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 path change to veterinary medicine. After graduating from Kansas State University Veterinary School, she completed a small animal internship in Arizona and then worked in general practice for ten years. Debra completed her ophthalmology residency training with Eye Care for Animals and ran the company's Chicago, Illinois ophthalmology clinic for 3 years. She became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists in 2008.

For more information on the Ophthalmology Service please click here.

Rodolfo graduated from the university of Milan in1989 and worked in general practice for 6 years. In 1995 he joined the Royal Veterinary College as a Resident in Neurology and Neurosurgery. He achieved Board certification in Veterinary Neurology in 1997 and became a staff clinician at the Queen Mother Hospital for animals. In 1999, Rodolfo was awarded a Pet Plan funding to pursue a 3 year research project into intervertebral disc degeneration in dogs for which he was awarded his PhD. Rodolfo was then appointed Lecturer in Neurology at the Royal Veterinary College until December 2007 when he joined NDSR. He became an RCVS recognised specialist in neurology in 2009. He has particular interest in intervertebral disc disease, vitE deficiency, caudal cervical instability in Dobermans, brain surgery, syringohydromyelia and advanced diagnostic imaging.

For more information on the Neurology and Neurosurgery Service please click here.

After qualifying from the university of Madrid in 1997, Benito obtained a three year clinical scholarship at the same university with particular emphasis on anaesthesia and critical care. In 2002 Benito completed an internship at the Royal Veterinary College. After a period in general practice he returned to the RVC to complete a 3 year residency in Small Animal Surgery. The residency included wide training in orthopaedic and soft tissue surgery. He has been working as a full time surgeon at NDSR since October 2008. Benito became a European recognised specialist in Small Animal Surgery in 2010. Benito has particular interest in thoracic and oncological surgery as well as arthroscopy and joint surgery.

For more information on the Orthopaedic Service and Soft Tissue Surgery Service please click here.

After graduating from Cambridge University 1994, Terry completed an internship and a 3 year residency in Small Animal Surgery at the Royal Veterinary College. After leaving the Royal Veterinary College he founded the surgical referral service at North Downs Specialist Referrals in 1998. Terry became a recognised European Specialist in Small Animal Surgery in 1999 and a recognised RCVS specialist in 2006. He has been examiner and chief examiner for the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons Certificate in Small Animal Surgery and is currently a member of the RCVS surgery board. Terry has wide experience of all aspects of surgery but has particular interest in cancer surgery and trauma management.

For more information on the Orthopaedic Service and Soft Tissue Surgery Service please click here.

Myra graduated from the University of Ghent (Belgium) in 1986. She did research at the University of Utrecht (the Netherlands) and after that went into private practice until 1993. This was followed by a residency in Small Animal Internal Medicine at the Royal Veterinary College (London). During that time she obtained the RCVS certificates in Veterinary Radiology and Small Animal Internal Medicine. In 1999 she became a Diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Medicine and in 2000 a RCVS Recognised Specialist in Small Animal Medicine. From 1996 she has worked in private referral practice and cofounded North Downs Specialist Referrals. She has published several papers, co-edited a book on Feline Nursing and has lectured on several subjects on a regular basis. She has been an examiner for the RCVS Diploma in Small Animal Medicine, Treasurer and President for the European Society of Feline Medicine and is currently on the editorial board for the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery.

For more information on the Internal Medicine Service please click here.

After graduating from the Ghent Veterinary School, Inge completed an internship at Utrecht Veterinary School. Following this she entered general clinical practice where she developed a specialist interest in dermatology. She holds the RCVS certificate in dermatology. Inge has been providing referral dermatology services in the South East since 1994. Inge has wide experience and interest in all aspects of dermatology.

For more information on the Dermatology Service please click here.

Anna Groth graduated from the Ludwig-Maximilians-University in Munich, Germany in 2001. After graduation, she wrote a doctoral thesis and gained the doctor's title in 2003. She has worked in private clinics in Spain and Germany and at the University of Georgia in Athens/USA.

Anna completed her 3 year residency in diagnostic imaging at the Royal Veterinary College in London in 2009. This included extensive training in MRI, radiology, CT and ultrasound. Anna is eligible to sit her European boards in 2010.

For more information on the Diagnostic Imaging Service please click here.

After graduating from the School of Veterinary Medicine at the Ludwig-maximilians University Munich in 1993, Christine spend eight years in academia. Most of her time was spent in the Internal Medicine Department at Munich where she gained specialist status in internal medicine as well as a clinical PhD in Cushings and thyroid disease in the dog. Christine completed multiple externships at Universities and private referral hospitals in the United States. She moved from Munich to the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies at the University of Edinburgh as a lecturer and later returned to Munich as a Senior Lecturer. Christine has published a number of articles and enjoys all aspects of internal medicine but has particular interest in endocrinology and ultrasound. She has been working at NDSR since December 2003.

For more information on the Internal Medicine Service please click here.

Elaine graduated from the University of Illinois. She completed a residency in Ophthalmology at The University of California, Davis and became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmology in 2001. She was head of Clinical ophthalmology at the University of Pennsylivania until 2005 and was most recently Lecturer in Ophthalmology at the Royal Veterinary College until joining North Downs Specialist Referrals. Elaine has wide experience of all aspects of ophthalmology and has lectured and published in the subject.

For more information on the Ophthalmology Service please click here.

Gerry Polton graduated from Cambridge Veterinary School in 1997 after which he initially worked in first opinion practice. He entered specialist practice as a clinical oncologist in 2002. Gerry was awarded a Master of Sciences degree in clinical oncology by the Institute of Cancer Research at Birmingham University in 2003 having presented a thesis on the subject of canine anal sac tumours, a subject on which he is a world expert. Other oncological interests include lymphoma and leukaemia, canine lung tumours and canine insulinoma specifically and cancer prognostics generally. Gerry is a familiar feature as a speaker at national and international meetings and he maintains special interests in infection control and collaborative clinical research having coordinated professional groups in both fields.

For more information on the Oncology Service please click here.

Nuala qualified from Edinburgh Veterinary School. She then completed a cardiology residency at the University of Pennsylvannia and was awarded her diploma in cardiology in 2002. Nuala was Lecturer in Cardiology and ran the Cardiology referral service at the University of Liverpool between 2002-2005. She then ran a cardiology referral service on the South Coast before joining North Downs Specialist Referrals in 2006.

Nuala is on the Veterinary Cardiovascular Society List of recommended Veterinary Surgeons for ascultation and echocardiographic examination for Breed Club Heart Testing Schemes. She is also currently involved with the PROTECT Doberman Dilated Cardiomyopathy Scheme. Nuala has wide experience of all aspects of cardiology and has lectured and published widely in the subject. She has particular interest in interventional cardiology.

For more information on the Cardiology Service please click here.

Ane graduated from the University of Zaragoza. After a period in general practice, she completed an internship at a large private referral centre in Paris. Ane then went on to complete a 3 year residency in neurology at the University of Alfort, France in 2009. Ane has particular interest in electrodiagnosis and neuromuscular disorders. Ane is eligible to sit her European Boards in Neurology in 2010.

For more information on the Neurology and Neurosurgery Service please click here.

David graduated from The Royal Veterinary College in July 2003 and subsequently completed a one year rotating internship at The Queen Mother Hospital for Animals, The Royal Veterinary College. He then spent one year in small animal practice in Hertfordshire, before returning to The Royal Veterinary College to undertake a three year residency in Small Animal Internal Medicine which he completed in 2008. David passed the certifying examination of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine in 2008. He was then a Lecturer in Small Animal Internal Medicine at The Royal Veterinary College until joining NDSR in July 2009. David is interested in all aspects of internal medicine but particularly gastroenterology and endocrinology.

For more information on the Internal Medicine Service please click here.

Joao graduated from the University of Oporto (Portugal) in 2001. He started working in private practice in Portugal during which time he developed a special interest in cardiology. In April 2003 he moved to the UK and spent two years in practice. In May 2005 he moved to Liverpool to take the position of Resident in Veterinary Cardiology. He gained his Certificate in Veterinary Cardiology in 2006 and became an ECVIM-CA (cardiology) diplomate in 2009. He enjoys all aspects of small animal cardiology with particular interest in myocardial function and interventional treatment of congenital heart diseases.

For more information on the Cardiology Service please click here.