Co-founder
Dr Katie Ford
BVSc(Hons) CertAVP(SAM) PGCert MSc FRCVS
Co-founder of Vet Empowered. Vet with 12 years of clinical experience, CMI Level 7 somatic and trauma-informed coach, author and speaker for more than 90 organisations.
She knows imposter moments from the inside, and she went on to love her work again.
Katie's work today
Having spent ten years coaching individuals across the profession, these days Katie is busy running Vet Empowered, speaking, running workshops, and creating change through a number of movements within the profession. She doesn't currently offer one-to-one coaching.
Works with
Veterinary teams, events, and veterinary entrepreneurs and leaders
The story
Katie graduated from Liverpool in 2012 and has 12 years of clinical experience in small animal practice, including her RCVS Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice (Small Animal Medicine) in 2016. Like so many in the profession, she was caught in a cycle of perfectionism and imposter thoughts in her early years, until she learned to understand what was happening and went on to love her work again.
She trained as a coach, completed a master's in emotional wellbeing and her CMI Level 7 in trauma-informed and somatic coaching and leadership, and co-founded Vet Empowered with Claire in 2020.
For around ten years, Katie has explored the imposter phenomenon, psychological safety, human factors and shame in the veterinary professions, always holding both sides: what we can each do for ourselves, and what needs to change around us. She chairs the Shame and VetMed group and co-created Veterinary Human Factors Live.
She has spoken for more than 90 organisations, with keynotes including the OVMA Great Ideas Conference in Ontario, SPVS Congress, BVNA Congress, BSAVA Congress and London Vet Show. She's also the author of the To An Amazing Vet series and Thank You, Jim.
She received the RCVS Inspiration Award in 2023, was named a Bright Minds Wellness Champion in 2024 (voted for by 2,000 of her peers), and was made a Fellow of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons in 2025 for meritorious contributions to the profession.
She lives in Saddleworth with her partner and two very fluffy cats. You'll find her online as @katiefordvet, and her speaking and writing at katiefordvet.com.
- RCVS Inspiration Award 2023
- Bright Minds Wellness Champion 2024
- Fellow of the RCVS 2025
- Spoken for 90+ organisations
Remembering all the other things you love is part of the work.
Katie, painting at golden hour in Manchester
Work with Katie
Katie isn't taking on one-to-one clients at the moment, but you can still work with her through our team workshops and speaking, or find a brilliant coach in our team.
