Finley Wightman BVM BVS MRCVS
Hi I’m Fin. I graduated from the University of Nottingham in 2025 and joined Rowan Vets shortly after. I’m very grateful to be part of such a wonderful team and love working with all animals and their owners every day!
My interests lie in becoming a great general practitioner and I believe that getting on with our clients is just as important as keeping their pets happy and healthy. Outside of work I play rugby as well as piano, guitar, saxophone and drums which I used to do in various rock, indie and jazz bands.
Charlotte Mackay BVSc MRCVS
I graduated as a vet from the University of Liverpool in 2012. I originally did equine and small animal work in the Yorkshire Dales, followed by a year working in Australia, where I saw lots of interesting cases and learnt about snake bites, paralysis ticks, and other exciting emergencies!
I then moved back to my roots in Lancashire and joined Rowan Veterinary Centre, where I was welcomed with open arms, and spent years developing my skills, making great friends, and being part of the wonderful team! I left Rowan in 2021 in order to pursue an interest in emergency medicine, where I was the Principal Vet in a busy emergency clinic.
I have been lucky to do locum work and work for other practices over the years. However things have come full circle and I am now back at Rowan as Head Vet – I am really excited to work with the lovely team I know so well, and reconnect with clients from a few years ago!
I also have the opportunity to continue my studies towards a Diploma in Veterinary Leadership and Management, and towards a Certificate in Emergency and Critical Care.
In my spare time I enjoy walking (especially with my cocker Spaniel), keeping fit and travelling (especially Australia – a place close to my heart)!
Rebecca Schaefer BVetMed MRCVS
Hi! My name is Rebecca, and I graduated from the University of Glasgow in 2024 with a Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery. I have loved working with animals all my life, and my journey started as a zookeeper in the USA. I worked at several zoos, always with a variety of animals, and that’s where my passion for veterinary medicine began.
Now I’ve moved to Preston, England, after spending most of my time in Scotland. I’m excited to explore everything England has to offer! Professionally, my passion is to continue working with exotic animals, along with dogs and cats, as a veterinary surgeon.
Outside of work, I love swimming, snowboarding, and traveling. I’m always looking for new experiences and adventures, and I can’t wait to see what’s next!
Amy Richardson BVSc BSc(Hons) MRCVS
I am a newly graduated vet having secured my degree from the University of Liverpool. I also have an additional degree in Comparative Pathology (the study of disease processes) from the Royal Veterinary College.
I love surgery and constantly learning. My favourite part of the job is knowing my work helps animals and people at the same time.
I am not brilliant at sticking to hobbies but I love to try new things with the various lovely people in my life.
Andreea Graure MRCVS
I joined Rowan Vets at the beginning of 2020, just as the COVID-19 pandemic began. My initial experience of Rowan Vets wasn’t a normal one, in that I had never before consulted with clients not being allowed into the building.
Leanne Hughes BVSc MRCVS
I graduated as a Vet from the University of Bristol in 2016 and actually wanted to be a zoo vet initially! My passion for all the weird and wonderful animals led me to placements in Africa and Australia as a student. My first time taking a blood sample was actually from a Tapir!
After graduating, I moved from my hometown in Kent to Preston with my husband and our two skinny pigs, Truffle and Oreo. I worked in small animal practice to start with and realised I loved getting to know clients and their families. I could also cuddle a lot of my small animal patients (compared to the rhinos and gorillas I had the pleasure of working with as a student!).
Fast forward to now and I have been a Small Animal Vet at Rowan Veterinary Centre since 2017. I do still love seeing ‘exotics’ from time-to-time and enjoy fussing all the rabbits and guinea pigs that I see in practice. Next year, I am taking on the challenge of a certificate in Ophthalmology (all things eyes!) – I’m really excited to bring new knowledge to the team and hopefully offer more advice and also procedures for our patients.
In my spare time I love to travel, and as my colleagues will know, I’m always planning a trip somewhere exotic far away. My favourite trip so far has been to Costa Rica in Central America – one of my favourite animals is a sloth so I was in ‘sloth heaven’ on this trip! I also love to go walking/hiking – especially in the Lakes. My husband climbs/boulders so sometimes you can find me attempting to climb with him too – emphasis on attempt!
Francis Ewbank MA (Cantab) VetMB GPCert (WVA&CPM) MRCVS
I graduated from St. Catharine’s College, Cambridge in 2012 and have applied my trade at Rowan Vets (my first practice) ever since. I live with my wife, children, and flock of chickens in Ashton-on-Ribble, Preston.
In 2014, I started ultrasound scanning at Rowan Vets and have since gained much experience in this area. In 2015, I attended an ‘Introduction to Acupuncture’ course after which I rapidly developed a passion for the management of pain in dogs and cats – so much of which goes undiagnosed or under treated. In 2018, I completed the General Practitioner Certificate in Western Veterinary Acupuncture and Chronic Pain Management. Now I provide a well-established Pain Clinic service and am involved in training other Vets to perform acupuncture.
Nicole Whittell BVSc PGDip CAB MRCVS
Hi, I’m Nicole, I graduated from the University of Liverpool in 2018. I have always loved animals and people and helping both, so becoming a Vet seemed like the perfect job!
At work, one of my interests is behaviour and I see a lot of the behaviour cases for the practice. I recently completed my Post Graduate Diploma in Clinical Animal Behaviour. My other interest is workplace mental health and I have a level 2 diploma in mental health first aid.
I grew up in Preston and live with my crazy Labrador called Goose and my sassy rabbit, Liquorice. In my spare time, I enjoy going on adventures with Goose and and sewing! I also enjoy wild swimming and spending time with my family.
