Submitted by J. Hudson on Mon, 10/08/2026 - 13:08
We are delighted to welcome Barbora Mala to the Department of Veterinary Medicine and the Small Animal Surgery Team at the Queen’s Veterinary School Hospital.
Originally from the Czech Republic, Barbora's journey into veterinary medicine began with a lifelong love of animals. Growing up she filled her home with a remarkable variety of pets, including cats, dogs, snakes, a tortoise, parrots, fish, rabbits and rats. With the full support of her parents and a childhood spent around horses, animals were always at the centre of her life.
"I always knew I wanted to work with animals," says Barbora. "I loved science at school and veterinary medicine seemed like the perfect way to combine both passions."
Barbora studied at the Czech Republic's only veterinary school, located in the city of Brno, where she lived throughout her life and studies. Although she initially thought an equine career would be her future, six years of veterinary training helped her discover a different calling.
"During my studies, I realised how much I enjoyed surgery. I loved the precision, planning and problem-solving involved, and small animal surgery quickly became my passion."
After graduating in 2019, Barbora moved to the UK with her fiancé, whom she met at the practice where she worked following graduation and who is also a veterinarian. She began her career in small animal practice before undertaking a surgical internship near Bristol, further developing her skills and specialist interests.
Today, what motivates her most is the opportunity to make a difference to both animals and the clients.
"I enjoy the challenge of surgery and the need to think carefully about every step. Seeing patients recover and knowing you've helped both them and their families is incredibly rewarding."
Outside of work, Barbora enjoys travelling and exploring the UK. Some of her favourite destinations include Edinburgh, Bath and Cornwall. She also spent many years dancing and continues to enjoy keeping active whenever she can. She and her fiancé share their home with Margaret, a rescue crossbreed, and Mercutio, a cat named after Romeo's loyal friend in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.
One of the key reasons Barbora chose Cambridge was the opportunity to combine clinical work with teaching and mentoring the next generation of veterinary professionals.
"Teaching is something I'm really excited about. I enjoy helping students, interns and residents develop their skills and confidence and being part of their learning journey."
As she settles into life in Cambridge, Barbora is looking forward to embracing the city's famous cycling culture and becoming part of the wider Cambridge community. As she explores the area, she is particularly looking forward to attending open evenings at the University of Cambridge's Institute of Astronomy, where she hopes to further pursue one of her long-standing interests.
We are delighted to welcome Barbora to the Department of Veterinary Medicine.
