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Dr Helen Milner

BVSc(Dist),PhD, FACVSc,CertVR, Director & Consultant Surgeon

Registered Specialist in Small Animal Surgery

Helen graduated with distinction from Massey University in 1989, having arrived at the university on a Junior Scholarship and leaving with an illustrious academic record; collecting awards each year of her studies including the Veterinary Science Faculty Medal for best overall student, 1986-1989.

Starting work in Auckland as a small animal vet, Helen soon departed for the UK where she worked in a truly mixed practice.  It was here that her interest in small animal surgery grew.  In 1991 she was employed as the Senior Demonstrator in Surgery at the Small Animal Hospital at the University of Liverpool.  In 1992, she took up a residency in Soft Tissue Surgery at the Royal Veterinary College, London.  During this time, Helen completed the Certificate in Veterinary Radiology.  In 1996 she was awarded a Veterinary Research Fellowship and an advanced student position at Trinity College, University of Cambridge, from which she completed a PhD in Immunology in 1999.

In 2000 Helen relocated back to New Zealand where she helped deliver and develop the Veterinary Nursing and Animal Technology courses at UNITEC, Auckland.  Helen also worked in a clinical capacity for Franklin Veterinary Referral Services in South Auckland.  In 2003, she decided to become a “Mainlander” and joined Vetspecs in Christchurch and, by early 2004, she had become a co-owner of the business.

During her time at Vetspecs, Helen has completed externships in surgery at Texas A&M University and at the University of Sydney, as well as an anaesthesia externship at Massey University and a clinical pathology externship with Gribbles.  Helen became a Member of the Australian College of Veterinary Scientists in Small Animal Surgery by examination in 2004 and a Fellow in 2006, the latter resulting in her registration as a surgical specialist.  In 2010 Helen became a certified PennHip Veterinarian. www.pennhip.org. 

In June 2011, Helen travelled back to the UK to spend some time with the teams at the University of Liverpool, Veterinary Tissue Bank and at Fitzpatrick Referrals, Godalming.  In July 2011, Helen headed to San Diego for training in Innoplant's Helica Total Hip Replacement (THR) system; this has brought to New Zealand a new cementless way to surgically treat end-stage hip arthritis.  Vetspecs is currently the only NZ clinic offering Helica THR. In October 2011, Helen became the sole owner of Vetspecs. She remains committed to her dream of seeing the South Island achieve a round-the-clock multi-discipline referral hospital for small animals.  For this reason, Helen occasionally still buys lottery tickets!

During her limited spare time, Helen enjoys cinema, theatre, music, food and wine and time spent with family and friends.  In December 2011, with her father, Helen was lucky enough to sail across the Drake Passage from Argentina to spend 10days exploring the wonderful wildlife of the Antarctic peninsula; mother nature at her mightiest.  Helen is also a dedicated owner to her dog, “Skye", who tries her best to keep Helen fit by regular walks in the parks, forests and hills of Canterbury.  Future aims are to get back into skiing (knees permitting!) and to take her surgical skills to charitable organisations such as bear rescue with Animals Asia. www.animalsasia.com