Dr. Alex Thiemann
MA, Vet MB, Cert AVP (Equine Practice), MSc, AFHEA, MRCVS
Dr. Alex Thiemann is an accomplished veterinary surgeon with a career spanning over three decades in equine and donkey medicine, clinical practice, and global animal welfare.
A graduate of the University of Cambridge in 1989, Alex gained early expertise in equine care, earning the Certificate in Equine Practice before dedicating her career to donkeys, one of the world’s most undervalued working animals.
In 1997, Alex Thiemann joined The Donkey Sanctuary, the world’s largest equine welfare organization, where she now serves as Senior Veterinary Surgeon, specializing in education and research.
Her role combines advanced clinical care, overseeing thousands of donkeys across sanctuaries in the UK, with global teaching initiatives aimed at improving veterinary practices and donkey welfare standards worldwide.
Alex holds a Master of Science in International Animal Health from the University of Edinburgh, which she utilized to deepen her understanding of transboundary diseases and herd health in donkeys.
This expertise has been pivotal in guiding strategic programs like the Equid Assessment and Research Scoping (EARS) tool, an innovative system used to collect and analyze global welfare data to improve donkey health outcomes.
Committed to education, Alex Thiemann is an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (AFHEA) and a member of the BEVA Trust Committee, where the University of Cambridge graduate mentors veterinary interns and delivers professional development for clinicians.
Her international work has included collaborating with veterinary schools, NGOs, and local practitioners in countries where donkeys are essential to livelihoods, providing both transportation and economic security.
In addition to her clinical and educational contributions, Alex Thiemann is an advocate for environmental sustainability.
She chairs the Woodbury Community Orchard and is a trustee of Moor Trees, a charity focused on habitat restoration and native woodland regeneration in Dartmoor, UK. Her passion for integrating environmental conservation with animal welfare underscores her holistic approach to veterinary practice and global impact.
When she’s not advancing donkey care or promoting sustainability, Alex Thiemann enjoys horse riding, community leadership, and spending time with her family in Devon, where she balances her professional work with hands-on conservation efforts.