Veterinary degree (BVSc) conferred by the Faculty of Veterinary Science of the University of Pretoria, South Africa in 1992.  Registered as a Member of the College of Veterinary Surgeons (MRCVS) in London, England in 1992. 

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Practiced at The Old Golf House Veterinary Group in Norfolk, England performing farm animal and equine ambulatory clinics and small animal clinical duties for the first year post graduation.

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Completed a year of post graduate training at the Equine Unit of the Animal Health Trust. The AHT is a referral, research and training center in Newmarket, Suffolk whose patron is Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.  Thereafter returned to private practice to run a branch clinic at Park Veterinary Clinic in the town of Longfield, Essex, England.

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Immigrated to the United States in 2000. Worked as a veterinary technician in Florida until completing her Doctor in Veterinary Medicine (DVM) licensing requirements.

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In 2001 passed the DVM Equivalency Certification Examination for Foreign Veterinary Graduates (ECFVG), as well as the National Board Examination (NBE) and Clinical Competency Test (CCT) and the Florida State Veterinary Board licensing examinations.

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Thereafter performed relief work for small animal practices in the Cape Coral, Bonita Springs and Fort Myers area of SW Florida before accepting a full time position with Kindness Animal Hospital in Cape Coral, FL.

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In her spare time assisted Dr. Dan Wolf, DVM DACVO from Tampa, FL at his ophthalmology clinic location in Fort Myers weekly on an unpaid basis for two non-consecutive years.

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Completed a Veterinary Ophthalmology Internship with the Veterinary Ophthalmology Services in Las Vegas, Nevada in 2003 under the mentorship of Dr. Michael Brinkmann, DVM DACVO.

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In 2004-5 completed a one year Ophthalmology Clerkship program mentored by Dr’s. Christi Warren, DVM DACVO and Reuben Merideth, DVM DACVO at Eye Care for Animals in Tucson, AZ.

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During 2004-5 also worked as an overnight emergency room doctor providing medical and surgical services on weekends at Southern Arizona Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Center (SAVESC) in Tucson, AZ.

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In 2005, completed the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologist (ACVO) credential requirements and enrolled in a veterinary ophthalmology residency program at Eye Care for Animals in Tucson, mentored by veterinary ophthalmologists Dr. Christi Warren and Dr. Reuben Merideth.

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In 2008, completed the 3 year comparative veterinary ophthalmology residency training program and in the same year passed the ACVO Board Certification oral, written and practical surgical examinations.

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In October 2008 was granted membership into the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists which confers the title Diplomate of the ACVO (DACVO).

Dr. Ashton continued to practice at Eye Care for Animals in Tucson, for 3 additional years seeing small animal, equine and avian ophthalmology referral cases.  Performed pro-bono services for Tucson Wildlife Rehabilitation, Forever Wild, Reid Park Zoo and the world renown Arizona Sonora-Desert Museum Wildlife collection.  

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Every May since 2008 Dr. Ashton has participated and provided free Service Animal Eye Examinations organized annually by the ACVO for registered service animals including Guide Dogs for the Blind, Assistance Dogs, Military, Law Enforcement, University Police and Border Patrol dogs, retired service dogs, Search And Rescue (SAR) Dogs, disabled Veteran’s Service dogs and Delta Dogs among others.

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 In 2011 she moved to San Diego County.  Initially employed as an Ophthalmologist at Eye Clinic for Animals, in Kearny Mesa, which is now owned by VCA. Ophthalmology services were provided at the San Diego and their former Escondido office, now closed.

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In 2013 she researched equipment, inventory, supplies and purchases as a consultant for California Veterinary Specialists (CVS). Later that year was employed to set up and start Ophthalmology Departments at both their Carlsbad and the Murrieta clinics where she practiced until December 2014.

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Dr. Ashton is the founder and sole owner and Ophthalmologist at Animal Eye Vet Inc. which she established to service the Temecula-Murrieta area in January 2015.

Animal Eye Vet Inc. continues to grow and expand its services to the Riverside, Sand Diego County and neighboring counties including Orange County and the Inland Empire.

 

Dr. Ashton is currently seeing patients and performing comprehensive surgeries through a sublease agreement with Valley Veterinary Clinic. In her spare time she is managing and coordinating a clinic build out and improvement under construction on Jefferson Avenue in Murrieta to permanently house Animal Eye Vet Inc. and its deserving patients as an independent specialty referral clinic.