Melbourne Veterinary Specialist Centre

Dr Darren Merrett

BVSc, MVS, Cert. SAC FANZCVS (Specialist in Canine Medicine)

Darren Merrett graduated from Melbourne University in 1984 and completed internship/residency programs at Melbourne University (where he obtained a Master of Veterinary Studies) and then Bristol University (where he obtained a RCVS Certificate in Small Animal Cardiology).   Darren obtained Fellowship of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists (Canine Medicine) in 1994 and found a private referral practice that has subsequently grown at the Melbourne Veterinary Specialist Centre.

In addition to daily clinical work, Darren has co-tutored a small animal medicine distance education course for the University of Sydney’s Centre for Veterinary Education for over 20 years; he is a frequent conference speaker; regularly examines and mentors for the ANZCVS; and has trained and supervised many residents.  Darren has spent a lifetime in specialist small animal practice and he has taught and mentored hundreds of veterinarians.

Dr Kate Heading

BVSc (Hons), FANZCVS (Specialist in Small Animal Medicine)

Dr Kate Heading graduated from The University of Melbourne with a Bachelor in Veterinary Science with first class honours in 2000. Kate has worked in a variety of small animal practices in Victoria and the UK. Kate achieved membership in 2007 to the Small Animal Medicine chapter of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists.Kate joined MVSC in March 2008 as a Resident in Medicine and attained Fellowship of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists (Small Animal Medicine) in 2011.

Dr Bruce Lamond

BVM&S MANZCVS (SAM) MRCVS (Resident)

Dr Brue Lamond graduated from the University of Edinburgh in 2013. He then went on to work in small animal practice in the UK gaining a diverse range of skills and experience.  In 2017 Bruce made the move to Australia and has worked in Queensland and South Australia, prior to starting his internal medicine residency at MVSC. In 2019, Bruce was awarded membership by examination of the Small Animal Medicine Chapter of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Science (ANZCVS) in 2019.

Bruce enjoys all aspects of internal medicine and is particularly interested in immune-mediated & hepatic diseases. Outside of work Bruce is kept busy by his young dog Pippin and when time allows also enjoys playing badminton and tennis.

Jayne - Team Leader

Internal Medicine & Oncology Nurse

Jayne began her Veterinary Nursing career in 2000, working in a general vet practice and cattery for 5 years.
In 2003 Jayne completed a Diploma of Applied Science in Animal Technology and a Diploma of Applied Science in Biological Laboratory Sciences.  Jayne started working at MVSC in 2005 as an Internal Medicine and Oncology Nurse, she then became Team Leader in 2008. Jayne has a keen interest in Oncology, Anaesthesia and MRI.  Jayne loves dogs (especially Labradors) and also cats.  She has a much loved black & white domestic short hair cat named Memo, who Jayne adopted in 2004 from the cattery at her local vet clinic.    

Nina - Team Leader

Internal Medicine & Oncology Nurse

Nina has been working in general practice for nine years and has completed her Veterinary Nursing Certificate IV in 2001. She has been with the MVSC since 2008. Nina has an interest in cat and dog diseases and nutrition. During her nursing career, she has also worked with wildlife through various clinics.  Nina and Mandy (Dermatology Nurse) worked at the Veterinary Clinic within the Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai, Thailand in 2011.

Rochelle

Rochelle started her Veterinary Nursing career in 2012.  She has worked in both general practice, specialist clinics and completed her Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing in 2016.  In her spare time she volunteers for a bat rescue organisation nursing grey-headed flying foxes and pups.  She has a Spoodle and two cats (Maxie and Phoebe) and has a special interest in nursing senior pets

Mollie

Mollie joined the MVSC team in March 2020 as an animal attendant and has recently ventured part-time into a junior nurse role with our Internal Medicine team. Mollie completed her Certificate IV in Companion Animal Services in 2018 and has fostered many rescue cats over the years. She has always had an interest in animals and their welfare and currently has 2 kelpie crosses, 2 rescue cats and 2 chickens.

Alicia

Alicia became a qualified veterinary nurse after working in South Africa in lion conservation. She has worked in general practice for 5 years and started at MVSC in June 2022 and has a keen interest in diagnostic workups and pathology. At home she shares her house with two very loved and spoilt cats named Billie Ruben and Bugs.

Dr Sonya Wasik

BVSc (Hons), BSc (Hons), MANZCVS, Diplomate ECVS

Sonya graduated with a veterinary degree from the University of Queensland in 2003. After two years in mixed practice, Sonya undertook an internship in small animal medicine and surgery at the University of Melbourne. Upon completion of a surgical residency at the University of Sydney, Sonya was based in Adelaide in referral practice for several years, prior to returning to Melbourne. Sonya enjoys all aspects of small animal surgery, including orthopaedics, soft tissue and neurosurgery, with a special interest in orthopaedics. Sonya is a Diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Surgeons and a registered specialist in small animal surgery. 

Dr Charles Kuntz

DVM, MS, MACVSc, Diplomate ACVS, ACVS Founding Fellow of Surgical Oncology, Registered Specialist of Small Animal Surgery, Senior Staff Surgeon

Charles graduated from the University of Florida and did an internship at the Animal Medicine Center in New York City. He then did a residency in small animal surgery and Master’s program at Virginia Tech. Following that he did a one-year fellowship in Cardiac Surgery and Research at Auburn University and an 18 month Fellowship in Surgical Oncology at Colorado State University before he became an Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery also at Colorado State University. Charles then started a busy referral surgical practice in Washington DC where he was also on the Board of Directors and the Program Chair for the DC Academy of Veterinary Medicine.

In 2004, Charles moved to Australia and started Southpaws Specialty Surgery for Animals. He started with just one nurse and by the time he sold the practice in 2022, Southpaws was up to 170 staff over 2 hospitals. Charles set up the first radiation therapy unit for animals in Australia. He has published hundreds of articles, abstracts, book chapters and proceedings in topics related to the treatment of surgical diseases in animals. He is often invited to lecture at international conferences. Charles has 5 patents for devices used in the treatment of surgical diseases in animals.

Millie - Team Leader

Surgery Nurse

Millie started working as a veterinary nurse in a local general practice in 2018 and then began working at MVSC in March 2020. Millie has completed her Certificate IV in veterinary nursing and also has previously completed her Certificate II in Equine studies. Her nursing passions lie in anaesthesia and surgery work. Outside of work she enjoys running and spending time with her dog and rabbit.

Fiona

Fi started working as a veterinary nurse in 2010 and has since then worked in Tasmania, Queensland and at an Elephant Sanctuary in Thailand. Fi came back from overseas and completed her Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing and then went on to do a Certificate in Professional Veterinary nursing focusing on Anaesthesia. Her nursing passions are with anaesthesia and assisting in surgical procedures. Outside of work Fi loves to walk her dogs, ride motorbikes and travel. She has 2 Staffy crosses named Rosie and Rufus and a white domestic long-haired cat named Casper.

Erin

Erin starting working as a veterinary nurse in 2017 at a busy general practice before starting at MVSC in February 2021. She has completed her Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing and has also obtained a Diploma of Design before she found her true passion in the animal industry. Erin is interested in native wildlife and surgical nursing; she hopes to complete her Diploma of Veterinary Nursing in the near future. In her spare time, she enjoying going to the beach with her water loving Staffy, Drawing, playing basketball and caring for her extended pet family

Marnie

Marnie started her nursing journey by graduating from the Bachelor of Veterinary Nursing in 2018 and worked in an emergency equine referral hospital for over 4 years. She has a cat named Shrimp, and 2 horses named Benni and Bee. She keeps busy with her horses and going camping regularly on weekends. Previously, she has completed a certificate II in Equine Studies during her schooling. Marnie joined MVSC in March 2022, she enjoys working in the surgery and internal medicine departments and has a keen interest in anaesthesia and surgical procedures.