Meet the Team
Galloway Vets has a large team of highly experienced veterinarians with a wealth of expertise in treating family pets, horses and farm animals. We also have a dedicated team of support staff, including veterinary nurses, animal care assistants and admin staff who are all committed to providing quality, affordable care to your animals.
Veterinarians
Will McCarthy BVMS MRCVS
Partner
Veterinary Surgeon
Sarah McCarthy BVMS PgDip MRCVS
Partner
Veterinary Surgeon
Sarah graduated from Glasgow University’s vet school in 2006. She spent a number of years working at a practice in Ayr, and as a locum vet in the north of England and Glasgow, before joining us (after an extended maternity leave) in 2021. Sarah focuses solely on small animal work and particularly enjoys surgery and working up medical cases. She grew up on the west coast of Scotland, and loves working in Kirkcudbright, as you get to know clients – and their animals – much better than you do in the city. Sarah has three young children, as well as two cats, three dogs, cattle, sheep and (occasionally) some pigs, to keep her busy outside of work. In her spare time, she enjoys open water swimming and cycling, and she’s also a talented artist.
Giselle Brown BVM&S MRCVS
Veterinary Surgeon
Giselle joined Galloway Vets back in 2013, straight after graduating from the University of Edinburgh. At the time, there were only two other vets working at the practice. Giselle enjoys beef and sheep work, and small animal medicine and surgery. A West Lothian native, Giselle now lives locally with her partner and their young son, Nairn. Outside of work, she and her partner run a flock of sheep and a herd of cows and, if she ever manages to find any spare time, she enjoys walking.
Amelia Lynch BVMS MRCVS
Veterinary Surgeon
Amelia joined the Galloway Vets team in 2018, upon graduating from the University of Glasgow. She is particularly interested in cattle fertility, transition cow management and young-stock work – and she loves meeting new puppies and kittens when they come in to the surgery for their first checks! Originally from Ayr, Amelia now lives locally with her five dogs, cat, hens and sheep – and her fiancé. In her spare time, she enjoys beach walks with her dogs, cooking (and eating!), and showing cattle at the summer shows.
Hazel Clark BVMS MRCVS
Veterinary Surgeon
Originally from North Ayrshire, Hazel graduated from Glasgow Vet School in 2013 and joined us in 2019. She has a keen interest in large animal surgery. At home, Hazel’s kept busy by her two daughters, and her two cocker spaniels, brood of hens and flock of sheep. When she does have a spare moment or two, she enjoys cooking, socialising and being outdoors.
Kirsty McColm BVMS MRCVS
Veterinary Surgeon
Kirsty joined us in the middle of lockdown, straight after graduating from Glasgow Vet School in June 2020. She enjoys all aspects of mixed vet work, especially the weird and wonderful things that present a challenge. She’s currently working towards her Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice from the University of Liverpool. When she’s not busy working or studying, she enjoys doing crossfit, walking her border terrier Nancy, and baking – and we all enjoy sampling her creations.
Louise Hill BVMS MRCVS
Veterinary Surgeon
Our most recent graduate Louise joined the team in late 2023. Louise grew up on her family beef and sheep farms in Northern Ireland and then East Ayrshire, before moving to Glasgow to study in 2018. She joined the GV family straight after university, and she particularly enjoys the variety of work she gets to do at the family farm. Outside of work, Louise plays rugby and regularly goes home to help on the family farm.
Nursing staff
Rachael Currie RVN
Veterinary Nurse
Since graduating from the Barony College in 2013, Rachel worked for a number of day practice vets and out-of-hours clinics across Dumfries and Galloway, Ayrshire and Cumbria, before joining Galloway Vets in August 2020. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her friends and hanging out with her two cats, Steve and Stella.
Justine Smith RVN
Veterinary Nurse
Justine joined us in May 2023, after moving to Dumfries and Galloway from Derbyshire the previous year. She has more than 30 years’ experience as a vet nurse, and spent most of that time working for a large mixed practice. She enjoys all aspects of patient care and in-patient nursing. Justine has lots of animals at home and particularly enjoys horse-riding and walking her dogs. In her spare time, she runs a small craft business, making dog bandanas.
Megan Harridence
Animal Care Assistant
Megan has worked at Galloway Vets since March 2023, after spending the previous five years working as a Support Services Assistant for the NHS. She has an HNC in Animal Care from the Barony College. Megan has a gorgeous spaniel called Monty, who she enjoys taking on lots of walks. She also likes socialising with friends and family in her spare time.
Bea Metcalfe
Student Nurse/Receptionist
Bea works with us one day a week, while studying for her degree in veterinary nursing. She has been part of the GV team since she was at high school. She has two dogs and enjoys walking them, as well as baking, in her spare time.
Support staff
Deborah Van Heerden
Practice Manager
Deborah joined the team in January 2024. She comes with many years’ accounting, admin and communications experience and loves meeting all the animals that come in to the surgery. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family, going to the gym with friends, and going for coffee (and cake) afterwards.
Marta Cendrowska
Receptionist
Marta has been manning our reception desk since October 2014. Born near Warsaw, Marta grew up in Gdynia in Poland and moved to Dumfries and Galloway in 2005. As one of our longest serving team members, she enjoys talking to clients and watching their animals grow over the years. She lives locally with her husband and their two daughters. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family, and their rescue dog and cat, Peppa and Fifi. She does lots of walking, and always hits her daily step target!
Sheila Watson
Receptionist
Sheila joined the practice in February 2020, after working for more than 30 years as an office manager. She shares the main reception duties with Marta. When she’s not at work, Sheila organises and teaches TREC, which is orienteering on horseback. She has competed throughout the UK, Ireland and Europe. Sheila loves animals and has a degree in Zoology from the University of Aberdeen – feel free to test her knowledge the next time you’re in the surgery!
Sam Wilson
Veterinary Technician/Receptionist
Our resident Vet Tech Sam joined the team in April 2023. With a degree in Applied Bioscience and a postgraduate diploma in Equine Science, her role is to assist the vets with tasks including blood sampling, dairy and dry cow checks, and disease testing. You’ll also find her front of house on the reception desk on Wednesday afternoons. Sam loves animals – especially horses (she’s one of only three qualified side saddle instructors in Scotland). In her free time, she loves going on adventures with her wee boy, Angus, and her two beagles.
Emma Friesen
Practice Administrator
Emma had a rather inauspicious start by joining us on the day before the country went into lockdown, in March 2020 – thankfully, she stuck with us! Emma assists with lots of the finance tasks involved in running the practice, and you might also recognise her as she helps out a couple of days a week on reception. At home, she has two young children, a cat called Smartie and a dog called Paddy who keep her on her toes. When she’s not at work, she enjoys walking and spending time at the many lovely local beaches.
Nuala Hall
Practice Administrator