The start of a new year at Vets Now sees a new group of emergency vets join the business on our Cutting Edge programme.
Our latest intake has seven members from across the world, and over the next few months, this blog will feature a quickfire Q&A with each of them.
First up is Lara Brunori, from the historic city of Bologna in northern Italy.
Lara has worked as an equine and small animal vet in several countries and, after building up a good working relationship with staff in Vets Now’s emergency and specialty hospital in Glasgow, she decided she couldn’t pass up the opportunity to join our team.
If you’re a vet with a passion for ECC and would like to follow in Lara’s footsteps, click here.
Name: Lara Brunori
Hometown: Bologna, Italy
Where did you go to university: Bologna, Italy
Tell me a bit about your background? I’m 31 years old and I graduated in 2009. I then practiced as an equine vet in several different countries, including the UAE, Ireland, South Africa, Belgium and Mexico. I moved to the UK in 2014. My first job as an MRCVS was in Glasgow doing both equine and small animal veterinary medicine. Over the next two years, the small animal side of the job gradually increased until it became a full time position. In 2016, I moved south to work in a very busy first-opinion small animal practice near Cambridge. There, I started doing my own out of hours and discovered I really enjoyed it.
When did you first decide to become a vet? I grew up with horses and knew I wanted to care for them and other animals from a very young age. I couldn’t see myself doing anything other than being a vet. I believe it is part of who I am. My decision to study veterinary medicine is partly down to me being at my happiest when I’m surrounded by animals, and partly down to my deep curiosity for everything medicine-related.
What’s the most enjoyable thing about being a vet? You are in the unique position of being able to make a difference to the lives of both animals and humans.
How did you end up at Vets Now? My appreciation for Vets Now as a company really began while I was working in Glasgow. I used to refer patients to the Vets Now hospital and the exceptional support and kindness I received from Tobias Grave stuck with me. He was always available, never made me feel small or inadequate and was always extremely happy to help and encourage me. That made me want to join Vets Now.
Why do you want to work in ECC? Emergency medicine offers constant challenges and learning opportunities. It’s a combination of several different disciplines and it provides vets with the opportunity to help animals and their owners when they are at their most vulnerable.
Where do you see yourself in five years? I’d like my career to progress further into a higher level of ECC specialisation. But I’m also keen to get involved in quality improvement and patient safety.
What are you hoping to get out of the Cutting Edge programme? Cutting Edge is a unique opportunity to meet many of the best minds in emergency and critical care. I want to make the most of this experience, interacting and learning all I possibly can from as many experts and specialists as I can. I also hope to develop lifelong professional and personal relationships with colleagues that share my passion for animal healthcare.
What would be your advice to someone who is thinking of becoming a vet? The best advice I can give is to go and spend time with a vet. See how it is working in a “real-life” veterinary practice or hospital and if you go home at night exhausted, and still feel like you’d happily do it all over again the following morning, that’s your path. It’s not going to be easy but it will be 100% worth it.
What do you like to do outside of work? I have my 24-year-old horse, now retired. He’s been with me since he was six and despite him being a very cheeky monkey, he’s my family and he keeps me sane when life goes crazy.
What is the most exciting thing you’ve ever done? Spending a year in Dubai, it was the best time of my life.
The next intake for Cutting Edge is in April, and places are filling up fast. We are also recruiting for more experienced vets for Refresh Your Edge. If you, or any vets you know, are interested in applying, please call the Vets Now recruitment team for more information on 01383 841181 or click here.
