I am originally from Cannes, South of France and I graduated from the National Veterinary School of Alfort, Paris in 2009. I was already passionate about imaging because I had a very inspiring diagnostic imaging professor there. I was attracted to the discipline because of the diversity of the images and the fact that it's a central discipline. Everyone needs imaging, so you're helping every single patient.

I completed a diagnostic imaging residency at the veterinary university of Ghent in Belgium. During my last year of residency, I completed externships in the UK and I loved the excellent level of care for veterinary patients in the country, with multiple state-of-the-art referral hospitals and exceptional referral culture and facilities. A fellow resident from Ghent was already working at Pride, so she told me a little bit about the hospital.

I visited with my other half, who is a surgeon - we were looking for a practice that would fit both referral disciplines. When we visited, we felt this could be our happy place and we both relocated here. I’ve been working at Pride for the last six years, we’re settled now and have our little family.
I would say we are respectively, blossoming in our specialities at Pride.
 

Can you tell us more about your job and what you do day-to-day?

 
It’s a very interesting job and every day is different. We are in touch with all imaging modalities that are available at Pride: radiography, ultrasound, CT and MRI, as well as interventional/functional imaging.

The day starts with morning rounds during which we learn from each other through weekly book clubs, journal clubs, and imaging film readings. We also hold weekly neuroimaging rounds. Interdisciplinary rounds are very interesting as they allow input from multiple specialists and complementary learning. With two residents and one intern in training in imaging, the teaching aspect is particularly important to us.  

After the morning rounds, the clinical activity starts, and the imaging department can get very busy. I spend my day running or interpreting imaging procedures, alongside mentoring our juniors. A week is never boring as one day I will be doing ultrasound and the next cross-sectional imaging.
 

In diagnostic imaging, you get to collaborate and work with a lot of different other services. Is that something you enjoy?

 
Yes, that's what attracted me initially to the discipline and makes it diverse and so easy to be passionate about. It’s also why I love working in a big referral center like Pride, it's a really collaborative environment where I continue to learn every single day. Whether from my fellow colleagues in other disciplines, where I have feedback on my cases and we can discuss challenging cases or from my imaging team. Training residents also allow me to see cases from another angle and stay up to date with the latest science about veterinary imaging. 
 

What is it about Scarsdale and Pride that has kept you working there for over six years?

 
There are a few points, but most importantly, the referral team is fabulous, very friendly, coming from all different countries, education, and backgrounds. It’s really great to see such a diverse group of people working fabulously together. There are no big egos, we’re all very approachable here and I take great pride in being part of this team. Over the years some colleagues also have become dear friends.
 

What do you appreciate about working with IVC Evidensia?
 

It can sound scary to be part of a big network, but we know that every single person is valued here.
I also feel that IVC Evidensia has put in place excellent policies for families. The profession now being majority female, that’s important to me that this is acknowledged and that women are supported with a family-friendly employer.

I also feel supported in my clinical activity. More generally, vets at Pride are encouraged to develop skills or activities that they love, whether it is research for some, or a special surgical or imaging skill for others...we are genuinely encouraged by our leaders to do that, and I think that's great.

I can also see from where I started when I joined Pride to where I am now, there's been a real progression in my career. I started as a residency-trained radiologist and am now head of my department.  I know that I'm being valued as an individual and as a radiologist.

 
How do you like to make use of your work/life balance and relax?

 
I’m a mum to two young children, who are four and one and a half, so they take most of our time and I love spending my time with them and watching them grow. We love to travel to visit our family overseas and discover new places. I’ve discovered a slower way of travelling because with kids you cannot rush!
Besides family time and travelling, I love spending time with friends, watching good indie movies, and photography.
 

What would you want someone considering joining the diagnostic imaging team at Pride to know?

 
I would say that for a radiologist that wants to continue learning every single day in a very friendly environment, with daily intellectual stimulation and with an interesting caseload, our imaging department is the place to be!

Our region is also worth considering. The Derbyshire countryside is calm and beautiful with picturesque
villages, the Peak District is just around the corner, and yet we are not that far from London, actually. It has a lot to offer!