IDEXX Pathologists and Professionals

Dr Nao Akiyama

DVM

Veterinary Pathology Resident – Clinical Pathology

Nao is one of our three new clinical pathology residents who started working in 2023. She is one of the first residents based in Japan and will participate in the diagnostic service both in Australia and Japan. She has experience as an intern at university for 2 years after graduating vet school, and as a clinician in a private clinic for 1.5 years. Her clinical pathology journey started when she came across the cytology of bone marrow while she was a student and was subsequently fascinated by cytology. Her main interests now lie in improving the accuracy and timeliness of animal disease diagnosis. All reports you receive from Nao will be reviewed by another pathologist before release during her early training period. In her private time, Nao loves to make sweets or spend time with her dog and cat.

Dr Angus Black

BVSc (Dist.), MACVSc (Path.)

Veterinary Pathologist

Angus, a Massey University graduate, has been involved in veterinary pathology for over thirty years, gaining membership of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists in 1995.

His career in pathology began  in a regional government laboratory in Hamilton followed by several years at various veterinary diagnostic laboratories in NZ. A co-founder of New Zealand Veterinary Pathology (NZVP) in 2004 Angus and his fellow directors developed and grew the business over the following eleven years culminating in three laboratory sites across the North Island.

Angus has maintained a diagnostic role with  IDEXX Laboratories following the purchase of NZVP in 2015. His skills primarily encompass clinical pathology although he also has a keen interest in production animal herd and flock health. This includes an emphasis on the laboratory role in relation to macro and trace element testing with an associated focus on virology, serology, microbiology and parasitology.

Angus is an active member of the New Zealand BVD Steering Committee.

One of Angus’ career highlights was being credited with making the first confirmed diagnosis of bovine congenital erythropoietic protoporphyria in New Zealand.

Often resident in Fiji, Angus spends some of his spare time as a clinician for a local charitable clinic.

Dr Deborah Chong

BSc (Vet) (Hons), BVSc (Hons), DipACVP (Anat Path)

Specialist Anatomic Pathologist

Deborah graduated with honours from the University of Sydney in 2018 and moved to the USA to complete a three-year veterinary anatomic pathology residency at the Oregon State University. After working at the state diagnostic lab in North Dakota, she joined IDEXX as a veterinary pathologist. Deb enjoys and thrives on the challenges of dealing with different species (be they with fur, feathers, scales, shell, exoskeleton etc), body systems and diseases in veterinary pathology. Outside work, she enjoys spending time with family, reading, and going on walks and hikes.

Dr Emma Croser

BSc BVMS MVSt PhD MANZCVS(Path), Diplomate ACVP(Clin path) - Clinical pathology, haematology/biochemistry and cytology

Specialist Veterinary Pathologist, Specialist Clinical Pathologist

Dr Croser graduated from Murdoch University and worked in mixed practice in both Australia and the United Kingdom for 7 years, completing a Masters in Veterinary Studies in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery followed by pathology training at the University of Queensland and University of Melbourne. Emma’s PhD explored aspects of Hendra virus infection as a collaboration between the Monash Institute of Medical Research and the CSIRO Australian Animal Health Laboratory. Emma has over 20 years’ experience, and has worked in commercial pathology laboratories as well as academia, remains an adjunct senior lecturer in Veterinary Clinical Pathology at Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, Australia, has long been involved in examining for the ANZCVS and has been President of the ANZCVS Pathobiology chapter 2020-2023. Her pathology passion is interpreting haematology and biochemistry profiles with an interest in biological variation and in keeping her medicine knowledge as current as possible with small animal medicine study, as the two disciplines are closely intertwined and complementary. She loves being outdoors in the mountains, mountain biking, skiing and kayaking, and is a slave to two rather badly behaved dogs and 2 perpetually hungry cats.

Dr Mizuki Fujimoto

BVM

Veterinary Pathology Resident – Clinical Pathology

Mizuki is one of our three new residents who joined in 2023 August.

She is based in Japan and will be involved in both Australian and Japanese services.

She has lived in the UK for four years during her childhood, and experiences such as having her first Dachshund and enjoying horse riding were her main motivators for joining the veterinary world. After graduation from Kagoshima University (EAEVE accredited) in 2021, she worked in general practice for a year and then started working as a rotating resident doctor in Kagoshima University where she developed her interest in clinical pathology, learning both primary and secondary care. She will be supervised mainly by the Australian IDEXX team and will be trained by the Japanese team as well, and one of her goals is to be able to report in both English and Japanese. She has seven Dachshunds (descendants of her first) and three Border collies in her parent’s home, as well as a rescue cat in her own home.
 

Alan Julian

BVSc Diplomate ACVP

Veterinary Pathologist

Alan graduated from Massey University in 1974, worked for a short period at the Wanganui Veterinary Club then took the position of Veterinary Investigation Officer at the Wallaceville Animal Health Reference Laboratory. This period included one year on exchange to the Regional Animal Health Laboratory, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada and four months at the University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada. In 1985 Alan became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists.

In 1986 Alan transferred to the Ruakura Animal Health Laboratory. He remained there during the transition from a MAF owned laboratory to AgriQuality.

He then moved to a commercial veterinary laboratory based in Hamilton where he worked until 2013.Alan joined NZVP in February 2014 and continued with IDEXX when they purchased NZVP in 2015.

Now working  part time his interests are large animal pathology, especially diseases of horses, neuropathology and diseases of the foetus and placenta.

In his time away from work Alan works on vintage cars, looks after livestock on their small block and plays trombone.

Dr Michelle Lewis

BSc , BVSc [MMedVet (anatomical pathology)] 

Michelle completed her BVSc at the University of Pretoria in 2006. After spending 8 years in government roles involving import/export and quarantine services and doing locums in private practices, she joined a diagnostic laboratory as a veterinary consultant for pathology services. Shortly after she enrolled in the anatomical pathology residency program at the University of Pretoria.

During her pathology career thus far she has worked as the resident wildlife pathologist at the South African national zoo, at a state diagnostic laboratory and as a lecturer at the veterinary faculty of the University of Pretoria. Since moving to New Zealand with her family in 2021, she spent a short time working as a veterinarian at an export meat establishment. She joined Idexx in February 2023. Michelle's areas of interest include anatomical pathology of companion animals, marine mammals and wildlife.

When she is not working, she enjoys spending time with her family, taking walks with her dogs and camping.

Dr Jon Meyer

BVSc, DVSc, Diplomate ACVP(Clin Path), MRCVS

Specialist Clinical Pathologist, Deputy Head of Clinical Pathology ANZ

Originally from South Africa, Jon graduated from the University of Pretoria (Onderstepoort) in 1996 with a Bachelor of Veterinary Science degree. After graduation Jon worked as a locum in South Africa as a general practitioner for a couple of years. He was then offered a position at a small animal hospital in Wiltshire, UK where he remained for 5 years in general practice. Jon has always had an interest in pathology, particularly clinical pathology, and when the opportunity to pursue postgraduate studies at the Ontario Veterinary College arose, he and his wife Lucy moved to Canada for 3 years. At OVC Jon completed a Doctorate in Veterinary Science with a research project investigating lung damage caused by mechanical ventilation in rabbits, as a model for premature babies lacking surfactant. In 2006 Jon passed the American College of Veterinary Pathologist board exams in clinical pathology and is registered as a specialist in Australia and New Zealand. He has worked as a clinical pathologist for nearly 20 years at various diagnostic laboratories around Australia and New Zealand. Jon’s areas of interest include haematology, biochemistry, endocrinology, cytopathology, quality assurance, automation, and digital cytology. Jon and his wife  have 3 young children and live in Raglan, New Zealand. During his time off Jon is seldom far from the ocean and is a keen surfer. In the summer months, together with his eldest daughter, Jon volunteers as a lifeguard patrolling Ngarunui beach in Raglan.

Dr Susan Piripi

BVSc, PhD, DACVP (Anatomic and Clinical pathology)

Susan graduated from Massey University, New Zealand with a Bachelor in Veterinary Science in 2003. She continued on to postgraduate study in veterinary pathology for which she was awarded a PhD in 2008 for characterising a new chondrodysplasia in Texel sheep.

Susan moved to the USA to complete a three-year residency at the Oregon State University in the anatomic pathology department. Susan was awarded the status of Diplomate of American College of Veterinary Pathologists in 2011 after successfully passing the anatomic pathology board examinations.

She has worked as Head of Pathology for the University of Sydney’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital’s pathology unit in Camden. She was one of their senior veterinary lecturers in veterinary pathology. In 2013, Susan helped facilitate the inaugural K9 Tactical Casualty Care Course at Camden hospital. The course focused on helping dog handlers and defence force officers learn life-saving emergency veterinary skills.

In 2014, Susan joined the IDEXX team in Melbourne, primarily in a clinical pathologist role but soon incorporating an anatomic pathology caseload. In 2017, she transferred back home to New Zealand, and has since then been based at the IDEXX Palmerston North lab, operating out of the Massey University School of Veterinary Science. In 2021, Susan sat and passed the American College of Veterinary Pathologists clinical pathology board examinations, becoming one of the rare few awarded dual certification.

Susan is experienced in all aspects of veterinary pathology. She is passionate about providing excellent diagnostic service and enjoys working closely with other veterinary professionals in diagnosing and managing cases. Susan has a keen interest in pathology for companion and production animals, camelid pathology, and in particular bone/joint, skin and eye disease.

During her career, she has co-authored and published papers in the Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation, Frontiers in Veterinary Science, Journal of Small Animal Practice, Veterinary Dermatology, Veterinary Ophthalmology, Australian Veterinary Journal, Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, The Veterinary Journal, Animal Genetics, and Cartilage.

Dr Peter Toh

BSc, DVM, MSc, Dip ACVP (Clin Path)

Specialist Clinical Pathologist

Peter completed his veterinary training at the University of Adelaide, graduating with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 2014. After 3 years in small animal general practice, he undertook a residency program in Clinical Pathology at the University of Saskatchewan, completing his degree and achieving board certification for clinical pathology with the American College of Veterinary Pathologists in 2021. He joined Idexx as a Clinical Pathologist in 2023. His areas of professional interest include cytopathology and infectious diseases, and helping general practitioners to get the most out of their clinical pathology submissions. Outside of work he enjoys cooking, hiking, and photography.

Dr Geoffrey Xu

BVSc (Hons)

Veterinary Pathology Resident – Clinical Pathology

Geoff is one of our three new residents who joined in 2023 August and is based at our Melbourne lab.

Prior to starting his veterinary career, Geoff worked in multiple different fields including as an engineering intern, in a milk factory, and organising a small tutoring business. After coming top of class in his veterinary degree from The University of Queensland in 2021 he completed a rotating internship at UQVETS – Small Animal Hospital and continued to work in the primary care and emergency and critical care departments afterwards.

In his spare time Geoff enjoys playing badminton, swimming, and video games. He currently lives with his adopted stray cat, and his past pets included several dogs and a few rats!

Geoff will be working closely with the other residents (including senior resident Dr Sky Brunker) as well as the Australian & New Zealand IDEXX teams more broadly.