The people behind the practice

Meet the Hawthorn team.

Small enough to know you. Experienced enough to trust.

Our veterinary surgeons

Dr Sarah Whitaker

BVetMed MRCVS

Co-Founder & Clinical Director

Sarah co-founded Hawthorn in 2014 after a decade of varied practice experience, driven by a desire to offer genuinely continuity-led care. Her special interest is soft tissue surgery, and she brings calm, clear expertise to every complex case.

Owns two very excitable springer spaniels called Biscuit and Juniper.

Dr James Patel

BVSc MRCVS

Co-Founder & Lead Vet

James trained at the University of Bristol and spent several years in busy urban referral-level practice before joining Sarah to open Hawthorn. He has a deep interest in dermatology and internal medicine, and is known for his thorough, unhurried consultations.

His black cat, Pepper, is a permanent fixture in the practice Instagram feed.

Dr Aoife Nolan

MVB MRCVS

Veterinary Surgeon

Aoife graduated from University College Dublin and joined Hawthorn in 2019. She has a particular passion for feline medicine and rabbit care — two areas she continues to develop through specialist CPD.

Keeps three rescue house rabbits and can identify almost any rabbit breed at a glance.

Dr Tom Bryant

BVetMed MRCVS

Veterinary Surgeon

Tom joined Hawthorn in 2021 from a specialist orthopaedic referral centre in Cambridge. His clinical interest lies in musculoskeletal conditions, and he handles a high proportion of the practice's more complex surgical cases.

Represented England in amateur triathlon — he's usually the first in and last out at the practice.

Nursing & support team

Chloe Reeves

RVN

Head Nurse

Chloe has been with Hawthorn since the very beginning, growing from a student nurse into our Head Nurse. She is a Cat Friendly Clinic Advocate and leads our feline handling training across the whole team.

Can perform a blood pressure reading on almost any cat without it noticing — a genuine superpower.

Megan Hill

RVN

Veterinary Nurse

Megan runs our popular nurse clinics, covering weight management, post-operative follow-ups, and older pet health checks. She has a talent for explaining complex care plans in a way that owners genuinely understand and remember.

Volunteers at a local hedgehog rescue on weekends.

Priya Shah

Practice Manager

Priya keeps every part of Hawthorn running smoothly, from rotas and supplier relationships to the client experience. She joined us in 2017 and has been instrumental in shaping the calm, welcoming atmosphere the clinic is known for.

Makes the best chai biscuits in Stamford — the waiting room smells of them every Friday.

Lucy Tomlinson

Senior Receptionist

Lucy is often the first voice you hear when you call Hawthorn and the first face you see when you arrive. She has a remarkable memory for clients and their pets, and her warmth sets the tone for every visit.

Has a miniature dachshund called Pickwick who is — in her words — absolutely perfectly behaved.

We're always growing.

We recruit carefully and invest in every team member's development through specialist CPD, mentorship and a culture that values clinical curiosity. If you'd like to join us, see our current vacancies.

View open roles →