Chris Shales

Chris graduated from Cambridge Veterinary School in 2000 having gained a degree in Zoology in addition to qualifying as a Veterinary Surgeon. Chris then spent two hugely enjoyable years working in general practice in Suffolk before returning to Cambridge as a Resident in Small Animal Surgery.

Following completion of his residency in 2005, Chris worked as a Clinical Surgeon in the Soft Tissue Department of Cambridge University before moving to take up a post as Clinical Fellow in the Small Animal Surgery Department at Bristol University. He has been at Willows since 2009 and as such has been at the core of the team’s commitment to the pursuit of clinical excellence via a multi-disciplinary approach to Soft Tissue Surgery.

During his time at Willows Chris has been the Director of the Surgical Residency Training Programme and the Head of the Soft Tissue Surgery service. More recently Chris has become the Clinical Director at Willows and looks forward to sharing his passion for our core values though this role.

Chris is a Diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Surgeons and an RCVS Specialist in Small Animal Surgery. Chris has served as a member of the written examination sub-committee for the European College, the scientific programme committee for the BSAVA Congress. as an examiner for the RCVS Certificate in Small Animal Surgery and has been a committee member of the Association of Veterinary Soft Tissue Surgeons. Chris is currently on the programme committee for the annual scientific meeting of the European College of Veterinary Surgeons (ECVS).

Chris has published numerous scientific peer reviewed papers, written several textbook chapters and is an experienced lecturer to Vets at both local, national and international level.

Chris is particularly interested in upper airway surgery, brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS), portosystemic shunts, and surgical oncology. He is also a member of the interventional radiography group at Willows.