Cave's Annabel Goes The Extra Mile As Somerset To Swindon Commute Pays Off With Specialist Status

Annabel McFadzean, who leads the dental and oral department at Linnaeus-owned Cave Veterinary Specialists, near Wellington, commuted from Somerset to Swindon for three years to attend her specialist studies.

Annabel also gave birth to her second daughter Jemima at the end of the course, to add to the challenge of achieving the crowning moment of her career this autumn. She now has the title of European Specialist in Veterinary Dentistry. 

Annabel said: “I am very happy and proud of what I have achieved, but equally relieved and exhausted!

“Gaining my diploma all started for me in January 2020 when I became a full-time resident at Eastcott Veterinary Referrals in Swindon, another Linnaeus animal hospital.

“My main challenges were commuting from Somerset to Swindon for three years to complete my training programme and juggling a young family, especially as my second daughter was born in December 2022.

“However, the challenge was always highly rewarding and I have loved every minute of it.”

Annabel’s already up and running with her next challenge too - forging ahead with Cave’s dentistry and oral surgery department, which only opened last year.

She added: “The varied caseload definitely keeps me busy and engaged and I am looking forward to growing our caseload across dentistry and maxillofacial surgery. 

“Adding this discipline to the already great credentials at Cave will help us to continue to improve our patients’ health and wellbeing even further across the South West.”

Annabel’s husband Will, who is Cave’s clinical director and a European diplomate in anaesthesia and analgesia, said “It gives me enormous pride that Annabel successfully passed her practical exam and is now a Diplomate of the European Veterinary Dental College. 

“All specialist exams are the pinnacle of veterinary clinical qualifications and require dedication, hard work, and often personal sacrifices along the way.

“I would also like to take this opportunity to recognise the women within our team and wider profession who undertake either the diploma or VTS examinations whilst starting or having a young family. 

“The additional time pressure and need to have a dual focus makes the achievement all the more impressive.”

Will and Annabel were quick to crack open a special bottle of bubbly to mark her achievement. 

Annabel added: “We enjoyed a vintage bottle of champagne the day we got my results through. We had been saving it for a special occasion and this felt like the right time!”

For more information on Cave Veterinary Specialists, visit https://cave-vet-specialists.co.uk or search for Cave Veterinary Specialists on social media.