Lydia Hambrook
Bachelor of Veterinary Science (Hons)
Fellow of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists
Registered Specialist in Small Animal Medicine
Lydia began at Advanced Vetcare after completing her fellowship in small animal medicine through the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists in 2012. She helps pets with cardiology, oncology, endocrinology, infectious disease and gastroenterology needs. She’s volunteered with the Esther Honey Foundation in the Cook Islands and Vets Beyond Borders in India. Lydia has been published internationally and is actively involved in the examination and assessment of up and coming specialists. The best equipment available supports Lydia’s diagnostic capabilities, including a state-of-the-art cardiac ultrasound and a full range of endoscopes, 16 slice CT scanner and excellent access to a worldclass MRI scanner.
Amanda Ciavarella
Bachelor of Veterinary Science (Hons)
Fellow of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists
Registered Specialist in Small Animal Medicine
Dr. Amanda Ciavarella graduated with Honours from the University of Melbourne in 2009 and joined Advanced Vetcare in 2011. In 2017, she became a registered specialist in small animal internal medicine after passing her fellowship examination and currently serves as the Department Head of Medicine at Advanced Vetcare.
Her clinical interests are diverse, encompassing cardiology and minimally invasive interventional radiology procedures, particularly for the urinary, respiratory, and cardiovascular systems. Specific cardiac interventional procedures she performs include transcatheter edge-to-edge repair of mitral valve disease using the V-clamp, pacemaker placement, and balloon valvuloplasty for congenital vascular stenotic procedures.
Beyond interventional procedures, Amanda is also interested in the management of infectious diseases, especially fungal diseases like Aspergillosis in dogs and cats, as well as endocrine and immune-mediated diseases. She is also involved in the training and supervision of residents and interns to be future specialists in small animal internal medicine.
Chad Berman
Bachelor of Veterinary Science
Diplomate of ECVIM-CA
Registered Specialist in Small Animal Medicine
Chad completed a rotating internship in Internal Medicine, Surgery and Anaesthesiology in 2015 at a private referral practice in Johannesburg, South Africa. Chad then undertook an Honours study in Internal Medicine between 2016-2017 at the University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, South Africa and subsequently undertook a Masters in Internal Medicine and started a residency within the ECVIM-CA system. These studies were completed in 2021 and Chad became a registered specialist in Small Animal Medicine in 2022. Chad has worked as a partner in specialist referral practice dealing with referral cases in dermatology, cardiology, oncology, pulmonology, immunology, hepatology, gastroenterology, urology, neurology, along with handling critical care patients. Chad has a strong personal interest in cardiology, endocrinology and critical care.
Laura Brockley
Bachelor of Veterinary Science (Hons)
Fellow of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists
Registered Specialist in Veterinary Oncology
Laura’s dedication to oncology started with an internship in Veterinary Oncology in 2008. The following year she became a member of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary scientists and started a residency in Oncology. In 2013 Laura became a registered specialist in Veterinary Oncology. She has a strong clinical interest in immunotherapy, lymphoma diagnostics and treatment, and using evidence-based medicine to provide compassionate care to cancer patients. Laura advocates spending the time to ensure you are making an informed decision on treatment options ranging from palliative to potentially curative in intent. Laura has published internationally and nationally and is actively involved in continuing education, including lecturing Veterinary nursing students and examining of our next generation of oncology specialists.
Selvi Jegatheeson
Bachelor of Veterinary Science (Hons) MVSc
Fellow of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists
Registered Specialist in Veterinary Oncology
We are very excited to welcome Dr Selvi Jegatheeson to our Oncology team. Selvi gained experience in general practice and emergency before undertaking a private practice oncology internship. She then completed her medical oncology specialist training through the University of Melbourne and became a registered specialist in Veterinary Oncology in 2022. Whilst completing her training, she completed a Masters degree looking at new treatments for canine lymphoma and leukemia through a collaboration at the Walter and Eliza Hall institute. When not in the clinic, Dr Selvi is completing a full-time PhD at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre developing new T-cell therapies for canine and human solid cancers. Selvi is passionate about delivering exceptional care to pets with cancer.
Jess Morey
Bachelor of Veterinary Science
Member of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists
Registrar in Veterinary Oncology
Jess graduated from the University of Melbourne with a Bachelor of Veterinary science in 2013 and spent some time in general practice both in Australia and the UK. In 2018, Jess undertook an internship in Veterinary oncology and realised that this field was where her passion lied. She moved to Advanced Vetcare in 2021 as an oncology associate and started her residency in oncology in 2022.
Jess enjoys the relationships she forms with clients and their pets whilst treating their cancers and improving their quality of life at home. She is excited about what the future holds for veterinary oncology as the field continues to progress.
Karrie Schmidt
Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing
After working in general practice for 12 years, I took a chance and accepted a position as an Oncology nurse with AVC. I can honestly say that the job was made for me. Getting to spend time with our patients and watching them go from feeling unwell to having a vastly improved quality of life is the best feeling ever! Another bonus is that the Oncology team are some of the best humans you could ever meet! I consider myself very lucky to be part of the AVC team.
Piper Wright
Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing
I’m a dog mum to two corgis Maycee and Chilli who love getting into all kinds of mischief. When I’m not at work I’m often taking them to dog events or competing in obedience trials or even just a splash at the beach. I’ve been working in the industry for six years with four years in emergency and speciality practice. My favourite part about working in oncology is getting to know the patients and seeing them each week. It is so rewarding to see them celebrate when they finish their protocol!
Sam Snelling
Bachelor of Veterinary Science
Fellow of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists
Registered Specialist in Small Animal Surgery
Director of Advanced Vetcare
Sam has many years’ experience as a specialist small animal veterinary and referral surgeon in Melbourne. Sam has a strong clinical interest in spinal surgery, cruciate repair, arthroscopy, fracture repair, cancer surgery, total joint replacement and minimally invasive techniques in dogs and cats. He takes pride in his reputation for providing clear advice based on the best available evidence for your pet. Whilst he is a busy surgeon performing hundreds of procedures each year, Sam takes the time to ensure you have the information you need to make the best decision possible for your pet.
Kirsten Deruddere
Bachelor of Veterinary Science
Fellow of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists
Registered Specialist in Small Animal Surgery
Director of Advanced Vetcare
Kirsten’s strong interest is in small animal surgery, which inspired her to take up a position as an intern at Advanced Vetcare in 2010. The following year she became a member of the surgical chapter of the Australian College of Veterinary Scientists and began her residency in small animal surgery at Advanced Vetcare. She became a registered specialist in small animal surgery in 2015. Her niche interest is in axial pattern techniques and major wound reconstruction and she’s published nationally and internationally on both of these topics.
David Hall
Bachelor of Veterinary Science
Fellow of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists
Registered Specialist in Small Animal Surgery
Director of Advanced Vetcare
David has worked in both Melbourne and abroad, pursuing small animal surgery for a number of years. He joined Advanced Vetcare in 2011 as a small animal surgical resident and became a registered specialist in small animal surgery in 2017. He has particular interests in complex fracture repairs, joint surgery, and neurosurgery, having published research on spinal fracture repair in international journals.
Jonathan Speelman
Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery
Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons (Small Animal)
Registered Specialist in Small Animal Surgery
Jonathan joined the AVC team in October 2022 after a long period of developing his career and working overseas as an internationally recognised specialist in Small Animal Surgery. Jonathan’s training program was based in Hong Kong with frequent visits to some of the largest Universities in the USA. Jonathan receives referrals for orthopaedic, oncologic, soft tissue and neurosurgical cases. He regularly attends international conferences and continuing education events.
His current work with Advanced Vetcare involves working with our referring veterinarians to discuss and implement the most appropriate surgical (or other) treatment for their client’s pets. Jonathan has a strong interest in all aspects of small animal surgery and will be happy to discuss your pet’s issues and possible surgical solutions to find the best and most effective treatments.
Karen Harris
BVetMed DipECVS, EBVS European Specialist in Small Animal Surgery
After an all too brief spell at AVC in 2021-22, Karen is delighted to have rejoined AVC’s surgical team following a move from the UK in August 2024. Her particular interests and fields of research include fracture repair and emergency airway surgery, and she enjoys collaborating with colleagues in other specialties to provide the best care for the patients she sees.
Karen Staudte
Bachelor of Veterinary Science
Fellow of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists
Registered Specialist in Small Animal Surgery
Karen is a registered Small Animal Specialist Surgeon. Karen graduated with a Bachelor of Vet Science in 1989 from the University of Melbourne. After 8 years of general practice and working in both the USA and England she completed a Residency in Small Animal Surgery at Murdoch University and obtained her Fellowship in Small Animal Surgery in 2006. She worked at Murdoch University (2000-2010) and Perth Veterinary Specialists, in W.A. (2010-2022) before joining the team at AVC. Karen is most experienced in soft tissue, oncology (cancer), and spinal surgery.
She is passionate about providing compassionate, informed, and skilled care to patients and their owners. She is a down-to-earth, approachable, and caring clinician.
Tania Banks
BVSc FANZCVS (Small Animal Surgery) GCHEd PhD
Fellow of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists
Registered Specialist in Small Animal Surgery
Tania has many years of experience working in busy private referral and University practice in Queensland and in England. Tania is interested in all aspects of small animal surgery, with a particular interest in oncology and soft tissue reconstructive procedures.
We are now lucky to have Tania as part of our experienced surgery team in Melbourne.
Cheryl Tay
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine MANZCVS (Small Animal Surgery)
Member of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists
Accepted FANCVS Small Animal Surgery Specialist Examination Candidate
Registrar in Small Animal Surgery
Cheryl graduated from the University of Melbourne in 2015 and then undertook a small animal surgical internship at Advanced Vetcare in 2016. She then spent some time in general practice before returning to Advanced Vetcare to start her small animal surgical residency in 2019, obtaining her small animal surgery membership with the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists that same year.
Cheryl particularly enjoys soft tissue and neurosurgeries and loves working closely with clients and patients to achieve a good outcome. Outside of work, Cheryl spends her time with her family and two cats, Dora and Fanta.
Viola Wynne-Hoelscher
Bachelor of Veterinary Science (Hons) MANZCVS (Small Animal Surgery)
Member of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists
Resident in Small Animal Surgery
Viola graduated from the University of Queensland with a Bachelor of Veterinary Science (Hons) in 2018. Viola then moved from Queensland to Melbourne after graduation and worked in private practice and in the shelter setting. Her love of surgery and promoting a good quality of life for her patients ultimately lead her to undertake an internship in surgery at AVC. She started her Surgical residency at Advanced Vet Care in 2023.
Viola is committed to providing the highest level of care to all her patients so they achieve the best possible outcome from their surgery. In her free time, she loves spending time with her 2 dogs and 2 cats and enjoys any outdoor adventures.
Jessica Farrugia
Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine MANZCVS (Small Animal Surgery)
Member of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists
Resident in Small Animal Surgery
Jess graduated from the University of Adelaide with a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine 2016. In 2017, she undertook a rotating internship at Southpaws, which ignited her passion for surgery. She spent several years in general practice before undertaking a surgical internship at Advanced Vetcare. She loved working in the surgical department so much that she stayed on to start her residency in 2022. Jess finds the varied surgical caseload at Advanced Vetcare immensely rewarding and is particularly interested in neurosurgery. When she is not at work, she enjoys attending concerts, spending time with family and learning to surf.
William McLanachan
BVSc (Hons) MANZCVS (Small Animal Surgery)
Member of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists
Resident in Small Animal Surgery
William graduated from The University of Queensland (UQ) with honours in 2020. After spending a year in a busy general practice, his drive towards specialisation continued to grow. This led to completion of two surgical internships in private referral practice in Queensland prior to joining Advanced Vetcare in 2024 to commence surgical residency.
He obtained membership to the Small Animal Surgery Chapter of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists by examination in 2024. While excited by all aspects of veterinary surgery, William has a particular interest in fracture repair and neurosurgery.
Yushun Ishikawa
Bachelor of Veterinary Science, Diplomate of ACVAA, Ph.D., Registered Specialist in Veterinary Anaesthesia & Analgesia
Yushun graduated with a Bachelor of Veterinary Science from Nihon University, Japan, in 2015. He completed a Ph.D. in Veterinary Anesthesiology at Rakuno Gakuen University, Japan, in 2020. After completing an anesthesia internship in Veterinary Anesthesiology at Massey University, New Zealand, Yushun pursued a residency in Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia at the University of Georgia, USA, from 2020 to 2023. During this time, he developed advanced expertise in anesthesia for small, large, exotic, and zoo animals as well as perioperative pain management.
In 2023, Yushun became a board-certified Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia (DACVAA) and obtained Specialist Registration in Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia in Australia. Following the residency, he worked as a Senior Lecturer at the University of Sydney, providing clinical anesthesia services and teaching. He brings extensive experience in anesthetic care for high-risk and complex cases and advanced perioperative pain management. Passionate about patient safety and individualized anesthetic care, Yushun continues to contribute to the advancement of veterinary anesthesia through clinical practice, teaching, and research.
Outside of work, Yushun enjoys spending time with his cat, Nagaimo. Named after the Japanese word for “white long potato,” Nagaimo is a constant source of joy and relaxation after a busy day.
Liesje Grieve
Bachelor of Veterinary Science
Member of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists in Emergency and Critical Care
Liesje is known for her straightforward, practical and caring approach and she cares for some of Advanced Vetcare’s most critical patients. Liesje graduated in 1999 and after working in general practice, completed an internship at the University of Melbourne and moved to emergency veterinary care. She finished her memberships in emergency medicine and critical care in 2004 and since, Liesje has dedicated her career to emergency and critical care both at Advanced Vetcare and the University of Melbourne.
Sarah Triglia
Bachelor of Veterinary Science
Member of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists in Medicine
Following graduation, Sarah moved to Ballarat to work in a busy general practice for two years. She relocated to Melbourne in 2014, completed an emergency internship at Advanced Vetcare and is now an Emergency Clinician. Sarah passed her membership in small animal medicine in 2015 and has strong interests in treating medical conditions and emergency and critical care. Outside of work, Sarah enjoys long distance running, baking cakes and going on adventures with her husband and miniature poodle called Kramer.
Warren McInnes
Bachelor of Veterinary Science
Member of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists in Emergency and Critical Care, and Small Animal Medicine
Warren started as a vet working in a small animal private practice on the Mornington Peninsula. He has an interest in ultrasonography and diagnostic imaging and enjoys clinical pathology. After working on the Peninsula for a few years, he moved to the south-eastern suburbs before starting with Advanced Vetcare as one of the hospital veterinarians. Warren was awarded his memberships from the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists, where he has studied both emergency and critical care, and small animal internal medicine. Warren is well regarded for his calm and methodical approach to all cases, particularly difficult emergency cases.
Leanne Pinfold
Bachelor of Veterinary Science
Member of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists in Emergency and Critical Care
Leanne joined Advanced Vetcare in July 2024 with the aim of establishing and running our new 24-hour emergency service at Kew. Leanne has many years of emergency medicine experience and has previously managed a large team of veterinarians.