Annabel McFadzean, an RCVS-Recognised and EBVS Specialist in Veterinary Dentistry, leads the Dentistry and Oral Surgery department at Cave Veterinary Specialists. Overcoming challenges like workplace bias, a demanding residency with young children, and the Covid-19 lockdown, she achieved her diploma in 2024 through determination and support from her family and mentors. Annabel is passionate about her work, teaching, and inspiring others to pursue their goals.
Please summarise your journey / biography:
I am an RCVS-recognised and EBVS Specialist in Veterinary Dentistry. I started a full-time residency with an 18 month old baby with a 100 mile commute each way, and had my second daughter one week after finishing my residency.
Going back to work after my first maternity leave was such a life-changing moment for me. I have always absolutely loved my job, but suddenly my bosses treated me completely differently: they presumed I didn’t care about my career anymore, and that I had lost all drive. It made me question whether it was even possible to have a career and be a good mum (my female boss instilled in me it wasn’t!) and I felt small.
I eventually gave myself a talking to, stopped being apologetic, and decided no-one was going to stop me pursuing my dream. There was not a chance my daughters were going to see my career dented because I’m a woman. I started at Eastcott Referrals in 2020 and was surrounded by the most supportive and enthusiastic group of colleagues, who quickly became my friends and confidants. I passed my exams and achieved my diploma in 2024, and now head-up the Dentistry and Oral Surgery department at Cave Veterinary Specialists in Somerset.
Describe your typical day from waking to sleeping:
The morning is total madness for an hour or so whilst my husband and I round up the kids to get them to school and the childminder, and get ourselves ready and to work on time! We have become very efficient at the divide and conquer approach.
Once at work, I head straight into morning consults. Many of my cases are same-day procedures, so I do the initial consult, admit the patients and perform the investigations and treatment all on the same day. This means we must be time efficient, but I have a great team of nurses and a dentistry technician who achieve this for me. We also need to work together to accept and accommodate any emergencies.
My cases are a great mixture ranging from routine dentistry cases such as root canal treatments or extractions, to more complex oral tumour cases and maxillofacial trauma. I also have time when I am out teaching at referring practices, providing CPD or helping them use dentistry X-ray equipment. These days are great as I love meeting referring vets face-to-face and helping them to provide a better service for achieving good oral health in their patients.
Once the day is over and kids are collected, bathed and in bed, we try and give our dogs some attention before enjoying a meal and something on TV before bed.
How would you describe yourself in a sentence?
I like to think I am enthusiastic and determined and value positive people in my life.
How would others describe you in a sentence?
A perfectionist and hard worker who is hopefully approachable and caring.
What has been your top success and what have you learned from this?
My top success has been passing my exams and getting my diploma. I was determined to only study once, so put all my heart and soul into them. The exams are split into two parts in the Spring and in the Autumn, so once you have added on study leave, it really is a whole year dedicated to the cause! It was truly exhausting, but the relief and pride I felt when I passed was second to none. It reminded me that hard work really can pay off sometimes.
What has been your biggest challenge, setback or failure and how have you overcome it? How did you grow or change as a result?
Starting my training in 2020, I was hit with the Covid lockdown quite early into my residency and that also meant no childcare. Both myself and my husband had to carry on working which was a real challenge and we barely saw each other. We were expected to use our ‘extra time’ with reduced caseload to do extra journal clubs, writing research papers and studying, but this was practically impossible with a toddler. The only positive was how clear the motorway commute was – no Friday night traffic!
Whilst colleagues were able to get ahead with a lot of non-clinical parts of our training, I very much fell behind at the first hurdle. However, it did teach me to become very efficient with my time. When normal life resumed, I was able to concentrate my efforts during working hours and in the evenings I stayed away from home, so that my weekend and evenings at home with family became work-free (mostly!).
What compromises have you had to make and what, if anything, could have helped?
When I was on study leave for my exams, I put my daughter in full time childcare for 10 weeks (she had just turned one). After I sat my first exam I was convinced I had failed, and the guilt I felt for losing that time spent with her was utterly consuming from the moment I walked out the exam room. It was all I could think about. Even now I look back and feel guilty.
What advice would you have given to your younger self, that you would now give to others wanting to follow your path?
Don’t waste time waiting for the “right time” to do something. There never is a right time. Life gets in the way and loves to throw you curveballs, so if you are really passionate about achieving something then just go for it, and you will work out how to reach the goal along the way.
I couldn’t have got where I am today without…
All the male allies by my side: my husband who has always supported my ambitions and made me believe no-one can stop me (and did many a morning and bedtime solo as I was commuting back and forth for three years!), and my residency supervisors who both gave me the opportunity and continued to have faith in me, and for that I’ll be forever grateful.
What are your three top likes?
Being with my family, Christmas, and Celine Dion.
What are your three top dislikes?
Being late, cucumber and people being advised to “monitor” fractured teeth
What is the most helpful book you’ve read and why?
A bit cliché, but the textbook Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in Dogs and Cats – my bible.
Many thanks to Annabel McFadzean for sharing her story to inspire veterinary women to aspire and grow into their full career potential.
If you would like to share your story please get in touch at info@veterinarywoman.co.uk
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