b'PROFILEBRIDGET ADCOCK Bridget Adcock is a vet and director of the newly opened Highgate Vets, a small animal practice in Cambridgeshire. After travelling widely in her career, she returned home to launch her own independent practice, based on her own passion and values. Bridget shares her enthusiasm for forming relationships with her clients and patients with the aim of making a real difference in their lives.After graduating from the Royal Veterinary College in 2008 I embarked on a journey that was as fulfilling as it was adventurous, both from a professional and personal standpoint. The first stop on my travels was a community clinic in Samoa where I volunteered as a new graduate vet. It was an eye-opening experience; an opportunity to help those less fortunate than myself, whilst also exploring an amazing part of the world.Following my time in the Pacific, I returned to the UK and joined a busy small animal practice in the Midlands. The three years I spent here were invaluable in honing my technical skills and deepening my understanding of the veterinary field but did not dampen by desire for further travel and adventure.Finally, in 2023, after years of And so in 2012, I again found myselffeeling increasingly dissatisfied and packing up my backpack, headed for theundervalued working for corporately Australian Gold Coast. This move wasowned clinics, I decided to start my own transformative, offering me the chanceindependent practice, a venture driven to learn from my Australian colleagues,by my passion and values. Since then, I work with exotic species, and embrace ahavent looked back.new perspective on work-life balance - one that deeply resonated with me. What is it about your work that enthuses In 2014 I returned to my family inyou and brings you satisfaction?Cambridge. Back home, I undertook aI gain immense satisfaction knowing that variety of different positions to furtherI am making a real difference to the lives develop my technical and managerialof my patients. Advocating for their well-experience, eventually stepping up tobeing, particularly in managing chronic the senior position of lead vet and clinicalpain and anxiety, is very important to director at a number of corporatelyme. Improving an animals quality of life owned veterinary clinics. I gainedis incredibly rewarding, and it is this that invaluable business skills working inkeeps me going when Im tired or facing these roles, but also grew increasinglythe daily challenges that come with frustrated with central managementstarting a new venture.directives and the resulting lack ofBuilding close, trusting relationships with clinic autonomy which prevented memy patients and their owners is another introducing measures to greater improvesource of job satisfaction. At my new client care and reduce employee stressclinic we prioritise fear-free care, and levels. its incredibly fulfilling to see animals www.inspiredvet.co.uk19'