Anaesthesia and Analgesia team

Karen Walsh

BVetMed DVA DipECVAA MRCVS

European Specialist in Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia

Karen graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 1994. After working in general practice for a short time she undertook a residency in Anaesthesia and Critical Care at The Animal Health Trust in Newmarket.

Karen gained her RCVS Diploma in Veterinary Anaesthesia in 1999. While working towards this at the Animal Health Trust she developed her interests in anaesthesia for neurological patients and in intensive care. She joined the Willows Veterinary Centre in 2001 as part of the first opinion team, and stayed for 5 years.  During this time she helped to enhance the techniques of anaesthesia and analgesia used in the practice and played an active role in training and advising other members of staff in these areas.

In January 2007 Karen was appointed as a Lecturer in Veterinary Anaesthesia at the Royal Veterinary College and gained the European Diploma in Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia at the end of that year. She left the Royal Veterinary College in November 2008 to run her own anaesthesia consultancy service, before coming back to work in the anaesthesia department at Willows in 2009.

Karen is the co-owner of eight dogs and three cats and as such she totally understands the anxieties of pet owners whose animals are due to undergo a procedure under a general anaesthesia.  She takes pride in looking after every patient in her care as though it were one of her own pets.

Alessandra Mathis

DVM CertVA DipECVAA MRCVS

European Specialist in Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia

Alessandra graduated from the University of Perugia (Italy) in 2003, after which she worked in general veterinary practice in Italy for three years. During this period Alessandra really enjoyed the challenge of facing a variety of cases every day, but soon became keen on Anaesthesia and felt that she wanted to specialise in the subject.

Alessandra decided to visit Anaesthesia departments in a number of veterinary institutions, mostly in North America. Alessandra then undertook an Anaesthesia Internship at the Royal Veterinary College in London followed by a three year Residency in Anaesthesia and Analgesia at the Royal Veterinary College during which she gained her RCVS Certificate in Veterinary Anaesthesia.  Alessandra then joined Willows in 2011 and became a Diplomate of the European College of Anaesthesia and Analgesia in 2012.

Alessandra is particularly interested in the anaesthesia of the critically ill patient and in pain management. She enjoys working as part of the team of highly qualified and dedicated specialists at Willows, and helping to keep the veterinary and clinical support staff up to date with the latest anaesthetic and intensive care techniques.

Alessandra is the daughter of a dog breeder and a diplomat.  She grew up mostly in Italy, but also lived in Australia and Switzerland and always with several dogs and cats. She particularly loves Dachshunds and has owned one, Olga, for fifteen years who has accompanied her through most of her life’s challenges. Although Alessandra misses the Italian sun and food, her family and Italian friends, she feels as though she has gained a second family at Willows!

Anna Bryla

DVM MRCVS

Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia

After qualifying from the University of Warsaw in 2003, Anna worked for two and a half years as a veterinary advisor for Kolme, a large pharmaceutical company in Poland. This position enabled her to develop her knowledge in pharmacology and homotoxicology. During this time Anna attended a Management Educational Centre where she completed a one year course in law. In her spare time she worked as a volunteer at an Animal Rescue Centre.

Anna’s vocation has always been to work with small animals and to this end she decided to seek a position in a practice where she could pursue her goals.  In 2007 she joined the team at Willows, where she developed her skills in anaesthesia, critical care and pain management. Anna’s key area of interest is the provision of anaesthesia and analgesia for challenging surgical patients.

Outside the practice Anna is a theatre and opera lover. She attends ballet classes and can play both the piano and the guitar. Since 1996 Anna has been a member of the Federation Cynologique Internationale (FCI) as she is interested in becoming a dog show judge.