Matthew Erskine is a senior veterinary surgeon at Westport Vets, where he combines first-opinion practice with an advanced soft tissue surgery service for both in-house and referral patients. After graduating from the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies in 2015, Matthew developed a strong interest in surgery, gaining the BSAVA Certificate in Small Animal Surgery in 2020 before becoming an RCVS Advanced Practitioner in Small Animal Surgery in 2021. He subsequently held clinical leadership roles supporting and mentoring veterinary surgeons in general practice alongside delivering peripatetic surgical services across Scotland and the North of England. In 2022, he joined the University of Glasgow as a clinician in Small Animal Surgery, providing a referral soft tissue surgery service, contributing to undergraduate teaching, and co-authoring several peer-reviewed publications. During this time, he also completed a Postgraduate Certificate in Clinical Academic Practice. Matthew is the current Junior Vice President of the BSAVA Board and is passionate about delivering practical, evidence-based surgical education for first-opinion practitioners