Dr Joanne Sheen

BVM&S CertZooMed DABVP (Exotic Companion Mammals)

Jo graduated from the University of Edinburgh in 2004, and gained her post-graduate qualification in zoological and exotic medicine in 2008. In 2017 Dr
Sheen became a Diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners in
Exotic Companion Mammals. Only the second Australian vet to achieve these
credentials. Jo had a very international upbringing, growing up between Australia, Hong Kong and the United Kingdom. As such, her first pet was a red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans), followed by two chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus) that she kept on the roof garden. She was most distraught, when several years later, she came home one day to find these chickens turned into soup!

Outside our busy Sydney hospital, you'll often find Jo walking her dog, a talkative English Staffie. He was rescued five years ago whilst Jo was living in the UK from an uncertain fate in an RSPCA animal abuse case. You will also catch Jo spending her time away from work mostly off solid ground, preferring to either hang around in mid-air (trapeze), or in the depths of the ocean (scuba diving).

Dr Cathy Hudson

BSc. BVSc. MANZCVS (Unusual Pets)

Dr Cathy Hudson BSc. BVSc. MANZCVS (Unusual Pets) Cathy graduated with a Bachelor of Veterinary Science in 1997 from the University of Queensland. After several years in large animal practice and equine specialist practice, she moved to practise veterinary medicine in England for 4 years. Here her interest in small mammals, rabbits and ferrets developed. On returning to Australia, Cathy has completed many further education studies, including a 1 year course in veterinary ophthalmology.

In 2013 she completed her membership exams for the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists (MANZCVS) in Unusual (Exotic) pets. Cathy has a particular interest in rabbit and small mammal medicine and ophthalmology. She also very much enjoys treating reptile and amphibian patients, as well as native wildlife. She lives in Sydney with her husband and 2 young boys.

Dr David Vella

BSc BVSc (Hons) DABVP (Exotic Companion Mammals)

Dr David Vella is the Director of Sydney Exotics and Rabbit Vets. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science (1992) and a Bachelor of Veterinary Science (1996) – both from the University of Sydney. In 2009, David became a Diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (DABVP) in Exotic Companion Mammals, the first Australian vet to achieve these credentials. This Diplomate accreditation focuses on the veterinary care of mammals such as rabbits, ferrets and rodents.

Dr Vella was amongst the first vets worldwide to sit the inaugural DABVP examinations in this specialty. Dr Vella has gained extensive clinical experience in treating exotic pets having focussed on this field whilst working in the United Kingdom and Sydney.

Currently volunteering for NSW WIRES (Wildlife Information Rescue & Education Service), Dr Vella is involved in reptile and amphibian rescue. He also trains in handling, rehabilitation, foster care and rescue. Pets at home include several long-necked turtles.

In his spare time he enjoys family time, gardening, music and running/building escape rooms with his wife.

Dr Yui Tsutsumi

BVSc (Hons) CertAVPZooMed RCVS Advanced Practitioner (Zoological Medicine)

Yui graduated with a Bachelor of Veterinary Science from the University of Queensland in 2012. Once she realised owning rabbits is illegal in QLD, she moved to NSW as soon as she graduated!  

After gaining valuable experience working at busy general practices and exotic animal vet hospitals in Australia and in the UK, Yui joined the dream team at SERV in 2018. She obtained CertAVPZooMed qualification in 2023, which demonstrated her advance knowledge, skills and experience in exotic pet mammal, reptile, and avian medicine. She is now recognised as one of the few vets in Australia that is considered an Advanced Practitioner in Zoological Medicine by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.

 Yui enjoys all aspects of exotic pet medicine, as well as the weird and wonderful challenges that it brings. She has a particular interest in small mammal medicine and soft tissue surgery.

 Aside from cleaning the mess made by her hungry giant rabbit Enoki, in her spare time, Yui enjoys creating illustrations and watching musical theatre.

Dr Simon Wai-Shing

BVSc (Hons)

Simon graduated with first class honours from the University of Sydney in 2010. 

After working in mixed and small animal practice he moved to the UK for 2 years where he worked in an exotic specialist practice and travelled around Europe. After returning to Sydney, Simon completed a one year rotating internship position at the Small Animal Specialist Hospital and then joined the team at the Sydney Exotic and Rabbit Vets in 2020.

Simon enjoys working with all exotic species including rabbits, guinea pigs, ferrets, rats, reptiles and even the odd axolotl! Simon also has an interest in birds having completed the Master of Veterinary Medicine Course in Avian Medicine through Massey University in 2014. He is currently completing his Certificate of Advanced Veterinary Practice in Zoological Medicine through the University of Edinburgh. 

Outside of work Simon enjoys spending time with family and friends, hiking, canyoning and podcasting.

Dr Juliane Dreher

GPCert(ExAP)

Juliane graduated from the Freie Universität in Berlin, Germany, in 2015. After graduation, she went straight to the UK where she worked with exotic pets, wildlife, and small animals. During this time she acquired the Certificate in Exotic Animal Practice, which demonstrates advanced veterinary knowledge and skills in birds, reptiles and small mammals. 

After taking some time off to travel through Europe, which included working at a moose park in Sweden and a zoo in Finland, she moved to Australia for good. 

In order to practise in Australia she had to requalify as a vet under Australian standards. Due to the COVID situation at the time, this required spending 2 weeks in isolation at the Queensland border in order to take the exam! 

After spending 5 years in Canberra, she moved to Sydney and joined the SERV team in 2025. 

Juliane very much enjoys treating rabbit and rodent patients, and has a particular interest in avian medicine.