Martin Whitehead

What role do you have at Chipping Norton Veterinary Hospital?

Clinical Director.

What are your special interests at work?

Diagnosing difficult to diagnose illnesses and treating complicated medical conditions of dogs and cats - I have a post-graduate qualification in small-animal medicine, and am an RCVS recognised Advanced Practitioner in Small Animal Medicine.  I run our Hospital’s radioiodine unit, using radioactive iodine to treat hyperthyroid cats from all over the Midlands and South of England.  I also treat 'exotic' pets, and am part of our Hospital’s team of zoo vets.

I have a particular interest in evidence-based veterinary medicine which helps me, as Clinical Director, keep the treatments used in the Hospital up-to-date.  I am on the Board of the Evidence Based Veterinary Medicine Association, www.ebvma.org. 

I do some clinical research, present at veterinary conferences, and publish reports in veterinary journals arising from cases seen in our Hospital, papers reporting veterinary research studies, and academic reviews of various aspects of veterinary medicine: Research and Publications.  I peer-review papers submitted for publication to veterinary journals. I also give occasional Continuing Professional Development lectures for vets on various topics including evidence-based veterinary medicine and causes of diagnostic error in veterinary medicine, and I contribute to efforts to reduce the use of irrational and ineffective treatments by veterinary surgeons.  I have also campaigned for measures to improve the often very poor welfare of reptiles and other exotic animals kept as pets in the UK. 

Any pets?

Golden retrievers Trevor and Elvis, and cat SONAR.