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.

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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.

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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. He became an RCVS recognised specialist in Small Animal Surgery in 2011. Benito has particular interest in thoracic and oncological surgery as well as arthroscopy and joint surgery.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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 a residency in diagnostic imaging at the Royal Veterinary College which included extensive training in radiology, MRI, CT and ultrasound. Following her residency Anna joined NDSR in 2009. Anna became a diplomate of the European College of Diagnostic Imaging in 2011.

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Kirsta graduated from and then completed an internship and junior lectureship at the University of Utrecht. Following this she completed a residency in small animal internal medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. She became in diplomate of the American College of Internal Medicine in 2010. Krista spent 4 years in busy private referral practices in the USA and UK before joining NDSR. She has particular interest in endocrinology and GI endoscopy

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.

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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. Gerry became a European recognised specialist in Oncology in 2010. He became an RVCS recognised specialist in oncology in 2012. 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.

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After graduating from the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) in 2000, Simon completed a small animal internship at Glasgow University in 2001 and was awarded a Masters degree with thesis in canine electrocardiography in 2002. After 4 years in general practice, he returned to the RVC in 2005 and undertook a residency in cardiology until 2008. Simon became a European Veterinary Specialist in Small Animal Cardiology in 2008 and was a Lecturer in Cardiology at the RVC from 2008-2011. He became an RVCS recognised specialist in cardiology in 2012.

Simon has an interest in all aspects of small animal cardiology, particularly arrhythmias and interventional therapy of congenital disease. He is a reviewer for a number of veterinary journals, an associate editor of the Journal of Small Animal Practice and co-editor of the BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Cardiorespiratory Medicine.

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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 became a diplomate of the European College of Neurology in 2011.

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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 became an RVCS recognised specialist in Veterinary Cardiology in 2011. He enjoys all aspects of small animal cardiology with particular interest in myocardial function and interventional treatment of congenital heart diseases.

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Fiona graduated from the Royal Dick School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh in 2006. She completed an internship and residency in Internal Medicine at the University of Liverpool interspersed by periods in private practice. She completed her residency in 2011 and joined NDSR. Fiona passed her European Diploma in Internal Medicine in September 2011. She enjoys all aspects of internal medicine but has particular interest in endocrinology and haematology.

Fernando graduated from the University of Madrid. After a period in practice both in Spain and the UK he completed an internship and then residency in anaesthesia at the University of Bristol. Following this he was clinical anaesthetist at the University of Cambridge and locum anaesthetist at various referral hospitals before joining NDSR in 2011. He obtained his RCVS certificate in anaesthesia in 2007 and passed European Diploma in Anaesthesia in 2011. Fernando has particular interest in local anaesthesia techniques and chronic pain therapy including novel analgesic therapies

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Ursula graduated from the Veterinary College at the Ludwig-Maximilians-University in Munich, Germany and completed an ACVO/ECVO residency program at the Vetsuisse Faculty in Zurich, Switzerland in 2000. She became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists in 2001 and a Diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists in 2003. From 2000 to 2009 Ursula was faculty member at the College of Veterinary Medicine , the University of Georgia, in Athens, GA, USA and became Associated Professor with tenure in 2005. From 2009 to 2010 she worked as a staff Ophthalmologist at the New York City Veterinary Specialists in Manhattan, New York, NY before joining NDSR. Her special interests include corneal diseases and corneal surgery, feline ophthalmology, laser surgery and ocular ultrasound.

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Francesca graduated from the University of Perguia (Italy) in 2000. After an internship in a large private oncology referral practice in the UK, she completed a 3 year residency in Small Animal Oncology at the Royal Veterinary College. In 1012 Francesca was awarded a masters Degree in Veterinary Medicine with a thesis in feline mediastinal lymphoma. Francesca is currently studying to sit the American Diploma in Small Animal Oncology in 2013.

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Marion graduated from the University of Lyon, France in 2005. After a period in practice, she completed a general internship and a specialized internship in diagnostic imaging in the University of Alfort, France before a 3 year residency in diagnostic imaging at the University of Uppsala, Sweden. She obtained the RCVS certificate in diagnostic imaging in 2009 and the European Diploma in diagnostic imaging in 2012. She has wide experience of all imaging modalities but her particular interests are nuclear medicine and computed tomography.

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