Team
Our team at Forest Vets is highly trained, skilled and dedicated to total animal health care. We’re a multi-cultural crew of surgeons, nurses, reception staff and management that have devoted our lives to developing high standards of veterinary services for all pets and small animals. Want to get to know us more? Come and read our profiles below!
Clinical Directors
Liz Parris
BVM&S MRCVS
Clinical Director
Sophie Newick
BVSc BSc (Hons)
BSAVA PGCertSAM MRCVS
Clinical Director- The Forest Veterinary Centre was established over 30 years ago by Ken Burley and Clive Swainsbury with a clear goal in mind – to create a veterinary practice that incorporated both the best facilities and equipment available, whilst also creating an environment and company ethos that put client and patient care first and foremost.
Elizabeth Parris BVM&S MRCVS
- Liz grew up on a farm in the Scottish Borders and qualified from the Royal ( Dick ) School of Veterinary Medicine in Edinburgh.
On qualifying she worked in a mixed practice in Perth before moving south to Essex. Liz joined Forest in 1996 initially working at both the Epping and Woodford branches but since the opening of the Harlow branch she has been based there and became clinical director of the
Harlow branch and Head of the radioioidine unit in 2018.
Out of work Liz is a keen rugby fan and supports Epping ( upper clapton ) Rugby Club. When not at the rugby club she can often be found at the allotment or out walking with her two dogs Meg and Tay.Sophie Newick BVSc BSc (Hons) PGCertSAM MRCVS
- Sophie grew up in the Hertfordshire countryside riding horses and developing a passion for animals. After qualifying from the University of Brighton with first class honors in Biomedical Science, she went on to study Veterinary Science at The University of Liverpool and qualified in 2007.Following her qualification as a Veterinary Surgeon, Sophie worked in mixed practice and travelled around Australia before joining Forest Veterinary Centre in 2013. Her passion for medicine has developed over the years and following 3 years of additional study, she was awarded her Post Graduate Certificate in Small Animal Medicine at the beginning of 2018. She has since become the clinical director of the Woodford branch of Forest Veterinary Centre.Sophie continues to enjoy riding and can be found in her spare time competing locally in both Dressage and more recently Eventing.
Veterinary Surgeons
Nina Grimstead BVMS CertAVP MRCVS
Veterinary Surgeon
Alex Weinberg
BVetMed MRCVS
Veterinary Surgeon
Loiuse Hodgetts BVetMed MRCVS
Veterinary Surgeon
Mary-Anne Frank BVSc CertSAM MRCVS
Veterinary Surgeon
Alex Weatherley BVSc MRCVS
Veterinary Surgeon
Sophie Dormon BVM&S MRCVS
Veterinary Surgeon
Lynn Matthews BVSc MRCVS
Veterinary Surgeon
Katherine Gist MAVetMB MRCVS
Veterinary Surgeon
Imma Sugulo MRCVS
Night Veterinary Surgeon
Alessandro Galletta MRCVS
Veterinary Surgeon
Carlo Cicalese MRCVS
Night Veterinary Surgeon
Joseph Yate MRCVS
Veterinary Surgeon
Andrea Valenza MRCVS
Veterinary Surgeon- Our Veterinary Surgeons are here to put your mind at ease. They work across our three surgeries providing first-opinion consultancy, operational procedures and care of our patients. Our vets’ priority is your animals’ comfort, they will take every measure to afford you and your pet the best treatment available. On 24-hour call, all year round, our registered clients can rest assured that no matter the issue, or the time of day, our vets are here for you.
Management Team
Jenny Peacock
Practice Manager
Jo Sassoon
Reception and Administration Manager
Gill Burton
Accounts Manager- With many years of experience within the veterinary industry between them, our management team ensure the smooth running of operations and healthcare across our three surgeries.Overseen by Practice Manager Jenny Peacock, they are our backbone and our heart; maintaining all of our facilities, organising our staff and liaising between our veterinary surgeons, nurses, partners, clients and patients.With years of training in veterinary medicine and nursing, their job is to make sure your pet has the best healthcare team and facilities available to them.Taking a dedicated and holistic approach to surgery management, you will often find them helping out in every capacity, from walking our dogs to dealing with accounts.
Nursing Team
Charlotte Light
Head Nurse
Rachel Lund
Deputy Head Nurse
Epping
Tracey Boardman
Deputy Head Nurse
Harlow
Daisy Hansford
Deputy Head Nurse
Woodford Bridge
Julia Surman Wells
Veterinary Nurse
Stevie Dunmore
Nursing Assistant
Rebekah Cross
Veterinary Nurse
Verity Beattie
Veterinary Nurse
Sharon Hasty
Veterinary Nurse
Holly Stewart
Veterinary Nurse
Lorna White
Veterinary Nurse
Rhys Shelley
Veterinary Nurse
Ria Hollands
Veterinary Nurse
Michelle Bodell
Veterinary Nurse
Gemma Armstrong
Veterinary Nurse
Anna Balasuriya
Veterinary Nurse
Becky Moore
Veterinary Nurse
Nicole Ball
Student Nurse
Bethanie Spinks
Student Nurse
Philippa Ball
Student Nurse
Jess Saunders
Student Nurse
Natalia Lusa
Student Nurse
Niamh Gray
Student Nurse
Mollie Gilbey
Student Nurse
Ellie Evans
Trainee Nurse
Rachel Collin
Trainee Nurse
Bethan Jones
Student Nurse- Our diverse nursing team is formed of dedicated, qualified veterinary nurses, student nurses and trainees alike. At Forest Veterinary Centre we are a registered training practice for veterinary nurses. They gain their qualifications through working at our practice whilst studying at university and college. Working under the care of our qualified staff, our students and trainees gain invaluable experience, and provide a range of services for our clients, including free advice on pet nutrition, flea treatments, worming and behavioural training for your pets.We always have nurses on call, offering 24-hour care assistance for all of our registered clients, whilst also providing overnight inpatient care at our Epping veterinary hospital.
Reception Team
Angie Leagus
Receptionist
Carole Simmonds
Receptionist
Madeleine Knight
Receptionist
Sharon Aldred
Receptionist
Jan Beckingham
Receptionist
Maureen Asser
Receptionist
Lisa Sandom
Receptionist
Jill Harrison
Receptionist
Siobhan Blaney
Receptionist
Ellen Hunt
Receptionist
Tracey Elphee
Receptionist
Millie Furman
Receptionist
Alison Jarrett
Receptionist
Pennie Walmsley
Receptionist- Our friendly reception team are always on hand to answer any questions or concerns you might have. The face of our surgeries, they’re more than happy to offer any advice you may need with your pets’ care. Whether you want to book an appointment over the phone, or just pop in, our trained receptionists are a great port of call for any questions you may have. They are always delighted to meet the new arrivals to your family, and welcome you to our practice.