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.

Brigite is an RCVS and European Specialist in Small Animal Cardiology who sees medical and surgical cardiology cases.

Brigite graduated in 2008 from the University of Porto, in Portugal. She first moved to the UK in 2009 and completed an internship at a referral center in Essex. In 2010 she was awarded the Leonardo da Vinci scholarship from the University of Porto, which allowed her to undertake an internship in Cardiology at the University of Liverpool Small Animal Teaching Hospital. In 2012 she started a three-year residency programme in Veterinary Cardiology at the same institution. In 2014 Brigite was awarded a Masters degree in cardiovascular pathophysiology. In 2015, having completed her residency, Brigite was promoted to the position of Lecturer in Cardiology at the University of Liverpool. She became a European Specialist in Veterinary Cardiology in 2016.

Brigite has given numerous presentations at national and international congresses and has published several papers on topics such as dilated cardiomyopathy, pulmonic stenosis, cardiac tumours and atrial fibrillation.

Brigite is particularly interested in the diagnosis and management of arrhythmias, in particular, atrial fibrillation which is the main topic of many of her current research projects. In addition, she has a great interest in congenital heart diseases and their medical and surgical treatment.

Outside work, Brigite likes to spend time with her friends and family, and also loves travelling and visiting new places.

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.