vetprac

Ryan loves to share his veterinary career on Instagram -let’s fill in the gaps on Ryan’s journey to becoming a surgical specialist, which includes standing on the other side of the VetPrac workshop table for the first time at the VetPrac Practical Skills Bootcamp Workshop in November 2018.

Ryan graduated from the University of Sydney in 2012. He did a 12-month surgical internship at Melbourne Veterinary Specialist Centre with Dr. Simon Kudnig and Dr. Peter Laverty right after graduation. After that, he spent two years in general practice in Alice Springs and Adelaide. In 2016, he completed another 12-month surgical internship in Animal Referral Hospital Canberra with Dr. Jacob Michelsen, Dr. Bruce Smith and Dr. Sarah Webb. The following year, he stayed on and commenced a three-year surgical residency and also obtained his Membership in Small Animal Surgery with the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists.

Ryan has been through Tibial Tuberosity Advancement, Abdominal Ultrasound and External Skeletal Fixator VetPrac workshops in the past as a participant. He can’t wait for the upcoming Practical Skills Bootcamp Workshop in Wagga Wagga. In Ryan’s words, “to be able to stand on the other side of the table to contribute to the continuing education of our fellow veterinary colleagues is a privilege I am grateful to be given”.

Ryan likes VetPrac workshops for the variety of types of courses offered. “From different species to different disciplines, there’s a workshop for everyone to choose from. The low tutor to participant ratio means that all participants get more attention during the practical classes. The food is a highlight at VetPrac courses, not to mention the massages as well!”

His surgical residency has given him the opportunity to be exposed to a wide range of orthopaedic and soft tissue surgery. Abdominal surgeries that are commonly performed at his practice include GDV, splenectomy, gastrointestinal tract surgeries, abdominal visceral biopsies, cystotomies, adrenalectomies and portosystemic shunt attenuations. One of his most memorable surgeries is a Staffy that he had to operate on late at night for a mesenteric torsion. It was not a surgery without its fair share of intraoperative complications but he’s glad to report that a good clinical outcome was achieved.

To share in Ryan’s passion for surgery and education, not to mention the food and massages, register for the Practical Veterinary Skills Bootcamp workshop on November 8-10, 2018 at Wagga Wagga. For more information, check out the brochure.

Written by Alison Caiafa