A veterinary nurse who began life as an animal care assistant, cleaning kennels, walking dogs and mopping floors, has taken up a senior business role at VetPartners.
Christina Coughlan has put her experience of practice life to good use by becoming a business development director (BDD) at the group.
After qualifying as a registered veterinary nurse in 2016, Coughlan focused on the business side of the veterinary sector and helped to run her own garage business. In her new role, she supports VetPartners’ small animal and mixed practice teams across the South West of England and Wales.
She said: “I’ve seen all aspects of practice life and it has stood me in great stead for my role as a BDD at VetPartners. I have a good insight and understanding of the pressures faced by our colleagues in practices as well as the many great things about practice life we want to maintain.
“Our team of BDDs are all former vets or veterinary nurses, and our unique insight into practice life helps to build trust because our colleagues know we have walked in their shoes. We can relate to the challenges they face and also what they want from their role.”
She added: “I love being a BDD as I enjoy building relationships with practices and supporting them with the business side so they can get on with aspects of the job they enjoy the most – caring for their patients and delivering the best possible care and service.
“VetPartners works collaboratively with its practice teams and is so supportive of what they do.”
Established in November 2015, VetPartners was founded by vets and now has 148 veterinary practices, with 8,000 employees working in more than 500 sites across Europe and at its headquarters in York.
Picture caption: Christina Coughlan (right) with Natterjacks Vets practice manager Sanne Hine.
