Sinawo Jack’s veterinary journey has taken an unexpected but rewarding turn, from caring for poultry in her native South Africa to treating sick pets at our Vet’s Now’s Sheffield clinic. Moving countries and taking her veterinary career in a completely different direction has been a massive change. But Sinawo says she couldn’t be happier, and it’s all thanks to our Cutting Edge programme, which gave her the knowledge and confidence to start a whole new life.
Where did you grow up and how did you start your veterinary journey?
I’m from the Eastern Cape which is the second largest province in South Africa and is in the south-east of the country. It’s very rural, with a lot of sheep, goats and cattle. I always wanted to work with animals and did a BSc in Animal Science before going to vet school at the University of Pretoria. It felt right and that I was doing something I loved, although ECC really wasn’t much of a part of it as I only did three weeks during the six years.
What did you do afterwards?
I graduated in 2021 and had planned to be a poultry vet, but in South Africa we have to do one year of community service. That was at a primary care practice which dealt with a lot of dogs and cats. I found myself falling in love with small animal medicine, although we didn’t see many emergency cases. A lot of my former classmates had come to the UK and that’s where I thought I could learn most about the primary care side of things and also to a higher standard.
What was your first impression of the UK?
I had never visited the UK before moving to a primary care practice in Chesterfield in 2022. The biggest shock was the weather – it was so cold! I really liked the work and there was a lot of equipment I hadn’t really had a chance to use in South Africa. I liked both medicine and surgery and didn’t want to let go of either. With ECC, I would get the chance to do both, rather than having to choose to specialise in one, so I started doing some weekend shifts for Vets Now.
Sinawo JackIt’s not just the cases, you know how to manage clients’ expectations and what to say when you are speaking to them. I can’t tell you how much my confidence has improved. I am a much better vet.
Tell us more about your journey to Cutting Edge
I had initially thought of Vets Now because a friend had started working there and I could see how much of a better vet he had become. I wanted to improve, too. At my primary care job we used to transfer our patients to Vets Now overnight and I was so impressed with the knowledge of the vets and the set-up. So, I decided to come to Vets Now in March 2024, and I knew I really needed to do Cutting Edge. There were so many gaps in my knowledge, I’d never have felt capable of doing ECC without it.
How did you find the Cutting Edge experience?
I was looking forward to it so much and I wasn’t disappointed right from the start. In the first week at Penguin House, we had so many great lectures and covered so many things, like shock. I just learned so much, so quickly. I also loved being alongside other vets at similar stages of their career. Because we were at the same level, it felt safe and reassuring. We’d discuss the lectures and share cases, and the lodges we were staying in at Loch Leven were lovely. It was great to be able to walk in such beautiful countryside at the end of the day.
How did you feel when you completed the course and were back at our Sheffield clinic?
I felt so much better. Thinking back, I used to be pretty scared. Now, I’m not scared anymore. If a collapsed dog came in, I’d really have to think about what to do and how I’d cope. Now, I just know where to start and how to work through everything. It’s not just the cases, you know how to manage clients’ expectations and what to say when you are speaking to them. I can’t tell you how much my confidence has improved. I am a much better vet.
How has your first year at Vets Now been?
I’ve really enjoyed it. There have been cases – like a GDV that came in recently – that I’ve been able to treat successfully that I’d never have been able to handle before I did Cutting Edge. I feel that I’m making a real difference, helping to save animals’ lives and that I have found what I’m meant to do.