Page 60 - eclipse - Autumn 2018

CLASSNOTES
RVC Leading Women
Ruth Gray (1987)
I graduated from the RVC in 1987. After working as an assistant in a couple of small animal practices in the South
of England and doing some locum work, my husband and I (also a graduate from the RVC) bought a veterinary practice in Scotland in December 1990. We gradually expanded until we owned five sites in Scotland and six sites in England. In 2008 we founded the VetShare Buying Group and grew it from
just our own sites to 580 member sites. In 2012 we founded VETisco to enable practices to buy top quality orthopaedic implants, surgical equipment and instruments at lower prices. We sold the businesses in 2015. We still live in rural Scotland with a menagerie of pets. Our two younger offspring are
at Edinburgh University and the eldest is currently in Paris teaching English at the Sorbonne. I have recently started doing occasional days as a Business Trainer for Onswitch Ltd.
Helen Walker (nee Dundas) (1991)
I graduated in 1991 and I feel that through my career I’ve done a bit of everything! I started in my first job in mixed practice (just me and the boss) with minimal support and
a “just get on with it attitude”, followed by another mixed job and then a switch to small animal. My current (fourth) job
I have been in for about 15 years. Being one of the “stayers” has been helped by getting a job without weekends, then eventually dropping to four days, enabling a better work-life balance. However, I have just gone back on weekend rota so I can have another day off in the week!
Although I have no massive educational achievements, I would like to give a massive shout out to the “GPs”, without whom the specialists would not have a job!
Patricia Shuen (1997)
I was the first female equine vet at the Hong Kong Jockey Club and have also worked in animal charities (RSPCA) in Sydney, Australia as well as spending time in the aussie bush in Darwin and Broken Hill. I have also worked in specialist centres such as Peace Avenue Hong Kong.
In 2007, I opened my own small animal vet practice in Hong Kong. I am the owner of a six vet 24-hour small animal practice. The Hong Kong police are our regular customers.
I am proud to be a solid GP practice for the neighbourhood and have an efficient, hardworking, welfare minded team.
I was awarded Mentor of the Year 2010 by the Australian AIRC nurse training program.
Anita Notenboom (1997)
After qualifying in 1997 and to this day, my life has been exciting and still without any regrets! I completed an Internship in Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, as well as a three-year Residency in Small Animal Veterinary Internal
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