HIGHFIELD VETS - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Student Veterinary Nurse
- Veterinary Nurse
Abi originally started at Highfields in 2000 as part of our nursing team for 10 years. She then continued to work in practices around Sheffield and Leeds in various roles. She returned to us in 2020 to join our reception team and is now a valued member of our nursing team.
Abi is a big lover of cats. After previously rehoming older cats, Abi has recently experienced welcoming a kitten to her home. Abi shares her home with her kitten Jacqueline Joyce, her second cat Fanoush, who Abi hand reared from a tiny kitten and who is named after the family's favourite take away which is just down the road! and her 6 year old son and her partner.
Job Titles:
- Deputy Head
- Nurse
- Alice Owens RVN Cert SAN Deputy Head Nurse
- RVN Cert SAN Deputy Head Nurse
Alice joined Highfields in 2018 having worked as a specialist nurse in a referral centre, and has a certificate in Small Animal Nutrition. Alice has a keen interest in anaesthesia and analgesia and keeps all our inpatients pain free.
Alice has 3 dogs - Bryn, Dotty and Becky, 9 guinea pigs and an ever growing brood of rescue hens! She is very experienced and accomplished in agility and hoopers with her dogs - they are always attending and winning shows!
Job Titles:
- Receptionist
- Alison Colbeck Receptionist
Alison joined Highfield's reception team in March 2017. She says no two days are the same at Highfield and thoroughly enjoys working here and meeting all the clients and their pets.
Prior to Highfields, Alison worked in HR for a number of Sheffield organisations and has also been a foster carer for RMBC with her husband. Alison has two cockapoos, "Naughty" Nutmeg and Truffle!
Job Titles:
- Receptionist
- April Pridmore Receptionist
April joined the practice in July 2013 as an addition to our reception team. April previously worked night shifts as an Animal Care Assistant at the PDSA.
April has been married to her lovely husband Ian for 22 years. She keeps herself busy looking after her two daughters and her dog Bertie, a one eared cat called Chester and two other cats called Teddy and Sookie.
Job Titles:
- Cheryl Kelly RVN Veterinary Nurse
- Veterinary Nurse
Cheryl joined the practice back in 2004. Cheryl has a particular interest in the importance of senior pet care and now offers nurse consultations to discuss ongoing care of senior citizens.
She has a dog named Reda, she is married to Dean and they have a beautiful daughter, Reeva.
David graduated from Edinburgh University in 2005. Following time in mixed animal practice, first opinion small animal practice and charitable practice. He moved to Sheffield in 2011 to work for Veterinary Instrumentation Ltd with responsibilities for the design and development of their new implants and instrumentation, the provision of technical advice, representing them at various specialist and non-specialist conferences around the world and assisting with the provision of small animal orthopaedic training in the UK and overseas.
David formed ROAR-Surgical Ltd in 2012 in order to provide local practices with direct surgical support alongside his Veterinary Instrumentation duties. By late 2016, David resigned his post of Technical Director from Veterinary Instrumentation to concentrate more squarely on his clinical duties and to spend more time with his young family.
Working from a number of host practices, Highfield's being one of the very first, David currently performs over 400 advanced orthopaedic procedures a year, predominantly stifle surgery (cruciate ligament and patellar luxation surgery), as well as simple to complex fracture repair, arthrodesis and limb deformity correction. He regularly performs select soft-tissue surgeries as well, including airway surgery (BOAS), ear canal surgery and the repair of perineal ruptures.
Job Titles:
- BVM & S BVMedSci Veterinary Surgeon
- Sci Veterinary Surgeon
- Veterinary Surgeon
Amber qualified from Nottingham University in 2017 and worked in Doncaster before joining us. Amber is a local Sheffield lass and shares her home with her husband Billy and their 2 children, labrador Tetley and 2 naughty rescue cats called Lionel and Winnie!
She enjoys all aspects of veterinary practice especially surgery. In her spare time Amber likes to go horse riding and is also a keen baker (lucky for us!)
Fran qualified from Edinburgh University in 2012 and has worked in South Yorkshire ever since, joining Highfields in May of 2020.
She lives with her daughter Ella, a hamster called Hamilton, 2 cats called Bella and Hugo and 2 fish.
She enjoys all aspects of general practice, especially surgery, feline and rabbit medicine.
Fran is an accomplished fell runner and can be found running all over the peak district when not in work.
Job Titles:
- Gemma Smith RVN Veterinary Nurse
- Veterinary Nurse
Gemma joined Highfields in 2016 whilst studying vet nursing at Nottingham and qualified as a vet nurse in 2018. Gemma has a keen interest in animal behaviour and rescued Stan the poodle cross, she has worked hard on his behaviour making him a lovely pooch.
Gemma is a dab hand at DIY and is an amateur cocktail maker!
Job Titles:
- Receptionist
- Hayley Grayson Receptionist
Hayley joined us at Highfields as part of the reception team in March 2022. She has previously worked as a vet receptionist for over 8 years.
Jess qualified from the University of Edinburgh in 2018 and has worked in Sheffield before joining Highfields in 2022.
Her favourite aspect of being a Vet is surgery, as well as caring for our in-patients at the practice.
She lives in Sheffield with her husband Alex and their rescue tripod cat, Albert! Jess loves to travel and explore the Peak District on long weekend walks.
Job Titles:
- Kate Johnson RVN Veterinary Nurse
- Veterinary Nurse
Kate joined Highfields in 2018 and qualified as a registered veterinary nurse in 2023. She previously worked at the Sheffield cat Shelter. Whilst in practice, Kate enjoys being in surgery and theatre time.
Kate lives in Sheffield with her daughter. When not at work Kate is a social butterfly and is always out and about with friends.
Job Titles:
- Receptionist
- Keith Wainwright Receptionist
Keith has been with Highfield Veterinary Centre for over twenty years - some say he was born there! He is clearly already a highly accomplished nurse here at Highfield.
Keith lives on a farm and has three cats including Butter, Marge and Toast, two goats, as well as cattle, peacocks and more.
Incredibly, I have worked here for 13 years now! It has gone so fast in a blur of cuddling puppies, cooing over kittens and crying when the sad time comes.
I have my own 2 rescue pooches, Daisy and Bruno. Bruno is from Romania originally but his English is coming on a treat! I love walking them. We go all over exploring. Daisy is a free spirit but Bruno needs more support.
My job is perfect. I get to meet all the wonderful pets and owners without any of the gory bits! I have another string to my bow. I am a qualified reflexologist! Sadly I'm only able to treat humans!
Job Titles:
- Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice Veterinary Surgeon
- Veterinary Surgeon
A local lass, Molly qualified in 2005, worked in Rotherham for 2 years then joined Highfield in 2007.
She enjoys rescuing grumpy old dogs to live out their last few years in luxury along with Cracker the one eyed cocker spaniel, Scrat the rescue, her sons Freddie and Billy and builder husband Russell.
Molly has a particular interest in dentistry, geriatrics and ultrasonography.
Job Titles:
- Morgan Howell Student Veterinary Nurse
- Student Veterinary Nurse
- Veterinary Nurse
Morgan joined the Highfield team in 2021 as a work experience student, He then gained a placement at college to study a degree in veterinary nursing.
He has 4 cats called Blossom, Boris, Snap and Kippa and a dog called Chester. Outside of work Morgan enjoys playing basketball and other sports.
Job Titles:
- Advanced Practitioner in Small Animal Surgery ) MRCVS Visiting Consultant
- Visiting Consultant
Nick graduated from the RVC in 1998. He gained the RCVS certificate in Small Animal Surgery in 2007 and became and advanced practitioner in 2014. He has spent the last 10 years working in referral hospitals as an orthopaedic surgeon, neurosurgeon and general surgeon. Nick now provides a mobile orthopaedic service to veterinary practices undertaking most aspects of orthopaedic surgery. This includes management of cruciate ligament ruptures, patella luxation, fractures/ luxations, arthrodesis and angular limb deformities. He also performs a range of soft tissue procedures including TECA, BOAS, mass removal & reconstruction and many others.
Away from work Nick enjoys cycling, watching F1 and spending time with his family. He has 2 cats, Thomas and Chester. He has also spent the last 4 years renovating his house, a project that appears never ending.
Job Titles:
- Paula Sorsby Veterinary Care Assistant
- Veterinary Care Assistant
Paula started her career with animals in the RSPCA where she worked for over 30 years!
She joined the team in 2020 as a Veterinary Care Assistant but is also a great help to the reception team too.
Paula lives in Sheffield with Annie, a 14 year old dog.
Paula has a love for creating concrete ornaments, gardening and being with her family. She also has a soft spot for Staffordshire Bull Terriers.
Job Titles:
- Sophie Ellis RVN Veterinary Nurse
- Veterinary Nurse
Sophie joined Highfields in 2018 after 4 years of studying she qualified as a Registered veterinary nurse in 2022. She is well loved by all team members, clients and patients alike. Sophie is our Infection Prevention Ambassador, ensuring the practice is kept up to high standards of hygiene.
She has a lovely dog called Indie who is the apple of her eye. Sophie recently adopted Bobby, the 3 legged cat, straight from the surgery and he has the best life ever!
Job Titles:
- Head
- Nurse
- Stacey Galliford RVN Head Nurse
Stacey joined the practice in 2010 whilst studying at Myerscough College and qualified in 2012, earning her FdSc degree in Veterinary Nursing. Stacey has trained as a clinical coach to help support other students at the practice. Stacey has achieved her ISFM Certificate in Feline Nursing and is the Cat Advocate for our clinic. Most recently Stacey has taken on a new role to help support newly qualified nurses around the region.
She has two cats: Maggie and three-legged Eddie, loving Bunny Bonnie, as well as Hawley who is a qualified Pets as Therapy dog. Stacey is married to Adam and has two beautiful daughters, Poppy and Willow. Lucky for Highfield's, Stacey is a fantastic baker and we love her baked goodies!