Dr Helen Milner

Dr. Helen Milner, BVSc(Dist), PhD (Immunology), FANZCVS (Small Animal Surgery), CertVR (Radiology),

Helen graduated with Distinction from Massey University in 1989, receiving the Veterinary Science Faculty Medal for her undergraduate performance.  She began work in Auckland as a small animal veterinarian and soon after departed for the UK to pursue her surgical dreams.

In 1991, she became the Senior Demonstrator in Surgery at the Small Animal Hospital at the University of Liverpool. In 1992, she accepted a 3-year residency training programme in Soft Tissue Surgery at the Royal Veterinary College, London. During this time, Helen completed the Certificate in Veterinary Radiology. In 1996, she was awarded a Veterinary Research Fellowship and a position at the prestigious Trinity College, University of Cambridge, UK, from which she completed a PhD in Immunology in 1999.

In 2000, Helen relocated back to Auckland to help develop and deliver the Veterinary Nursing and Animal Technology courses at UNITEC whilst also continuing her clinical veterinary work at both primary and referral practices. In 2003, she moved south and became a business partner at 'Vetspecs' in Christchurch.   With Helen on board, 'Vetspecs' grew to include not just Surgical Specialists but also Internal Medicine and Diagnostic Imaging Specialists as well as trainee residents and interns.  Furthermore, relationships with human imaging services and human and veterinary cancer care facilities were strengthened, making MRI and CT imaging a weekly routine for her patients and allowing animals unique access to advanced radiation oncology.  As a result of these forged and fostered relationships, in 2022, an animal-specific MRI facility became available in Christchurch, a New Zealand first.  

Whilst running and working within Vetspecs, Helen developed a CPD programme for the South Island veterinary community, including the regular 'Vetspecs Journal Club' meetings, the annual travelling 'Vetspecs Roadshows', and the quarterly 'Specialist Connection' educational 'zine'.  She also continued her own professional development by training in referral centres across the globe including in Australia, New Zealand, North America, and Europe.  This has led to persisting friendships and connections with some of the world's best veterinary specialists in many different disciplines, allowing a truly collaborative approach to thrive.  Twenty-four-seven care for patients was also critically important to her and so 'Vetspecs' joined forces with a Christchurch based after-hours hospital, another first in New Zealand, that proved the amazing synergy resulting when a daytime specialist facility is combined with an after-hours one.  Helen is proud that this model still exists in Christchurch to this day.  

Helen became a Member of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists (ANZCVS) in Small Animal Surgery by examination in 2004 and a Fellow by examination in 2006, the latter leading to her registration as a Small Animal Surgical Specialist.  She then served for many years as an examiner for the ANZCVS. 

After over ten years of business ownership, Helen sold 'Vetspecs' as a successful going concern in 2014. She remained in Christchurch and formed Milner Veterinary Surgical Referrals (MVSR) Ltd. in 2015, serving practices in New Zealand & Australia with a continued mission to provide the most compassionate and collaborative surgical specialist care for small animals and their families and to provide collegial support to all in her veterinary whānau.