A Day in the Life of... A Veterinary Surgeon: Primary Care Tips, Tricks, and Updates

Dr. Salavati graduated from the Justus-Liebig University (JLU) in Giessen (Germany) in 2003. She has completed her German doctoral thesis (Dr.med.vet) in Giessen, validating a breath test to assess canine gastric emptying against scintigraphy. She has completed a rotating internship and a residency in Small Animal Internal Medicine at the same university, whilst continuing to be interested in research topics concerning small animal gastroenterology. Apart from holding the DipECVIM-CA title, she also completed a PhD at the Royal Veterinary College, London (UK), investigating the clinical and immunological effects of a single-strain probiotic in canine Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). From 2013 to 2016 she was a Junior lecturer in Small Animal Internal Medicine at the JLU, before she took her current position as a Senior lecturer for Small Animal Internal Medicine at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Sciences in Edinburgh (Scotland).

She continues to have a great interest in canine and feline gastroenterology, investigating novel aspects to evaluate visceral pain and inflammation, connections to other organ systems and establishing novel treatment approaches in canine chronic enteropathies. So far, she has >30 publications in various journals around these topics, and has written several book chapters in small animal internal medicine textbooks.

Dr.med.vet., PhD, DipECVIM-CA, FHEA, MRCVS

Sam graduated from the Royal Vet College in 2002 and completed internships in private referral practice before starting a Feline Advisory Bureau Residency at Bristol University. She was awarded the European Diploma in Veterinary Internal Medicine in 2009.  In 2011 she became an RCVS Recognised Specialist in Feline Medicine and in 2019 was made a Fellow of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons for outstanding contributions to the profession. She is also a Member of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists (Feline Medicine).  Sam is the International Society of Feline Medicine Veterinary Specialist Lead and works as a Medicine Specialist at Lumbry Park in Hampshire. Sam is an Honorary Lecturer in Internal Medicine at Surrey University Veterinary School, is an editorial board member for JFMS and Frontiers in Veterinary Science, a tutor on the Sydney CVE feline medicine course and coordinates the ISFM International Guidelines. Sam co-authored guidelines on hypertension, diabetes mellitus, NSAIDs, acute pain, inappetence and blood transfusion and others. She has written books, book chapters and papers on internal medicine topics and enjoys a mix of clinical work, writing and lecturing. She has a particular interest in clinical research to answer those important clinical questions to practically improve feline health and wellbeing.

Liz graduated from the University of Liverpool in 2006. She started her veterinary career in mixed practice in the East Ridings of Yorkshire, UK. However, she soon realised that she wanted to pursue a Specialist career. In 2008, Liz joined the University of Cambridge to undertake a rotating internship and then moved to the University of Manchester in 2009 to start a PhD. Her PhD focused on pathophysiology of heart failure and ageing, and was undertaken in the medical department. She gained her thesis in 2013 before starting a residency at the University of Edinburgh (where she met Scott and Andy). In 2016 Liz joined the University of Liverpool as a lecturer and subsequently senior lecturer. She was awarded her Diploma in 2017 and became a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy in 2019. 

In 2020 she took the leap into private practice and joined Chestergates Veterinary Specialists based in Chester, UK. She also had her first child that same year (it was very busy!). She has been at Chestergates ever since, and has been  promoted to Clinical Director and now Senior Clinical Director. She was awarded FRCVS for her Meritorious Contributions to Clinical Practice in 2022.