Two highly-experienced clinicians have been appointed as heads of service at one of the UK’s leading animal hospitals. 

Southfields Veterinary Specialists, which has recently unveiled its new £16 million purpose-built 42,000 sq ft site in Basildon, Essex, has appointed Jennifer Raj and James Warland to lead its internal medicine team. 

The pair have been part of the team at Linnaeus-owned Southfields for a number of years and will head up an industry-leading service of eight clinicians, including RCVS and European Specialist Samuel Fowlie and European Specialist Aldara Eiras-Diaz. 

European Specialist in small animal internal medicine Jennifer graduated from the Royal Veterinary College, University of London, in 2008. She subsequently spent several years working in small opinion practice and working on veterinary charity projects across the world.

Upon her return to the UK, Jennifer completed a rotating internship at fellow Linnaeus hospital Dick White Referrals in Cambridgeshire, following which she completed a residency in internal medicine at the same hospital, before going on to pass exams to become a European specialist. 

She said: “It’s a privilege to be appointed as head of service alongside James and I look forward to helping lead our talented and dedicated team as we strive to continue providing the very best care to our patients at our amazing new hospital. 

“I enjoy all aspects of internal medicine and, over the years, have developed a particular interest in haematological disorders.” 

James, who is particularly interested in haematology and immune-mediated diseases, has recently studied for a PhD at the University of Cambridge Stem Cell Institute into the generation of donor free blood products from induced pluripotent stem cells. 

He graduated from the University of Cambridge in 2009, and returned to the same hospital to complete residency training to become an RCVS and European Specialist in Small Animal Internal Medicine. He volunteers for the British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) and currently sits on their scientific committee. 

He said: “We have a vastly-experienced and dedicated internal medicine team at Southfields. I’m very pleased to have been asked to lead the service alongside Jen as we move into our new state-of-the-art hospital.” 

Clinical director at Southfields Henry L’Eplattenier said he was delighted to see two such dedicated clinicians appointed as service heads. 

He said: “It’s an absolute pleasure to see both Jen and James take on these senior positions within the internal medicine team. 

“Both are incredibly committed to providing the highest standard of care of our patients and I’ve no doubt they will be a great asset to both the medicine team and Southfields as a whole in their new positions.” 

Southfields’ new Basildon referral centre, based at Cranes Point, just 10 minutes from its former Laindon practice, offers 24/7 facilities and will continue to boast 14 specialist-led services. 

The referral centre offers specialist services such as anaesthesia and analgesia, cardiology and interventional cardiology, dentistry, dermatology, diagnostic imaging, exotics, internal medicine, neurology, oncology, ophthalmology, orthopaedics, radiation and soft tissue surgery.  

For more information, go to www.southfields.co.uk or search Southfields Veterinary Specialists on social media. 

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