Congratulations to Tim Sparrow and Dee Mullowney who have both passed their Diploma exams to become Specialists and top of their chosen fields.

Tim Sparrow is now an EBVS® European Specialist in Small Animal Surgery, and Dee Mullowney an American (ACVIM) and European (ECVIM-Ca) Veterinary Specialist in Small Animal Internal Medicine.

Orthopaedic and spinal surgeon, Tim, has worked as a referral clinician for many years. Since joining Lumbry Park Veterinary Specialists in 2016 he has been instrumental in growing and developing the orthopaedic service here. In December 2019 he became Clinical Director, alongside Neurology Specialist, Colin Driver.

Dee is an internal medicine clinician who has quickly become an integral part of the team since joining us last year, having completed her residency at the Royal Veterinary College in June 2021.
 

We asked Tim and Dee about their achievements, career highlights and working at Lumbry Park.

How you feel about achieving your Diploma?

Tim: ‘I’m very proud that I pushed my limits and worked very hard gain the Diploma. There’s also a huge sense of relief that the study is done. My particular journey was challenging, with plenty of difficulties along the way. I was lucky to have the support of my colleagues at Lumbry Park and CVS to give me the time to dedicate to my studies. I also had plenty of encouragement from past colleagues and supervisors from my residency programme. Most of all the support that I received from my family was absolutely pivotal in me completing the Diploma.’

Dee: ‘It was a great relief to pass my exams and I’m delighted all my hard work has paid off! I’ve been very lucky to meet lots of inspirational people along my path to becoming an Internal Medicine Specialist. When I was studying for my certificate in Small Animal Internal Medicine, through University College Dublin, I had a very supportive course director who encouraged me to apply for a rotating internship at the Royal Veterinary College. During my rotating internship I met many very impressive people and was inspired to apply for a residency in Small Animal Internal Medicine, where I was mentored by fantastic senior clinicians and learned from my fellow residents.’

What are your career highlights?

Tim: ‘Becoming a visiting lecturer at the University of Surrey and teaching veterinary students has been one of my career highlights, alongside completing my surgical residency and publications, achieving my ECVS Diploma, and becoming a clinical director of Lumbry Park! I am proud to be able to pass on what I have learned to the next generation of veterinary surgeons by teaching Surrey’s veterinary students both in the hospital and at the university.’

Dee: ‘Being accepted to the Royal Veterinary College residency training program, completing my residency and finishing my publications and passing my exams. Coming to work at Lumbry Park and getting involved in the residency program where I help train the next generation of Internal Medicine Specialists and help teach University of Surrey Veterinary students.’

Tell us what you like most about working at Lumbry Park?

Tim: ‘Lumbry Park is a fantastic place to work. The various teams that I work with: reception, admin, nurses and vets, and the people that have joined along the way, have helped build Lumbry Park and make it what it is today. The people here are a credit to the profession; hard working, extremely caring and deeply passionate about caring for our patients and clients.’

Dee: ‘I love being part of a big multi-disciplinary team where cases can be discussed with colleagues both within the internal medicine team and other disciplines, and we can work with our fantastic nursing team to achieve the best outcome for our patients. We have a large team here with a big collective experience and, because we have all trained and worked in different places, we all bring our different experiences to the team.’

 Is there anything you particularly love doing or specialise in?

Tim: ‘I really enjoy repairing fractures and the challenges they present. I also enjoy the challenges of total hip arthroplasty and the outcomes that we can achieve with those patients.’

Dee: ‘I enjoy managing complex endocrine and renal cases in conjunction with our local referring vet practices. I also enjoy procedures such as endoscopy. ‘

Meet the team