Meet the team
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James Thorntonsmith
Clinical Director
BVM&S PgDip(Conservation Medicine) PgC SAC (Small Animal Cardiology Studies) MRCVSJames joined Abercorn in 2014 and enjoys all aspects of veterinary medicine and surgery but has a particular interest in ultrasonography. In 2021 he completed a general practitioner certificate in small animal cardiology and a postgraduate certificate in the same discipline at the end of 2023. He also holds a postgraduate diploma in conservation medicine.
With his rapidly expanding family, James no longer has much ‘spare’ time but enjoys going out for runs with one of this two dogs (his whippet is too old to keep up now) and can occasionally be persuaded by Victor to play a round of golf now and again.
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Caitlin Loretto
Veterinary Surgeon
BVM&S BVSc (Zoology) MRCVSCaitlin joined Abercorn in August 2021, shortly after graduating from the University of Edinburgh where she also intercalated in Zoology during her vet degree. She has enjoyed settling into life at Abercorn and getting to grips with all aspects of first opinion veterinary medicine, with a particular interest in surgery. In her spare time, she plays for a local shinty team and enjoys Highland dancing as well as trying new places to eat!
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Ruth Drane
Veterinary Surgeon
BVMS MRCVSRuth joined Abercorn in October 2024 after graduating from the University of Glasgow and she is excited to meet all the lovely patients.
She is very biased to a cocker spaniel and in her spare time she loves trail runs with her adventurous dog Blue. She can also occasionally be found on rivers Whitewater Kayaking.
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Charlotte Gaunt
Veterinary Surgeon
BVM&S MRCVS -
Christine Mackie
Veterinary Surgeon
BVMS MRCVSChristine graduated from the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies in 2017 and worked for a period down south in a small animal practice, before relocating back to Edinburgh to join the team in 2019.
She enjoys all aspects of small animal medicine and in her spare time is a keen runner.
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Laura Fraser
Veterinary Surgeon
BVMS MRCVSAfter three years working in mixed practice Laura decided to specialise in small animals due to her love of treating cats and dogs.
She joined Abercorn in 2008, and enjoys all aspects of veterinary medicine! She lives in Edinburgh with her husband and her much loved cat Fudge.
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Iona Yampo
Veterinary Surgeon
BVM&S MRCVSIona has been with Abercorn since 2016 and when she is not working enjoys forcing her 2 children to hike up hills. She is kept busy by attending to her 2 elderly horses and chickens. She has a hidden talent in the arts and crafts areas and is known in the practice for her life like felt miniature staff pets.
Her areas of interest are feline medicine and dentistry.
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James Shade
Veterinary Surgeon
BVSc (Physiology) BVM&S MRCVSJames graduated from Edinburgh vet school in 2015 and joined the team at Abercorn in 2023.
He enjoys all aspects of small animal medicine and has developed a particular interest in canine internal medicine. In his spare time he enjoys hill walking, (attempts) playing piano, delving into a good book and lifting weights at the gym.
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Duncan Giles
Veterinary Surgeon
BVM&S MRCVSDuncan graduated from Edinburgh vet school in 2006 and went on to work in a mixed practice in Fife for six years, while also working with wildlife patients from seals to buzzards with the SSPCA.
Since, he has worked exclusively in small animal practices and joined the team in 2015. He also works as the Scotland area manager for Christians Against Poverty.
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Eilish Busby
Veterinary Surgeon
BVMS MRCVS -
Rachel Sibbald
Head Nurse
RVN C&G CertVNES NCert(Anaesthesia) GradCert AVN(Anaesthesia)Rachel completed the certificate in nursing of exotic species in 2016 and since then has been our rabbit advocate at the practice helping us maintain the RWAF Silver rabbit friendly status. Since then, she has completed the NCert in anaesthesia and the Graduate Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Nursing of Anaesthesia. In 2021, Rachel was named Burgess Rabbit Nurse of the year and she is currently studying towards a Masters in Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia.
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Kimie Kwong
Senior Veterinary Nurse
RVN Cert VNECCKimie joined the family in 2018. Since then she gained a Certificate of Veterinary Nursing in Emergency & Critical Care and became a fear free certified professional. She has a keen interest in clinical animal behaviour and is waiting for an opening of a Post Graduate Certifate so she can help the animals to enjoy their visit to the vet a little more.
In her spare time, she enjoys training her 3 years old German Shepard who is dog reactive and her 5 years old Malshi who loves untieing everyone’s shoe laces. -
Shauna Malone
Veterinary Nurse
RVNShauna started at Abercorn in 2020, carrying out all her student veterinary nurse training at the practice.
She has since become a Fear Free certified professional and has an interest in making the vets a stress free environment for all patients. She is currently completing her postgrad certificate in medical nursing. Shauna is from the West of Ireland and has a previous degree in Zoology with Animal Behavior. -
Jessica Bell
Veterinary Nurse
RVNJess joined Abercorn in 2023 after graduating Napier University with a degree in veterinary nursing. She completed all her placements, from 2020 onwards at Abercorn as a student and loved it so much she couldn’t wait to join the team full time!In practice she loves to work with all the wildlife cases, big or small, that come through the doors.In her spare time she enjoys long hikes in the Pentlands with her mischievous whippet, Heidi. -
Lauren Purves
Veterinary Nurse
RVNLauren joined the team in 2023, after completing her Veterinary Nursing degree at Edinburgh Napier University. She enjoys all aspects of nursing, especially microscopy. She also loves all things cat and recently adopted her first cat Piper after she came in for her spay operation at Abercorn!In her spare time she loves to draw, read, crochet and go on walks. -
Rachel Jones
Veterinary Nurse
RVNRachel joined Abercorn in 2022 to start training as a veterinary nurse, and has recently qualified. Before starting her veterinary journey, Rachel worked as a zookeeper and in conservation education, both in Scotland and in different countries including Australia, Costa Rica and Canada. In her free time Rachel loves travelling, especially to go hiking and try her hand at wildlife photography.
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Karra Wilson
Veterinary Nurse
RVNKarra joined Abercorn as a student in 2021 and recently graduated from Edinburgh Napier University in Autumn 2024. She enjoys all aspects of nursing and looks forward to discovering an area of interest. In her spare time she is always reading and going to gigs.
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Louise Rodgers
Veterinary Nurse
RVN C-SQPLouise qualified as a registered veterinary nurse in 1986. Since then she has worked all over the country including as a scientific editor of veterinary journals, a senior nurse at The Dog and Cat Home, Battersea, deputy head nurse at a veterinary hospital in Windsor and as head nurse of a large mixed practice in the north of Scotland.
Louise holds a Bachelor of Music degree with first class honours and a post graduate Masters in Ritual Chant and Song. Her interests include stand-up comedy, storytelling and music journalism.
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Gayle Madden
Practice Manager
Gayle joined the team in 2021, having previously worked in hospitality, where she got plenty of practice working with customers – only now she gets to meet their furry friends!
She has two cats at home who keep her busy, Frank and Nancy. When she isn’t spoiling them she likes to spend her time baking lots of goodies.
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Kayleigh Robertson
Reception Manager
Kayleigh has worked at Abercorn since August 2020, she had been in the industry for 3yrs before this. Kayleigh is looking to further her career in the industry working with animals. She loves all animals, big and small but you will find her most likely on the floor of our reception getting pupper cuddles. She is owned at home by a spoiled dog Buster Beans, a 10yr old staffie x and Binx a very sassy but also very special cat who is 4. In her spare time she loves going to raves and spending time with family and friends.
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Tara Thomas
Reception
Tara has worked as a veterinary receptionist since 2018, and joined Abercorn in 2021 where she has qualified as a Registered Veterinary Client Care Assistant. At home she has two sons as well as Nyka the Siberian husky and Lilly her Ragdoll
In her spare time she enjoys exploring the beautiful countryside with Nyka, Interior design and all things fitness and food. She can often be found through in our cat ward giving out cat cuddles.
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Naomi Stewart
Reception
Naomi joined Abercorn in October 2024. In the past Naomi has worked within a kennel environment and has a love for all animals. She has a soft spot for Malinois. She has many talents, one being she is a guitarist in a band and can be found regularly rehearsing for gigs.
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Janice Clark
Reception
Janice moved to East Lothian and joined Abercorn in 2017, after spending far too long living and working in London.She enjoys getting to know all of our clients and their pets.
Her passion is dog training and for much of the summer she can be found camping in a field at agility shows with her two rescue dogs, Bert and Loke.
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Alima Husain
Reception
Alima has been with Abercorn Vets since the summer of 2023, she loves being in the veterinary industry and has previously completed 2 years of her veterinary nursing as well as working in other veterinary practices. Alima has 5 cats who she adores and together they create fantastic Tiktoks, she also enjoys doing Henna and spends a lot of her free time going for long drives.
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Marion Smith
Reception
Marion started at Abercorn in 2017, after retiring from nursing with almost 30 years of service in the NHS.
She enjoys spending her spare time with her Cockapoo Laddie and her family.