{{Short description|Irish veterinary surgeon}} {{EngvarB|date=September 2014}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}} {{Infobox academic | honorific_prefix = Professor | name = Noel Fitzpatrick | honorific_suffix = MVB DSAS(Orth) CertVR DipACVSMR MRCVS | image = | image_size = | caption = | birth_name = Martin Noel Galgani Fitzpatrick<ref>Registrar of Companies for England and Wales – [https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/05287667/filing-history/MzA4MDk4NDA3NmFkaXF6a2N4/document?format=pdf&download=0 Charge 0528 7667 0008]</ref> | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1967|12|13}} | birth_place = Ballyfin, County Laois, Ireland | death_date = | death_place = | discipline = {{Plainlist}} * Small Animal Orthopaedics (DSAS(Orth)) * Veterinary Radiology (CertVR) * Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation (DipACVSMR) {{Endplainlist}} | workplaces = {{Plainlist}} * Fitzpatrick Referrals * University of Surrey * University of Florida {{Endplainlist}} | education = University College Dublin (MVB, 1990) | awards = {{Plainlist}} * Honorary Doctorate, University of Surrey (2009)<ref>{{cite web |title=Honorary Doctorate – University of Surrey |url=https://www.noelfitzpatrick.vet/associated-brands/university-of-surrey/ |website=Noel Fitzpatrick Official Website |access-date=2025-06-17}}</ref> * Blaine Award, British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) (2014)<ref>{{cite web |title=Noel Fitzpatrick receives the Blaine Award |url=https://www.rcvs.org.uk/news-and-views/news/noel-fitzpatrick-receives-the-blaine-award/ |website=Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons |date=2014-07-08 |access-date=2025-06-17}}</ref> * University College Dublin Alumni Award for Veterinary Medicine (2017)<ref>{{cite web |title=Noel Fitzpatrick – UCD Alumni Awards |url=https://alumni.ucd.ie/awards/awardee/noel-fitzpatrick/ |website=UCD Alumni |access-date=2025-06-17}}</ref> * Honorary Doctorate, University of Bath (2018)<ref>{{cite web |title=Innovative veterinary surgeon Noel Fitzpatrick receives honorary degree |url=https://www.bath.ac.uk/announcements/innovative-veterinary-surgeon-noel-fitzpatrick-receives-honorary-degree/ |website=University of Bath |date=2022-07-15 |access-date=2025-06-17}}</ref> {{Endplainlist}} | website = {{Official URL|https://www.noelfitzpatrick.vet}} | footnotes = | children = | occupation = Veterinary Surgeon }} '''Noel Fitzpatrick''' is an Irish veterinary surgeon, based in Eashing, Surrey, who came to prominence through the television programme ''The Supervet''. Originally from Ballyfin, in County Laois, Ireland, he moved to Guildford, Surrey, in 1993,<ref name="The Telegraph">{{cite news|last1=Harvey|first1=Chris|title=The Bionic Vet: he can rebuild them|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/lifestyle/pets/8157908/The-Bionic-Vet-he-can-rebuild-them.html|accessdate=4 April 2015|publisher=The Telegraph|date=29 November 2010}}</ref> where he is director and managing clinician at Fitzpatrick Referrals.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=http://www.fitzpatrickreferrals.co.uk/clinicians/noel-fitzpatrick/|title=Professor Noel Fitzpatrick - Fitzpatrick Referrals|work=Fitzpatrick Referrals|access-date=2017-04-12|language=en-GB}}</ref> Fitzpatrick Referrals, based in Eashing, Surrey, specialises in orthopaedics and neurosurgery.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.fitzpatrickreferrals.co.uk/how-to-find-us-eashing-hospital/|title=How to find us - Eashing Hospital - Fitzpatrick Referrals|work=Fitzpatrick Referrals|access-date=2017-04-12|language=en-GB}}</ref> He also leads the Fitzpatrick Institute for the Restoration of Skeletal Tissue (FIRST) at the same site.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Goodwin |first=Sarah |date=2017-06-02 |title=Fitzpatrick Institute for the Restoration of Skeletal Tissue (FIRST) |url=https://www.fitzpatrickreferrals.co.uk/news/2017/06/fitzpatrick-institute-restoration-skeletal-tissue/ |access-date=2025-06-16 |website=Fitzpatrick Referrals |language=en-US}}</ref> He previously founded a separate hospital specialising in oncology and soft tissue surgery in Guildford, which has since been bought out by the managing team and renamed.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-08-31 |title=Fitzpatrick Oncology and Soft Tissue bought out by management team |url=https://www.vetsurgeon.org/b/veterinary-news/posts/fitzpatrick-oncology-and-soft-tissue-bought-out-by-management-team |access-date=2025-06-16 |website=www.vetsurgeon.org |language=en}}</ref> He is director of a number of biotechnology companies spun off from his practice.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bsava.com/Congress/BSAVA-Awards-2017|title=BSAVA Awards 2017|author=British Small Animals Veterinary Association|accessdate=21 June 2017}}</ref>
==Academic career and research== Fitzpatrick obtained his Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine from University College Dublin, in 1990.<ref name=UCD>{{Cite news|url=http://alumni.ucd.ie/awards/awardee/noel-fitzpatrick/|title=NOEL FITZPATRICK - UCD Alumni Awards|work=UCD Alumni Awards|access-date=2017-04-12|language=en-GB}}</ref>
In November 2014, he was awarded the UCD Alumni Award for veterinary medicine.<ref name=UCD/> He was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Surrey for the concept of One Medicine: the advancement of human and animal treatments in tandem.<ref>{{cite web|last1=University of Surrey|first1=Media Centre|title=Noel Fitzpatrick awarded honorary doctorate by the university of surrey|url=http://www.surrey.ac.uk/mediacentre/press/2009/8242_noel_fitzpatrick_awarded_honorary_doctorate_by_the_university_of_surrey.htm|accessdate=18 December 2014}}</ref> He is an Associate Professor at the University of Florida School of Veterinary Medicine<ref>{{cite web|last1=Fitzpatrick Referrals|title=Noel Fitzpatrick|url=http://www.fitzpatrickreferrals.co.uk/our-team/clinicians/noel-fitzpatrick|accessdate=18 December 2014}}</ref> and Professor and founding member of Orthopaedics in the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Surrey.<ref>{{cite web|last1=School of Veterinary Medicine|first1=University of Surrey, UK|title=Prof Noel Fitzpatrick|url=http://www.surrey.ac.uk/vet/people|accessdate=18 December 2014}}</ref>
In 2017, he was presented with the Blaine Award by British Small Animal Veterinary Association for outstanding contributions to the advancement of small animal veterinary medicine and surgery.<ref>{{cite web|title=BSAVA Blaine Awards 2017 Press Release|url=https://www.vettimes.co.uk/app/uploads/wp-post-to-pdf-enhanced-cache/1/bsava-shines-light-on-professions-pioneers.pdf|accessdate=12 April 2018}}</ref> The award acknowledges him as the creator of more than 30 new techniques in the field.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bsava.com/Congress/BSAVA-Awards-2017|title=BSAVA Awards 2017|author=British Small Animals Veterinary Association|accessdate=21 June 2017}}</ref> Fitzpatrick is the director of Fitzbionics, a team of bioengineers focussed on developing new implants and technologies in animals.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Professor Noel Fitzpatrick |url=https://www.fitzpatrickreferrals.co.uk/our-people/noel-fitzpatrick/ |access-date=2025-05-31 |website=Fitzpatrick Referrals |language=en-US}}</ref>
In 2018, Fitzpatrick received an honorary Doctorate of Science from the University of Bath in recognition of his pioneering work in veterinary orthopaedics and neurosurgery, his leadership at Fitzpatrick Referrals, and his collaboration with the University on innovative surgical technologies aimed at improving both animal and human medicine.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Innovative veterinary surgeon Noel Fitzpatrick receives honorary degree |url=https://www.bath.ac.uk/announcements/innovative-veterinary-surgeon-noel-fitzpatrick-receives-honorary-degree/ |access-date=2025-06-17 |website=www.bath.ac.uk}}</ref>
== Veterinary surgery == In 2009, he became the first veterinary surgeon in the world to successfully apply an amputation prosthesis (PerFiTS<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.fitzpatrickreferrals.co.uk/orthopaedic/forelimb-amputation-prosthesis-perfits/|title=Forelimb Amputation Prosthesis (PerFiTS) - Fitzpatrick Referrals|work=Fitzpatrick Referrals|access-date=2017-04-12|language=en-GB}}</ref>) to a cat named Oscar who had lost both hind feet in an accident. In 2014, Fitzpatrick was recognised by Guinness World Records for being the first veterinary surgeon to conduct that operation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mrcvs.co.uk/en//news-story.php?id=13261|title=Noel Fitzpatrick receives a Guinness World Record|website=www.MRCVSonline.co.uk|last1=MRCVSonline|accessdate=28 June 2015}}</ref>
==Television and radio== Fitzpatrick and his team at Fitzpatrick Referrals have been the subject of television series, including ''The Bionic Vet'' and ''The Supervet''.<ref>The Supervet website http://www.thesupervet.com</ref> Fitzpatrick has also appeared on ''The One Show'',<ref name="BBC One Show 2016">{{cite episode| title= The One Show: 09/02/2016 | series= The One Show| credits= Presenters: Matt Baker, Alex Jones; Editor: Sandy Smith; Participant: Noel Fitzpatrick; Reporter: Lucy Siegle| network= BBC| station= BBC Radio 2| url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06zv591| airdate= 9 February 2016| accessdate= 31 October 2018 }}</ref> Graham Norton's BBC Radio 2 show,<ref name="BBC Graham Norton 2015">{{cite episode| title= Graham Norton: Matt Cardle, Prof Noel Fitzpatrick and Jenny Éclair | series= Graham Norton| credits= Presenter: Graham Norton | network= BBC| station= BBC Radio 2| url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b060c1nf | airdate= 4 July 2015| accessdate= 31 October 2018 }}</ref> ''Steve Wright in the Afternoon'',<ref name="BBC Steve Wright">{{cite episode| title= Steve Wright in the Afternoon: Russell Howard, Professor Noel Fitzpatrick, JJ Chalmers, Ade Adepitan | series= Steve Wright in the Afternoon| credits= Presenter: Steve Wright | network= BBC| station= BBC Radio 2| url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b094p7pj | airdate= 21 September 2017| accessdate= 31 October 2018 }}</ref> Heartbeat and ''The Chris Evans Breakfast Show''.<ref name="BBC Chris Evans">{{cite episode| title= The Chris Evans Breakfast Show: Noel Fitzpatrick, Denise Lewis, Holliday Grainger and The Waterboys| series= The Chris Evans Breakfast Show| credits= Presenter: Chris Evans | network= BBC| station= BBC Radio 2| url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08z2fkw | airdate= 4 August 2017| accessdate= 31 October 2018 }}</ref> In October 2018, Fitzpatrick was the subject of BBC Radio 4's ''The Life Scientific'', discussing his life and work with the programme's presenter, Jim Al-Khalili.<ref name="BBC Life Scientific">{{cite episode| title= The Life Scientific: Noel Fitzpatrick on becoming a supervet| series= The Life Scientific| credits= Presenter: Jim Al-Khalili; Producer: Anna Buckley | network= BBC| station= BBC Radio 4| url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0000y8g | airdate= 30 October 2018| accessdate= 30 October 2018 }}</ref>
===''The Bionic Vet'' (2010)=== {{main|The Bionic Vet}} The 2010 BBC documentary television series ''The Bionic Vet'' followed the work of vet Fitzpatrick and his team at Fitzpatrick Referrals. The series saw Fitzpatrick develop new methods and techniques to help pets with unique problems.
=== ''The Supervet'' (2014–present) === {{main|The Supervet}} In 2014, Fitzpatrick and his practice became the subject of the Channel 4 television series ''The Supervet''. It continues to run, and Series 12 was being broadcast in September 2018.
==Performing arts== Outside of his veterinary career, Fitzpatrick has a keen interest in acting. He has been cast in two episodes of ITV's ''Heartbeat'' as vet Andrew Lawrence, first broadcast in November 2002, and as sheep rustler Gabriel broadcast in January 2000. He appeared in an episode of the BBC medical drama ''Casualty'' (2005), around the same time he appeared in the documentary TV series ''Wildlife SOS'', resulting in the BBC receiving complaints that the latter show included an actor who was pretending to be a vet.<ref>{{cite news|last1=The Telegraph|title=Bionic Vet: he can rebuild them|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/lifestyle/pets/8157908/The-Bionic-Vet-he-can-rebuild-them.html|accessdate=18 December 2014|date=29 November 2010}}</ref> He has appeared in the ITV series ''London's Burning'' (2001), and two episodes of ITV's ''The Bill''.{{cn|date=October 2025}} Fitzpatrick's first film appearance was in the horror film ''The Devil's Tattoo'' (2003). He took the lead role in the film ''Live for the Moment'' (2004) in which he starred as David Fowler, and starred as Inspector Beckett in the film ''Framed'' (2008).{{cn|date=October 2025}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{Official website}} * {{IMDb name}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fitzpatrick, Noel}} Category:1967 births Category:Living people Category:Medical doctors from County Laois Category:Irish veterinarians Category:Biotechnologists Category:Irish orthopaedic surgeons Category:Irish emigrants to the United Kingdom Category:Alumni of University College Dublin