Joanna Hedley qualified from the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies in 2003 and spent time in mixed, small animal, exotic and wildlife practice before undertaking a residency in exotic animal and wildlife medicine back at the R(D)SVS. She obtained her RCVS Diploma in Zoological Medicine in 2012 and European College of Zoological Medicine specialist status in herpetology in 2014. She is currently working as a lecturer in exotic species and small mammal medicine and surgery at the Royal Veterinary College in Camden, where she is developing the exotics clinical service and student teaching.