Meet the Team
We are an experienced team of British qualified vets and nurses led by Dr Sara Elliott, a Member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) signifying a very high level of expertise.
Doctors of Veterinary Medicine
Dr Sara Elliott
BA MA Cantab VetMB M and Clinical Director
Dr Sara Elliott
BA MA Cantab VetMB M and Clinical Director
Dr Sara is the clinical director of British Veterinary Hospital. She was Cambridge University’s youngest ever veterinary student at age 17. Graduating in 1998 she now has 22 years of experience working initially in the UK and for the past 16 years in Dubai. She worked initially in an established Dubai practice and then became a partner in another, before moving to the BRITISH veterinary hospital, which was the first veterinary facility in Dubai licensed as a hospital rather than a clinic.
A member of the prestigious Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, Sara has extensive post graduate qualifications and holds a Membership in small animal medicine. She is committed to raising the standard of veterinary care available in Dubai. She believes in continuous education and professional development combined with investment in the latest technology.
She leads a team of British trained professional staff focused 100% on the needs of the animals under their care, whilst working closely with the owners.
Sara is a member of the British Business Group in Dubai.
Sara can be heard regularly on Dubai Eye 103.8 Pets and Vets show answering listeners questions. She has contributed to media articles and is regularly interviewed on veterinary issues by The National, Gulf News and Khaleej Times newspapers.
Dr Leanne Cameron
BVMS, Cert AVP, MRCVS and Clinical Lead
Dr Leanne Cameron
BVMS, Cert AVP, MRCVS and Clinical Lead
Dr. Leanne Cameron graduated from the University of Glasgow in 2012 and began her career in the UK, where she spent six years in mixed animal practice. In 2018, she relocated to Dubai and has been a key part of the team at British Veterinary Hospital ever since.
Leanne holds a Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice with a focus on Diagnostic Imaging, demonstrating her advanced skill in ultrasound, radiography, and the work-up of complex internal medicine cases. She has a particular passion for geriatric medicine, with a strong emphasis on ensuring comfort, dignity, and quality of life for ageing pets, helping to keep them with their families for as long as possible.
Known for her compassionate and honest approach, Leanne is the kind of vet you’ll often find sitting on the floor next to her patient—taking the time to connect. She is highly regarded by clients for her warm manner, clinical depth, and her willingness to speak openly and thoughtfully about treatment options. She values collaboration with pet owners, always aiming to make informed decisions together as a team.
In her leadership role, Leanne heads the clinical veterinary team at British Veterinary Hospital and frequently supports more complex or multi-disciplinary cases within the practice.
Dr Sofia Moniz
MRCVS, DVM, GPCert (SAM)
Dr Sofia Moniz
MRCVS, DVM, GPCert (SAM)
Dr. Sofia graduated from Portugal. She has been in Dubai for 12 years before she moved to this beautiful city that she calls home, she worked in Portugal and the UK. Dr. Sofia joined BVH in 2014, her main interest are internal medicine and infectious diseases. She loves taking care of hospitalised patients She is currently pursuing a small animal medicine certificate with Improve international.
In her spare time Dr. Sofia likes going to the gym and reading a good novel. She recently adopted a mischievous puppy beagle named Jack Jack.
Dr Blessing Chiriseri
BVSc, SAVC
Dr Blessing Chiriseri
BVSc, SAVC
Dr. Blessing Chiriseri graduated from the University of Zimbabwe in 2013 and began his career in South Africa at a busy welfare clinic in Khayelitsha, Cape Town. This role was one of the most rewarding experiences of his career, as it allowed him to be creative with medicine in a resource-limited setting, while witnessing the power of community cooperation in helping animals that might otherwise have gone without care.
In 2016, Dr. Blessing moved into private practice in Cape Town, where he worked until 2019 before relocating to Johannesburg. There, he joined an advanced radiology center that combined AI-assisted training with real clinical caseloads, further strengthening his diagnostic and imaging expertise.
In 2020, he relocated to the Middle East, combining professional growth with his passion for travel. Beyond veterinary medicine, Dr. Blessing enjoys photography, exploring nature, and discovering new cultures. He remains dedicated to providing high-quality veterinary care while building strong, lasting relationships with pets and their families.
Dr Andre van der Bank
BVSc, SVAC
Dr Andre van der Bank
BVSc, SVAC
Dr. Andre graduated in 2012 from the University of Pretoria. He believes in the great joy, benefit and far-reaching advantages of the human-animal bond. He believes in protecting, honoring and strengthening the human-animal bond by means of a holistic approach to meet the immediate and long-term needs of every animal and owner.
Dr. Andre worked in Cape Town, South Africa, for two years when he decided to join a renowned western hospital group in Qatar for over 6 years. After a short while back in South Africa, where he worked on the lush green coast of the Eastern-Cape, he missed the diversity of the middle-east too much and headed back to join the exceptional team at British Veterinary Hospital.
Dr. Andre gets energised by love for animals and humans alike, and only wants to give them the best of care and attention. He also loves birds and has a special interest in working with parrots and other pet birds. When not working, Dr. Andre loves to spend time with the loves of his life, his beautiful wife, his Cockatoo, Beam, and his little four-legged friend, Fleet. He loves running (and so does Fleet), cooking (especially the eating part), reading, travelling and camping, art, and keeping plants and aquariums.
Dr. Andre loves being part of the exceptional team at British Veterinary Hospital, and is looking forward to meeting you and your beloved pet.
Dr Gareth Enslin
BVSc, SAVC
Dr Gareth Enslin
BVSc, SAVC
Dr Gareth Enslin is a South African vet who qualified from the University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort in 2012. He worked as a mixed animal vet for 11 years so he is comfortable treating all animals except humans. "The best part of being a vet is the variety and chaos that can walk through the door any moment."
Gareth is lucky enough to be married to a vet (because vets make the best partners) and is always willing to talk about his two cats and his dog. When Gareth is not in scrubs, he enjoys playing golf, generally being outdoors, and watching sport, particularly rugby (Four Times Rugby World Champions!).
Registered Veterinary Nurse
Kate Checkley
Manager, Registered Veterinary Nurse
Kate Checkley
Manager, Registered Veterinary Nurse
Elsa O'Callaghan
Registered Veterinary Nurse, Head Nurse
Elsa O'Callaghan
Registered Veterinary Nurse, Head Nurse
Emily Pocock
Registered Veterinary Nurse
Emily Pocock
Registered Veterinary Nurse
Hannah Gerstein
Registered Veterinary Nurse
Hannah Gerstein
Registered Veterinary Nurse
Laura Kane
Registered Veterinary Nurse
Laura Kane
Registered Veterinary Nurse
Leanne Walker
Registered Veterinary Nurse
Leanne Walker
Registered Veterinary Nurse
Sophia Dunne
Registered Veterinary Nurse
Sophia Dunne
Registered Veterinary Nurse
Tess Venter
Registered Veterinary Nurse
Tess Venter
Registered Veterinary Nurse
Pet Care Assistants & Veterinary Nurse
Siva Balan
Veterinary Nurse
Siva Balan
Veterinary Nurse
Alvert Alcopra
Veterinary Nurse
Alvert Alcopra
Veterinary Nurse
Abdul Basith
Veterinary Nurse
Abdul Basith
Veterinary Nurse
Aswin Chittattil
Veterinary Nurse
Aswin Chittattil
Veterinary Nurse
Jerry Nelson
Veterinary Nurse
Jerry Nelson
Veterinary Nurse
Regi Santos
Veterinary Nurse
Regi Santos
Veterinary Nurse
Romel Mariano
Veterinary Nurse
Romel Mariano
Veterinary Nurse
Muhammed Usman
Veterinary Nurse
Muhammed Usman
Veterinary Nurse
Krishan Vidanage
Caretaker
Krishan Vidanage
Caretaker
Pet Relocation and Logistics
Stacey Maddox
Pet Relocation
Stacey Maddox
Pet Relocation
Miraj Khalid
Pet Relocation and Logistics
Miraj Khalid
Pet Relocation and Logistics
M. Sajid Tahir
Pet Relocation and Logistics
M. Sajid Tahir
Pet Relocation and Logistics