People Profile

Emma is a South African of British heritage and graduated from Onderstepoort in South Africa in 2001. She spent considerable time in clinical practice and completed a clinical internship before qualifying as a pathologist via a residency at the Royal Veterinary College in 2008. Consequently, she can chat through cases with clients from both a practical and pathological perspective. Emma joined Cytopath in 2009 and is passionate about all diagnostic cytology and histopathology, with a particular interest in ophthalmic pathology. You will discover that Emma is extremely enthusiastic and always happy to help when it comes to your clinical cases.

Lindy graduated from the RVC in 1999. Her first two years in clinical practice were biased towards equine and large animal but she spent the subsequent years working hard to develop her small animal surgery and medicine skills. The clinical pathology module of the GPCertSAM course piqued her interest to gain a pathology residency position shared between the Veterinary Pathology Group (VPG) and Cambridge Vetschool, which she completed in 2010. Lindy joined Cytopath at the end of 2021 and is an ACVP board certified clinical pathologist who is able to draw on years of practical clinical medicine experience, and is always eager to engage in case discussion to help towards the best possible outcomes for the wonderful animals we serve.

Russell graduated from Onderstepoort in South Africa in 1997 and spent many years as a small animal clinician, and running a small animal practice in Surrey UK from 2003-2011 before returning to South Africa. He later completed a pathology residency at Onderstepoort and became a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists in 2024. He joined Cytopath in May 2025 and loves all aspects of diagnostic pathology including dermatopathology. He is also assisting Emma with the ever expanding ocular pathology caseload. Russell is always on hand to help should you wish to discuss any of your cases, and you will find him very friendly and approachable.

Kim graduated from the University of Liverpool in 2014 with an intercalated degree in Veterinary Pathology from the Royal Veterinary College before starting 4 years in mixed animal, exotic, and emergency practice. In 2017, Kim emigrated to the USA to begin a clinical pathology residency at Michigan State University (MSU). She became a clinical pathology diplomate in 2021 and loved pathology so much, she continued her education in the anatomic pathology residency at MSU to become dual certified in 2023. From here, Kim worked as an assistant professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison for two years before moving back to the UK to join Cytopath in January 2026. Kim enjoys challenging medical, oncologic, and dermatopathology cases as well as having a keen interest to continue developing her ocular pathology skills with Emma.

Oliver graduated as a vet from Glasgow University in 1997 with a first class intercalated degree in Microbiology. After eight years in mixed practice in Dorset he undertook a Clinical Pathology residency split between TDDS Ltd and Cambridge University, gaining FRCPath in 2008 and DipACVP in 2009. Since then he has focused on small animal cytology, though more recently studying histopathology, and has enjoyed sharing his observations with clinicians in a range of local and national CPD settings as well as with a host of clinical pathology residents and visiting residents in other specialisms, very much a two-way learning process. He believes the best outcome for our animal patients stems from such reciprocal communication, with pathologists considered part of the clinical team. He joined Cytopath Ltd in February 2026 with the intention of continuing his histopathology studies alongside cytology in a small, supportive, specialist and highly collaborative environment.

Sam qualified from Liverpool University in 2007 with a first class intercalated degree in Veterinary Pathology from the RVC before starting six years in equine and large animal practice. In 2013 he began a combined residency and research fellowship split between the RVC and the UK Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), qualifying as a fellow with the RCPath (small animal) and Diplomate of the ACVP. In 2016 he joined Bridge Pathology and continued as director for VPG Histology. Sam left in 2021 to found Independent Anatomic Pathology Ltd providing veterinary histopathology diagnostic services and consultancy to national and international clients. This has been the perfect blend of clinical and research work. Sam is very happy to speak to all colleagues on the sharp end and provide the most useful information for our patients.

David Shearer qualified from the Royal Veterinary College in 1984. After a period in general mixed practice he was at The University of Bristol Vet School for nearly 10 years as a Junior Fellow in Veterinary Dermatology, Wellcome Research Scholar and Lecturer in Veterinary Pathology. He has over 30 years experience of veterinary referral dermatology as well as over 30 years experience as a diagnostic pathologist with a global reputation as a veterinary dermatopathologist. His PhD is in skin immunology and microbiology. He holds the RCVS certificate in small animal dermatology, was a RCVS advanced practitioner in small animal dermatology (2015-2019) and is a Diplomate of the Royal College of Pathologists. David is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Biologists and has co-authored a textbook on veterinary ectoparasites as well as writing papers on dermatology, skin immunology and pathology. David enjoys teaching and has lectured globally on dermatology, immunology and pathology. David was part of the management board of The International Society of Veterinary Dermatopathology (ISVD) for 16 years and President of ISVD from 2014-2018. David works as an independent consultant veterinary dermatopathologist in the UK as well as for laboratories in Europe and the USA. David also provides clinical support for his wife’s dermatology referral work.

Ellen is the longest serving member of the Cytopath team and has seen the lab grow and change over the years. She is focused, efficient and prides herself on the quality of her work. After working for 15 years as a very experienced laboratory technician at Cytopath, she has now taken over the role as office manager and is always happy to help with any of your queries.

Photograph courtesy of Nigel Ord-Smith Phodography