ISLAND VETERINARY HOSPITAL - Key Persons
Dr. Aimee Keenan graduated from UCD Dublin, Ireland, in 2020. She practiced for nearly 2 years in Newry, Northern Ireland, after graduating from a busy mixed practice. She spent busy springtimes working with both small and large animals on any given day, including her share of working on call! It was a busy and rewarding way to start her career.
Aimee made the big move (with her black cat, Stinky) from Ireland to British Columbia to join Island Vets in September 2022. With the large Irish population in Vancouver and level of rain BC experiences, she does not miss home too much. She is excited to explore beautiful British Columbia and experience all that the GVA has to offer - namely trying all types of poutine! Aimee already feels part of the veterinary community here and is looking forward to getting to know the people and pets who come to IVH. Her friends and colleagues would say she definitely has the ‘gift of the gab!'
Dr. June Siu graduated in 2014 from Massey University, in New Zealand, where she grew up. She practised in Hong Kong before moving to BC, which she now calls home. Being a veterinarian was a childhood dream! Her favourite part about being a veterinarian is helping pet owners take better care of their animals. Dr. Siu has a special interest in Traditional Chinese Medicine and was trained in veterinary acupuncture at Chi University in Florida. She is also fluent in Cantonese and Mandarin. In her spare time, she enjoys culinary arts, crafts, music, and the outdoors, and she volunteers in a children's program on weekends. Her friends call her the "Pun Master."
When I was 10 years old I found my newt (Fire) all dried up; (Fire) had been missing from his aquarium for several days. In a panic, I insisted that he get rushed to our family veterinarian. Obviously (Fire) had been dead for a while but I remember Dr. W taking my concerns to heart. He examined (Fire), pretended to do CPR and then informed me he had died. Dr. W's compassion to an emotional 10-year-old had a lasting impact on me.
Just like Dr. W was to my family growing up, I too have formed bonds and relationships with people that go well beyond their pets. I have become part of people's families through the care of their pets.
For as long as I can remember, I wanted to be a veterinarian. I never had a backup plan - I just knew with enough hard work and dedication I would achieve my life-long goal. I had to…what else was I going to do?!
Job Titles:
- Practice Manager
- Sarah Bendo Practice Manager
Pets have "always" been a part of my home growing up. Cats, dogs, horses, and even a guinea pig and rabbit.
The idea of working with animals as a large part of my career has always made total sense to me. I was an equestrian coach for a number of years and worked on a breeding farm. It was on that farm, with the veterinarians coming and going all the time, that I decided that the veterinary world was for me.
I'm a people person who loves animals. So my role as a Veterinary Office Assistant is a great one for me. My days are rewarded by seeing our four legged visitors, sharing my knowledge with our clients and making sure that everyone is well taken care of and getting all that they can out of their relationship with all of us at Island Vet.