Dr Michelle Sutherland

Dr Michelle Sutherland

BVM&S, BSc (Hons I), CertAVP (ZooMed), DipABVP (Avian Practice), FANZCVS (Avian Medicine & Surgery)

Dr Michelle moved to Australia from the UK in 2012. She has completed a residency training programme in Avian Medicine and Surgery, during which she studied with bird specialists in Australia and the USA. Michelle achieved her specialist status in Avian Practice through the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners in 2019 and became a Fellow of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists in Avian Medicine and Surgery in 2023, joining only a handful of other vets within Australia as an avian specialist.

Michelle is also one of only a few vets in Australia to hold a Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice (CertAVP) in Zoological Medicine, obtained through the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (UK), which included training in the medicine and surgery of birds, rabbits, rodents and ferrets, and reptiles.

Michelle enjoys working with all kinds of exotic pets, be they feathered, furry or scaly, but has a particular soft spot for birds and small mammals. Her experience working in the UK left her with a love of bunnies that will last for life!

Before becoming a vet, Michelle worked as a wildlife researcher in South Africa, Botswana, Kenya, Tanzania and the UK. She has written a number of scientific papers and is a regular contributor at veterinary conferences.

Hobbies and Interests

Outside of work, Michelle enjoys spending time with her husband and young family and can be found swimming, bushwalking, doing spin classes, wildlife watching and enjoying the produce of the great Australian vineyards. She also plays the ukulele.

Owned Pets

Michelle owns and enjoys snuggles with her two giant rabbits, Biscuits and Bingo.

• Detection of immunoreactivity to Psittaciform Bornavirus in the serum of a wild cacatuid in Victoria, Australia: DOI: 10.7589/JWD-D-20-00157
• Disease surveillance in wild Victorian cacatuids reveals co-infection with multiple agents and detection of novel avian viruses: DOI link to view article
• Molecular and microscopic characterisation of a novel pathogenic herpesvirus from Indian ringneck parrots (Psittacula krameri): DOI link to view article 
• The first complete mitogenome of Indian ringneck (Psittacula krameri) demonstrates close phylogenetic relationship with Eclectus parrot: DOI link to view article
• Characterisation of the first mitochondrial genome of a little Corella (Cacatua sanguinea) and its phylogenetic implications: DOI link to view article 
• Severe leukemoid response associated with Mycobacterium genavense infection in a pet budgerigar (Melopsittacus undulatus): DOI link to view article 
• Investigating gastrointestinal dysfunction in an Eclectus parrot: link to view AAVAC publication
• Genomic characteristation of a novel Psittacid Herpesvirus from Indian Ringnecks (Psittacula krameri): link to view AAVAC publication 
• Eustrongylides induced verminous coelomitis in an Australian darter (Anhinga novaehollandiae): link to view research output 

To view Dr Michelle’s authored publications and journal articles, link to Dr Michelle’s ORCID page.