Fiona Smith

RCVS Advanced Practitioner in Small Animal Medicine, Veterinary Cardiology and Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging.

Fiona joined Chestnuts in 2005. She graduated as a scholar from St Catharine's College, Cambridge University, being awarded a double first for her degree, along with various university prizes including those for academic studies, pathology and small animal medicine, as well as the Nelson prize for contribution to collegiate life. She is interested in all aspects of soft tissue surgery, medicine and imaging but has a particular interest in cardiology, performing many of the cardiac assessments including ECGs and doppler echocardiograms for the practice.

She was awarded her post-graduate RCVS Certificate in Small Animal Medicine (CertSAM) in 2010, and a further two RCVS Certificates in Advanced Veterinary Practice, which, by examination, were specifically designated to Veterinary Cardiology (CertAVP(VC)) and to Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging (CertAVP(VDI)) in 2018 and 2021 respectively. Fiona is currently on the RCVS list of Advanced Practitioners in three disciplines, the maximum permitted by the RCVS. These are in Small Animal Medicine, Veterinary Cardiology, and Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging, and she is on the RCVS assessor panel for admitting other experienced vets to this status in the fields of both cardiology and veterinary diagnostic imaging. She is interested in the challenge of complicated medical cases, particularly those patients with heart conditions. She has also undertaken study with the University of Liverpool in the field of Veterinary Business Management, completing their post graduate certificate, and being awarded their Diploma in Veterinary Professional Studies in 2021.

Fiona is a member of the BSAVA, the BVA, the Small Animal Medicine Society, and the Veterinary Cardiovascular Society, and regularly attends local and national conferences. She has been involved with the East Anglian regional BSAVA committee, helping to organise talks by renowned speakers in the veterinary field for local colleagues, and has served as secretary of the committee. She is a mentor for local veterinary surgeons who are continuing with further study for their PGCert in Medicine or Surgery, and is involved with the online co-ordination of post-graduate certificates for the BSAVA. 

Fiona is keen to promote animal care in the local community, previously organising and running workshops in local schools, and speaking at local careers conventions to help guide budding students in veterinary and veterinary nursing careers. She has been heavily involved in the organisation of placements and supervision of veterinary students for many years, and successfully led our practice through two full RCVS Practice Standards inspections in 2016 and 2020, ensuring the practice stayed at the forefront of clinical standards. 

Previously, from 2021-2022, she sat on the Editorial Board of the open access, EBVM journal Veterinary Evidence, published by RCVS Knowledge. In her spare time, Fiona is a keen pianist, plays alto saxophone, enjoys horse-riding, and loves trying to get the perfect photographic shot of pets and wildlife.