Capital Veterinary Hospital staff is filled with highly trained and experienced animal lovers who care deeply about
their jobs. Everyone makes it a goal to learn everything they can about the field they love in order to give our
patients the highest level of care.

At Capital Veterinary Hospital, we combine our fresh knowledge and long-standing experience with state of the art
medical facilities to provide the latest veterinary services for your loved pets. We would like you to have peace of
mind that your pet will receive our best practical services while visiting our hospital.

Our team is also kind. The members treat each patient, whether healthy or sick, with plenty of love and attention. They
educate owners on the importance of preventative care to keep their pets healthy while doing everything they can to help
when their pets are not feeling well.

 


Dr Ali Ashrafi

Dr Ali opened Capital Veterinary Hospital in November 2018, fulfilling a lifelong dream of having his own veterinary
hospital in Canberra. He spent many months designing a practice that reflected his personal philosophy of veterinary
care and has filled it with the latest high tech equipment.

Dr Ali graduated in 2001 as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and holds a Diploma Degree in Veterinary Medicine in
Pharmaceutical Sciences. He also ran his own mixed animal practice for 9 years before migrating to Australia in 2011.

Dr Ali worked in two veterinary hospitals in Perth for five years and two veterinary hospitals in Canberra. He moved to
Canberra for a temporary job as part of his journey to see the whole country. Loving the cold weather and green nature,
Dr Ali decided to stay in Canberra for good.

Dr Ali is very caring and committed to his work. He is always available to help animals in need, opening the practice on
weekends and public holidays as well as after-hours emergency work. He is passionate about internal medicine, surgery,
and ultrasonography; however his expertise is not limited to small animals. His knowledge and experience in veterinary
medicine extends to farm animals, equine, pocket pets, birds and exotic animals.

Dr Ali doesn’t have much spare time now he has his own practice ensuring the smooth running of day to day operations. Of
course he has hobbies; he loves travelling, camping and mountain climbing.


 

Dr Justing Michaels

Dr Justin Michaels – Veterinarian

Dr. Justin Michaels obtained his bachelor degree in Veterinary science (BVSc) from Zagazig university in Egypt in 1987.
He then migrated to the USA in 1988 where he completed his Education commission for foreign veterinary graduates (ECFVG) in 1995 with a DVM degree from the University of Missouri. Dr Justin practiced small animal medicine and surgery in the USA for 23 years including in Florida, Arizona, California and Washington state.

Dr Justin and his wife Nancy fell in love with Australia when they visited on a holiday in 2017. In 2018 they made the
decision to move here accompanied by their dog Einstein the Terrier Schnauzer. To this day they are still loving every
moment of it.

Dr Justin has a special interest in behaviour medicine and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the Capital
Veterinary team.


 

Dr Cherry Chung

Dr Cherry Chung – Veterinarian

Dr Cherry graduated in 2008 with a Bachelor of Veterinary Science from the University of Melbourne. She worked in
regional Victoria as a small animal veterinarian for a couple of years before moving overseas. Whilst abroad she
practiced in various small animal clinics and animal shelters.

Dr Cherry joined the Capital Veterinary Hospital team in July 2023 after relocating to Canberra with her family a few
years earlier.

Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family and her cat Mei Mei, the domestic short hair who was a stray
kitten who originated from Hong Kong.


 

Maddy Withers ~ Practice Operations Manager

capital vet staff member Maddy
Maddy joined Capital Veterinary Hospital in June 2023 but has long been immersed in the Veterinary industry. With almost 10 years’ experience as a qualified Vet Nurse as well as working in the Australian Public Service she brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the team.

Outside of work Maddy and her partner Chris are kept busy with their two dogs Norman the Boxer and Winslow the Staffy, as well as their two cats Marley the Ragdoll and foster fail Doug.

In her spare time, she loves spending time with her friends and family as well as going to the gym and trail running.


 

Brianna

Brianna Yap ~ Senior Nurse

Brianna has always had a passion for animals and their welfare, along with an interest in science and medicine. This
interest has brought her into the veterinary industry. Having completed her Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing in
2020, she is now studying her Certificate in Dog Behaviour, Psychology, and Training.
With 3 dogs and a bunny rabbit at home, Brianna fits right in with all of us and started working with Capital Veterinary
Hospital in May 2020.
Outside of work she enjoys going on any outdoor adventure and going to the gym, training as a powerlifter. This training
helps with her Great Dane at home whom she regularly lifts in and out of the car. ☺

 


Matilda

Matilda Collins ~ Senior Nurse

Matilda joined Capital Veterinary Hospital in July 2023 and has been working in the industry since 2019. In only a few
short years Matilda has gained plenty of unique experience having worked in both general and emergency hospitals, as
well as locum Nursing in the Northern Territory and Central Western New South Wales.

Matilda has loved animals for as long as she can remember and is kept busy at home with her unique array of pets
including Pipsqueak the Dachshund, Bindi the Kelpie, Mr Ricky the Labrador, Dalai the Llama, Frankie the Bearded Dragon and Birdie the Cockatoo.

Outside of work Matilda enjoys camping, hiking and travelling, along with volunteering for NSW Wildcare where she
rehabilitates and releases orphan eastern grey kangaroos.

 


Daiseree Brillantes (Daisy) ~ Junior Nurse

capital vet staff

Daisy joined the Capital Veterinary Hospital team in March 2022. She completed her Certificate III in animal studies in
2021 and has recently graduated as a qualified Veterinary Nurse completing her Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing in
2023.

Daisy brings so much to our team and along with her bubbly personality and great work ethics she is sure to delight
anyone who meets her.
Daisy has two pets of her own, Snowy the chihuahua x and Bean the cavoodle. In the future, Daisy would love to adopt a
Maine Coon (after meeting one in Japan, she fell in love with them), an African Grey Parrot and a German Shepherd.

 


Katherine El-Rassi ~ Client Care

capitalvet staff member Katherine.
Katherine joined the team in June 2023 as a part time receptionist. Moving to Canberra in October 2022 with her Husband and their fur baby Benji she wanted to look for meaningful part time employment, when she saw the role advertised, she applied immediately.

Katherine has many years of experience in the corporate roles, spent 27 years at American Express in various roles,
spent the last 7 years as a IT Project Manager, prior to moving to Canberra she worked in an administrative role for the
University of Sydney based at RNSH within the Northern Clinical School who support students obtaining their MD.

In her spare time, she loves spending time with family & friends, cooking and most of all being with her hubby and
Benji.

 


Rachel Bullock ~ Client Care

capitalvet staff member Rachel.
Rachel joined the Capital Veterinary Hospital team in September 2023, sharing the important customer care role with
Katherine.

Rachel grew up on a farm in NSW and said that is what ignited her love for animals at an early age. Rachel previously
worked in the veterinary industry before going on to become a qualified senior hairstylist. Despite this, says she can’t
groom her two cavoodles Lulu and Trigger for the life of her.
Rachel lives with her partner Mitch and is currently studying her Cert III in Companion Animal Care. When not looking
after and spoiling her two fur babies, Rachel spends time hanging out with her niece and nephew doing lots of fun and
exciting aunty things.