About Us
Serving Vancouver for Over 25 Years, Arbutus West Animal Clinic opened its doors 30 years ago and is now led by Dr. Burstyn. Our vision for the Arbutus West Animal Clinic is to be a bridge between family veterinarians and specialty, referral hospitals. Our mission is to offer care and clinical outcomes on par with a referral hospital, but in a warm and caring family practice setting, at a fraction of the cost. The welfare of your pet is our number one priority, and we always make ourselves available to address any questions and concerns you may have, and to help you be an active partner in your pet’s wellness Arbutus West Animal Clinic is in a class of its very own.
Meet The Team
Dr. Uri Burstyn
Medical Director
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At our veterinary hospital, we are honored to have Dr. Uri Burstyn as our Medical Director. A world-renowned veterinarian and pioneer in minimally invasive surgery, Dr. Burstyn has dedicated his career to providing exceptional care for animals while supporting their owners every step of the way.
With a YouTube channel boasting over 40 million views, his expertise is sought after internationally. Dr. Burstyn's love for animals is evident in his compassionate approach and commitment to their well-being. He is known for his detailed communication and in-depth knowledge, ensuring pet owners feel informed and confident in their pets' care.
Dr. Burstyn's experience spans across emergency and critical care facilities, advanced training in medicine and surgery, surgical consultation for biotech companies, and involvement in research on spinal cord injury. Passionate about sharing his expertise, Dr. Burstyn leads our internship program, training young veterinarians from Canada, the US, Australia, Ireland, and Iran.
Under Dr. Burstyn's guidance, our clinic strives to deliver the highest quality veterinary services in a warm and supportive environment. Join us and experience the difference a truly dedicated and knowledgeable professional can make in your pet's health and happiness.
Dr. Callum Mussi
Veterinarian
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Dr. Callum Mussi grew up in Cavan, Ireland. He graduated from the faculty of veterinary medicine at University College Dublin in 2020. Following his graduation he began working in mixed animal practice in rural Ireland where he worked and gained experience with a variety of animals both big and small. After almost two years working in Ireland he moved to Vancouver and joined the team at Arbutus West. In his spare time he likes to keep active playing Gaelic (Irish) football, skiing and hiking.
Dr. Mathew Korthauer
Veterinarian​
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Dr. Korthauer grew up in rural Wisconsin riding along with his dad who was a dairy veterinarian. Inspired by this experience, he entered the veterinary field and graduated from UW Madison Veterinary School in 2011. Further, he completed an Emergency and Critical Care Internship at a three-hospital network in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and enjoyed the variety of cases that he saw while there.
Dr. Korthauer worked in emergency medicine for five years then moved to Boston, working at a busy day-practice. Fortunately for us, he moved to Vancouver in 2019 with his wife and their two kitties, Fuji and Juno. He and his wife recently welcomed a new baby daughter into their lives which they are very excited about.
He loves exploring the natural beauty of BC, and loves the mountains, the ocean and the lack of cold weather. In his spare time, which is not much these days, he enjoys cooking, cycling, camping and hiking. Dr. Korthauer finds the most fulfilling part of being a veterinarian is helping sick pets get better, especially with new and creative treatments.
Dr. Kevin Shura
Veterinarian​
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Dr. Shura has been practicing veterinary medicine for over 30 years.
He was the Medical Director and Owner of Animal Care Clinic and Hospital, where he practiced general companion animal medicine.
He was honored to be the chosen veterinarian to care for the Vancouver Police Dog program for over twenty years.
Dr. Shura is owned by a sweet little Cirneco dog named Dima, who follows him everywhere. However, if a staff member is carrying doggy treats for patients, Dima’s loyalty immediately changes.
In his spare time, Dr. Shura enjoys watching live sports, travel and fine dining.
Angel Lo
Practice Manager
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Our practice manager extraordinaire has been taking care of things behind the scenes since 2015. She’s a tiny package of big ideas, endless energy and love for all creatures, big and small. She is also our in-house translator for our clients who speak Mandarin, Taiwanese and Japanese. When she’s not travelling the world with her awesome teddy bears you can find her at various music venues around town grooving to all kinds of funky beats.
Sierra Weatherby
Assistant Manager
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Sierra has a diverse background that is helpful in many areas of clinic operations. She previously worked in the special event field and understands the need for attention to detail in the veterinary profession in every regard. With a phone voice that rivals that of a professional, you will be fortunate to get her on the line when booking appointments! She goes the extra mile every day for staff and clients alike.
Sierra attended Grant McEwan University where she majored in theatre production. She loves to spend time gaming with a global group of friends online. With a flair for creativity, she loves to try new things and is always open to new adventures.
NJ
Head Veterinary Technician
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NJ has been with the clinic over 15 years and brings a thorough and experienced level of care to all aspects of the technician role and beyond. He is a trusted and vital member of our animal health team.
He works closely with the veterinarians, whether it be assisting with surgeries, critical care, emergency care and other areas of veterinary medicine.
He enjoys collecting and caring for succulent plants and is an accomplished photographer in his spare time.
Rodrigo
Veterinary Technician
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Rodrigo was born in Belo, Horizonte, Brazil where he spent many years as a veterinarian in small and large animal clinics. He moved to Canada with his family in 2016 and immediately completed his biology diploma at Langara College.
He has an infectious, positive personality and brings his gregarious attitude towards life every day in our clinics. He is a lovely team member, generous of spirit and heart.
He has a genuine love for all of the patients he interacts with and treats them as if they were his own. He is dedicated and loyal to his family, placing them at the heart of everything he does.
He spends his free time with them, pursuing fun adventures such as fishing, socializing with his extended family and friends and making everyone around him feel like a super star. We are grateful to have Rodrigo on our team!
He misses his two dogs in Brazil he had to leave behind because they were of advanced age. One was a Rottweiler named Katana and the other, Daryan, a Miniature Poodle.
Orlaith
Veterinary Technician
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Orlaith is originally from Ireland but has been living in Canada for 8 years. She lived in Calgary Alberta for 3 years and then moved to Vancouver 5 years ago. She has a fabulous Bernese mountain dog called Cushla. In her spare time she likes to spend time with friends, family, and Cushla.
Macan
Veterinary Technician
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He was born in Rasht, Iran. He studied Veterinary Medicine at IAUK and graduated in 2019. He was working part time as a Veterinary Assistant during his study to get more practical experience. His dedication to his patients has kept him in this field for over 10 years now. When he moved to Canada in 2020 he continued working as a Veterinary Technician. This allowed him to continue doing what he loves the most, which is taking care of animals as they are his own.
Hossein
Veterinary Office Assistant
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Hossein was born in Shiraz, Iran he has always enjoyed the company of animals. During his school years he worked as a volunteer at a shelter. He studied laboratory science as his bachelors but then his love for animals rekindled and he got his Master in Veterinary physiology. He worked as a veterinary technician in Iran for five years and gathered experienced with many different animals such as farm animals and small pets. He loves all animals, he had a young border collie which he adored but sadly she has passed away. He is always open to learning new things and improving his skills.
Anya
Veterinary Office Assistant
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Anya was born and raised in Vancouver BC. Whether it was a dog, cat, hamster, or fish, she was always surrounded by at least a couple pets growing up. After moving away from home and losing her daily visits with family pets and realized just how much she loves to be around animals. Anya is especially grateful to be working in the clinic because of the time she spends with the animals that come in to the clinic, thanks to them, her days are always full of furry friends and pawsitive interactions! In her spare time Anya likes to cook, paint, vedge out, and spend time with family.
Mallu
Veterinary Office Assistant
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​Coming all the way from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Mallu was drawn to explore Canada 7 years ago and just couldn’t leave. With a background in Fine Arts and growing up surrounded by all kinds of animals, from scaley to fuzzy friends, she’s found her way into our clinic and is always excited to meet new patients. When she’s not working to help your little friends at the clinic, you can find Mallu taking photos, writing, looking for weird little trinkets to add to her collection or spending time with her two (very spoiled) cats Kyoto and Zuko.
Logan
Veterinary Office Assistant
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Hamster mom, Logan, came to Vancouver from Montreal to do her master's at UBC in Biomedical Engineering. Lucky for us, she wanted to switch it up and learn more about veterinary medicine! With a big laugh and an even bigger heart, Logan always does her best to ensure you and your fuzzy friends are treated like family here at our clinic. In her spare time, you can find Logan in the mountains whether it's rock climbing the Chief, hiking up Garibaldi, or skiing in Whistler. She does her best to go above and beyond for you and your pets and always does so with love.
Michael
Veterinary Office Assistant
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Michael is new to Canada having moved over here last year from Roscommon, Ireland. He has a degree in Business, focusing in Human Resources.
Michael became part of the team due to his love for animals.
He likes going for hikes, going to the beach, spending time with friends and seeing what Canada has to offer.
“This clinic is the best care we have gotten for our cat. Very advanced in their medical care and make stressful situations easy by giving all the advice needed with patience.I can attest that they truly care about our cat's health and comfort of life for years to come (he is 13)Highly recommended!"
-Hossein, Vancouver