Past Jane Axon Scholars

Chiara Morelli, 2026 Jane Axon Scholar

Chiara graduated from the University of Perugia, Italy, in 2017. She subsequently completed two equine internships, one in Italy and one in the United Kingdom. Following her internships, she continued working in the UK as an ambulatory and emergency equine vet.

During this time, she also completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Equine Practice at the University of Liverpool and a Master of Research focusing on strangles at the Royal Veterinary College.

Chiara then moved to the United States to pursue a residency in Large Animal Internal Medicine at Oklahoma State University, and she is currently starting her second year.

My experience:

“Being selected for the Jane Axon Scholarship was a great honour. I knew how competitive the selection process was, and I was ecstatic when SEH contacted me to offer me the scholarship. SEH is an amazing place. The facilities are outstanding, and everything is so well organised that it almost feels unreal. I was amazed to see that, despite the enormous caseload, every patient receives the care they need, and even the most challenging emergencies are handled with such efficiency that it is almost unbelievable. Teamwork is truly at the heart of SEH. Everyone works together as a single, cohesive team rather than as separate individuals.

Throughout my time here, at any hour of the day or night, everyone was incredibly professional, kind, and always willing to answer my questions. One of the things that struck me the most was seeing veterinarians who, despite having worked in this profession for many years, still show such genuine passion and enthusiasm for what they do. Veterinary medicine can be an incredibly demanding profession, and witnessing that same dedication and love for the job after so many years is truly inspiring.

I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity, not only for everything I have learned but also for the privilege of working alongside such a dedicated and inspiring team”.

Sarah Lewis, 2025 Jane Axon Scholar

Sarah is a Canadian from Windsor, Ontario who graduated from the Royal Veterinary College (RVC), London, UK in 2023. Following graduation, she remained at the RVC, where she completed a rotating internship, and achieved a Postgraduate Diploma in Veterinary Clinical Practice. Sarah subsequently commenced a large animal residency at the University of Minnesota, where she is currently a second-year resident based in St. Paul, Minnesota, USA.

‘From the moment I stepped through the doors of the Intensive Care Unit at Scone Equine Hospital, I knew my time there would be something truly special, and it was! I was honoured and humbled to be selected as this year’s Jane Axon Scholar. Working at such a renowned institution while being immersed in a new culture was beyond exciting. From my first day in the ICU and onwards, I was welcomed by an exceptional team whose dedication, teamwork, and compassion was truly inspiring.

I was exposed to a diverse and challenging caseload that greatly expanded my knowledge of foal medicine and critical care. The team’s willingness to share their expertise created an encouraging learning environment where I further developed my clinical, diagnostic, and decision-making skills. Over four rewarding weeks, I refined my approach to neonatal management, ultrasound, and fluid therapy, gaining hands-on experience that will enhance my future career.

This experience has reinforced my passion for equine neonatal and critical care and provided me with confidence and insight that I will carry forward into the rest of my residency and beyond. I am deeply grateful for the Jane Axon Scholarship opportunity and to the Scone Equine Hospital team for providing an exceptional experience’.

Anthi Kolovou, 2024 Jane Axon Scholar

Anthi graduated from University of Thessaly, Greece in 2017. She completed two internships, including one at the University of Liverpool in 2020, and spent 3.5 years in ambulatory equine practice before commencing her residency. Anthi is currently a second-year resident of Equine Internal Medicine at Glasgow Equine Hospital, University of Glasgow, UK.

‘Being selected as this year’s Jane Axon scholar has been an incredible honour and a privilege! My goal during the four-week visit was to expand my knowledge and clinical skills in neonatology and critical care. Not only did I achieve this goal, but I was also deeply inspired by an exceptional team, working tirelessly around the clock to provide the best care for all the patients coming through the doors.  The team’s patience and dedication to teaching, instilled in me a deeper love for neonatal medicine. I am forever grateful for this invaluable opportunity and the unforgettable experience it provided!’

Lizzie Halliwell, 2023 Jane Axon Scholar

Lizzie graduated from the University of Liverpool in 2016 and completed a two-year internship at Newmarket Equine Hospital. Following this she worked at Hagyard Equine Medical Institute in Kentucky for a breeding season and then returned to equine ambulatory practice in East Sussex in the U.K. Subsequently, Lizzie returned to Liverpool and completed a residency in Equine Internal Medicine and will sit her ECEIM diplomat exams in 2024.

‘It was a real honour to be chosen as this year’s Jane Axon Scholar. The team are so inspiring, not just because of their knowledge and clinical acumen, but in the positive working environment that they create and maintain despite the high caseload and pressures of the job. I have learnt so much, enjoyed every minute and the experience has only confirmed my passion for neonatal medicine and critical care. Thank you so much for having me at Clovelly.’

Carly McGuire, 2022 Jane Axon Scholar

Carly graduated from St. George’s University, Grenada in 2015. She completed an 18month equine internship in the south of England followed by a breeding season at Haygard Equine Medical Institution as a Medicine Fellow. Carly then returned to the UK and spent 3 years in private equine practice (also in the south of England) before commencing her Equine Internal Medicine residency at the Royal Veterinary College, London in July 2021.

‘I feel very privileged and grateful to have been chosen as this year’s Jane Axon Scholar. The team here have been nothing but welcoming and encouraging, enabling me to learn and develop under their knowledgeable guidance. The case load has been fantastic and I feel inspired going forward into my future career following this experience. Thank you to all. ‘

Lisa De Lange, 2019 Jane Axon Scholar

Lisa De Lange graduated from Ghent University in Belgium in 2017. After a short period in Equine practice, she completed an Equine Internship at Ghent University. Lisa is now in her second year of her Equine Medicine Residency at Ghent University.

‘I am very grateful for receiving the Jane Axon Scholarship – it was a great opportunity to expand my theoretical and practical knowledge in foal medicine and intensive care. The Scone Equine Hospital team’s kindness and dedication as well as their teaching skills were amazing. I had an incredible stay. Thank you so much for the experience’.

Vicky Savage, 2018 Jane Axon Scholar

Vicky Savage, an equine medicine resident from the University of Bristol, was the recipient of the 2018 Jane Axon Scholarship.

‘I want to say a huge thank you to the team at Scone Equine Hospital for giving me the privilege of being the Jane Axon Scholar this year. With over 60 sick foals coming through the intensive care unit during the 4 weeks of my visit, it was incredible to be part of such an inspirational, experienced and friendly team. I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to expand my knowledge of neonatal medicine and gain hands-on experience in critical care cases. I plan to apply this knowledge to my cases in the future. Thank you again.’

Esther Siegers, 2017 Jane Axon Scholar

Esther Siegers was the successful winner of the scholarship this year. Esther graduated in 2011 from the University of Utrecht in Holland and did an internship followed by a medicine residency at the University of Utrecht. She is currently in her third (and final) year of her residency and she is taking her specialist board examinations in February 2018. She has a special interest in neonatal medicine.

‘I am very thankful to have received the Jane Axon Scholarship. It was an unforgettable and wonderful experience to spend 4 weeks at Scone Equine Hospital with the Clovelly team. The high case load, efficiency and immense experience of the team offered me the opportunity to expand and develop my critical care and foal medicine knowledge and skills in a short time. The dedication and enthusiasm of the team was very inspiring. I am looking forward to the next foaling season in the northern hemisphere to apply the acquired knowledge and experience!’

Catriona MacKenzie, 2016 Jane Axon Scholar

Catriona MacKenzie was the successful winner of the Jane Axon Scholarship this year. Catriona graduated in 2006 from the University of Glasgow. Since graduation, she has done an internship at Rossdales Equine Hospital, a fellowship at Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, several ambulatory positions and she is currently a third (and final) year equine medicine resident at the University of Liverpool. Catriona has a keen interest in equine critical care, in particular foal medicine and the Jane Axon Scholarship provided her with the ideal opportunity to expand and develop her knowledge and skills in this area. Catriona spent 4 weeks at the ICU in September/ October 2016.

‘I just wanted to thank you again for having me at Clovelly. The Jane Axon Scholarship offers a great opportunity and I feel very privileged to have been the first to benefit from this. I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed my visit – the experience was invaluable and really confirmed to me that this is an area I want to pursue in my future career. Everyone made me feel so welcome and it was really quite inspiring to see how well the whole place works as a team!’