More than 35 years in the job and Hans is still enthusiastic about the working day. “There is never a day when I am not challenged, not learning something new, not getting great pleasure from my clients and their pets.”
Hans was the first veterinarian in New Zealand to qualify as a Member of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists in both cat and dog internal medicine. He now acts as a mentor for other veterinarians hoping to pass their examinations in this field.
Although his post-graduate training is in medicine it is his surgical repertoire that is most in demand from referring veterinary practices.
Practice management now takes a big chunk of his time, another ‘challenge’. For many years Hans edited the magazine for pet owners PAWS for thought. Hans also gives time to the BESTPRACTICE™ committee of the NZ Veterinary Association, the committee tasked with improving the quality of clinical veterinary practice and which oversees the BESTPRACTICE™ quality assurance program for vet practices.
Hans finds Nelson is perfect for running in the hills with his two Hungarian Viszlas, sea swimming, biking and tramping, passions he shares with his wife Susan Stokes. He always makes time for reading! Hans and Susan have two sons, Jens and Thomas.With both overseas that’s a powerful reason to travel!