Spinal Surgery
Sebastien Behr
DVM(Hons) DipECVN MRCVS
Head of Neurology
RCVS Specialist in Veterinary Neurology
European Specialist in Veterinary Neurology
Sebastien graduated from the Veterinary School of Toulouse, France in 2001. In the same year he presented a veterinary thesis on ‘Cerebrospinal Fluid Proteins in the Dog’, which received an award for ‘best thesis of the year’ from the French Companion Animal Veterinary Association and the University of Medicine Paul Sabatier of Toulouse. The following year he performed an internship at Fregis small animal hospital in Paris, the largest private small animal hospital in France, followed by a three year residency in Neurology and Neurosurgery in the same hospital from 2002 to 2005. During his residency he focused his research on cerebrospinal fluid analysis and inflammatory non-infectious diseases of the central nervous system. Sebastien was awarded the Diploma of the European College of Veterinary Neurology in 2006 and the following year he was recognised as an RCVS Specialist in Veterinary Neurology.
Sebastien moved to the United Kingdom in 2005 to join a multi-disciplinary referral centre where he worked as a neurologist and neurosurgeon before joining Willows Referral Service as a senior clinician in March 2010 and he is now head of the neurology-neurosurgery service. He has a special interest in idiopathic inflammatory diseases of the central nervous system, advanced neuro-imaging, brain and spinal surgery including advanced spinal surgery with the use of 3D printing which has been pioneered in veterinary medicine at Willows with Bill Oxley.
Sebastien is a past associate editor for neurology of the editorial board of the Journal of Small Animal Practice and a past member of both the Education and the Examination Committee of the European College of Veterinary Neurology. Sebastien has published numerous scientific publications and book chapters, he is also a regular speaker at conferences and CPD courses nationally and internationally.
Sebastien has a young family and two cats named Marcello, a domestic short hair, and Valentino, a British Blue.
Lluis Sánchez
Ldo Vet, MRCVS, DipECVN
European Specialist in Veterinary Neurology
Lluís graduated from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona in 2012. The following year he performed a rotating internship at the Small Animal Hospital Babenhausen Dr Susanne Medl, in Germany, followed by a one-year Neurology internship in the same hospital.
He then moved to the UK, where he performed a one-year Neurology internship and a three-year residency in Neurology and Neurosurgery at the Animal Health Trust from 2015 to 2019. During the following six months, Lluís worked as a Neurologist in the same institution, as well as at the Small Animal Hospital Babenhausen Dr Susanne Medl.
Lluís was awarded the Diploma of the European College of Veterinary Neurology in 2020.
His special interests include idiopathic inflammatory diseases of the central nervous syste and advanced neuro-imaging.
In his spare time, Lluís enjoys travelling with family and friends.
Cristina Toni
DVM DipECVN MRCVS
European Specialist in Veterinary Neurology
Cristina graduated from the University of Parma (Italy) in 2013. After two enjoyable years in general practice, Cristina pursued her love for neurology undertaking two rotating internships first, followed by a three-year residency program in Neurology and Neurosurgery at Willows. Her research focused on spinal surgery during her residency with a particular interest in 3D printed patient-specific drill guides. Cristina was awarded the diploma of the European College of Veterinary Neurology in 2022.
Cristina worked in another multidisciplinary referral centre in the UK as a neurologist and neurosurgeon before re-joining Willows in March 2022. Cristina enjoys all aspects of neurology and neurosurgery, particularly inflammatory diseases of the CNS, epilepsy, and spinal surgery.
Cristina enjoys spending time with her two dachshunds, Tito and Theo and friends in her spare time.
Jonathan Pink
BSc BVetMed CertSAS DipECVS MRCVS
Head of Orthopaedics
RCVS Specialist in Small Animal Surgery (Orthopaedics)
European Specialist in Small Animal Surgery
A graduate of King’s College London (1992) and the Royal Veterinary College (1997), Jonathan initially worked in mixed practice in Nottinghamshire before moving to a large small animal practice in Berkshire where he gained the RCVS Certificate in Small Animal Surgery.
In 2002 Jonathan started his Specialist training, embarking on a three year residency in small animal surgery at University College Dublin with periods spent at veterinary schools in Ohio, North Carolina, and Paris. During this time he was involved in all aspects of orthopaedic, soft tissue and neurosurgery. Jonathan remained at University College Dublin as a lecturer in small animal surgery and in 2006 became a Diplomat of the European College of Veterinary Surgeons by examination and a European Specialist in Small Animal Surgery. In October 2006 he joined Willows Referral Service, focusing on orthopaedics and spinal surgery.
Jonathan’s main interests are complex fracture management, joint replacement and arthroscopy spinal disease. He has given presentations at national and international meetings on a variety of orthopaedic topics and has been an active contributor to the surgical training of students and colleagues through university teaching and continuing education courses in addition to helping to train the next generation of surgical specialists.
“At Willows, the caring ethos and commitment to providing the highest level of care to our patients and their owners allows us to offer the best possible treatment for each animal. The combination of excellent facilities and a team of experienced and highly motivated colleagues makes Willows the ideal environment in which to work and provide the level of care each patient requires.”
Toby Gemmill
BVSc MVM DSAS(Orth) DipECVS FRCVS
RCVS Specialist in Small Animal Surgery (Orthopaedics)
European Specialist in Small Animal Surgery
Toby graduated from the University of Bristol and following a number of years in primary care practice he completed a Residency in Small Animal Surgery at the University of Glasgow. He holds the RCVS and ECVS Diplomas in Small Animal Surgery, and an MVM for research into canine elbow dysplasia. Toby was awarded Fellowship of the RCVS in 2020 for Meritorious contributions to clinical practice.
A former member of the RCVS surgery board, Toby has been an RCVS examiner and chief examiner at both certificate and diploma levels. For many years he has been active in the AO Foundation, a global not-for-profit organisation dedicated to improving patient outcomes following orthopaedic surgery, as part of the AOVET European board, the Education Commission, the International Board, and the AO Board of Trustees. Toby was chair of the AOVET European board from 2018 to 2022.
Toby has authored over 50 scientific papers, conference abstracts and book chapters, and has given presentations in the UK and around the world on a wide variety of topics relating to small animal orthopaedics and spinal surgery.
Toby enjoys all aspects of small animal orthopaedics and spinal surgery, and has additional interests in effectiveness of postgraduate education, coaching and mentorship, team building, development of clinical leadership and hospital operational efficiency.
Dr Kinley Smith
MA VetMB CertSAS DipECVS PhD MRCVS
RCVS Specialist in Small Animal Surgery (Orthopaedics)
European Specialist in Small Animal Surgery
Kinley graduated from Cambridge University in 2000 and spent 7 years in small animal practice in Derbyshire and Cheshire, gaining the Certificate in Small Animal Surgery in 2006. In 2007 he began doctoral training at the University of Liverpool investigating the mechanisms of cruciate ligament disease in dogs. This research was very successful and in 2010 he graduated with a PhD. In the same year he began a Residency in Small Animal Surgery at the University of Glasgow which he completed in 2013. He gained the ECVS Diploma in Small Animal Surgery in 2014 and RCVS Specialist status in 2015. Following 3 years working in a specialist referral practice in Derbyshire, Kinley moved to Willows Referral service in 2017.
He has published a number of scientific papers and has lectured internationally since 2008 on scientific and orthopaedic topics. Although interested in all aspects of orthopaedics, Kinley has a particular interest in ligament and tendon injuries, treatment of joint disease and management of chronic orthopaedic conditions.
Alexis Bilmont
DVM DipECVS MRCVS
European Specialist in Small Animal Surgery
Alexis graduated from the Veterinary School of Maisons-Alfort (France) in 2006. From 2007 to 2013, he worked as an intern and assistant in surgery at the Veterinary School of Toulouse, and at subsequently at several referral practices in the south of France. He returned to the Veterinary School of Toulouse in 2013 to undertake a three year residency programme in surgery. He became a Diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Surgeons in 2017.
Alexis’ clinical interests cover all aspects of orthopaedics and spinal surgery, and he has a particular interest in minimally invasive fracture repair. He is committed to providing the best possible level of care to his patients, and giving an excellent service to pet owners and referring veterinary surgeons.
When not at work, Alexis enjoys spending time with his wife and children, and playing piano. He is also a keen squash player.
