The practice has an experienced team of clinicians who have extensive knowledge in their chosen specialisms.
Our team of interns are fully qualified veterinary surgeons who have devoted one year to work at Fitzpatrick Referrals with the sole aim of improving their understanding of canine and feline orthopaedics and neurology. The interns do not carry out surgical procedures at Fitzpatrick Referrals but are responsible for overseeing the care carried out by the nursing team and providing instant medical support.
LOCATION
CAREERS
We are always looking to strengthen our team with skilled, dedicated, passionate professionals.
Professor Noel Fitzpatrick
Managing Director / MVB DSc(Hon) DUniv CertSAO CertVR DipACVSMR DipECVSMR DSAS(Orth) MRCVS
Specialist services
RCVS Recognised Specialist in Small Animal Surgery (Orthopaedics)
EBVS® European Specialist in Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation
Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation
Professor Noel Fitzpatrick, originally from Laois, Ireland, is a world-class orthopaedic-neuro veterinary surgeon and managing director of one of the largest veterinary referral centres in the UK, Fitzpatrick Referrals.
Dr Sarah Girling
Senior Surgeon, Orthopaedics / BSc BVSc CertSAS DipECVS MRCVS
Specialist services
Dr Sarah Girling graduated from Massey University, New Zealand in 1995 and spent five years in mixed practice before joining the University of Liverpool where she held the position of surgical resident gaining the RCVS Certificate in Small Animal Surgery in 2003, and European College of Veterinary Surgeons diploma in 2007, becoming an EBVS® European Specialist in Small Animal Surgery.
Sarah is one of our most talented surgeons with all the necessary skills to manage your patient with joint disease, fracture repair and surgical spinal problems at any level.
She has a particular interest in total hip replacement (THR) and contributes data to the BVOA-UoL THR Registry; this database follows patients post-THR throughout their lifetime.
Dr James Guthrie
Senior Surgeon, Orthopaedics / BVM&S CertAVP(GSAS) PgCertVBM CCRT DipECVS DipACVSMR DipECVSMR FRSB FRSA MRCVS
Specialist services
Dr James Guthrie is one of the most highly qualified veterinarians in Europe and the only veterinarian in the UK to be a diplomate in both small animal surgery (orthopaedics, soft tissue and neurosurgery) and canine sports medicine and rehabilitation.
His clinical passion is to maximise patient outcomes with minimally invasive surgery coupled with regenerative medicine and rehabilitation therapies, by using the latest advancements in medical technology.
Dr Jan Janovec
Senior Surgeon, Orthopaedics / MVDr DipECVS MRCVS
Specialist services
Dr Jan Janovec graduated with honours from the University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences in Brno (Czech Republic) in 2008. After three years working in a referral centre in Brno, he moved to the UK, where he completed two rotating internships.
In 2014, Jan joined Fitzpatrick Referrals where he completed his three-year ECVS surgical residency programme and became a diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Surgeons and RCVS Recognised Specialist in Small Animal Surgery in 2018.
Dr Mario Coppola
Orthopaedic Registrar / DVM MRCVS
Specialist services
Dr Mario Coppola graduated from the University of Naples in 2011. He worked in a busy hospital in Naples before moving to the United Kingdom in 2014. He undertook a surgical internship at Fitzpatrick Referrals, followed by a one-year rotational junior scholarship at Glasgow University Veterinary School.
Mario completed a three-year European College of Veterinary Surgeons approved residency programme in small animal surgery in June 2021 at Glasgow University.
In July 2021, Mario returned to Fitzpatrick Referrals as a senior clinician in our orthopaedics team.
Dr Christos Nikolaou
Advanced Practitioner in Small Animal Surgery / DVM CertAVP(GSAS) MRCVS
Specialist services
Dr Christos Nikolaou graduated from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in 2005. After graduation, he completed an internship in small animal surgery at the same university and at Fitzpatrick Referrals. At Fitzpatrick Referrals, he continued as a research fellow for six months before returning to Greece.
He returned to Fitzpatrick Referrals and worked as a manager while receiving advanced training for three years. From 2018 to 2021 he founded and led peripatetic orthopaedic services for a group of primary care veterinary practices, before returning to Fitzpatrick Referrals in 2022.
Dr Katia Marioni-Henry
Senior Surgeon, Neurology / Dr.Med.Vet. PhD DipACVIM(Neurology) DipECVN SFHEA MRCVS
Specialist services
Dr Katia Marioni-Henry is American and EBVS® European Veterinary Specialist in Small Animal Neurology.
Looking for new challenges, Katia joined Fitzpatrick Referrals in January 2024, attracted by the ethos of the practice, its focus on excellence in patient care, its innovative clinical work, and to contribute to the relaunch of its thriving neurology service.
Katia’s areas of interest include feline neurology, neuromuscular diseases, movement disorders and medical and surgical treatment of intervertebral disc disease.
Dr Nadia Shihab
Senior Surgeon, Neurology / MA VetMB DipECVN PGCertSAECC MRCVS
Specialist services
Dr Nadia Shihab graduated from the University of Cambridge in 2005 and completed her three-year European College of Veterinary Neurology (ECVN) approved residency programme in neurology and neurosurgery at the Royal Veterinary College in 2010, becoming an EBVS® European Specialist in Veterinary Neurology. After working as a neurologist and lecturer at the RVC’s teaching hospital, she moved to a large multidisciplinary referral hospital in Hampshire, where she initiated the growth of the neurology service and became a clinical director.
In June 2024, Nadia joined Fitzpatrick Referrals neurology team.
Dr Marc Pérez Soteras
Neurologist / DVM MRCVS
Specialist services
Dr Marc Pérez Soteras graduated from the Autonomous University of Barcelona (Spain) in 2012, with a degree in veterinary medicine.
Marc enrolled in the three-year European College of Veterinary Neurology (ECVN) approved residency programme in neurology and neurosurgery at Ars Veterinaria, before moving to the UK in 2023 to join Fitzpatrick Referrals’ neurology team.
Dr Carina Black
Senior Surgeon, Neurology / DipECVN MRCVS
Specialist services
Dr Carina Black (nee Rotter) graduated from the University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna (Austria) in 2013, specialising in small animal medicine within her last year of studies. She spent three and a half years working in a private referral centre in Vienna, a reputable clinic for 24/7 emergency service.
Carina joined Fitzpatrick Referrals as a surgical intern in 2017. Afterwards, she enrolled on a three-year European College of Veterinary Neurology (ECVN) approved residency programme in neurology and neurosurgery in 2018, becoming a registrar in 2021.
Dr Ilaria Petruccione
Anaesthetist / DVM MRCVS
Specialist services
Dr Ilaria Petruccione joined Fitzpatrick Referrals in April 2023, having spent the past year as an anaesthesia clinician at an equine hospital in Newmarket, Suffolk.
She qualified from the University of Naples, School of Veterinary Medicine in 2013 before undertaking a rotating internship at a veterinary clinic in Chantilly, France. She then spent a year between Vetsuisse Faculty at the University of Bern, and Perugia University in Italy working as anaesthetist in large animal, before completing a specialistic internship in anaesthesia and analgesia at the Animal Health Trust, Newmarket.
Ilaria completed her three-year anaesthesia and analgesia residency programme at the University of Glasgow Veterinary School.
Dr Hannah van Velzen
Dentistry, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Registrar / BSc MSc CSAVP (Dentistry) MRCVS
Specialist services
Dr Hannah van Velzen graduated from Utrecht University in the Netherlands in 2016. Whilst working as a general practitioner in Dorset, she developed a keen interest in veterinary dentistry, heading her practice’s first opinion dental service, and achieving the ESAVS postgraduate certificate in dentistry.
Hannah completed a three-year EVDC approved residency programme in dentistry, oral and maxillofacial surgery as part of the largest dentistry team in Europe and brings with her a wealth of experience and knowledge.
Dr Nadine Schneider
Surgical Resident (ECVS) / DVM MRCVS
Specialist services
Nadine Schneider graduated from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Vienna in 2016. She spent one year working as a small animal veterinary surgeon at a busy first and second opinion referral hospital in Vienna. She then completed a 12-month rotating internship before moving to the UK.
In 2019, Nadine undertook an 18-month orthopaedic internship at Fitzpatrick Referrals, followed by a period of working in a primary care practice in the UK. She returned to Fitzpatrick Referrals in 2020 for another 12-month rotating internship in oncology and soft tissue before starting her surgical residency in June 2022.
Nadine is currently enrolled in the three-year European College of Veterinary Surgeons (ECVS) approved small animal surgical residency programme at Fitzpatrick Referrals and a referral hospital in Guildford.
Dr Maria Potamopoulou
Surgical Resident (ECVS) / DVM(Hons) PGCertVPS CertAVP MRCVS
Specialist services
Dr Maria Potamopoulou graduated with honours from the Veterinary Medicine Institution of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece in 2015. She subsequently worked as a small animal primary care veterinary surgeon in first and second opinion clinics in Cyprus and Guernsey for two years. Maria then completed a 17-month surgical internship in the orthopaedics, neurosurgery, soft tissue surgery, oncology and interventional radiology departments of Fitzpatrick Referrals and then undertook a 12-month orthopaedic internship position at a referral centre in Norfolk.
She is currently enrolled in the three-year European College of Veterinary Surgeons (ECVS) approved small animal surgical residency programme at Fitzpatrick Referrals.
Dr Anna Giulia Salmina
Surgical Resident (ECVS) / DVM MRCVS
Specialist services
Anna Giulia Salmina graduated first with a Bachelor in Biology at the University of Lausanne and then in veterinary medicine from the Vetsuisse Faculty of the University of Zürich (Switzerland) after having spent a month of externship in small animal surgery at the University of Colorado (USA). She then spent almost two years working at the small animal hospital of the University of Zürich first as a rotating intern and then as an emergency and critical care veterinarian in a busy and highly demanding environment.
At the end of 2021, she moved to the UK to join Fitzpatrick Referrals for a 12-month rotating internship, followed by a six-month surgical internship. In June 2023, Anna Giulia started the three-year European College of Veterinary Surgeons (ECVS) approved small animal surgical residency.
Dr Stefano Manca
Surgical Resident (ECVS) / DVM CertAVP(GSAS) CertAVP(VDI) PGcertVPS MRCVS
Specialist services
Dr Stefano Manca qualified from the University of Bologna (Italy) in 2014. He then moved to the United Kingdom and worked in different working environments including veterinary general practice and charity for almost four years. He completed a 12-month rotating internship and a surgical internship at a busy referral centre in Hampshire followed by an internship in advanced orthopaedics and neurosurgery at Fitzpatrick Referrals.
In the summer of 2023, he started the three-year European College of Veterinary Surgeons (ECVS) approved small animal surgical residency at Fitzpatrick Referrals.
Dr Lavinia Economu
Surgical Resident (ECVS) / BSc (Hons) BVetMed MRCVS
Specialist services
Lavinia Economu graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 2021 with a bachelor’s degree in veterinary medicine and an intercalated bachelor’s degree in comparative pathology.
After spending a year at a busy first opinion hospital in Norfolk, Lavinia went on to complete a small animal rotating internship at the University of Cambridge and a 12-month orthopaedic internship at a private referral hospital in Sussex alongside working in general practice.
In June 2024, Lavinia started the three-year European College of Veterinary Surgeons (ECVS) surgery residency programme at Fitzpatrick Referrals and a referral hospital in Guildford.
Dr Kirsty Maskell
Surgical Resident (ECVS) / BVetMed CertAVP MRCVS
Specialist services
Kirsty graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 2017. She then started work in a busy first opinion hospital in Southampton, first as a day and then night vet. In 2019 and 2020 she completed both a rotating and surgical internship at a large referral hospital in Hampshire.
In June 2024, Kirsty started the three-year European College of Veterinary Surgeons (ECVS) Surgery residency programme at Fitzpatrick Referrals and a referral hospital in Guildford.
Dr Sara Peverelli
Neurology Resident (ECVN) / DVM MRCVS
Specialist services
Dr Sara Peverelli graduated from the University of Milan (Italy) in 2020.
In 2022, she moved to the United Kingdom and joined Fitzpatrick Referrals, where she first completed an internship in advanced orthopaedics and neurosurgery, followed by a 12-month internship in neurology and neurosurgery.In December 2024, she enrolled in the three-year European College of Veterinary Neurology (ECVN)-approved residency program in neurology and neurosurgery at Fitzpatrick Referrals.
