BISHOPS - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Clinical Director
- Head Vet
Catherine is our Clinical Director and Head Vet. She has worked in small animal first opinion practice after graduating from the RVC in 2010, and has been at Bishops since January 2012. She has also been to Zambia 3 times and volunteered at Pet Vet, a veterinary clinic there. Catherine particularly enjoys looking after our feline patients and has a rescue cat at home called Nelly.
She also has a terrier cross called Peggy who she enjoys taking on long walks. She also volunteers for StreetVet - a veterinary practice providing care for the homeless and their pets.
Maddie has worked in first opinion small animal practice since graduating from the Royal Veterinary College in 2018 and joined the Bishops team in 2024.
She enjoys all aspects of the job, especially soft tissue surgery. At home she is kept on her toes by her naughty cats Bertie and Claude, and enjoys Pilates and cooking for friends and family.
Miles qualified from the Royal Veterinary College in 2022 and is particularly interested in soft-tissue surgery.
Born and bred in Hatfield, Miles completed several weeks of EMS placement with Bishops throughout the clinical years of his degree. Miles became employed at Bishops as a full-time Veterinary Surgeon in August 2022. He loves working with animals of all shapes and sizes, but his favourites are large and giant breed dogs. At home he looks after two would-be guide dogs who failed their entry exams - Winston the golden retriever & Dodger the black lab.
Job Titles:
- Emily Birch SVN Student Veterinary Nurse
- Student Veterinary Nurse
- Veterinary Nurse
Emily is our Veterinary Care Assistant who started with us in January 2023. She has a passion for working with animals and has aspirations to advance her knowledge and study to become a veterinary nurse in the near future. Emily helps out at reception and out the back with the nurses if they need any assistance. She loves to be a team player and help out the team where she can. Emily has always grown up with cats and dogs in her family but she has two of her own - Ernie the Golden Doodle and Theo the Cockerpoo and they keep her on her toes. Emily loves taking the boys out on walks as they both like running through long grass and in the woods. She also loves going to the gym and seeing her friends in her spare time.
Job Titles:
- Hollie Craig RVN Veterinary Nurse
- Veterinary Nurse
Hollie worked for Bishops Veterinary Surgery back in 2012 at the start of her Veterinary career. She then went on to do an apprenticeship at a busy Veterinary hospital and received a National Diploma in Veterinary Nursing.
Since then Hollie has worked in many fields of nursing and recently enjoyed working as a night nurse in emergency hours, but decided it was time to go back to working days and is very happy to be working with some old friends at Bishops again. Hollie likes to have family days out on the weekends and spend time with her horse and dog.
Job Titles:
- General Staff Member
- Practice Manager
- Holly Spelzini RVN Practice Manager
Holly has been at Bishops since 2004. She qualified as a veterinary nurse in 2007. She took a step away from her nursing role and became our Practice Administrator in 2017, and in 2021 was promoted to become our Practice Manager. Holly keeps everything running smoothly behind the scenes. She has a rescue dog called Hattie, whom many of our clients know well, as she can often be seen helping out behind reception! Holly loves getting to know all of our clients really well and having been with the Bishops family for so long, she has had the pleasure of knowing lots of our patients for many years. In her spare time she enjoys running, spending time with her friends and family and playing netball.
Job Titles:
- Head
- Receptionist
- Jan Mick Head Receptionist
Jan joined the Bishops Vets family as receptionist in September 2020. She is very involved with animal welfare, working as a volunteer for Cats Protection, fostering cats ensuring they are happy and healthy ready for adoption. Jan also works with local Hedgehog charities fostering and releasing Hogs. Jan has two cats of her own, Cleo and Rosie who is the latest addition to the family being a foster cat that never left! She also has a resident Hedgehog called Nikki.
Job Titles:
- Receptionist
- Jodie Williams Receptionist
- Veterinary Receptionist
Jodie joined Bishops Vets in September 2023. Jodie has been a veterinary receptionist for nearly 2 years. Prior to this role Jodie was a carer for 4 years at a private care company. Jodie loves helping people and animals, especially animals which are looking for a new home.
Jodie has rescued 2 lovely bunnies called Belle and Pringle and recently welcomed 2 new Netherlands into the family. In her spare time Jodie enjoys going for walks with her family and their dogs.
Job Titles:
- Head Veterinary Nurse
- Julie Parkins RVN Head Veterinary Nurse
- Member of Staff
Julie is a long-standing member of staff who began her Veterinary Nursing training back with us in 2000. She has 2 rescue cats Morag and Mabel who are on hand to keep her entertained! She also has Oggy, a young Labrador who keeps Julie busy enjoying his walks! Julie became our Head Nurse in 2023.
Parainfluenza virus and Bordetella bacteria are two of the primary causes of kennel cough, an infectious respiratory disease which can be associated with a number of different bacteria and viruses. Although some pets can improve without treatment, others need hospitalisation for supportive therapy. Kennel Cough is also very contagious to other dogs.
Job Titles:
- Keziah Chalk RVN Veterinary Nurse
- RVN Veterinary Nurse
- Veterinary Nurse
Kez started at Bishops on placement in spring 2021, whilst in her first year of university studying Veterinary Nursing at the Royal Veterinary College (RVC). She has since been on placement at the RVC's Beumont Sainsbury Hospital for Animals and Queen Mother Hospital for Small Animals and completed her course. Since achieving the Foundation of Science in Veterinary Nursing degree and qualifying she now works as a Registered Veterinary Nurse. She loves all animals but is particularly interested in looking after cats and exotic species.
At home, she enjoys spending time with her two cats, Molly and Mowgli, her horse Mikey and her snake Monty.
Job Titles:
- Student Veterinary Nurse
- SVN Student Veterinary Nurse
- Veterinary Nurse
Leanne started here at Bishops Veterinary Surgery in June 2021. She is training as a Student Veterinary Nurse with us whilst also attending college at The College of Animal Welfare. Leanne likes to spend time with her dog Jessie and she occasionally pet sits in her spare time. Here she is pictured here with Teddy, one of her hamsters.
Job Titles:
- Receptionist
- Marie Carroll Receptionist
Marie joined the Bishops Vets in March 2023 and she is loving meeting all of our clients and the wagging tails. Marie enjoys having her daughters' dog's Pepper who is a collie, and Leia who is a poodle mix schnauzer. Marie is a mum of three daughters and has an adorable grandson. Marie worked in the caring industry for 20 years before deciding to have a change of career to become a receptionist. In her spare time, she enjoys going to the theatre, concerts and walking.
Sharon is our visiting osteopath/physiotherapist. She has been working with people since 1999 and has now branched out into working with small animals (dogs and cats). Sharon is a highly qualified practitioner in small animal physiotherapy, having successfully acquired a Post Graduate Certificate in Small Animal Rehabilitation, and has extensive experience in the osteopathic treatment of small animals. Sharon is registered with the General Osteopathic Council and is a member of the Association of Animal Osteopaths. She is the proud owner of 2 black Labradors, Widgeon and Minnow.