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
Medical Director
Dr. Uri Burstyn
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.
Veterinarian
Dr. Callum Mussi
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.
Veterinarian​
Dr. Miguel Caminos
Dr. Miguel Caminos studied at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) where he gained an interest in dogs, cats and horses. He worked two years as a veterinarian in Mexico before moving to Kamloops, BC, where he worked for a year. Currently Dr. Miguel is working as an intern for Dr. Uri, perfectioning his surgery skills and learning a lot about exotics. His favorite breeds are pitbulls and dobermans.
Veterinarian​
Dr. Diamond Nguyen
Dr. Diamond Nguyen is a local to the Vancouver area but has studied across Ontario, Australia and USA. Having previous experience as a veterinary technician and practice manager, she received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine at Oregon State University in 2024. Dr. Nguyen’s interest lies in anesthesiology and pain medicine, as well as emergency care and feline medicine. She is currently completing a surgery and medicine internship at Arbutus West Animal Clinic.
In her spare time, Diamond enjoys hanging out with her two cats, Sayu and Tobiko. She aspires to travel across the world and volunteer at cat sanctuaries and rescues to provide veterinary care.
Veterinarian
Dr. Mathew Korthauer
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.
Veterinarian​
Dr. Kevin Shura
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.
Practice Manager
Angel Lo
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.
Assistant Manager
Sierra Weatherby
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.
Head Veterinary Technician
NJ
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.
Veterinary Technician
Rodrigo
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.
Veterinary Technician
Julia
Coming Soon!
Veterinary Technician
Natalia
Coming Soon!
Veterinary Technician
Orlaith
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.
Veterinary Technician Assistant
Mallu
​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.
Veterinary Office Assistant
Alex
Alex joined our team almost a year ago when she came to Canada on a Working Holiday. She is originally from Poland, but has also lived in England and the Czech Republic in recent years. She is really enjoying her stay in Vancouver and decided to settle down long term. She’s always loved all kinds of animals and has a sheltie named Kira.
Veterinary Office Assistant
Sophie
Coming Soon!
Veterinary Office Assistant
Clarice
Coming Soon!
Veterinary Office Assistant
Polina
Coming soon!
Veterinary Office Assistant
Jo
Coming Soon!
Veterinary Office Assistant
Maria
Coming Soon!
Veterinary Office Assistant
Natalie
Coming soon!
“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