Meet Our Team

Dr Bill Harkin

Veterinarian and Hospital Director

Bill has had a passion for working with animals for all of his life. He grew up on a Gippsland dairy farm and graduated from Melbourne University in 1975 with the intention of being a cattle vet. After working in a variety of roles with cattle, horses, sheep and dogs and cats, he found his greatest interest was in surgery.

Post-graduate study led to his attaining Membership of the Australian College of Veterinary Scientists by examination in Small Animal Surgery in 1984. Bill was on the verge of going to America to become a specialist surgeon, but a love for general practice, particularly the chance to build lifelong relationships with pets and their 'parents' kept him in this country.

Bill is an Honorary Senior Fellow of the University of Melbourne. He has been an examiner for veterinary students, and is involved in their training. He has been a member of the Australian Veterinary Association since student days, and has been honoured to be President of the Victorian Division of the AVA in 2009, 2010 and 2011. He is also involved in the training of veterinary nurses, as a member of Box Hill TAFE's Industry Reference Group, and Chairman of the Diploma Accreditation Committee. Bill has been a media spokesman, on behalf of the veterinary profession, in both print and electronic media.

Bill took over Blackburn Animal Hospital in 1988, and has driven the continual improvement process that has led to it being one of the state's best veterinary hospitals today. He is particularly proud of having assembled such a talented team of vets and nurses, all of whom are dedicated to looking after your pet's welfare, in every way. 

In his spare time, Bill enjoys wood-working, and spending time with his family: his wife Jan, children Julie, Mary, Catherine & Tim, and grandchildren Sienna, Lachlan and Amelia. The four-legged members of Bill's family are Nala, a Labrador x Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, and her companion Angus the ginger Domestic Short Hair cat.

Dr Seung Kang

Veterinarian and Hospital Director

Seung has had extensive experience in all aspects of internal medicine, advanced surgeries, reproduction and emergency medicine since his graduation at Massey University in New Zealand. Seung, with all of his postgraduate studies, enjoys dealing with surgical and medical cases plus chemotherapies; he is currently completing a Master's degree in Veterinary Medicine at Massey University.

Seung is a skilled surgeon with a large amount of advanced surgery experience. He worked as a main surgeon for the last 6 years with a high number of surgical caseloads; he successfully completed a Postgraduate Surgery Course at Sydney University in 2017. Seung particularly enjoys orthopaedic and advanced soft tissue surgeries including cancer resections and surgeries in brachycephalic breeds.

Seung was born in South Korea and experienced the efficacy of 'Alternative Medicine' such as Acupuncture, Herbs and Tradional Chinese Medicine. He wanted to apply this to our furry friends and proudly achieved a Certificate of Veterinary Acupuncture in 2013. Seung has treated many dogs, cats (and even a ferret!) suffering from musculoskeletal conditions, behavioural disorders, epilepsy, autoimmune and skin disorders.

Seung joined the partnership at Blackburn Animal Hospital in 2019; he has been enjoying working with the supportive team, meeting the wonderful clients, and helping their loved pets.

Seung spends his time out of work looking after his two young children Lina and Noah with his wife Hannah. He has three dogs: two Pug X (Boonam and Booja (pictured) and a Beagle (Boodong). Boonam was their first pet together (even before their children). Both Booja and Boodong were rescued from a pet shop and a puppy farm. Seung and Hannah also have a half adopted the neighbour's gorgeous cat, Lucky!

Dr Alyssa McKee

Senior Clinic Veterinarian

Simone Schaefer

Veterinary Practice Manager

Simone joined the team at Blackburn Animal Hospital in 2019 and came to us as the Senior Veterinary Nurse and Practice Manager with more than 20 years of experience and lots of passion.

She has worked as a nurse in general practice, emergency and specialist centres. Simone enjoys all aspects of veterinary nursing, in particular monitoring anaesthesia, medical nursing and customer service. She has a particular interest in pain management and ophthalmology.

Simone prides herself on providing the highest standard of patient care and the training of junior nurses.

Simone owns an elderly Jack Russell called Matilda who is very cheeky. She also shares a three legged cat called Patrick with her partner. In her spare time, Simone loves to travel and does weight lifting. Simone is very excited to join the team and build trusting relationships with all our amazing clients and their fur families.

Emily Cooper

Veterinary Nurse

Emily joined the Blackburn Animal Hospital team in 2020 after completing her Associate Degree of Veterinary Nursing.

Emily has always loved being around animals. She learned to ride and care for horses from a young age and has enjoyed working at a boarding kennel and cattery for the past several years.  

Emily enjoys all aspects of veterinary nursing, but is particularly interested in surgical nursing, clinical pathology and pain management.  

Emily is committed to providing a high standard of care for all animals and is excited to be a part of such a friendly and dedicated veterinary team.  

In her spare time, Emily enjoys watching movies, gardening and swimming. She loves spending time with her partner, her two beagles called Lamington and Puddington and her cat Tilly. 

Prue Ward

Veterinary Nurse

Prue grew  in Blackburn with her parents, older brother, two younger sisters and an array of dogs, cats, rabbits and mice. 

In 1998, Prue obtained a Degree in Environmental Science at Deakin University. Prue has also undertaken voluntary work, a highlight being working in Queensland with the critically endangered Loggerhead Turtles and Green Turtles. 

Prue has been part of the Blackburn Animal Hospital team for since 2004 and loves her job as no two days are the same. She values the 'family' environment of the hospital. 

Prue is a real asset to Blackburn Animal Hospital. You are likely to run into Prue in the consult room assisting the veterinarians and caring for the outpatients.

Prue has welcomed her first child Eve Elizabeth.

Sissi Zhu

Trainee Veterinary Nurse

Alex Podesta

Trainee Veterinary Nurse

Alex joined the team at Blackburn Animal Hospital in February 2020 as a Trainee Nurse with 2 years experience as a nurse and cattery attendant locally.

Alex has a passion for nutrition and behaviour and runs our Puppy Preschool and Kitten Kinder classes.

She has completed her Certificate II in Animal Studies and is currently completing her Cert IV in Veterinary Nursing.

In her spare time Alex rides horses for pleasure, competatively and takes out trail rides in the Dandenong Ranges.

Alex is owned by a cat named Crookshanks, a dog named named Lulu, and horses Rafiki and Kirra.

Ellen Ho

Receptionist

Ellen joined the Blackburn Animal Hospital team in 2018 with her previous background from retail and human resources. She enjoys interacting with customers and their pets to ensure they are taken care of.  She speaks fluent English, Mandarin, Cantonese and Bahasa Malaysia. 

Ellen has two young children that she loves to read and explore the outdoors with. In her spare times she enjoys baking and watching movies.

Feel free to share your experiences and tales of your beloved pets with Ellen as she always appreciates a warming story about your furry friends.

Susanna Chan

Trainee Veterinary Nurse

Susanna joined the Blackburn Animal Hospital team in 2019. She has completed a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Melbourne majoring in Animal Health and Disease and she is currently studying Cert IV in Veterinary Nursing.

Susanna has always been passionate about the health and welfare of animals and had volunteered at the RSPCA clinic for 2 years.

She enjoys learning and assisting in different surgical procedures and providing love and care for recovering animals.

Susanna grew up in a large family in Hong Kong before moving to Australia in 2009. Apart from English, she is fluent in Cantonese and Mandarin.

Outside of the clinic, Susanna loves watching movies and training her dogs. Her fur animals include a miniature schnauzer named Ricey, and a toy poodle named Bubble.