Meet the Team
Melanie Rutherford
Clinical Director
MRCVSMel is originally from Zambia, and joined us in 2017 after graduating from the University of Kosice in Slovakia. She enjoys all aspects of mixed practice, but has a passion for surgery, herd health and embryo flushing and transfer. She is a member of a surf life saving club, and loves running, swimming and walking her dog!
Zeinab Rowe
Clinical Director
Zeinab Rowe started her career at Head and Head after graduating from the Univeristy of Liverpool and we are all very pleased to see her back. Zeinab has gained her Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice with a specific focus on Cattle and Sheep. Along with others in our team she is Johnes Action Plan, Milksure and TBAS accredited. Zeinab has a particular interest in fertility work and progressive herd and flock health. Zeinab is a keen runner, horse rider and spends a lot of time tending to her small flock of sheep.
Miranda Priest
Head Nurse
RVNMiranda completed her nursing training with us and qualified in 2005. She spent time at other local practices before returning to our practice as head nurse in 2008. She has been involved with nurse training and even examines the students at the local college. Miranda is a trained Pet health Counsellor and she like to run weight management clinics. In her spare time Miranda is a keen cyclist and enjoys walking her new Border Collie puppy.
Hazel Cooper
Veterinary Surgeon
MRCVSHazel graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 1989 and has spent most of career working in small animal practices. She joined our team in 2002, and loves catching up with old clients and pets and meeting new ones! She has a passion for medical acupuncture and medicine cases, and enjoys walking her spaniels and spending time with her horses.
Pui Yu Liu
Veterinary Surgeon
MRCVSPui grew up in Cumbria and joined us in 2019, shortly after graduating from the University of Edinburgh. She has a particular interest in surgery, equine dentistry and herd health and productivity, and also works with the seal sanctuary. When she’s not working, she enjoys walking her dog, riding her pony and being part of her local Young Farmers group.
Alessio Pierattini
Veterinary Surgeon
MRCVSBorn and raised in Italy, Alessio graduated from the University of Pisa in 2018. He moved to the UK after graduating and is now happily settled in the South West, having joined our team in 2020. His clinical interests include imaging and cattle fertility, and in his free time he is a passionate cook and enjoys exploring the Cornish coast whenever he gets the chance.
Abigail Lane
Veterinary Surgeon
MRCVSAbbie is from the Cotstwolds, and joined our team in 2021 after graduating from the University of Edinburgh. She has a strong interest in small animal surgery and dairy herd fertility, and also loves getting to work with the seal sanctuary. In her own time, she is a true outdoors enthusiast and is enjoying learning to surf.
Dan King-Cox
Veterinary Surgeon
MRCVSDan grew up in Lancaster and completed his training at the University of Bristol. He joined our team in 2021 and loves the interesting mix of cases he gets to work on every day. In his free time, he enjoys watersports – which Cornwall has proven great for – and skiing.
Melanie Gilbert
Deputy Head Nurse
RVNMel completed some of her nursing training with us and qualified as a vet nurse in 2013. She Is the deputy head nurse and is now working towards a surgical nursing certificate. In her free time, she runs her own small cards and crafts business and takes care of her rough coat collie, who is a regular blood donor for our critically ill patients!
Grace Thomson
Clinical Coach
RVNGrace qualified as a vet nurse in 2013, and spent time at Head and Head while completing her training. She has a passion for diagnostic imaging and also helps with the seal sanctuary. Outside of work, she is a foster carer and enjoys looking after her horses.
Rhiannon Willey
Clinical Coach
RVNRhi qualified as a vet nurse in 2019 and completed her training with our practice. She has a keen interest in critical care and anaesthesia, which she is studying completing a course in. In her free time, she enjoys walking her two dogs and gig rowing.
Megan Saunders
Veterinary Nurse
RVNMegan joined the team in 2019 and completed her nursing training in 2022. Her favourite part of her role is assisting with surgical procedures, and outside of work she enjoys spending time with her family, taking walks along the coast and spending time with her cat.
Jemma Hunking
Veterinary Nurse
RVNJemma has been part of our team since 2016 and qualified as a vet nurse in 2022. She has a keen interest in emergency and critical care and enjoys paddle boarding, looking after her horses and exploring the Cornish countryside in her spare time.
Emily Anderson
Student Veterinary Nurse
SVNEmily joined our team in 2019 and has since developed a keen interest in wound management and bandaging. When she’s not working hard on her nursing training, she can usually be found riding her thoroughbred and swimming in the sea.
Melanie Shearman
RVN
Melanie joined the practice in January 2023, she moved from Kent and now has relocated to Cornwall. Melanie like exotics and seals! In her spare tiem she likes to walk her Border Terrier!
Katie Bradshaw
Student Veterinary Nurse
SVNKatie joined us as an animal nursing assistant and is now working towards her vet nurse qualification. She has a passion for feline medicine, and has an elderly cat of her own at home, which has led her to an interest in nutrition. In her spare time, she can often be found reading or foraging.
Karenza Jones
Student Veterinary Nurse
SVNKarenza is completing her nursing training with our team and has a keen interest in all aspects of nursing care. When she’s not at work, she enjoys baking and taking her dog for walks.
Sophie Jay Pomfret
Animal Nursing Assistant
Sophie joined our team in 2022 and qualified as an animal nursing assistant the same year. She works closely with our nursing team and especially likes assisting with surgery and getting to play a key role in caring for our patients. Her hobbies include horse riding, wild swimming, paddle boarding and going on adventures with her dog, Quest.
Nicole Honeychurch
ANA
Nicole joined the practice in November. Being a trained Animal Nursing Assistant she provides a lot of support to our nurses, helping them with any inpatients in the hospital. Nicole likes to spend her spare time with her Cocker Spaniel enjoying some Cornish walks.
Helen Jenkin
Receptionist
Helen joined the team in 2007 and is a familiar face on small animal reception! She enjoys knitting, especially for her grandchildren, cross stitching and walking her border terrier in her spare time.
Tracy Wood
Receptionist
Tracy is originally from London and works as part of our farm animal reception team. In her free time, she loves gardening, looking after her many pets and rehabilitating hedgehogs.
Alison Clark
Receptionist
Alison joined our small animal reception team in 2017, and loves meeting all the puppies and kittens that come through our doors. Outside of work, she volunteers in a local care home, is a keen gardener and loves walking her dog, Saffi.
Nicky Nicholls
Receptionist
Nicky joined our team in 2021 and loves the variety of her role in the reception team. In her own time, she volunteers for the National Animal Welfare Trust and enjoys open water swimming, beach cleaning and dress making.
Rachel Cookson
Receptionist
Rachel joined the team in 2022 and loves seeing the variety of people and pets that come through our practice. She is also a full-time dairy farmer, a proud mother of three and a lover of chocolate!
Jo Harris
Receptionist
Jo was no stranger to the veterinary industry, having worked as a dairy farmer before joining our team in 2021. In her free time, she enjoys walking, gardening and exploring the great outdoors.
Edwina Andrew
Business Support Officer
Edwina has been with us since 2007 and handles our farm administration. She is often our first port of call when there is farm paperwork to be completed, and she also works as one of our large animal receptionists.
Jackie Knight
Business Support Officer
Jackie joined the Head and Head admin team in 2019, and provides a range of administration support to the practice. She was a riding instructor before joining us, and when she’s not working enjoys horse riding, cycling and walking her border terrier.
Charmaine Cowie
Practice Manager
Charmaine joined our practice in 2016 and worked in our accounts team. She has recently taken on this exciting role and is keen to grow the practice services. As well as having a wealth of experience in banking and finance, she is also a qualified beautician. Charmaine loves crafting, walking her dog and going to the beach.
Sally Bastian
Financial Administrator
Sally joined us recently in March 2023, taking on all the finances for the practice. Sally has been down the Tin Mines in Cornwall, caving in Somerset and pot holing in Derbyshire, She has also climbed mountains in Scotland & Northern Ireland. A keen walker of the Cornish coast from the Helford to Trevose Head. She also has 6 Grandchildren.
Sam Neal
Sam recently returned back to her role in February 2023 as Receptionist, having a brief break from her role here. Sam is also a great cake baker! All the staff love it when she brings her amazing cupcakes!
