Vet Tamsin Gibson has been named among the most inspiring young members of the veterinary profession as part of London Vet Show’s 30 Under Thirty.
Tamsin, who is Head Vet at the Wareham and Swanage branches of Lynwood Vets in Dorset and part of the VetPartners Clinical Board, was honoured at a special ceremony at London Vet Show.
Here, she reveals how she is more passionate about the veterinary profession than ever and why it is so important for vets working in General Practice to be recognised….
WHEN Tamsin Gibson sees a bright-eyed patient trotting out of her surgery wagging its tail with its happy, smiling owner, she feels huge joy and satisfaction herself.
Whether she’s vaccinating a playful puppy, performing a spay or a dental procedure or carrying out an ultrasound scan on a patient, Tamsin is in her element as she remembers becoming a vet was her dream since the age of five.
There may be stressful days when things don’t go to plan, or when she has to comfort a grieving client who has lost their much-loved companion, but for the most part Tamsin is in her element.
She may be working as a GP vet, seeing routine cases, but there is still something special about Tamsin and the way she puts the care of patients, the care of clients and her colleagues at the forefront of everything.
So much so, Tamsin is among London Vet Show’s 30 Under Thirty, a remarkable group of young professionals who are shaping the future of the veterinary profession and who represent the best of the veterinary world, thanks to their collaborative, creative and deeply committed approach to animals and people.
Along with the rest of the class of 2025, she will be officially celebrated during a special ceremony at London Vet Show on Thursday 20th November at ExCeL London.
In typical modest style, Tamsin said: “I am proud to be a GP vet and, if me being on the list proves anything, it’s that you don’t have to be fancy. Some of those on the list have been on TV or have big Instagram followings, whereas I have neither of those nor have I any intention of doing so. It proves a GP vet working in practice and trying to make an impact can be recognised for what they are.
“I have not done anything another vet couldn’t do, but I have explored my passion for the profession and got involved in the VetPartners Clinical Board. It is important that GP vets are seen as making a difference in practice because we do.
“I love the profession. To me, it is the best job in the world. In what other profession can you help a person by helping the thing that matters most to them in the world, whether that’s a cat, a dog or a hamster?”
‘Tamsin is an amazing veterinary professional’
Tamsin’s place in the 30 Under Thirty list did not come as a surprise to those who work closely with her at VetPartners.
VetPartners Group Director of Clinical Research and Excellence in Practice Rachel Dean said: “Tamsin is an amazing veterinary professional at the start of her career and a true ambassador for her generation. She is already a leader and brings the whole team together easily, with a great mixture of wisdom, compassion and dedication. I love working with her.”
And Caroline Scobie, who is part of the VetPartners Clinical Board Support Team, said: “Tamsin is one of the most conscientious and dedicated vets I’ve ever had the opportunity to work with. She inspires teams around her with her constant drive to learn and improve. I love chatting through cases together; she has such a keen understanding of the complexities and uncertainties in day-to-day clinical decision-making.”
Hard work, determination and a love of science enabled Tamsin to study veterinary medicine at the University of Surrey in Guildford, before achieving a place on VetPartners’ new graduate programme when she accepted her first practice role with Abbey Vets in Derby in 2020.
It was her thirst for knowledge that led to her responding to an email from the VetPartners Clinical Board inviting a new graduate to join their species boards.
Now, as part of the Small Animal Clinical Board, she is part of a group of like-minded individuals from across our practices with a passion for sharing knowledge with colleagues across the whole of VetPartners.
“Being part of the Clinical Board has been a fantastic opportunity and a great challenge,” said Tamsin.
We aim to provide the best care for patients
“I love the ethos of the Clinical Board and how it is there to help to advance the profession. We are a group of people – vets, veterinary nurses and clinical directors – from different small animal practices from all over the country and we come together with the sole aim of improving clinical practice. We focus on evidence-based veterinary medicine to provide the best care for patients within client finances, equipment and what we can do as a vet.
“It’s all about having a passion for the profession and it makes us better vets and better people.
“Our 14 Clinical Interest Groups provide a hub of advice, with online resources on VetPartners Learning and webinars, and people can join clinical groups.”
Tamsin missed out on vet school first time round as competition was fierce, and she did not have as much work experience as other candidates. It was not enough to deter her as she made it to vet school at the second attempt.
That ability to bounce back, adapt and thrive in the face of adversity held her in good stead when she started practice life in 2020 with the UK in lockdown during the Covid pandemic.
Car park consults made it a baptism of fire, while CPD and training through the VetPartners new graduate programme was all delivered on Zoom, but she believes those unique challenges helped to make her a better vet.
Since May, she has been Head Vet at the Wareham and Swanage branches of Lynwood Vets in Dorset. The move from Abbey Vets to her new practice enabled her to fulfil her dream of moving to Dorset, where she is renovating a house she shares with her husband Scott, dog Albert, cat Reggie and two leopard geckos. Transferring to another of our practices meant she didn’t have to leave VetPartners.
Confidence blossoms outside a comfort zone
Her love of learning and science led to her completing a post-graduate Certificate in Clinical Animal Behaviour. In January, she will start a BSAVA Certificate in Small Animal Medicine.
Being part of the Clinical Board has boosted her confidence by forcing her out of her comfort zone. She has participated in Clinical Board roadshows around the country, going out to meet practice teams to share ideas and inspiration.
Tamsin said: “Confidence and communication does not come naturally to me because I’ve always been really shy and have imposter syndrome. As a vet you have to convince clients to trust you and that requires confidence.
“Being part of the Clinical Board and hosting webinars has really helped my client communication skills. Once you learn empathy for people, you understand them more. If they are angry or frustrated, it comes from a love of their pet and not understanding what’s going on. Being able to communicate clearly and support them is part of being a good vet.”
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