Our Team

Dr Rodolfo Cappello

• RCVS and EBVS European Specialist in Veterinary Neurology
• DVM PhD DipECVN MRCVS
• Degree in Veterinary Medicine, The University of Milan
• Doctor of Philosophy, The Royal Veterinary College, University of London

Dr Francesca Taylor

BVetMed MRCVS ILM Diploma in Leadership and Management

Fran is a veterinary surgeon with over 20 years of experience working in first opinion and referral clinics for both small and equine patients. Over the last ten years her focus has switched to management, completing a Leadership and Management Diploma in 2020 whilst Clinical Director of a large Equine Referral Hospital. Fran started at Pennard Vets in Tonbridge in the Spring of 2023, initially as a clinician and soon moved into a Project and Business Development role at the new hospital in Sevenoaks.

Following this move, Fran looked into the availability of independent referral services in the south east and the idea of South East Vet Referrals was formed. Fran says “this referral service has been established to increase independent referral options to benefit the specialist clinicians wanting clinical freedom, the referring vets wanting local accessible services and owners needing fairly priced, available expertise.” Fran is passionate about making the referral process as smooth as possible for everyone involved, and providing the best possible outcome for pets whilst keeping owners fully informed.

Ane Uriarte

RCVS and EBVS European Specialist in Veterinary Neurology
DVM  DipECVN FRCVS
Degree in Veterinary Medicine,  University of Zaragoza in Spain/ École Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort in Paris

Originally from Spain, Ane completed her european residency in Paris and then worked with Rodolfo for 8 years in a large referral hospital.  She then moved to the USA to Tufts veterinary university in Boston for almost 4 years working as an assistant professor, teaching and doing research and neurosurgery.

In 2020 Ane returned to London to become Head of the Neurology Service at a large referral hospital.  Over the following five years, she led the busy service, maintained an intense neurosurgical caseload, and continued her teaching career by training residents and interns.

Teaching has always been a central part of Ane’s professional life and has now become her main focus. She has been actively involved in lectures, courses, international meetings, scientific publications, and book chapters. In 2016, she began an online teaching journey through social media by creating Ane.neuro on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and TikTok, where she shares daily clinical cases, tips, and quizzes to support vets and pet carers around the world.

Clinically Ane’s main interests are onco-neurosurgery, CSF disorders and chronic pain – with tethered cord in particular being an area of interest.  We are very lucky that in between her teaching, Ane works at South East Vet Referrals – either to perfom surgery on cases specifically referred for her or when Rodolfo is away.

Anna Ewa Dworecka

Veterinary Surgeon, DVM , MRCVS, GPCertEMS, PGDipVCP

Anna graduated from the University of Life Sciences in Warsaw in 2012 and has since gained extensive experience in both general practice and referral settings across the UK. She completed a Small Animal Rotating Internship at the Royal Veterinary College in 2025, where she developed a strong interest in neurology and gained broad exposure to referral-level case management. During this time, she was awarded a Postgraduate Diploma in Veterinary Clinical Practice from the University of London.

Anna further pursued her interest in neurology through additional training, including ESAVS courses in this discipline, before undertaking a dedicated Neurology Internship. She is currently involved in the investigation and management of a wide range of neurological cases, working closely with specialist clinicians and advanced diagnostic techniques.

Prior to her internship training, Anna spent several years working in emergency and critical care, including out-of-hours and sole-charge roles. This experience has provided her with a strong foundation in clinical decision-making, patient stabilisation, and the management of critically ill patients. She has a particular interest in the acute presentation of neurological patients, where her ECC background complements her current specialist training.

Anna is committed to pursuing a residency in neurology and further developing her expertise within the field. She enjoys working in a collaborative, multidisciplinary environment and is dedicated to delivering high standards of patient care.

Outside of work, Anna has a keen interest in aviation and is particularly drawn to its strong safety culture and structured approach to decision-making, which she finds highly transferable to clinical practice. She also has a soft spot for cats and is unlikely to walk past one in the street without stopping to say hello.

Registered Veterinary Nurse

Katie Tanner brings over 12 years of experience in veterinary nursing to South East Veterinary Referrals. She began her career in a primary care practice in Surrey, where she developed a strong foundation in veterinary care. A year after qualifying, Katie took a significant step in her career, spending six years at a large orthopaedic and neurology hospital. During this time, she gained extensive knowledge and discovered a particular passion for anaesthesia and neurology nursing.

Katie is dedicated to every aspect of her role, especially the opportunity to meet and care for the many patients that come through the doors. Her compassion and expertise make her an integral part of the team, ensuring pets receive the highest standard of care.

Outside of work, Katie enjoys spending time with her two dogs, a lively Chihuahua and a playful Cockapoo, who always keep her on her toes.

Kat Savidge

Kat began her veterinary nursing career over 23 years ago at a branch in Tonbridge, where she trained and qualified as a veterinary nurse. During this time, she worked her way through a wide variety of roles, gaining extensive experience across clinical nursing, client care, and leadership positions. This included running client care services and taking on the role of Learning and Development Manager.
Kat also ran nurse clinics for many years, building a strong and loyal client base. One of the most rewarding aspects of her role was teaching clients new things about their pets and developing long-term relationships with them.

Kat now works across both nursing and administrative roles at South East Vet Referrals, supporting the referral team and helping to ensure a smooth and welcoming experience for clients and their pets. She particularly enjoys learning about the wide range of specialist services on offer and values the opportunity to meet new clients and work closely with the specialist clinicians. Outside of work, Kat is a proud owner of two cats who keep her busy at home.

Melanie Cappello

Melanie is a dedicated veterinary professional with over thirty years of experience in the field. She is a former qualified veterinary nurse with a degree in Zoology and a postgraduate certificate in education (PCET). Throughout her career, Melanie has made significant contributions to veterinary education, including helping to establish the first UK veterinary clinical skills centre at The Royal Veterinary College.

Her clinical roles have been diverse and specialised, notably serving as an ophthalmology specialist nurse at a large referral hospital. Melanie is also a co-author of the widely used textbook ‘Introduction to Animal and Veterinary Anatomy and Physiology’, which is now in its fifth edition.

Deeply committed to exceptional client communication, Melanie ensures that every patient and owner receive compassionate care from the moment they walk through the door to their recovery at home. Driven by a lifelong dream, she and her husband are proud to offer an outstanding, independent, and fairly priced veterinary service to the animals in their care at South East Veterinary Referrals.

Amy Meredith

BSc Animal Science

Amy has over seven years of experience in the animal industry and graduated from the University of Reading with a BSc in Animal Science. During her studies, she developed a strong interest in animal welfare and health, with a particular focus on canine science and behaviour.

Alongside her academic studies, Amy gained practical experience through roles in a kennel/cattery, hydrotherapy centre, and a goat sanctuary. These opportunities gave her valuable experience working effectively in busy and sometimes challenging environments, while consistently maintaining high standards of care.

She has worked at Pennard Vets in Sevenoaks since 2024 and values the opportunity to provide compassionate care to both pets and their owners at every stage of their journey, particularly during sensitive situations.

Outside of work, Amy volunteers with The Cinnamon Trust, supporting elderly owners and their pets, and cares for her own Cocker Spaniel, Soda. She enjoys continually expanding her experience and knowledge within the animal care sector.