Staff Profiles

Seven Devery

BSc BVSc BVMS (Hons) MANZCVS (Anaesthesia & Analgesia)

JCUVet Clinical Director

Dr Seven Devery serves as JCU Vet’s Clinical Veterinary Director bringing extensive clinical experience and passion to this role. Dr Devery commenced his tertiary education with an undergraduate degree in Animal Biology from the University of British Columbia, Canada before moving to Australia in 2007 to pursue a career in veterinary medicine. In 2011, he graduated with first class honours from Murdoch University and spent the next 8 years in small animal clinical practice accumulating experience in private practice, specialist referral hospitals, university teaching hospitals, and within the non-profit sector. Through these experiences he gained a strong understanding that the optimum approach to patient care is multifaceted, and that the best outcomes occur through collaboration. In 2015, he went on to obtain membership within the Australia and New Zealand College of Veterinary Science in Anaesthesia and Critical Care and continued to feed his passion for teaching and leadership eventually joining the team at JCU.

Dr Devery’s professional interests include anaesthesia, analgesia and feline medicine.  He also has a passion for clinical teaching, and highly values the opportunity to contribute to a new generation of competent and confident clinicians that will help raise our industry to new heights.

Terri Eurell

BVSc, MANZCVS, CertAVP

Emergency and Critical Care Registered

Dr Terri Eurell graduated from James Cook University in 2011. She completed a rotating internship at Veterinary Specialist Services in 2012.  Dr Eurell  worked extensively throughout Australia and the United Kingdom as an emergency and critical care veterinarian before accepting a residency in emergency and critical care in 2017. Dr Eurell gained membership in emergency and critical care from the Australian and New Zeland College of Veterinary Science in 2018, obtained a Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice from Liverpool University in 2019 and completed her residency in 2020. She is due to sit board examinations for the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care in September 2020.

Terri has a special interest in emergency surgery, transfusion medicine and mechanical ventilation. She has recently adopted a Staghound named ‘Floyd Piggy’ who loves food and enjoys being the little spoon.

Pooja Bahal

BVSc

Emergency and Critical Care Clinician

Dr Bahal graduated from Sydney University in 2013. She started her career working in rural mixed practices in Victoria and South Australia for three years before moving to sunny Townsville. Pooja has been part of out Emergency and Critical Care team since late 2018 and is currently pursuing further education in the field.  In addition to emergency medicine, Dr Bahal enjoys soft tissue surgery and small animal behavioural medicine.

When not at work, Dr Bahal loves spending time outdoors with her husband and dogs, Hamish and Nyx.

Cat Neve

BVSc BVMS (Hons)

Emergency and Critical Care Clinician

Dr Neve graduated with distinction from Murdoch University in 2015. After a short stint in first opinion practice, she went on to complete an internship in Emergency and Critical Care. Since this time, she has worked in university referral hospitals in both New York & Melbourne and has recently joined the Emergency and Critical Care team here at JCU.  She has recently been accepted into a master’s program in veterinary medicine and plans to pursue further qualifications in this exciting field.  Dr Neve is a certified RECOVER ® CPR instructor as well as a level III Fear Free certified ® practitioner. Cat enjoys the challenges of emergency medicine as well as the complexity of critically ill patients. Her professional interests include analgesia & anaesthesia of the critically ill patient, fluid therapy dynamics, management of sepsis & septic shock and ensuring that families are engaged in the care of their pets throughout every step of their stay.

Dr Neve shares her home with her partner, their beloved three-legged dog Elros and the occasional straggler on their way to finding their forever home.

Philip Judge

BVSc MVS PG Cert Vet Stud MACVSc (VECC Medicine of Dogs)

Emergency and Critical Care Clinician

Dr Judge graduated from Massey University in 1992, and spent 7 years in general practice in New Zealand before undertaking a residency in veterinary emergency and critical care at the University of Melbourne. Dr Judge has spend over 20 years in university and private veterinary emergency centres, and is former Senior Veterinarian at Melbourne’s busy Animal Emergency Centre, and former Senior Lecturer in Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care at James Cook University.

Dr Judge is a published author and expert in australian snake envenomation in dogs and cats. In addition, he is co-founder and director of an online veterinary education company, Vet Education.

Dr Judge works part time and on-call at JCUVet in the veterinary emergency centre, assisting staff veterinarians in the care of emergency and critically ill patients.

Yukari Miyaki

BSc, BVSc, MSc, ACVAA

Specialist Veterinary Anaesthetist

Dr Miyake gained her Bachelor of Veterinary Science degree from the University of Sydney in the early 1990s before returning to Japan where she worked as a general practice veterinarian and researcher at the Small Animal Clinical Research Foundation in Tottori. In 1998 she returned to Australia where she was appointed Veterinary Registrar in Small Animal Anaesthesia at the Veterinary Centre at the University of Sydney.

In 2002 she relocated to the United States and undertook a combined Anaesthesia Residency/Master’s degree program, achieving a Master of Clinical Science (MSc) at Colorado State University. This was followed by a posting as emergency anaesthetist at the Colorado State University’s James L. Voss Veterinary Teaching Hospital.

In 2007, Dr Miyake returned to Australia working as an anaesthetist in Sydney, visiting, consulting and giving seminars in various private practices and specialist referral centres. In 2008, Yukari was a Senior Veterinary Registrar in University of Sydney, Camden campus and then joined The Royal Veterinary College as a Lecturer in Anaesthesia.

In 2010, Dr Miyake joined the team at JCU as the senior lecturer in veterinary anaesthesia.  She leads both the clinical practice and clinical teaching components of the anaesthesia team at JCU Vet.

Gretel Fowler

BSc,BVSc MANZCVS (Anaesthesia and Analgesia)

Anaesthesia Team Clinician

After completing a Bachelor Degree in Animal Science in 2007, Dr Fowler went on to pursue her Veterinary Science degree at James Cook University, Townsville. Dr Fowler graduated in 2012, receiving the Small Animal Medicine Award, and the Animal Behavior, Ethics and Welfare Prize.

Once in general practice, she developed a keen interest in all aspects of Anaesthesia and Analgesia, and thus when the opportunity arose, she accepted a position at JCU Vet in 2018 as the Clinical Veterinary Anaesthetist. Gretel enjoys all aspects of anaesthesia, but is particularly interested in advanced monitoring techniques, complex anaesthesia for the critically unwell patient and ultrasound guided regional anaesthesia. In 2019, Dr Fowler gained membership qualifications in Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia, through the Australian and New Zealand Collage of Veterinary Scientists. Dr Fowler was recognized as the top Australian candidate in the Anaesthesia field for 2019.

Gretel shares her home with her husband and three fur children; a Devon Rex named Rudy, a Greyhound named Winifred and a Bull Terrier named Bundy. Outside of work, she enjoys outdoor adventure and travel.

Jason Mouatt

BVSc FANZCVS

Specialist Small Animal Surgeon

Dr Jason Mouatt is a University of Queensland (BVSc) graduate who, upon graduation, spent 5 years in general small animal and equine practice.  In 1999, he returned to the University of Queensland to complete a residency in Small Animal Surgery.  Dr Mouatt became a Specialist Small Animal Surgeon (FANZCVS) in 2002.

Dr Mouatt went on to become the Clinical Head of Surgery at the University of Melbourne Veterinary Hospital before moving to private practice in 2004.  Jason then joined the Veterinary Specialist Services (VSS) in Brisbane, became a partner/ director of VSS the following year, and spend the next 10 years working from their Carrara practice on the Gold Coast. During his tenure at VSS Carrara, the clinic became one of the busiest Specialist Veterinary Surgical Centers in the country.

Through this time, Dr Mouatt has been involved in all areas of clinical surgery.  He has a strong interests in orthopaedics, joint surgery and replacement, cardiac surgery, neurosurgery and oncological / reconstructive surgery.  He also has a love of mentoring and clinical training and enjoys teaching interns, residents, nurses and general practitioners.

Dr Mouatt regulary visits JCUVet to provide advanced surgical services and mentor Dr Gosztyla.

Craig Thomson

BSc BVSc MANZCVSc (Surgery)

Resident in Small Animal Surgery

Dr Thomson graduated University in 2001 and has worked as a referral surgeon at JCU, running the surgical department and educating JCU vet students for the past 8 years. He recently relocated to the Sunshine Coast to complete his Small Animal Surgery Residency under Dr Richard Mitchell. Dr Thomson has a special interest in orthopaedic and brachiocephalic airway surgery, and he regulary travels to JCUVet to provide surgical services and mentor Dr Gosztyla.

Brenton Gosztyla

BVSc, BBioMedSc

Small Animal Surgeon

Dr Goszytla graduated James Cook University in 2012 where he studied his Bachelor in BioMedical Science and continued on to complete his degree in Veterinary Science. Following graduation, Dr Gosztyla worked in general practice for 5 years where he developed a special interest in orthopaedic surgery. In 2017, he was appointed to a position in referral surgery under the supervision of Dr Richard Mitchel, Dr Craig Thomson and Dr Jason Mouatt.  Dr Gosztyla has continued to develop his surgical skills and is planning to undertake his Membership in the Australian & New Zealand College of Veterinary Science in Small Animal Surgery in 2021.

At home Brenton has a menagerie of animals he looks after including horses, dogs, cats, cows and goats.

John Hutt

BVSc(Hons) CertVD MANZCVS DACVD

Specialist Veterinary Dermatologist

Dr Hutt graduated from the University of Queensland in 1988. He worked in general practice in Brisbane for 18 months before travelling to the UK in 1990, where he worked in small animal practice for the next 11 years. He was a clinical assistant in dermatology at the Animal Health Trust from 1998 to 2001. In 2001 Dr Hutt set up North Kent Referrals, a multi-disciplinary referral practice in the south of England, and he owned and ran the practice until its sale in 2012.

Dr Hutt holds the RCVS Certificate in Veterinary Dermatology, is a member of the Australian College of Veterinary Scientists (MANZCVS) by examination in small animal medicine, and is a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Dermatology. He is a past President of the British Veterinary Dermatology Study Group.

Following his return to Brisbane in 2013, Dr Hutt joined the team at Dermatology for Animals.  He makes regular visits to JCUVet to provide specialist dermaology services to north Queensland.

Outside of work Dr Hutt’s major interest lies in English Literature and in 2006 he completed a Bachelor of Arts at the Open University.

Geoff Nicolson

BVSc, MVS, DECVS

Specialist Veterinary Cardiologist

Dr. Nicolson grew up in New Zealand before making the move to Queensland to complete his veterinary training. He graduated from the University of Queensland in 2011 with honours. It was during university that he developed a strong interest in cardiology. In 2012 he completed a 1 year rotating internship at the University of Queensland Veterinary Teaching Hospital. In 2013 Dr. Nicolson commenced a cardiology residency at the University of Sydney Veterinary Teaching Hospital, under the supervision of European-boarded specialist cardiologist Dr Niek Beijerink. In 2017 he successfully obtained specialist status in the European College of Veterinary Internal Medicine – Companion Animals, in the subspecialty of Cardiology. Dr Nicolson then spent 12 months working in Melbourne as a mobile cardiologist before establishing Veterinary Cardiac Services, a mobile service focusing on the Sunshine Coast and North Brisbane. Dr Nicolson makes regular visits to JCUVet to provide specialist cardiology services to north Queensland.

While Dr. Nicolson enjoys all aspects of cardiology, he has a particular interest in congenital heart disease, canine cardiomyopathies and arrhythmia management.

James Foster

Specialist in Feline Medicine

Dr James Foster is a graduate of Murdoch University who went on to complete a residency in Feline medicine and a PhD investigating feline thyroid disease, both at the University of Edinburgh.  Upon returning to Australia and settling in Sydney, James acquired his specialist credentials in Feline Medicine in 2000 through the ANZCVS.

Whist Dr Foster’s specialty by examination is in feline medicine, he is formally trained in both canine and feline medicine and has spent the majority of his career in private referral practice working with both species.  He was a co-founding member of SASH in Sydney, and has only recently decided to move his life north and enjoy the settle down in the beautiful dry tropics of Townsville.

James enjoys all aspects of small animal internal medicine and critical care.  His special interests include endocrine disorders, cardiorespiratory disease, and geriatric medicine. He particularly enjoys echocardiography, abdominal ultrasonography, and endoscopy. He has a strong interest in maintaining good mental health and well-being and is currently developing support services for veterinarians and veterinary nurses.

James is practical and approachable and enjoys discussing cases with referring veterinarians.  He is passionate about teaching and mentorship, and looking forward to integrating with the local community.

Ruth Sutcliffe

BVSc, MVSc MANZCVS

Senior Lecture Internal Medicine

Dr Sutcliffe holds a Bachelor of Veterinary Science from the University of Melbourne, and a Master of Veterinary Studies in Companion Animal Medicine and Surgery from Murdoch University.  She has Membership of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists in small animal medicine.  Dr Sutcliffe is one of JCUVet’s academic clinicians who combines teaching internal medicine with clinical practice at JCUVet.  Although not a specialist dermatologist, she enjoys dermatology and is particularly interested in cases with complex combinations of medical and dermatological problems.

Chakira Tosoni

BVSc

General Practice Clinician

Dr Tosoni was born and raised in FNQ and graduated from JCU in 2011 before moving to South Australia to work in rural mixed practice. She returned to the north at the end of 2015 to be closer to her family and to pursue her interest in clinical teaching. Dr Tosoni enjoys all aspects of small animal veterinary medicine, with a particular interest in preventative health and working dog health and care.

She shares her home with her trusty sidekick Luxie, a German Wirehaired Pointer.

Mark Whelan

BVSc

General Practice Clinician

Dr Whelan was born and raised in Townsville and was in the first cohort of veterinary students to complete a Bachelor of Veterinary Science at James Cook University in 2010. Since graduating, Dr Whelan has worked in general practice in Brisbane, Melbourne and Bendigo, before deciding to spread his wings and travel further afield. His travels found him working at a busy veterinary hospital in the Cayman Islands before becoming the senior veterinarian in a hospital in the inner suburbs of Shanghai, China. Working overseas exposed him to variety of different cases and helped him to further develop his clinical skills.

Since returning to Australia in 2019, Dr Whelan has settled back into the Townsville lifestyle and has recently joined the General Practice team JCUVet. Mark’s  general interests include soft tissue surgeries and dental procedures.

Whilst overseas, Mark adopted a street-dog called Hui-Hui, who has since made her way to Australia, to share his home with a border collie and two snakes.