Our Team Members
Dr. Debbie Simpson | BVSc MANZCVS (Small Animal Medicine) FANZCVS (Veterinary Dermatology)
Debbie completed a five year undergraduate veterinary degree at Massey University in New Zealand. On graduating in 2008 she was awarded the Pfizer (Zoetis) Internship at the Veterinary Specialist Group in Auckland, New Zealand – the opportunity to do this internship in her first year of practice was a wonderful experience and it was a privilege to work with the talented team of specialists at the Veterinary Specialist Group. During this year Debbie also worked as an emergency veterinarian on evenings and weekends at the Animal Emergency Centre.
In 2009 she moved to Australia to undertake a further internship at Veterinary Specialist Services in Brisbane which gave her more experience working with specialists in surgery and medicine. A residency in Veterinary Dermatology followed at the Melbourne Veterinary Specialist Centre from 2010-2013. In May 2013 she was accepted for further training at Cornell University in New York State with two of the most respected and best known veterinary dermatologists in the world, Dr Danny Scott and Dr Bill Miller.
In 2014 Debbie passed the Fellowship exams of the Australian & New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists in Veterinary Dermatology and is now a Registered Specialist in Veterinary Dermatology. In 2016 she was a junior subject examiner and in 2017 & 2018 Debbie was the Head Examiner for the Dermatology Chapter of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists examining Dermatology Fellowship Candidates. From 2016 until present she has been active in co-ordinating the dermatology stream of the Science Week conference on the Gold Coast of Australia.
She has presented several times at Science Week – in July 2010 on the topic of canine lymphoma and in July 2013 on the topic of feline pemphigus and has given several presentations to the Auckland Veterinary Society on the topics of atopy and infectious skin diseases. In 2019 Debbie will speak at the NZVA “Conference in the Capital” in Wellington on the topic of working up and treating feline skin disease.
Publications include an original research paper on feline pemphigus and a case report on pyoderma gangrenosum for Veterinary Dermatology, a paper on hyperbaric oxygen therapy in the September and December 2009 issues of the Australian Veterinary Practitioner, which also won the Australian College of Veterinary Scientists medal and an undergraduate article on the subject of total ear canal ablation and bulla osteotomy in the newsletter of the Companion Animal Society of New Zealand.
In 2016 Debbie left Melbourne and moved back to Auckland. She has started a dermatology specialist practice called “The Skin Vet” which began seeing clients in April 2016. In her spare time Debbie loves spending time with her yellow Labrador Lily.
Ellie Clark | RVN Registered Veterinary Nurse
Ellie is originally from the south west of England where she started her veterinary nursing career in 2001. She qualified with a diploma in veterinary nursing from the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons in 2004 and worked in a busy first opinion practice as head nurse.
Ellie has always had a passion for travel and has volunteered and worked with a wide range of species in Africa, Namibia and Australia.
Travel brought Ellie to New Zealand in 2009 which she now calls home. She is an extremely experienced nurse who has worked in two small animal practices in New Zealand and also in a canine hydrotherapy centre. For two years she also taught the veterinary nursing qualification to students.
In 2018 Ellie won the prestigious title of the Hills “Veterinary Nurse of the Year” Award, a New Zealand wide award which has been launched to recognise veterinary nurses who advocate and significantly contribute to the care of their patients and who are an integral part of the veterinary health care team.
Ellie continues to keep up to date with new innovative ways to improve the profession, always interested and excited about new research that is coming out as she increases her knowledge of dermatology which she then uses to help junior vet nurses and vet nursing students by being proactive in teaching, mentoring and guiding them to a high standard of vet nursing.
Having great technical knowledge and skill, Ellie has presented on-line webinars in a clear concise, logical manners which were relevant to both vets and vet nurses. Feedback includes; ‘One of the best speakers I have listened to’, ‘Interesting and entertaining’, ‘very interesting talk, learnt a lot and refreshed my knowledge in certain areas’, ‘great to have CPD from a vet nurses point of view’.
On top of all of her work, Ellie has raised money for Breast Cancer Research, incorporating some of this into CPD events. In 2018 she has raised $13,000!
Ellie has a genuine passion and love of animals which always shows in her vet nursing care and she can often be seen going the extra mile for both patients and vets.
Ellie is very excited to be working with Debbie and enhancing her knowledge of dermatology to a high level. She has a keen interest in animal behaviour, and is certified in low stress handling for cats and dogs.
In her spare time Ellie is a fitness fanatic, who enjoys mud runs and obstacle races, and has recently qualified as a personal trainer. She shares her home with their cat Blossom.
Briana McHenry | Registered Veterinary Nurse, NZDipVN
Briana, was born in Palmerston North and raised in Hawkes Bay.
She studied the Diploma of Veterinary Nursing in Hawkes Bay at The Eastern Institute of Technology in 2016-2017.
Briana’s first veterinary nursing job was in Gisborne in a small animal clinic, she then headed back down to Hawkes Bay to be near her family and her Sister who was starting a family.
She gained experience with an incredible team at another small animal clinic in Havelock North.
2021 brought a big move to Auckland to work in another dermatology clinic based in Auckland. In this position Briana grew to love all aspects of dermatology and also helped with providing hydrotherapy for animals.
She is excited to be continuing with her interest in dermatology with The Skin Vet.
In her spare time Briana likes to travel to the Hawkes Bay to see family and friends while exploring new restaurants and wineries. She loves to be outdoors and trying new walking tracks.
