General Practice Staff
Dr Helsa Teh - Head of General Practice & Emergency Service
BVSc MACVSc GradCertVetStud
Senior Registrar in Small Animal General Practice
Helsa graduated from Sydney University in 2007. Following the graduation she spent 3 years in small animal practice in Sydney before starting her internship at Sydney University in 2010. Following her internship, Helsa took some time off to study for her Membership examination with the Australian College of Veterinary Science, which she successfully completed in Small Animal Medicine in June 2011. She has returned to the clinic as a senior registrar in small animal medicine in September 2011.
Helsa has an interest in small animal medicine and is currently undertaking some clinical research in feline hyperthyroidism. She is the proud owner of an Abyssinian named Sage and a guinea pig named Snack.
Dr Xanthe Warde - Postgraduate Intern in Small Animal Medicine
BVSc, BSc Hons
Dr Xanthe Warde hails from Christchurch NZ where she worked as a companion animal veterinarian. She graduated from Massey University Veterinary School in 2006 and is currently working on her Masters in Veterinary Medicine. Xanthe also holds a Bachelor of Science Honours degree in physiology from the University of Auckland. She has experience in emergency/critical care, feline medicine and general practice.
Dr Michael Aherne - Postgraduate Intern in Small Animal Medicine
MVB (Hons 1)
Michael (also known as Mac) is from Athea in Co. Limerick, Ireland. He graduated with a 1st class honours degree in Veterinary Medicine from University College Dublin. Michael worked in mixed animal practice in Ireland before moving to Australia. After a brief stint in South Australia, he spent two and a half years in small animal practice in Queensland before joining the UVTHS.
Michael has special interests in soft tissue surgery and cardiology and has an ambition to specialise in cardiothoracic surgery.
Michael has a mischievous black cat called Inky. Outside of veterinary his main interests are travelling, film and theatre and he has acted in several amateur stage productions back in Ireland.
Dr Jason Rapke - Postgraduate Intern in Small Animal Medicine
BVSc
Jason graduated from the University of Melbourne in 2007. He worked in mixed practice for 2 years before travelling overseas and locuming in small animal practices in the UK. Jason is particularly interested in small animal surgery.
I have 2 dogs - a Great Dane called Eddie and a Pointer X called Samba
Dr Katrin McNaught - Postgraduate Intern in Small Animal Medicine
Dr. med. vet.
Katrin graduated in Germany at the University of Hannover and undertook her practical year in the Institute of Pathology. Subsequently she obtained her doctoral thesis, while working in the Institute of Animal Nutrition at the University of Hannover. Katrin lectured students, attended national and international conferences and published several articles about animal nutrition. She also gained additional experience in animal behaviour.
In 2009 Katrin moved to Australia, where she lived in Brisbane and sat her National Veterinary Exams at the University of Queensland. She then worked at a mixed Animal Hospital and joined the UVTHS team in April 2011.
Dr Joanna Pilton - Postgraduate Intern in Small Animal Medicine
BE (Hons) BVSc (Hons 1)
Jo graduated with a first class honours degree in Veterinary Science from The University of Sydney in 2007. After graduation she worked for 18 months with a busy small animal practice group in Newcastle. She undertook locum positions in Sydney, including at the RSPCA NSW, before travelling the world and working in the United Kingdom for 12 months. She is excited to be settling back in Sydney (with her two three-legged mutts) to complete a Post Graduate Small Animal Internship at the UVTHS.
Jo is interested in all aspects of small animal medicine and surgery and enjoys treating and looking after all of the pets that visit the UVTHS. Jo also holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Mechatronic)(Hons) degree from the University of New South Wales. Her interests include travelling, great food, photography and spending time with her friends and furry family.
Dr Christina Zhu - Postgraduate Intern in Small Animal Medicine
BVSc(Mer)
Christina graduated in 2008 from the University of Sydney and after hiking around Tasmania, took on a role in private practice for 18months. She couldn’t get enough of the UVTHS and came back to join the team to undertake a post-graduate rotating internship. She lives with her two furry children Sherlock and Calippo both of whom love ear tickles and stretching out alongside the heater listening to the works of classic Romantic and Jazz musicians.
She is currently in her second year of her internship and enrolled in a Diploma of Veterinary Clinical Studies.
Christina enjoys all aspects of her job as a veterinarian with a special interest in small animal surgery. She intends on furthering her education in this field to reach membership level.
Dr Adelina Chan - Postgraduate Intern in Small Animal Medicine
BVSc(Hon)
Adelina graduated from the University of Sydney with a Bachelor of Veterinary Science degree (Hons). She has worked in busy private practice down the south coast for the last 4 years before starting her post graduate internship. She enjoys all aspect of veterinary science, though have a special interest in emergency medicine. She is currently in her second year of veterinary internship.
Adelina spends all of her time (besides working) with her gorgeous cocker spaniel ‘Pebbles’ and her very food orientated cat ‘Miaow Miaow’.
Dr James Berman - Postgraduate Intern in Small Animal Medicine
BVSc (Hons) MACVSc (Radiology)
James graduated with honours in Veterinary Science from The University of Sydney in 2002. After graduation he worked in small animal practice in Canberra and also completed the Post-Graduate Foundation 12-month Distance Education course in Veterinary Radiology in 2005. After this he worked in the UK and also completed his Membership examinations in Veterinary Radiology during this time (2008). James intends to Specialise in Veterinary Radiology and is keen to complete his Post Graduate Small Animal Internship at the UVTHS to assist him in attaining a Residency Training position in Diagnostic Imaging. He is excited to be back at the UVTHS and was pleasantly surprised how many familiar faces there still are.
James loves to travel, play sport and keep fit and healthy. He has the best looking cat in the world, a Birman named Krystal.
Dr Jennifer Chau - Post Graduate Veterinary Intern
BVSc (Hons 1)
Jennifer graduated from Vet Science at the University of Sydney in 2007. For the first few years, she settled comfortably in a small animal practice in south-western Sydney and really enjoyed her experience there in general medicine. Jennifer has special interests in Diagnostic Imaging and Internal Medicine so decided to venture on to the UVTHS in 2010 to further her knowledge in these areas of expertise.
In her spare time, Jennifer enjoys spending time with her three little geriatric dogs, and keeping fit with pilate classes and jogging sessions.