A Day in the Life of… Our Brachycephalic Dogs in Practice

Jon was born into primary care practice and spent several years working as a small animal GP after graduating in 2004. He became an ECVS specialist in small animal surgery in 2015 and has worked at the RVC, the University of Cambridge and University of Edinburgh. He is a Professor in small animal surgery at the University of Nottingham, a Fellow of the Royal College and a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. He loves a good bit of surgery and being in a lucky position to help out colleagues with their surgical conundrums and through teaching. Jon has worked on call for his whole career and spent a few months working in a dedicated emergency clinic. He has been a lecturer and examiner on the BSAVA CertECC and helps train Vets Now graduates on practical approaches to emergency surgeries. These experiences mean that he can empathise with colleagues working sole charge OOH and those having to fit in emergencies either in their busy daily routine or through the night with work the following morning! Experiences that encourage a certain pragmatism.

Victoria Robinson (Tori) qualified from the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, in 2008. After several years in general practice, she completed a rotating internship at The University of Liverpool. After a year at Rutland House Referrals in St Helens, she started her specialist training at The Dermatology Referral Service in Glasgow in 2017 and passed ECVD boards in 2020. She re-joined the Dick Vet in 2022 as Senior Lecturer in Veterinary Dermatology. Her research interests include canine atopic dermatitis, otitis (biofilm) and antimicrobial resistant infections.

Outside of work, Tori enjoys nothing more than socialising, keeping active and spending time with her family.

Georgie graduated from the University of Liverpool in 2005. She worked for 3 years in general practice before joining a referral centre in 2008 with the aim of specialising in ophthalmology. In 2011 she was awarded the RCVS Certificate in Veterinary Ophthalmology and she commenced an ECVO Residency Programme in 2012, becoming a Diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists in 2016. She was admitted to the BVA/KC/ISDS Eye Panel in 2018 and was appointed to the ECVO Communications Committee in the same year. Georgie joined the Ophthalmology Team at DWR in 2020; her particular interests include corneal and intraocular surgery which she enjoys teaching to Residents.

Katie graduated with distinction from the University of Liverpool in 2012. Since then she has continued to work in small animal first opinion practice, gaining her RCVS Certificate in Internal Medicine in 2017. Realising the power of preventative mindset strategies through her career and journey, she trained as a coach and in CBT, and now teaches other professionals how to use these techniques to thrive in the veterinary world. She regularly helps individuals and companies on topics such as gratitude, self-worth and dealing with imposter syndrome. She was the keynote speaker at BVNA 2020, and has spoken on stages across the world. Aside from being a personal development and human potential enthusiast, she co-runs a virtual event company and can be seen behind the scenes masterminding tech on many events in the veterinary space.

Georgia Woods-Lee qualified as a Registered Veterinary Nurse in 2004. In 2015, Georgia joined the ROYAL CANIN® Weight Management Clinic at the University of Liverpool, Small Animal Teaching Hospital, where she is now dealing exclusively with pet obesity care and nutrition.

Georgia was awarded her Certificate in Canine and Feline Veterinary Health Nutrition in 2017, the American Veterinary Technician Specialist (VTS) in nutrition certificate in 2019 , and her BSc (Hons) Veterinary Nursing (Top-up) degree in 2022.

In 2023, Georgia was appointed as clinical lead for the Weight Management Clinic and currently works as an academic researcher whilst working towards a PhD in pet obesity.

Dr. Debbie James is from Victoria, B.C. and moved back to Vancouver Island to establish a neurology and neurosurgery service at WAVES Veterinary Hospital.

Debbie received her DVM from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine, followed by an internship in small animal medicine and surgery at the Ontario Veterinary College. In 2003, she completed her neurology/neurosurgery residency at the University of Georgia and became board certified (DACVIM – Neurology). She was a faculty member at the University of Georgia until she moved to Toronto in 2005, where she was a medical and surgical neurologist at a multi-specialty referral hospital for 12 years. Following this, she worked in a multi-specialty hospital in Vancouver, BC.

For the past 3 years, Dr. James has been practicing neurology and teaching neurology residents at the Animal Neurology and Imaging Center in New Mexico and Arizona. She is a regular speaker at conferences and enjoys teaching and sharing her knowledge with colleagues and students. In her spare time, she can be found on a mountain bike or a surfboard somewhere in the world, outside exploring BC with dogs Roo and new addition Tommy.