Dr Steven Cooney BVSc (Hons) MACVSc (Small Animal Surgery)
I grew
up on the outskirts of Sydney on 5 acres with horses, ducks, chooks, cats
and dogs. I decided at a young age that I would one day either run-away and
work on a cattle station in the Northern Territory, or become a vet. After
graduating from Sydney University in 1992, I worked in a Dairy cattle
practice in Gippsland, Victoria, spending my days delivering calves and
treating horses. After 18 months there, I travelled overseas returning to
Australia in 1997 and starting work at Balmain Veterinary Hospital. In 1998
I successfully sat examinations in Small Animal Surgery, and was admitted as
a member to the Australian College of Veterinary Scientists. My main areas
of interest lie within small animal surgery, in particular orthopaedics and
reconstructive surgery. My human experience of skin allergies has also left
me with an interest in animal skin conditions. In 2000 I became a partner in
Balmain Veterinary Hospital and I am very proud to be a member of the team.
I share my house with my wife Christina, 2 beautiful children, and pets
Gidget and Kippa (Mini Schnauzers). We regularly visit Christina's family
farm at Bathurst where our childhood horses are in retirement.
Dr Andrew Dargan BVSc (Hons)
I grew up on a farm surrounded by pets and animals. I dreamed of being a vet
from the age of 8 when I watched my favourite milking cow have a calf
delivered by caesarean. I love the challenge of being a good all-round vet
in general practice. My particular interests lie in dentistry, general
surgery, skin diseases and behaviour problems (the latter having developed
after living with 2 Beagles, 2 Moggies and 3 teenagers). I am very proud and
humbled by the all round enthusiasm and commitment of our entire team.
Dr Emma Holmes-Walker
BVSc (Hons) DipVetClinStud, GradDipMedSon
I grew up in
Sydney and spent my childhood pestering my parents for a pet. I graduated
through budgies, to rabbits, guinea pigs, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and
Labrador Retrievers culminating in a Vet Science degree at Sydney
University, in the infamous Year of 1992 (see above Steve and Larissa). I
came to Balmain Vet Hospital in 1992 and during that year started running
Puppy Preschool. I left briefly in 1995-1996 obtaining a Post Graduate
Diploma in Small Animal Medicine & Surgery from Sydney University. A 2 year
rural sabbatical involved working in both rural veterinary practice and I
commenced training in Medical Ultrasound, completing my Graduate Diploma in
Medical Sonography in 2004. I returned to Balmain Veterinary Hospital in
2003 and hope to bring my ultrasound skills into the practice. My other
interests include a recreational breeding of Chocolate Labradors with my 2
girls, " Cadbury" and "Sastugi" and have recently bred a healthy litter of
my own, with 2 baby boys, Lukas and Benjamin.
Dr Jason Lenord
BVSc (Hons) MACVSc (Small Animal
Medicine)
I was lucky enough to grow up on a wheat and sheep
farm near Inverell in NSW. A love of working with animals and an interest in
science steered me into a veterinary career.
I graduated from the University of Sydney in 1994 and then headed into mixed
practice for three years on the Murray River in Victoria and on the NSW
coast before deciding to wean myself off dairy cattle and move to Sydney for
a career in small animals. I worked in Sydney’s Eastern suburbs at Randwick
and Maroubra until 2002, and then went overseas with my wife Chantay to
work and travel, before returning in August 2005 to join the team at Balmain
Vet Hospital. I enjoy rugby, golf and cricket, good wine and food-both in
the cooking and the eating. My interests include small animal medicine,
surgery and pathology.
At present we have 2
naughty Burmese cats called Ra & Zeus, whose world has been turned up side
down since the arrival of our son in 2006. In 2007 I was admitted to
the Small Animal Medicine chapter of the Australian College of
Veterinary Scientists by examination.
I was born and raised in Sydney and graduated from the University of Sydney in 2001. My love for animals became apparent early on in life when as a young child I could be found playing with spiders in the garden and spending most of my time with my first whippet. After finishing university I joined a mixed practice clinic at the foot hills of the Blue Mountains. After a couple of years, I moved to the U.K to work in a small animal practice and travel around the world. I joined Balmain Veterinary Hospital in January 2007 and am currently pursuing a Masters degree in Veterinary Medicine and surgery and the IVAS certificate in Veterinary Acupuncture, I live with my fiance and our two beautiful whippets.
I started life in a sugar-cane town in far north Queensland, and my interest in animals started with convincing my mum to get us a kitten when I was about 7. I went to Queensland University and graduated in 1998, working first in Ballarat and London before moving to Sydney in 1995. I have worked in small animal practice in Sydney since then, except for a period of about 7 months in a small clinic in Singapore. I joined Balmain & Drummoyne Vet Hospitals in March 2007 and will be working mostly at Drummoyne. Almost everything in general veterinary practice fascinates me and I have a particular interest in surgery, dermatology, dentistry and the care of senior pets. In my spare time I do as much travelling as I can, and try to maintain my fitness with bushwalking and long-distance running
Dr Andrew Levien BVSc (Hons)
I grew up in Sydney's eastern
suburbs with my beautiful corgi - 'Candy'. This up-bringing laid the
foundation for my passion for animals and from about the age of 14 I new
that I wanted to practice veterinary science so that animals could have a
better quality of life. Having been an avid horse rider at a young age I
developed an interest in racehorses and thought I was destined to become an
equine veterinarian. However in 4th year vet school I saw the light and
realised how rewarding treating dogs, cats and other small pets was. I began
practice at the foothills of the Blue Mountains/Hawkesbury region before
starting at Balmain Veterinary Hospital in September 2007. I still however work for Racing NSW in my
spare time as I still have a passion for horses. My interests are very broad
and include internal medicine, surgery and dermatology.