Dan Brockman
SuperVet and Senior Lecturer in Small Animal Surgery
Initially I considered a career in agriculture but as I was not from a farm, my parents had to gently explain they could not provide one for me. Around 14 years of age I started looking at veterinary medicine as a possible alternative, and volunteered at a local practice run by two Cambridge University vet school graduates. Their commitment to patient care and service to the community was inspirational and I was hooked.
My training
I moved to California with my family where I finished high school and studied pre-veterinary science before returning to the UK to study veterinary medicine at the University of Liverpool. I worked in mixed practice for 16 months before returning to the University to complete a three-year residency programme. This was the start of my specialist training in surgery. I moved on to the University of Pennsylvania, where I stayed for ten years working in a very busy small animal hospital – and undertaking research into treatments for human heart failure.
At the RVC
As a Senior Lecturer at the RVC, my time is split between ‘clinic time’, primarily at the Queen Mother Hospital for Animals, and ‘off clinic time’, when I teach, catch up on advances in veterinary medicine, and write up results from our investigations and interesting cases.
When I’m on clinics, my day normally starts with either a surgery team meeting or ward rounds with students and nurses. By 9am we are ready to see our first patient. Consultations carry on through the morning and during the afternoon we ensure admitted patients undergo initial investigations, as well as teach small groups of students attached to the surgery team. We have students working with us in the hospital for 48 weeks of the year. We finish with ward rounds at 5pm, then there are owners to call, lab results to check and messages to deal with. Often I don’t leave for home before 6.30pm or 7pm.
The day following a consultation day is generally spent in theatre. We aim to have our first patient anaesthetised by 9am. We finish when we finish – once an operation is started there’s no going back. This occasionally leads to very late evenings - and the messages and phone calls still have to be made.
Cardiac surgery
I have a particular interest in surgical treatment of heart disease. Cases like Harry’s are the most technically challenging, they are also very rare. Other types of cases that present an incredible challenge involve designing an operation on a one-off basis to treat cancers or reconstruct large wounds.
Recently I developed a cardiac bypass programme at the RVC. This has been made possible by the generous donation of equipment and money. Without support like this we cannot develop new techniques to help patients.
We had, until recently, two dogs and a cat. Unfortunately our family was reduced and we only have one dog and a few tropical fish now. When I get away from work I like to spend time with my wife and two children. I enjoy exercising as well - in particular road cycling.
I consider it a privilege to be able to undertake this work, often saying that the best thing about my job is being paid to do something I really enjoy.
Qualifications: BVSc, CVR, CSAO, ILTM MRCVS Diplomate ACVS/ECVS European and American Specialist in Small Animal Surgery.
Find out who Dan cared for:
Harry - pioneering surgery
Harry - recovery from surgery
Taggy