We offer a higher level of care than the average vet clinic with professional interest staff, a diversity of knowledge, and a holistic approach. Our team is made up of more than 60 vets and 90 nurses.
Dr Ben Mielke, BVSc (Hons), MVetMed, MANZCVS (Surgery), Dip ECVS
Dr Ben is a Registered Specialist in Small Animal Surgery and leads the Surgery Department at Lort Smith. With extensive international training, including a Master’s degree and Surgery Residency at the Royal Veterinary College in the UK, Ben brings advanced expertise in ENT surgery, BOAS, minimally invasive oncological procedures, spinal stabilisation and the management of limb deformities.
He has worked across rural Victoria, the UK and Melbourne, and now enjoys life at home with Herman the Labrador and three chickens: Frida, Hermione and Rosemary.
Dr Kassandra Makeham, DVM, BSc, Fcert ECC
Dr Kassandra Makeham is the Interim Head of Emergency and Critical Care at Lort Smith, with a strong focus on improving the inpatient experience through behaviour‑informed care and clear, compassionate client communication. Her clinical interests include wound care, electrolyte management, SIRS/sepsis treatment, soft tissue surgery and advanced dental management.
Kassandra has fostered rescue dogs since childhood and now shares her home with Dusty, her dog of eight years, and a lively collection of fish, including spotted blue eyes, pygmy corydoras, kuhli loaches, Japanese rice fish and a betta named Gretchen.
Dr Sean Quigley, DVM, BSc Veterinary Bioscience
Dr Sean Quigley is the Head of General Practice at Lort Smith and has worked across Adelaide, Brisbane and Melbourne in both general practice and multidisciplinary hospitals. He has a strong interest in internal medicine and ultrasonography and enjoys managing complex medical cases.
Sean is passionate about mentoring early‑career veterinarians and building supportive, collaborative teams. He shares his home with two toy poodles, London and Boston.
Dr Patrick Cheah, BVSc
Dr Patrick has worked at Lort Smith since 1993. He is proud to be part of a team of devoted and dedicated staff that help to provide such important work to the community, and enjoys interacting with so many varied pets who arrive every day. While the organisation is always growing and improving, Patrick is glad that one constant always remains – that Lort Smith treats thousands of pets each year that may otherwise not receive the veterinary care they need. For a veterinarian, it’s exciting and challenging work – Patrick reports that there’s never a dull day here! Often he’s required to treat dogs who have literally bitten off more than they can chew – even a Labrador who had eaten a pair of his carer’s underwear!
Dr Harold Pook, BVSc, MVSc
Dr Harold joined Lort Smith in 1998 and has over 45 years of experience. He is a medical consultant with an interest in ultrasound, endoscopy and internal medicine. Harold enjoys working at Lort Smith because of the commitment and strong camaraderie among the staff who all work hard to provide high value veterinary care to animals that would miss out if the organisation didn’t exist. A memorable case for Harold was management of an Australian cattle dog with heart failure who was a companion and support to a returned serviceman. Watching the personal growth of the carer over two years while Harold treated his special dog was very moving, as during that time he changed from being a recluse to beginning a relationship, becoming a vegan and being prepared to speak publicly about his personal experiences.
Dr Tina, BVSc, MANZCVS
Dr Tina joined the Lort Smith team in 2023 and works at our Campbellfield location. She enjoys working in a not-for-profit organisation because she can help both animals and people in need. Tina has a Membership in pet behaviour and provides veterinary support for cats and dogs with behavioural issues such as phobias, reactivity, or separation anxiety. At home, she dotes on her beloved pets Pluto, the Nova Scotia Duck Troller, and two cats, Anakin and Crookshanks, who she adopted through an animal rescue.