
Stevie-Leigh graduated with honours in 2013 and started working in an Out of Hours Emergency practice in Manchester where she gained experience in emergency and critical care and her love for Out of Hours Nursing and gained her VN Cert ECC in 2014. She joined Vets Now Manchester in 2016 where she progressed to OOH Team Leader in 2019.
In 2021 she progressed to OOH Nurse Admin Manager where she works collaboratively with the Clinical Nurse Manager and Team Leaders to take responsibility for all Nursing and Animal Care Assistant HR related matters in the OOH Setting.
Since July 2023 Stevie took on the role of Clinical Nurse Manager maternity cover at Manchester hospital. Stevie passionately contributes to clinical training and as a RECOVER certified instructor, delivers RECOVER CPR training to the hospital team and surrounding practices.
Visit our programme agenda to learn moreClinical Lead in Radiology at Vet Oracle Teleradiology, Radiologist at Southern Counties Veterinary Specialists
BVetMed CertVDI DipECVDI MRCVS
Tim undertook a residency in diagnostic imaging at the University of Glasgow and became a diplomate of ECVDI in 2011.
He has worked as radiologist in academia and private practice with extensive experience in cross sectional imaging. He is a past chairman of the British and Irish Division of EAVDI, has sat on the organising scientific committee of BSAVA Congress and is an examiner for the RCVS certificate in diagnostic imaging.
He currently splits his time between teleradiology and clinical radiology.
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