About Us/The Team

Raphaela Hiltrop

Raphaela is a German veterinarian who graduated from the University of Ghent in Belgium in 2019. Towards the end of her studies, she spent time in Orkney, assisting with lambing on Gairsay for a local farm. This experience led her to keep strong ties with the family and Orkney, eventually drawing her back to Scotland.

After graduating, Raphaela began her career in mixed practice in Fort William, where she developed a particular interest in companion animal cardiology and laboratory/microscopic diagnostics. In 2022, she returned to Belgium to pursue a specialisation in veterinary pathology, focusing on histopathology, cytology, and post-mortem diagnostics—areas she finds especially rewarding due to their impact on herd and flock health, individual pet care, and public health.

Raphaela joined Flett and Carmichael in March 2025 and is looking forward to the variety that mixed practice in Orkney offers. Alongside her work with cattle and horses, she is keen to continue developing her skills in small animal cardiology and to contribute to the team with her experience in pathology and microscopy-based diagnostics.

Outside of work, Raphaela enjoys hiking, stand-up paddleboarding, and sea swimming—often accompanied by her two Spaniel-Collie crosses, Mia and Otis