Yazz Beckram

What is your position within the surgery?
Veterinary surgeon

What are your personal origins – how did you come to reside in Dorset?
I grew up in Weymouth, going to St. Andrews Primary School, Wey Valley School and Weymouth College. I loved Dorset so much after going to university in Liverpool we moved back, working as a mixed animal vet in Beaminster for 3 years, then as a small animal vet at Moorcroft in Weymouth for 12 years before joining Dave Cumber Vets.

Why did you become a veterinarian?
I grew up loving James Herriot and always wanted to be a vet. It’s a cliché but I love animals and people and knew I would hate a desk job. It just made sense to me. Seeing practice just confirmed this (I remember the first time I saw abdominal surgery on a cow. I was amazed to see this creature chewing her cud while the vet rooted around inside her belly to correct her problem). I love the variety of our work, the feel good aspect of helping animals and people and especially the practical hands on aspect of the job. You can never get bored of this job, there is a new challenge around every corner no matter how long you have been doing it!

How did you become a veterinarian?
At the age of 16 I started ‘seeing practice’ at Fielding and Cumbers. This confirmed in my mind that I wanted to aim at becoming a vet. I went to Liverpool university, graduating in 2002.

What do you actually do as a veterinarian?
I love my job. I am essentially a GP. I love the day to day challenges of consulting, working through owners problems with their furry family and improving quality of life for the whole family. I also love surgery, I have always been practical and surgery is both rewarding and stimulating. My perfect day would be a good stitch up, perhaps remove a lump and neuter a dog or cat, then spend the rest of the day consulting.

As for continued professional development, I love learning more about any aspect of my day to day job. I’ve never really felt the need to specialise, just to be the best I can be at the job I do.