Specialist Couple Join Expert Teams At North Downs
4 years ago 
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One of the UK’s top referral vet practices has appointed two specialists in oncology and internal medicine.
Husband and wife Michael and Laura Macfarlane start work at North Downs Specialist Referrals (NDSR), in Bletchingley, Surrey, this month.
Michael, a diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Internal Medicine and a European specialist in oncology, will be teaming up with fellow specialists Gerry Polton and Francesca Fabrizio as NDSR expands its expert oncology department.
Laura, who also has a European College of Veterinary Internal Medicine diploma, will join NDSR’s internal medicine team.
She said: “We wanted to move to NDSR as we know it is a great team of people, all focused on delivering bespoke and compassionate clinical care.
“We’re also looking forward to working at a hospital which covers all specialities, allows opinions and advice from a team of people, which all helps improve the care and treatment of pets.
“Our ambition at NDSR is to be part of a team which works closely with local veterinary practices to improve the care of animals beyond the walls of the hospital as well as within it.”
Michael added: “Because we’re married, a lot of people ask us about how we could work together too, but we have worked together in various locations and roles over the past eight years and it has always worked out very well.
“It means that for us it’s now just a normal part of life and it also has its benefits - only one of us needs to remember to bring the lunch!”
The happy couple met while completing their veterinary studies at the University of Glasgow, where they both graduated in 2009. Their careers have followed a similar route ever since.
Laura completed an Internship at the Royal Veterinary College before moving to Northern Ireland to work in general practice.
She returned to the University of Glasgow in 2012 to further her training in Internal Medicine, gaining her diploma in 2016. Most recently, she has worked in private referral practice.
Michael started his career working at first opinion practices in Buckinghamshire and Northern Ireland and, like Laura, he returned to the University of Glasgow in 2012 to further his training and experience in oncology, completing four years of additional training.
He completed an ECVIM residency in oncology in 2016 and became a diplomate in 2017.
Michael has worked in private referral practice since his residency and, in 2018, he was awarded a Masters degree in veterinary medicine for research in canine mast cell tumours.
NDSR hospital director Terry Emmerson said: “We are continually striving to provide excellence in all we do and this is only possible when we have the right people in place.
“That’s why we’re delighted that Michael and Laura are joining the NDSR family.
“They are both highly-trained specialists and will add even more experience and expertise to the first-class team we have here.”
To find out more about North Downs, which is part of Linnaeus, visit www.ndsr.co.uk or search for North Downs Specialist Referrals on Facebook.
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