ECVDI Interview - Gawain Hammond (2018)

ECVDI Interview - Gawain Hammond (2018)

Tell us a bit about your path to becoming a radiologist.

I always enjoyed imaging as a student (completing an elective project on intestinal ultrasound in my final year under the supervision of Lizza Baines), and after a couple of years in practice started an internship at the Animal Health Trust where I decided to pursue a career in imaging.  I then moved to Glasgow Vet School to begin my residency which I completed in 2006.

What is your practice and work day like?

I am largely based in the Small Animal Hospital at the University of Glasgow School of Veterinary Medicine, with a typical day including work on clinics (completing imaging studies and discussing cases with the imaging staff and residents) and training final year students in general diagnostic imaging.  I also have teaching commitments throughout the veterinary course, including diagnostic imaging and anatomy.

Your favourite imaging modality?

I still find radiography produces the most aesthetically pleasing images.

How do you think veterinary radiology will change in 10 years time?

The increasing availability of teleradiology will give more veterinary surgeons access to expert advice, potentially creating a loop driving increased demand for teleradiology services (and raising a question of how much image interpretation needs to be taught in the veterinary schools – answers on a postcard...).  This is likely to be coupled to a greater availability of advanced imaging to veterinary practices (with the resulting studies also requiring interpretation by a teleradiologist).  However this does raise the possibility that if more veterinary radiologists move to teleradiology from the traditional clinics, ultrasound studies may start to fall to non-radiologists to perform and ultrasound as a modality may start to separate from the general imaging speciality.

What advice would you go back in time and give yourself when you were a resident?

Start the research projects required for credentials as early as possible...

What do you like to do for fun?

Largely chase round after my children, but I try to play badminton a couple of times a week and am still hoping to find a cricket team playing at a level suited to my lack of ability.

What have you always wanted to do but never done?

Visit New Zealand and Australia

Favourite quote or words to live by?

Illegitimi non carborundum

Please complete the following sentences…

I usually start my day with…Porridge and tea

The time of my residency was…..Tough but immensely enjoyable

If I had more time…I would take up a craft-based hobby (woodwork or similar)

Sometimes I ask myself…Why did I decide to become a vet (fortunately I don’t ask this very often)

I solve problems…By reading around

Teaching is…Usually a lot of fun

My favourite radiograph:

An interesting foreign body.