OUR EDUCATION LEADERS

Qualifications: BVSc DACVAA MANZCVS
Specialisation: Board certified anesthesiologist
Biography:
Margie graduated from the University of Sydney and immediately established her career with 9 years of mixed and general veterinary practice. Two of those years were spent at Portland Veterinary Clinic in Victoria, 2 years in locum work in the UK, 4 years at Scone Veterinary Hospital in New South Wales, and one year in small animal practice at The Ark Animal Hospital in Palmerston, Northern Territory. Margie says she refers to her grounding in GP every time she teaches clinical skills to vets, nurses or techs.
During her years in general practice, Margie was drawn to equine and small animal anaesthesia. This interest was formalised in 1997 when she was awarded Membership of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists. In 2000, she completed an anesthesia residency at Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine, in Ithaca, New York.
Following a pathway to specialisation, Margie became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia in 2002. She spent 6 years as Assistant Professor at Washington State University (WSU) College of Veterinary Medicine, and this is where she developed her passion for veterinary education and communication skills training. Next, Margie went to work as a clinical anesthesiologist at Tufts University, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, in Massachusetts, for 3 years.
In 2010 Margie moved back to Australia and landed at the University of Adelaide as a Senior Lecturer in Veterinary Anaesthesia. Once again, veterinary skills training and communication were in focus. Three years later when she moved to Darwin, Margie reestablished her connection to GP with a year in small animal practice. She also locumed for the University of Queensland (UQ) School of Veterinary Science in the anaesthesia section. From this role, Margie became full time at UQ, then she spent 5 years as anaesthesia section head, as well as teaching into both the veterinary science and veterinary technology streams.
Towards the end of this period, Margie saw a change on the horizon. In December of 2019, she made the leap into postgraduate education for veterinarians, and continuing professional development for veterinary nurses and technicians. Margie became the new Director of VetPrac.
Many vets and nurses will agree that Margie’s warmth and her willingness to share her clinical and academic experience have been instrumental in their careers. Margie maintains, however, that it was her years in private practice rather than her academic accolades which keep her tuned in to the reality of veterinary medicine. Margie continues to teach anaesthesia and analgesia into VetPrac’s hands-on workshops and online courses, as she continues her mission for lifelong learning.
Pratt, S., Cunneen, A., Perkins, N., Farry, T., Kidd, L., McEwen, M., Rainger, J., Truchetti, G. and Goodwin, W. (2019)Total intravenous anaesthesia with ketamine, medetomidine and guaifenesin compared with ketamine, medetomidine and midazolam in young horses anaesthetised for computerised tomography. Equine Veterinary Journal, 51 4: 510–516. doi:10.1111/evj.13045
Haworth, M., McEwen, M., Dixon, B. and Purcell, S. L. (2019)Anaphylaxis associated with intravenous administration of alphaxalone in a dog. Australian Veterinary Journal, 97 6: 197–201. doi:10.1111/avj.12824
Anderson, Gail I., Boardman, Wayne Stuart John, Davies, Sarah and McEwen, Mary Margaret (2015)Surgical treatment of bilateral distal femoral Salter-Harris type I fractures in a juvenile southern hairy-nosed wombat. Veterinary Record Case Reports, 3 1: e000099. doi:10.1136/vetreccr-2014-000099
Boardman, Wayne S. J., Caraguel, Charles G., Gill, Sarah, Herman, Kerryn, McEwen, Margaret-Mary, Haghighi, Leila C. and Smith, Ian (2014)Mass capture and anesthesia of Australian bridled nailtail wallabies (Onychogalea fraenata) with the use of medetomidine and ketamine. Journal of Wildlife Diseases, 50 4: 858–863. doi:10.7589/2014-01-018
Boardman, Wayne S. J., Lethbridge, Mark R., Hampton, Jordan O., Smith, Ian, Woolnough, Andrew P., McEwen, Margaret-Mary, Miller, Graham W. J. and Caraguel, Charles G. B. (2014)Evaluation of medetomidine-ketamine and medetomidine-ketamine-butorphanol for the field anesthesia of free-ranging dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius) in Australia. Journal of Wildlife Diseases, 50 4: 873–882. doi:10.7589/2014-03-059
Hazel, Susan J., Heberle, Nicole, McEwen, Margaret-Mary and Adams, Karen (2013)Team-based learning increases active engagement and enhances development of teamwork and communication skills in a first-year course for veterinary and animal science undergraduates. Journal of Veterinary Medical Education, 40 4: 333–341. doi:10.3138/jvme.0213-034r1
Lépiz, Mauricio Loría, Keegan, Robert D., Bayly, Warwick M., Greene, Stephen A. and McEwen, Margaret-Mary (2008)Comparison of Fick and thermodilution cardiac output determinations in standing horses. Research in Veterinary Science, 85 2: 307–314. doi:10.1016/j.rvsc.2007.10.013
Nelson, O. Lynne, McEwen, Margaret-Mary, Robbins, Charles T., Felicetti, Laura and Christensen, William F. (2003)Evaluation of cardiac function in active and hibernating grizzly bears. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 223 8: 1170–5. doi:10.2460/javma.2003.223.1170
McEwen, Margaret-Mary, Moon-Massat, Paula F., Butler, Emily C. and Kollias, George V. (2001)Polymerized bovine hemoglobin (Oxyglobin Solution) administration in two river otters (Lutra canadensis). Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia, 28 4: 214–219. doi:10.1046/j.1467-2987.2001.00055.x
McEwen, M. M., Gleed, R. D., Ludders, J. W., Stokol, T., Del Piero, F. and Erb, H. N. (2000)Hepatic effects of halothane and isoflurane anesthesia in goats. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 217 11: 1697–700.