Dr Simon Swift graduated from Cambridge University and started working in mixed animal practice before moving to small animal practice.  He quickly developed a fascination for Cardiology and was awarded the RCVS Certificate in Cardiology in 1990.

He became the advisor for the UK Cavalier King Charles spaniel club advising them on degenerative valve disease from 1990 to 2014.  He then became a partner in large small animal practice in Manchester accepting referrals in Cardiology. Simon obtained his European Diploma in Cardiology following an alternative residency program at Liverpool University before moving into private referral practice in the UK.

In 2014, Simon moved back into academia to teach at the University of Florida where he was Service Chief of Cardiology, Associate Editor of JVIM and a Medical Director. He also led the development of an open heart program to perform mitral valve repair surgery in association with the team at the Jasmine Clinic in Japan lead by Dr Uechi.

Simon moved back to the UK in 2021 with his wife, Lisa, a ball obsessed border collie called Milly and a large ex-research cat, Florence.

Simon is excited by the opportunity to help patients, clients and referring Vets in his new role as Head of Cardiology Willows.

Fabio graduated from Bologna University (Italy) in 2012. After graduation, he undertook a small animal Cardiology externship at the University of Liverpool. Fabio then went on to complete a 12-month rotating internship in small animal medicine at Rutland House Referrals. Following this, he worked in general practice for almost two years, further developing his interest in Cardiology. In 2016 he was appointed a Resident in Small Animal Cardiology at the University of Liverpool. Following this, Fabio worked as a Cardiology Clinician in private referral practice and became a European Specialist in Veterinary Cardiology. Fabio joined Willows Veterinary Centre and Referral Service in 2021.

 

Fabio enjoys all aspects of medical and interventional Cardiology. His main interest is in congenital heart disease and performing minimally invasive procedures to treat these defects, feline cardiomyopathies and arrhythmias. 

Outside work, Fabio loves spending time with his young family and is always busy finding new ways to entertain his two children.

He also enjoys watching and participating in sports (mostly basketball) and cooking Italian cuisine (with variable results).

João graduated in 2009 from Oporto University, Portugal. After graduation, he initially worked for four years in general practice in Portugal. Focused on studying towards to become a Cardiology Specialist, João moved to the UK in January 2013 to undertake a cardiology internship at the University of Liverpool. After this, he completed a 13-month rotating internship program at Dick White Referrals and, in 2014, he started his residency in Small Animal Cardiology at the University of Liverpool. After completion of his residency, João was promoted to Lecturer in Small Animal Cardiology at the University of Liverpool. João joined Willows Veterinary Centre and Referral Service in 2018 and became a European Specialist in Veterinary Cardiology in 2021.

He enjoys all aspects of medical and interventional cardiology and has a particular interest in feline cardiomyopathies, cardiorenal syndrome and atrial fibrillation. João has given presentations at national and international congresses on several topics of small animal cardiology as well as cardiology-focused CPD.

Outside work, João enjoys spending time with his family, friends and Lego, his Golden Retriever. He loves travelling and travel filmmaking.

Jon graduated from the University of Bristol in 1996. After two years in mixed general (mainly cattle and small animal) practice in Bath and North-East Somerset, returned to the Univesity of Bristol to perform a three-year Residency in Small Animal Medicine. In 2001 Jon established a Small Animal Medicine referral service at Willows Veterinary Centre and Referral Service alongside existing Orthopaedics, Ophthalmology and Anaesthesia disciplines. In 2004 he started the Canine Medicine referral service at the Animal Health Trust, Newmarket, before becoming Head of Internal Medicine. He then returned to the University of Bristol as Clinical Fellow in Cardiorespiratory Medicine before joining Dick White Referrals in 2008 as a Specialist in Small Animal Medicine and subsequently as Head of Cardiology. He joined Willows Veterinary Centre and Referral Service in 2021 as Clinical Director.

Jon is a past Chief Examiner for the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons Certificate and Diploma in Small Animal Medicine and the Certificate of Advanced Veterinary Practice for the University of Liverpool. He has published widely and lectured nationally and internationally in Internal Medicine, Cardiology, Veterinary Education and Interventional Radiology. He is the author of the book ‘Canine Internal Medicine: What’s Your Diagnosis?’. He is an Honorary Associate Professor in Small Animal Internal Medicine at the University of Nottingham and Visiting Lecturer at Copenhagen and Lusofona (Lisbon). In 2008 he was awarded Fellowship of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (FRCVS) for Meritorious Contribution to Clinical Practice. The same year, he was admitted as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology (FRSB) and listed as a Chartered Biologist.

Jon’s clinical practice and interests are in all aspects of Internal Medicine and Cardiology but specifically in the investigation and management of dysphagia, endocrine dwarfism, diagnostic and therapeutic interventional endoscopy, congenital heart disease, pericardial disease, interventional cardiology and interventional radiology (a subject area which he has been amongst the vanguard of Specialists in the UK to introduce this in the veterinary arena in the last decade and in which he has provided practical training workshops for internationally). He also speaks regularly in clinical reasoning and cognitive error as applied to small animal veterinary practice.

Outside work, Jon enjoys travelling, live music, playing the guitar (with more enthusiasm than skill )and spending time with his three children messing around in kayaks, boards and swimming in rivers and sea.

“I’m enormously excited and privileged to be taking the position of Clinical Director at Willows, having fond memories of developing the Internal Medicine Service here 20 years ago. I’ve watched the centre grow and further develop with great admiration as an outstanding multidisciplinary referral centre and general practice with the same commitment to excellence that has always been a byword for Willows. I look forward with enthusiasm to be working with such a stellar group of Specialists and superb veterinary and nursing talent to deliver the very best of care for the patients entrusted to our collective expertise by their owners and veterinary practices.”