Neurology team
Sebastien Behr
DVM DipECVN MRCVS
RCVS and European Specialist in Veterinary Neurology
Sebastien graduated from the Veterinary School of Toulouse, France in 2001. In the same year he presented a veterinary thesis on 'Cerebrospinal Fluid Proteins in the Dog', which received an award for 'best thesis of the year' from the French Companion Animal Veterinary Association and the University of Medicine Paul Sabatier of Toulouse. The following year he performed an internship at Fregis small animal hospital in Paris, the largest private small animal hospital in France, followed by a three year residency in Neurology and Neurosurgery in the same hospital from 2002 to 2005. During his residency he focused his research on cerebrospinal fluid analysis and inflammatory non-infectious diseases of the central nervous system. Sebastien was awarded the Diploma of the European College of Veterinary Neurology in 2006 and the following year he was recognised as an RCVS Specialist in Veterinary Neurology.
Sebastien moved to the United Kingdom in 2005 to join a multidisciplinary referral centre where he worked as a neurologist and neurosurgeon before joining Willows Referral Service as a senior clinician in March 2010. He has a special interest in idiopathic inflammatory diseases of the central nervous system, advanced neuro-imaging and brain and spinal surgery.
Sebastien is the current associate editor for neurology of the editorial board of the Journal of Small Animal Practice and a member of the Examination Committee of the European College of Veterinary Neurology.
Sebastien has a young family and two cats named Marcello, a domestic short hair, and Valentino, a British Blue.
Raquel Trevail
DVM DipECVN MRCVS
RCVS and European Specialist in Veterinary Neurology
Raquel graduated in 2004 from the Universidade de Tras os Montes e Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal. She then undertook an internship at the Animal Health Trust in Newmarket, during which time she completed a study on idiopathic epilepsy in the dog. Raquel then entered a three year neurology/neurosurgery residency at the University of Glasgow Veterinary School in 2006 and was awarded the European Diploma in Veterinary Neurology in 2010.
Raquel enjoys the challenges of both medical and surgical neurology and has a special interest in canine epilepsy. She particularly enjoys the rewarding nature of treating severely debilitated patients and bringing them back to full health.
Raquel is enjoying working in the multi-disciplinary team of specialists at Willows, with all the equipment and support required to offer a state-of-the-art neurology service. This environment provides the ideal opportunity for giving a first-rate service to owners and referring veterinary surgeons and, most importantly, for providing excellent levels of care for all our patients.
After being in Scotland for three years, walking became an area to 'work on' and this will no doubt continue in the nearby Warwickshire countryside. However, Raquel misses the sun and whenever she gets the opportunity she flies to warmer places!
Raquel owns a lovely middle-aged ginger cat called Wilson whose life is driven by food!
Roberto José-López
DVM MRCVS
Veterinary Neurology Clinician
Roberto graduated in 2006 from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain. He then undertook a rotating internship at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, where he developed a great passion for neurology. Following his internship, Roberto spent a few months as an emergency service veterinarian in a referral hospital in Barcelona. He then moved to Glasgow University Veterinary School to perform a neurology clinical research project on the ‘Prognostic value of an imaging severity index (ISI) for rostrotentorial mass lesions in the dog’. The results of this research were presented at the 22nd Annual European Society of Veterinary Neurology Symposium in September 2009 in Bologna, Italy.
Roberto then returned to Barcelona to undertake a three year residency in Neurology and Neurosurgery at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Since completing his residency, Roberto has joined Willows Referral Service as a neurology clinician and is studying towards the Diploma of the European College of Veterinary Neurology.
Roberto enjoys both surgical and medical neurology and his main clinical interests include advanced neuro-imaging and neuro-oncology. Outside of work he enjoys running, hiking and travelling.
Roberto owns two dogs back in Spain named Coffey, a German Short Haired Pointer, and Nala, a Basset Hound cross, and he is looking forward to them joining him in the UK.
James Elford
BVetMed MRCVS
Resident in Veterinary Neurology
James graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in London in 2008. He spent the next year working in mixed practice in Cheshire, treating both large and small animals, before concluding that his interests were more inclined towards small animal work. In 2010 he moved to a busy small animal practice in Berkshire, where he thoroughly enjoyed his involvement in all aspects of small animal medicine and surgery.
James joined Willows as an Intern in September 2011, spending time working within each of the Specialist disciplines, as well as providing emergency care for the pets of Willows’ primary clinic clients. It was during this time that James developed a fascination for surgical and medical neurology, and he is pursuing this interest further in his role as Willows’ Resident in Neurology. During his Residency, James will be working towards a European Diploma in Veterinary Neurology.
James owns a rather over-enthusiastic German Wire Haired Pointer called Bodi, with whom he can often be found running around the surrounding countryside.
