The Team

Nicki graduated from Bristol Vet School in 2000, and stayed on to undertake an internship and then residency in veterinary anaesthesia. She completed her PhD on pain processing and analgesia in 2012 and holds the RCVS Certificate and Diploma in Veterinary Anaesthesia and the European Diploma in Veterinary Anaesthesia. She has worked in both private and university referral hospitals in senior anaesthesia positions and currently is an independent veterinary anaesthesia consultant. 

Nuala graduated from the University of Edinburgh Veterinary School and completed a residency in veterinary cardiology at the University of Pennsylvania, USA.

Nuala obtained her ACVIM Diploma in Veterinary Cardiology in 2002 and has spent the past 16 years working in both academia and private practice in UK, France and Switzerland. She is a regular speaker at both national and international conferences, as well as CPD courses and has published widely in the field. Nuala is happy to advise on all areas of cardiology. Her areas of particular interest are canine dilated cardiomyopathy, heart failure and cardiac arrhythmias. Nuala co-founded Virtual Veterinary Specialists in 2017.

Pedro graduated from Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas de Abel Salazar – University of Porto (Portugal) in February 2005. In 2012, he obtained his ECVIM-CA (Cardiology) Diploma after completing a residency training programme at Clinica Veterinaria Gran Sasso (Milan, Italy) and École Nationale Veterinaire de Lyon (Lyon, France).

In 2012, he moved to the UK to establish and lead the cardiology team at Davies Veterinary Specialists. His areas of interest include interventional cardiology and the diagnosis and treatment of cardiac arrhythmias. In 2015, he established an electrophysiology (EP) laboratory at Davies Veterinary Specialists for the invasive study and treatment of arrhythmias in dogs and cats which remains one of only four veterinary EP centers in the word.

He has co-authored the textbook Guide to Canine and Feline Electrocardiography published by Wiley in 2018, among other published work. He is also a regular speaker at national and international congresses and has been involved in lecturing the Improve International Cardiology Certificate since 2013.

Brigite graduated from the University of Porto in 2008. Soon after graduation, she moved to the UK where she completed a small animal medicine and surgery internship.

In 2010, she was awarded the Leonardo da Vinci scholarship from the University of Porto, which allowed her to do an internship in small animal cardiology at the Small Animal Teaching Hospital of the University of Liverpool. In 2012, Brigite started a cardiology residency at the same institution and once this was completed she became a lecturer in small animal cardiology. In 2016, Brigite moved to Willows Veterinary Centre and referral service, one of the busiest interventional cardiology centers in the UK. In 2021, Brigite moved back to Portugal and she is currently working at the Centro de Cardiologia Veterinaria do Porto. Brigite joined the VVS team in July 2021.

Brigite obtained her master’s degree in cardiovascular pathophysiology in 2012 and her ECVIM-CA(Cardiology) diploma in 2016. She is currently working on her PhD, investigating the effect of rate control in dogs with atrial fibrillation.

Rachel graduated as a veterinary surgeon from Edinburgh University and entered small animal practice where she soon developed an interest in small animal dentistry. Since 2010, her clinical practice has been limited to small animal dentistry and oral surgery; providing clinical referral work, continuing education and consultancy services. In 2016 she passed the European Veterinary Dental College Board examinations to become a Diplomate and European Veterinary Specialist in veterinary dentistry. She was granted RCVS Specialist status in 2017.

She has lectured nationally and internationally and published original research and review articles in journals, textbooks and on-line platforms. Rachel is regularly involved in on-line and in-house teaching for under- and post-graduate vets and nurses across the country.

Andrea graduated from Hanover Veterinary School in 2002, followed by a research doctorate in Pharmacology. Having spent some years in first opinion practice in the UK, Andrea then undertook her residency training in Dermatology at the Royal Veterinary College (RVC). She remained at RVC as a Specialist Dermatologist before moving to private referral practice at Davies Veterinary Specialists in Hertfordshire.

Andrea enjoys looking after skin patients and their owners, to manage these often chronic and frustrating cases. Her special interests are atopic disease, with emphasis on food hypersensitivity and ear disease, as well as the feline patient. She has a particular interest in progressing the understanding of the immunology of the intestine and skin. Andrea enjoys teaching undergraduate students as well as veterinary colleagues on CPD courses and has lectured widely in the UK and in Europe.

Christelle graduated from the University of Pretoria, South Africa, in 2006 and spent time in small animal private practice before returning to complete a residency in Diagnostic Imaging. She obtained her ECVDI diploma in Diagnostic Imaging in 2018.

Christelle has spent the past the 3 years in academia at the University of Pretoria, where she has been supervising resident training in diagnostic imaging, lecturing undergraduate students in radiology and performing clinical imaging duties.

She now does mainly private consultation work as a radiologist and is actively involved in all imaging modalities.

Her favourite imaging modality is ultrasound, which she enjoys teaching to both her residents and vets in practice alike.

Stephanie Sorrell graduated from the RVC and undertook her residency in Internal Medicine at Edinburgh University. She is a European Internal Medicine Specialist and RCVS Feline Specialist. She has a passion for teaching and has lectured nationally at conferences and CPD events as well as publishing original research papers in journals and textbooks. She is interested in all aspects of internal medicine, particularly feline geriatric medicine, endocrine disease and emergency and critical care. As well as working for VVS, Stephanie also provides locum internal medicine and feline medicine cover to private and university-based referral practices.

Sarah is CEO of Vet Professionals and has worked as a feline-only vet for more than twenty years. She is a University of Bristol graduate and also completed her feline medicine residency and PhD at this institution. Sarah spent four years as a lecturer in feline medicine before leaving to pursue a career in private practice. Sarah has always enjoyed seeing a mixture of first opinion and referral feline medicine patients and has a particular interest in geriatric feline medicine.

Sarah is internationally recognised and one of only fourteen veterinary specialists in feline medicine working in the UK. Sarah founded Vet Professionals in 2009 and has authored and co-authored a number of the Vet Professionals ‘Caring for a cat’ series of books. Sarah has published widely in prestigious international journals and has been an invited speaker to veterinary conferences around the world. Sarah has worked for many years with the UK cat charity, International Cat Care (ICC) and the International Society of Feline Medicine.

Susana obtained her veterinary degree in Porto (Portugal) and after spending nearly four years in first opinion practice she decided to pursue specialist training. She undertook an internship at a private practice in the UK and then did her residency at the University of Bristol. Susana became an internal medicine diplomate in 2010 and then started working in a private referral centre in the UK.

As well as consulting for VVS, Susana is an Idexx internal medicine consultant and a speaker for the Improve International Small Animal Medicine post-graduate certificate.  Susana enjoys all of the different areas of internal medicine but has a special interest in respiratory medicine and gastroenterology.

Stefanie graduated in 2010 from the University of Szent István in Budapest. Originally from Germany, she started working in several referral centres including the University of Munich in Germany until 2014. She then decided to start a residency program in small animal internal medicine in a private clinic near Munich. Stefanie has lived in the UK since 2018 and as well as consulting for VVS, she currently works in a big multidisciplinary referral centre near London.

Stefanie is very passionate about all aspects of internal medicine and especially enjoys endocrinology, gastroenterology, nephrology, haematology and hepatology. She is passionate about helping to ensure specialist consults are easily accessible to everyone and loves offering a practical approach to any veterinary problems you might face! In her free time, she is a keen sportswoman and loves spending time with her toddler son.

Tom graduated as a vet from the University of Bristol in 1996 and spent 4 years in mixed private practice in the southwest gaining the RCVS Certificate in Small Animal Medicine in 1999. He then moved to the University of Glasgow as a resident in clinical oncology and haematology where he became Senior Clinical Oncologist.

Tom was awarded the RCVS Diploma in Small Animal Medicine in 2004 and his MSc in Clinical Oncology from the Cancer Research UK Institute for Cancer Studies at Birmingham University in 2005. In 2004 Tom and his wife Claire started a medicine/oncology referral service in the south west which they grew to a large multidisciplinary referral service. They sold Cave Veterinary Specialists in 2018 and Tom now devotes his vet time to working for VVS, VPG, peripatetic referral work and as a trustee for Animal Cancer Trust. He also runs a 265 acre sheep and beef farm on the edge of Exmoor which prioritises wildlife and conservation. Tom has a particular interest in medical oncology and haematology but enjoys all aspects of canine and feline internal medicine.

Simona graduated from the University of Milan, Italy. During her studies she developed an interest in neurology, having rescued a cat with head trauma that became epileptic. After graduation, she won a scholarship for a neurology internship at the University of Athens, Georgia, United States, after which she moved to the University of Hannover, Germany, to complete a neurology residency. Simona gained the Diploma of the European College of Veterinary Neurology (DipECVN) in 2005 and also completed a PhD on Neuronal Dysplasia as a cause of refractory seizures in dogs and cats.

Simona has worked in UK referral practices as a Neurology Specialist since 2005. She has a passion for teaching and has taught Foundation and Higher Education Students for the past 7 years. She has also lectured in several national and international congresses.

Lisa obtained her veterinary degree in Lisbon (Portugal) and then spent almost five years in first opinion practice. During this time Lisa developed a passion for neurology. She moved to Switzerland where she completed a neurology residency at the University of Bern. Lisa became a Diplomate in Veterinary Neurology in 2011 and then completed a PhD in inflammatory CNS diseases. Lisa has been working in the UK since 2015.

As well as consulting for VVS, Lisa works as a Clinical Neurologist at the University of Cambridge Veterinary School. She enjoys teaching clinical neurology to veterinary students, interns and residents in her current role and has been an invited speaker at several international veterinary conferences. Lisa has a special interest in general brain diseases.

Clare graduated from the University of Bristol in 1994, and worked for a year in mixed practice, before starting her specialist training in small animal medicine at the University of Edinburgh’s Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies. She obtained the RCVS Diploma in Small Animal Medicine in 1999 as well as a Masters in Transfusion medicine. Clare worked as a clinician at the University of Glasgow from 2000 and was awarded a personal Professorship in Small Animal Medicine and Oncology in 2010. She was the Clinical Director of the University of Glasgow’s Small Animal Hospital for 6 years and worked within the University’s Oncology service for 11 years.

Cristina obtained her Veterinary Medicine Degree from the University of Évora in Portugal. She completed a Small Animal Medical and Surgical Internship followed by a residency in Comparative Veterinary Ophthalmology at the Autonomous University of Barcelona in Spain. In 2012 she gained her European Diploma in Veterinary Ophthalmology and started working in private practice in Portugal and UK. She is an invited Professor at Évora University and a regular speaker at both national and international conferences, CPD courses and post-graduate certificate courses (BSAVA, Improve and Autonomous University of Barcelona). Cristina has a special interest in eyelids, corneal and intraocular surgery, and neuro-ophthalmology.

Debra obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in geological engineering from the Colorado School of Mines and worked as an environmental engineer prior to a career change to veterinary medicine. She received a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 1992 from Kansas State University. Following graduation from veterinary school, she completed a one-year small animal internship then worked in general practice in the United States for ten years. She completed her ophthalmology residency in 2008 and has been involved in referral ophthalmology private practice since. Debra is actively involved with teaching ophthalmology for the University of Liverpool veterinary students and oversees postgraduate training of ophthalmologists at a referral ophthalmology practice in the UK.

Adele graduated from The University of Bristol Veterinary School and completed an equine internship at The RVC, an Equine Internal Medicine residency at The University of Liverpool, and a PhD on asthma in horses at The University of Manchester.

Adele obtained her diploma in equine internal medicine in 2012 and has spent the past 16 years working in both academia and private equine practice in the UK, Ireland and South Africa. Adele is an experienced lecturer and has presented at many national and international conferences.  Adele enjoys teaching and delivering veterinary training and CPD in various formats.

Adele is happy to advise on all areas of equine medicine.

Dan graduated from Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona in 2010. He completed an exotic animal medicine and zoological medicine internship at Great Western Referrals (Swindon, UK), followed by 2 years of small animal and exotic practice in the UK. Dan started his ECZM Avian residency in April 2013. In May 2016 Dan gained his RCVS CertAVP(ZooMed) and completed his Residency in Avian Medicine in September 2016. Dan stayed at the hospital working as a senior referral clinician in the exotic department for two years. In 2018 Dan joined the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust, a charity focused on wetlands conservation, where he enjoyed the combination of conservation work with living collection management. Dan is a member of both the education and examination committee of the ECZM and is also actively involved in other zoological medicine organizations.

Dan particularly enjoys avian and exotic animal surgery and has published on the topic in a number of journals. He also has a particular interest in herpetological medicine.

Nuala is a veterinary cardiologist and has spent the past 17 years working in both academia and private practice. During this time, she recognised the need to make specialist veterinary healthcare more accessible to first opinion Vets wanting to diagnose and manage more of their own cases in-house. Seeing the opportunity to do this through a real-time, collaborative and educational digital platform, Nuala created VVS, together with her co-founder Rafe. Nuala is responsible for the clinical excellence and delivery within VVS.

Rafe held senior roles for over 2 decades within leading international financial institutions where he led teams and built businesses. Rafe enjoyed most working with entrepreneurs as he found their focus and creativity infectious. He has a long-established strong interest in the veterinary profession and in particular the use of technology to improve existing business and service delivery models. He is of course the proud owner of two rescue dogs and a cat!

Ruth graduated from the University of Liverpool in 2004. She has worked in farm, equine and small animal practice both as an employee and as a locum. Ruth has also worked within the veterinary digital publishing industry and in veterinary research and development.

Ruth lives in East Sussex with her two young sons and various pets.

Ruth is passionate about animal welfare and also about supporting veterinary colleagues to achieve their best. As Commercial Manager she is here to help vets to access specialist care with Virtual Veterinary Specialists as easily as possible, as and when they need it. 

Lydia graduated from Nottingham Vet School in 2014. She worked for 6 years as a first opinion small animal vet in a small animal primary care and referral hospital, before joining VVS in June 2020.

Lydia knows how challenging it can be to work up complex cases in first opinion practice. She is really passionate about offering vets the ability to access specialist support for their clinical cases in a practical and educational way whilst maintaining continuity of care for the patient. She is motivated to improve the clinical confidence and skills of the whole veterinary team in a supportive and engaging way.

Lydia lives in Devon with her husband and her dog. When she is not working she can normally be found running around Exmoor.

Hannah graduated from the University of Bristol in 2015 achieving first-class honours in the combined degree of Veterinary Nursing and Bioveterinary Science. She undertook her clinical training in both first opinion and referral environments. Upon graduation, Hannah worked at a small animal referral centre as a multi-disciplinary nurse. Hannah then spent 1.5 years working in emergency and critical care as a night nurse, supporting the OOHs team with both presenting primary emergencies and the management of hospitalised referral cases.

Hannah lives in Birmingham with her Fiancé Jamie, their two rescue bunnies and a new puppy, Miniature Schnauzer Lola.

Hannah has experience of working alongside both established specialists and new-grad vets, and enjoys supporting the whole veterinary team to achieve clinical excellence with their cases. As referral co-ordinator, Hannah is on hand to guide vets through the VVS referral process, making the acquisition of specialist input, on even the most complex of cases, as easy as possible.