Small Animal Diagnostic Imaging
The Diagnostic Imaging unit consists of three European Board-certified radiologists, two residents, both of whom hold the R.C.V.S. Certificate in Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging, and a radiographer. This is a very busy unit providing an imaging service in radiology, ultrasonography, MRI and scintigraphy for all of the other disciplines. We hope also to have access to CT very soon and the longer term aim is to have a CT facility on site to complete the imaging modalities that we have. The MRI scanner is always busy and having MRI on site means that numerous out-of-hours emergency patients are scanned. The imaging unit also provides a film reading service for practitioners and we are always happy to give imaging advice to our colleagues in practice.
Diagnostic imaging staff
Ruth Dennis MA VetMB DVR DipECVDI MRCVS
RCVS and European Specialist in Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging
Head, Diagnostic Imaging Unit
Ruth Dennis qualified from Cambridge in 1981 and spent nearly three years in mixed practice before returning to Cambridge in 1984 to specialise in radiology. She obtained the R.C.V.S. Certificate in Veterinary Radiology in 1984 and the Diploma in 1985, and became a foundation Diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging (E.C.V.D.I..), of which she is currently President, in 1994. In 1992 she moved to the Animal Health Trust to set up a diagnostic imaging unit and to run the newly-installed MRI scanner. She now heads a team of six people working in this unit. She has spoken and published widely on the subject of veterinary diagnostic imaging and is editor and co-author of the Handbook of Small Animal Radiological Differential Diagnosis. In 2006 she was the recipient of the B.S.A.V.A. Blaine Award for outstanding contributions to the advancement of veterinary medicine or surgery.
Andrew Holloway BVSc CertSAM DVDI DipECVDI MRCVS
European Specialist in Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging
Andrew graduated from the University of Pretoria in 1992 and then worked in general practice in Essex for eight years. In 1998 he obtained the RCVS Certificate in Veterinary Radiology and in 2002 the RCVS Certificate in Small Animal Medicine. In 2000 he joined the University of Cambridge Veterinary School as a visiting resident in diagnostic imaging, obtaining the RCVS Diploma in Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging in 2004. In 2006 Andrew joined the Animal Health Trust as a clinical radiologist and he obtained the European Diploma in Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging in 2007.
Julien J. Labruyère DVM CertVDI DipECVDI MRCVS
European Specialist in Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging
Julien graduated from the University of Liège (Belgium) in 2001. He then moved to USA and completed an internship in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery in a referral practice in Chicago. Subsequently Julien worked for three years in general practice in Kent (UK) during which time he developed a great interest in radiology. Julien joined the Animal Health Trust in 2005 and started a residency in Diagnostic Imaging. He obtained the RCVS Certificate in Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging in 2007 and the Diploma of the European College of Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging in 2009. His main interests are ocular ultrasonography and MRI.
Pip Johnson
Resident in Diagnostic Imaging
Pip graduated from Sydney University in 2005, she then worked in mixed animal practice in New Zealand and small animal practice in Beijing, China, before returning to the UK to complete an internship in small animal medicine and surgery. During her internship she enrolled in the certificate in veterinary diagnostic imaging and her interest in this subject grew. Pip joined the Animal Health Trust in August 2009 as a resident in diagnostic imaging. She is working towards sitting her Diploma of the European College of Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging in 2012.
Mauro Pivetta
Imaging Intern
Mauro graduated in Veterinary Medicine from the University of Bologna in 2003.
After graduating he spent a year working in private practice then in 2008 completed a Clinical PhD in Emergency and Critical Care at the University of Bologna. In this period he developed his understanding in small animal diagnostic Imaging. He joined the Animal Health Trust in September 2009 and started an Internship in diagnostic Imaging.
Sarah Gray VN
Imaging Nurse
Sarah qualified in 1993. She worked in general practice for several years, during which time she won the Schering Plough Anaesthesia Nursing Award. In 2004 she also won the Veterinary Nurse of the Year award. She has a keen interest in animal behaviour and has gained the BVNA Certificate in Small Animal Behaviour. Although Sarah has been a dedicated Ophthalmology Nurse at the AHT since 2004, she still does a lot of work with puppy socialisation classes to help prevent behaviour problems developing in the dogs, as they get older. Sarah also does a lot of work for the RSPCA in her spare time, usually hand rearing animals or fostering cruelty cases for them. Sarah has also been a BVNA Councillor and is a past Honorary Secretary of the BVNA.