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Veterinary Team
Nursing Team
Reception Team
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Ian Killian – BVSc MRCVS – Vet

Hello, I’m Ian.

I was born and raised on a game and livestock farm in the Eastern Province of South Africa. After the obligatory 5 1/2 years of student life at the University of Pretoria Onderstepoort Veterinary Faculty, I qualified in 1989.

Philip Snyman – BVSc MRCVS - Vet

Hello, I’m Philip.

I was born in South Africa and as part of my National Service, I spent two years in the Infantry Corps of the South African Defence Force, before enrolling as a Veterinary student at Onderstepoort, The University of Pretoria’s Faculty of Veterinary Science.

Gerald Stam – BVSc MRCVS – Vet

Hello, I’m Gerald.

I qualified from vet school in South Africa in 1987 and then worked as a vet during my army service. My first job was in a city practice in Kempton Park. I knew I wanted to work in a mixed practice, so after 9 months we moved to the West Free State town of Bultfontein.

Lucy Botham – BVSc MRCVS – Vet

Hello, I’m Lucy.

I was born and raised in Bromley, Kent and qualified as a vet from the University of Liverpool, joining Heathfield Vets in September 2017. I enjoy all aspects of small animal general practice work but have a particular interest in oncology and dermatology cases.

Vicki Farrant – RVN and Head Vet Nurse

Hi, my name is Vicki and I am Head Nurse at Heathfield Vets.

I grew up on a dairy farm and then married a dairy farmer – we now live on my husband’s family farm in Waldron.

Jane Vitler – Reception

Hello, I’m Jane.

I joined Heathfield vets in 2016 as a receptionist.

Donné Stam – Practice Manager

Hello, I’m Donné.

After being a veterinary receptionist for some time in a busy small animal practice in Essex, I joined the Heathfield Vets team as Practice Manager in 2016 after completing my university studies.

Veterinary Team: Ian Killian – BVSc MRCVS – Vet

Hello, I’m Ian.

I was born and raised on a game and livestock farm in the Eastern Province of South Africa. After the obligatory 5 1/2 years of student life at the University of Pretoria Onderstepoort Veterinary Faculty, I qualified in 1989.

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Ian Killian – BVSc MRCVS – Vet

Hello I’m Ian

I was born and raised on a game and livestock farm in the Eastern Province of South Africa. After the obligatory 5 1/2 years of student life at the University of Pretoria Onderstepoort Veterinary Faculty, I qualified in 1989.
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My next move was 15 months compulsory national service in the South African Defence Force. I spent 12 months of this working as a vet in a rural tribal area, providing a service to the local farmers and pet owners.

With that obligation completed, I returned to my hometown to work in a mixed practice for 9 months before deciding to have a 6 month working holiday in the UK.

As the saying goes, the rest is history…

I joined Heathfield Vets in 1991 and became a partner in 1998.

I am married to Rose-Ann and am the proud father of 2 daughters, Natalie & Jaime.

We have 2 family cats, Tommy and Peter, and after much badgering by Jaime, a recently acquired Springer Spaniel called Nala.

We also have a small flock of pet chickens, which produce fresh eggs for the larder.

In my spare time I enjoy cross-country jogging and I’m also a fair weather cyclist, though a full time profession and a young family don’t allow too much time for these.

Having said that, I recently achieved a long held ambition by spending a major part of 2016 on my bike, culminating in a 9 day cycle ride from Land’s End to John o’ Groats while raising funds for Chestnut Tree House.

I enjoy the variety of work that is encountered at the practice. However I do spend most of my day treating and operating on family pets.

I particularly enjoy, and am interested in, surgery and I also practice acupuncture.

Ian

Ian Killian – BVSc MRCVS

Philip Snyman – BVSc MRCVS - Vet

Hello, I’m Philip.

I was born in South Africa and as part of my National Service, I spent two years in the Infantry Corps of the South African Defence Force, before enrolling as a Veterinary student at Onderstepoort, The University of Pretoria’s Faculty of Veterinary Science.

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Philip Snyman – BVSc MRCVS

Hello, I’m Philip.

I was born in South Africa and as part of my National Service, I spent two years in the Infantry Corps of the South African Defence Force, before enrolling as a Veterinary student at Onderstepoort, The University of Pretoria’s Faculty of Veterinary Science.

I completed my studies in 1989 and joined a mixed rural practice in Harrismith, South Africa, where I worked for three years.

In 1992 I started my own practice in the Karoo, an agricultural region famous for its sheep. It was a mixed practice, although most of my work centred around sheep reproduction.

This enabled me to make contact with experts in the field, which allowed my wife and I to visit the UK for the first time in 1994. We enjoyed it so much, that we decided to move here on a temporary basis in 1997.

Well, the temporary move became permanent and after spending seven years in another East Sussex practice, I joined Heathfield Vets as a partner in 2004, after catching up with Ian Killian, my old classmate from back in South Africa.

I’ve been married to my wife Katrien for 30 years. She is a primary school teacher.

We have two cats, Leeutjie, a very fluffy Moggie and Violet, an Oriental Shorthair.

I enjoy running and cycling in my spare time.

Philip Snyman – BVSc MRCVS

Gerald Stam – BVSc MRCVS – Vet

Hello, I’m Gerald.

I qualified from vet school in South Africa in 1987 and then worked as a vet during my army service. My first job was in a city practice in Kempton Park. I knew I wanted to work in a mixed practice, so after 9 months we moved to the West Free State town of Bultfontein.

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Gerald Stam – BVSc MRCVS – Vet

Hello, I’m Gerald.

I qualified from vet school in South Africa in 1987 and then worked as a vet during my army service. My first job was in a city practice in Kempton Park. I knew I wanted to work in a mixed practice, so after 9 months we moved to the West Free State town of Bultfontein.

Here my work consisted mainly of dairy, beef, sheep herds and pet animals, with the odd bit of game work mixed in.

After four years I sold my practice to move to the Eastern Cape, to the town of Humansdorp. My main work was pet animals with a few dairy and beef herds to look after. Four years later my wife and I decided to move abroad.

My first UK job was in Sevenoaks where I worked for 18 months. An opportunity of practice ownership opened up in Essex and here, together with my business partners, we ran our surgery for 12 years. This is where I did numerous personal development courses in pursuit of my main interests, which included canine and feline medicine, abdominal and cardiac ultrasound, soft tissue surgery and oncology (both advanced surgery and chemotherapy treatments).

I was one of the students to complete the first UK based course in Endoscopy and Endosurgery and have gone on to obtain a postgraduate GP Certificate in Endoscopy and Endosurgery. This is a new and exciting field in veterinary science at present.

My wife Roulé and I have 2 daughters, who are currently at university.

Growing up my hobbies were all very doggie related where I did obedience and attack work training and some tracking trails with German Sheperds, Dobermanns and Border Collies. We have downsized our dog to a long-haired Chihuahua called Teddy.

I enjoy skiing in the winter and waterskiing in the summer.

Gerald Stam – BVSc MRCVS

Lucy Botham – BVSc MRCVS – Vet

Hello, I’m Lucy.

I was born and raised in Bromley, Kent and qualified as a vet from the University of Liverpool, joining Heathfield Vets in September 2017. I enjoy all aspects of small animal general practice work but have a particular interest in oncology and dermatology cases.

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Lucy Botham – BVSc MRCVS – Vet

Hello I’m Lucy

I was born and raised in Bromley, Kent and qualified as a vet from the University of Liverpool, joining Heathfield Vets in September 2017.

I enjoy all aspects of small animal general practice work but have a particular interest in oncology and dermatology cases.

In my spare time I love to travel and hope to combine this next summer with volunteering for an animal charity project, offering my skills in a country where vets are few and far between.

During the summer of 2017 I spent 10 days volunteering in Thailand helping local animals in need which was a fantastic experience.

My other hobbies include playing tennis, skiing and supporting Crystal Palace Football Club when time allows!

I live locally with my naughty rescue cat Harry and I am very much enjoying all that living in the countryside has to offer. I look forward to getting involved in the local community.

Lucy

Lucy Botham – BVSc MRCVS
Nursing Team: Vicki Farrant – RVN and Head Vet Nurse

Hi, my name is Vicki and I am Head Nurse at Heathfield Vets.

I grew up on a dairy farm and then married a dairy farmer – we now live on my husband’s family farm in Waldron.

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Vicki Farrant – RVN and Head Vet Nurse

Hi, my name is Vicki and I am Head Nurse at Heathfield Vets.

I have two daughters, one dog called Dottie, a cat called Dexter and 9 sheep which we bottle fed from lambs – we seem to collect more each year!

I have worked in the practice for a while and have seen many changes. I started working in reception and was then lucky enough to be offered work experience with the nurses. I then became a trainee veterinary nurse.

When I started at the practice we were a small and large animal practice, so as well as the many duties I do today I also got the opportunity to help with cow caesareans, horse x-rays and castrations. After completing my nurse training, I was promoted to Head Nurse which I very much enjoyed for a few years, before having my first daughter and returning to work part-time. I have worked part-time since having my second daughter a few years later.

I am now back in the role of Head Nurse, working with a fantastic team here at Heathfield Vets. Being a nurse has so many varied responsibilities and each day is never the same. I help with operations, monitor anaesthetics, help with taking x-rays, ultrasounds and doing scopes, clean teeth, take blood samples, care for patients and do a lot of cleaning!

I also have my role of Head Nurse to fulfil, sorting rotas, leading team meetings, processing insurance claim and general running of the hospital.

I very much enjoy my job and love working in a practice that is forward thinking and always pushing to use the latest techniques and up-to-date equipment.

Vicki Farrant – RVN – Head Vet Nurse
Reception Team: Jane Vitler – Reception

Hello, I’m Jane.

I joined Heathfield vets in 2016 as a receptionist.

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Jane Vitler – Reception

Hello, I’m Jane.

I joined Heathfield vets in 2016 as a receptionist.

I live locally with my husband who works in agriculture and our three children.

I have a black cocker spaniel called Barney and a black and white cat called Devil.

I also have a horse – a 15’1 bay Belgian Warmblood called Wonnie.

Jane Vitler – Reception
Support Team: Donné Stam – Practice Manager

Hello, I’m Donné.

After being a veterinary receptionist for some time in a busy small animal practice in Essex, I joined the Heathfield Vets team as Practice Manager in 2016 after completing my university studies.

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Donné Stam – Practice Manager

Hello, I’m Donné.

After being a veterinary receptionist for some time in a busy small animal practice in Essex, I joined the Heathfield Vets team as Practice Manager in 2016 after completing my university studies.

You will often find me darting around between reception, the hospital and my desk upstairs, mostly working behind the scenes to make sure everything is running smoothly and that the team has what it needs to provide the excellent level of client service and patient care we pride ourselves on!

I absolutely adore animals, and when I get a spare minute (not every often, mind you!), you’ll find me in reception, saying hello to the pets that are coming in for consults – I love hearing about how our clients came to own their pets and hearing about their little quirks at home.

I’m counting down the days until I am not in rented accommodation so that I can get my own pets, although I am having a hard time convincing my fiancé that four dogs and a large breed cat is a good idea – hopefully with time he will come around to it!

Donné Stam – Practice Manager, Heathfield Vets

Ian Killian – BVSc MRCVS – Vet

Philip Snyman – BVSc MRCVS - Vet

Gerald Stam – BVSc MRCVS – Vet

Lucy Botham – BVSc MRCVS – Vet

Vicki Farrant – RVN and Head Vet Nurse

Jane Vitler – Reception

Donné Stam – Practice Manager

Ian Killian – BVSc MRCVS – Vet

Philip Snyman – BVSc MRCVS - Vet

Gerald Stam – BVSc MRCVS – Vet

Lucy Botham – BVSc MRCVS – Vet

Vicki Farrant – RVN and Head Vet Nurse

Jane Vitler – Reception

Donné Stam – Practice Manager

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