Meet Our Vets

During my 10 years at Rose Bay Vet, I obtained further qualifications in feline medicine and was admitted (by examination) as a member of The Australian College of Veterinary Scientists (in Feline Medicine). I also developed an interest in treating animals using broader modalities than simple medicine. The use of acupuncture for relaxation and pain relief, training for behavioural issues, and diet for internal medicine problems have become important features of my care for pets. I like to call this whole-istic care—because I look at the whole animal’s lifestyle, not just its body.

Over the years I have worked in country practices and city practices and have been a partner in hospitals both in the east and western suburbs of Sydney. I have also worked in emergency hospitals, both at the University of Sydney and SASH (Nth Ryde). I have been there for pet owners throughout the lives of their companions, in times of good health as well as in times of need. When helping owners through the decisions of health care for their pets, I abide by a mantra of treating every pet as if it were my own—so the advice I give owners is the advice I heed.

Growing up Katie was surrounded by animals – lots of dogs, cats, horses chickens, geese and budgies which helped to establish her love for all animals. She thinks that she is very lucky to get to work with them every day.

Her own fur family is quite big, made up of Bailey, the 10 year old Labrador X (“I like to think of him as my first son”) and Rodney, her strange but handsome little ginger DMH. Most recently Kate and husband Daniel adopted Whiskey, the 4 month old Cattle dog X Maremma who is a wiggly, cheeky ball of energy and keeping them all on their toes! She is also the proud mum of a geriatric horse named Daiquiri, and auntie to a budgie (Apollo), some chooks, a crazy horse named Bella, another geriatric horse named Jed, Samwise the not-so-wise Labrador and Neville, another ginger cat.

When not at work or walking the dogs Kate and Daniel can often be found at a dog-friendly pub or beach in Sydney, or camping somewhere even further afield! They visit Duffy’s Forest – “there’s so much space for the dogs and visiting the horses there is like chicken-soup for the soul!”.

When asked what she likes the most about being in the veterinary field Katie says “Every day gives you a new lesson learned and a new challenge to face. Being around animals all day for your job is many people’s idea of a perfect life – and I have to agree! It’s also so rewarding to get to know your patients and their families really well, seeing them through all their life stages and ups and downs.”.

My approach to healthcare is holistic, and I am very passionate about nutrition with a developing interest in alternative therapies. My goal is to work with clients to achieve the best quality of life for their pets as an important member of the family, while also focusing on preventative healthcare and general wellbeing.

When she isn’t working in clinical practice, Anne teaches DVM students in the Sydney School of Veterinary Science.

She is passionate about veterinary general practice, as it provides many opportunities to promote positive welfare in animals. Her favourite things about general practice are getting to know her patients and their people, the variety of cases, and problem solving.

“It makes my day when a client sends me a photo or video of one of my patients happily doing their thing at home, either after they’ve recovered from illness or we’ve helped keep them well,” she says.

She has lived with animals all of her life, including dogs, cats, guinea pigs, bearded dragons, goldfish, rats, mice, budgies and an array of transient critters passing through on their way to permanent homes. She currently shares her life with Hero, a three-legged male domestic long hair, who keeps her on her toes.

In her spare time, Anne loves experimenting in the kitchen, reading (she can often be found in her local library), getting out in nature and taking photos.

Before starting as a vet, she initially envisioned herself following the path of specialisation. However, within her first few years in practice, she quickly saw how much there is to learn and gained an immense appreciation for the humble GP vet. Hence, while she still has a special interest in internal medicine, her ultimate goal is to master the art of being a well-rounded GP who is able build meaningful relationships with and show compassion towards both her patients and their families. So far, she has been loving it!

When she isn’t at work, Varsha is spending time with her husband (Karthik) and family, which includes her two Labradors (Bheem & Tyson), and sassy hand-reared cockatiel (Allunga). She is also a self-certified brunch connoisseur, who enjoys sharing a meal and coffee with her closest friends in her free time.