In a recent article, we looked at veterinary influencers. In this one, though, I’m going to be looking at the influencers who vets themselves follow! 

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Why do vets follow influencers?

We have a strict requirement for CPD (continuing professional development), and if we can’t prove we’re meeting that standard, we are not permitted to continue in practice. However, in our busy 21st century world, sometimes some guidance on what topics are trending or topic is a helpful nudge to get us out of our comfort zone and explore new areas!

Katie Ford (@katiefordvet) Vet, Coach and Entrepreneur Advocating for Vets in the Profession

Katie graduated from the University of Liverpool in 2012 and gained her small animal internal medicine certificate in 2017. She has diversified into coaching, speaking, and running a number of businesses aimed at helping the profession, including Vet Empowered, VetYou, VETstagram and Well Vet.

Katie grew a huge social media following to advocate for mental health in the profession. Cofounding Vetempowered in 2020, she offers personal development content and group coaching services to recent graduates. Katie is known for opening up conversations around imposter syndrome and self–doubt, a certified coach, she also published a series of books on this hard topic. Vetempowered is a transformational program that supports and supplements several veterinary graduate development programs in the UK.

Katie supports all aspects of veterinary professionals’ careers in hopes of helping vets maximise career satisfaction. She joined VetYou as a codirector helping to break down barriers around finances within the profession. And to enable access to timely, expert financial advice and secure financial independence. Katie also helped create Wellvet, taking care of the veterinary communities’ well-being and helping them thrive.

Katie is involved in events and project management bringing vets together to share information, network and support each other. Speaking at over 130 events between 2020 and 2022 her word reached far. She has also published in many acclaimed veterinary journals and is a published writer herself.

Katie created VETstagram 2023, a social media summit for the veterinary profession. The day was focused on connecting, inspiring, and educating entrepreneurs and those who use social media or are responsible for accounts in practice. 

Katie is clearly passionate about supporting the community in as many ways as she can. She is a key player in advocating for mental health and wellness in the veterinary profession. 

Ebony Escalona – Vet, Coach, and Advocate for Vets in the Profession

Ebony, having graduated from Liverpool University Veterinary School, has revolutionised opportunities available to vets, realising the idea of the ‘vet passport’ by starting a Facebook group that has become a global brand. Founder of the online support platform Vets: Stay, Go or Diversify and VSGD Careers bringing peer-to-peer inspiration for career pathways within and beyond the profession. The group exists to enable veterinary professionals to have happy, healthy & fulfilling careers. VSGD Careers Group has become the ‘go-to’ platform for advertising curated stay, go and diversification opportunities to vets, vet nurses, students, and other animal health professionals.

VSGD Careers is however not just a site referencing jobs inside or outside of clinical practice, the site also hosts many inspirational videos and a multitude of speakers to help vets find their paths to happy, healthy, sustainable roles within the industry or indeed somewhere completely new.

It is a free, independent and safe information exchange site; empowering veterinary professionals to create satisfying careers they love, through community, conversations, events, and job adverts. Quite simply Ebony is the head of a global community of veterinary professionals cheering one another on. 

Ebony is a speaker and mentor focusing on unlocking people’s potential and helping them achieve personal and career satisfaction. She also co-founded VetYou – helping to support professionals to take control of their financial future. 

Ebony is a 2018 winner of the RCVS Inspiration Award. She is clearly a key player in advocating for mental health and wellness in the veterinary profession. 

Liz Barton – Vet and Advocate for Vets in the Profession 

Liz graduated from Cambridge University in 2004. She then went on to become a powerful advocate for the health and welfare of those within the veterinary profession. Liz became increasingly concerned about the mental and physical wellbeing of friends and colleagues in the profession; initially taking an active role by advocating as a wellbeing representative on the SPVS board including sitting on the Vet Mind Matters taskforce. She then set about curating and collating support resources in a free access website, Vetsnet. Vetsnet went on to become the thriving hub now known as WellVet, still with the focus on supporting colleagues’ wellbeing in the profession. 

Liz co-founded WellVet, a group with an initiative focused on catering for the mind, body, and soul of the veterinary team through sports, hobbies, social connections, and personal development workshops. Their mission being to inspire and support veterinary teams to thrive! She also founded supporting communities for sport (Vet Active) and parenting (Vet Mums) to provide a space for connection, empathy, and peer support. Liz and the team at WellVet have a passion to encourage veterinary staff to explore and develop proactive measures to support their own wellbeing, and each other within practice. 

Liz really is a key player in advocating for mental health and wellness in the veterinary profession. 

James Greenwood (@drjamesgreenwood) – Vet, Welfare Advocate for Animals and Veterinary Professionals

As well as his-owner-focussed work, James is a passionate advocate for the veterinary profession, mental health awareness and for LGBTQ equality. His first book “For the Love of Animals: Stories from my life as a vet” was published in July 2023. James is quoted in a recent article in The Times newspaper on burnout, trauma, and dog grief: under pressure in the vet surgery, demonstrating his passion for advocating for the veterinary profession. 

James’ online presence is well known. He is open and honest about his experiences in the veterinary profession, what challenges he has faced, and what drives him to continue vetting. Of course, all wrapped up with his trademark warmth and humour.

Cat The Vet – Vet, Welfare Advocate for Animals, and the Veterinary Profession

As well as her huge huge social media following, Cat is a powerful advocate of animal welfare and supporting the veterinary profession. She is CEO of Vet Pursuits, a digital platform for veterinary professionals. A place to find career support, inspiration, and information. The platform also hosts one of the leading job boards in the market with unique functionality that allows clinics and vacancies to be showcased.

Cats’ passion for everything veterinary, and her ethical standpoint on welfare both for animals and veterinary professionals is noteworthy. Cat often tackles difficult taboo topics in order to represent the industry and advocate for education and welfare. 

Danny Chambers – Veterinary Voices – Vet and Welfare Advocate

Danny qualified from the University of Liverpool in 2008. He is a Vet who is passionate about engaging with animal owners and the public. Danny is an elected Council member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. He has a monthly spot on BBC Radio to answer veterinary questions, as well as having appeared on multiple other radio stations discussing veterinary issues. He has written for veterinary publications and magazines. 

Danny is a Trustee of the mental health charity Vetlife and a trustee of the evidence-based medicine charity RCVS Knowledge demonstrating his passion for supporting the mental health and wellness of his colleagues in the profession and public education. 

Danny Co-founded Veterinary Voices UK; a group with a mission to foster public understanding of veterinary and animal welfare issues by harnessing the knowledge and expertise of the veterinary community. They share compelling and informative content, empowering individuals to make informed decisions about the health and wellbeing of animals. 

Danny has spoken at various conferences and congresses to advocate for animal welfare.  He also regularly volunteers with veterinary charities in India, Morocco, and The Gambia. This includes working with public health programmes to eradicate rabies from street dogs to prevent human cases. And projects treating working equids where people are reliant on their beasts of burden for an income.

Emily Collins Winsgate – Farm Grad Diaries 

Emily graduated in 2020 from Surrey Vet School. She went on to inspire her colleagues by speaking at conferences on subjects; such as the “Class of Covid-19: the highs and lows of graduating through a pandemic”. She is now working in farm animal practice in the Southeast of England. She is known for her presence on social media which she uses to promote the farming industry, raise awareness of the role of farm vets and reach out to current and prospective students.

Emily has participated in podcasts, talking about her experiences as a new graduate and how she has navigated new graduate life during the pandemic. Her Instagram account, @thenewgradfarmvet, gives an honest view of the life and experiences of a new graduate farm vet. Emily is a great one to follow if you’re a new grad vet navigating the start of your career. Or for anyone who just wants to hear some anecdotes about what it’s really like after qualifying… in the middle of a global pandemic!

Lacey Pitcher (@rvnspeaks) – Vet Nurse, Advocate for Wellness in Practice Particularly with Neurodiversity and Inclusion, and Animal Welfare advocate

Lacey is an experienced veterinary nurse who has been in practice for over 10 years. She firmly believes in the power of skill sharing, flexibility and diversification within the veterinary profession. Lacey launched her own wellbeing initiative “Veterinary Pay it Forward” in 2018, inspired by the work she does with the RCVS within the Mind Matters Initiative and her own experience with neurodivergence in the veterinary profession. Lacey has a strong drive to support those in the veterinary profession. And she is a nurse career ambassador and wellness in practice advocate. 

Lacey is a VN Times Editor and holds a blog at the British Veterinary Nursing Association. She also writes for Vets: Stay, Go, Diversify and has a media presence advocating for animal welfare.

As well as spending a lot of her time advocating for the welfare of her colleagues, Lacey has strong beliefs and also advocates for animal welfare. Notably she is a campaigner for brachycephalic welfare and other campaigns aimed at ensuring animal health and welfare. 

Lou Northway (@louthevetnurse) – Vet Nurse, Advocate for Animal Welfare and Education. 

Lou is an experienced veterinary nurse, qualifying as a registered veterinary nurse in 2009. She has a love for emergency & critical care, anaesthesia & analgesia & quality improvement. Lou is a social media blogger & educator who empowers and inspires other vet nurses and the public. She is also a speaker and mentor. 

As well as leading a team of clinical veterinary nurses in practice, Lou is a quality improvement lead at the RCVS for the RCVS knowledge initiative. Clearly, Lou has a passion for supporting her colleagues in the veterinary profession into a healthy, sustainable career, encouraging a focus on their wellbeing and career satisfaction. 

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