Specialist Surgery Services and Rehabilitation

Takanori Sugiyama

MS, MVDr/DVM/NVE, MANZCVS, MVS, MVSc, GCCT, DACVS-SA, De Facto DAiCVS, CCRT.

Dr Taka is a Board certified (Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Surgeons: DACVS) and registered specialist surgeon who is also a certified rehabilitation therapist (CCRT). Perth’s first board certified surgeon with rehabilitation facilities on site – your pet is surgically treated with optimal recovery, assisted by the performing surgeon, complete with full knowledge of the patient and a fully equipped rehabilitation facility.

Dr. Taka’s goal is to provide a range of simple to complex surgical services and rehabilitation for patients, referred by veterinarians, so patients receive the best possible care and functional recovery.

  • Dr Taka was born and raised in Japan, but he has spent more than half of his life overseas, with the majority being in Australia. He has extensive surgical knowledge and skills, obtained by numerous experiences in Australia, Asia, and the US. Dr Taka has published over 10 articles, including a contributing author in several book chapters (see references). He has presented in domestic and international conferences. Dr Taka would like to contribute to establish the referral surgery system in Asia (AiCVS). Dr Taka is a diplomate, ACVS and AiCVS (specialist surgeon), member of Veterinary Orthopaedic Society (VOS), and Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Osteosynthesefragen (AO) Vet, and Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists (MANZCVS).

    Dr Taka lives in Perth with his family and many animals and is a car and motorcycle enthusiast. Outside of work, he loves training martial arts and going out with his family.

Our Staff

Dr Dave Stewart
Anaesthetist - ECVAA
residency trained
anaesthesia, pain clinic

Dave qualified from the University of Liverpool in 2014. He then went on to mixed practice in the rural and beautiful English Lake District before completing an anaesthesia internship back at the University of Liverpool and a residency at the University of Edinburgh. He subsequently built a broad experience base locuming around the UK and NZ before moving with his family to Perth.

He has specific interests in complex pain management, local nerve block techniques, and keeping the team buoyed with his terrible dad jokes.

Dr Francesca Pagnacco
BSc, BVMS, CCRP
rehabilitation vet

Fran graduated from Murdoch University in 1999 and has worked in small animal practice in Perth and the UK for over two decades. She completed her CCRP certification through the University of Tennessee and has a strong interest in orthopaedic and spinal rehabilitation, senior mobility, and tailored exercise planning.

  • She has owned and operated veterinary practices in Perth, including establishing the first clinic to integrate general practice, hydrotherapy, acupuncture, and rehabilitation. Fran enjoys cycling, water sports, and live music, and at home she’s happily outnumbered by a golden retriever and a three-legged cat.

Dr Jie Shi (JS) Kuan
patient care vet

Armed with a new degree, Jie Shi (JS) is stepping into the surgical world at Cedar Mountain Veterinary Referral with enthusiasm, curiosity, and a determination to give every patient their best care. With a growing passion for small animal surgery and anaesthesia, JS thrives in the theatre, tackling challenging cases and learning new skills along the way.

  • Known for a soft spot for anything fluffy, JS brings good vibes, a love for animal memes, and a balanced focus to every shift. Outside the clinic, JS enjoys playing a variety of sports, exploring the outdoors, and can often be found happily distracted by any animal that wanders by.

    With a love for both learning and laughter, JS approaches each day with positivity, fresh perspectives, and a dedication to making a meaningful difference for patients and colleagues alike. Fun fact: despite a lifelong love of animals, JS has never had a pet but hopes to adopt one very soon!

Dr Adel Putrivana
patient care vet

Dr Adel is originally from Indonesia and moved to Perth to pursue her veterinary studies, graduating from Murdoch University in 2020. Since then, she has worked in a variety of small animal practices across Perth, gaining broad clinical experience.

  • Adel is committed to delivering the highest standard of care and values building trusting relationships with both pets and their owners. She is dedicated to continuous learning and is always striving to further develop her knowledge and skills to better support her patients.

    Outside of work, she enjoys curling up with a good book and exploring Perth’s best brunch spots with her husband and their dog, Butters.

Dr Jasmine Ru-Yi Teo
patient care vet

Dr. Jasmine is a University of Queensland vet school graduate, having previously completed her undergraduate in Bachelor of Science with a major in veterinary epidemiology at the University of Melbourne.

  • She has a special interest in small animal surgery, and all aspects of veterinary medicine related to brachycephalics - she was known as the “Pug Girl” whilst in vet school. This interest developed when her sister brought a pug puppy home 10 years ago, and now she spends her free time reading journal articles on surgery and brachycephalic medicine with her two pugs, Chewbacca and Pugsley. Outside of work, Jasmine enjoys video games, reading, crafting, going to the gym and exploring new cafes in pursuit of a delicious sweet treat.

Dr Alfred Lee
patient care vet

Alfred graduated from Murdoch University in 2024 and has since spent a year working in general practice. During this time, he developed a strong interest in surgery and rehabilitation, with a focus on helping patients recover and return to their best. Outside the clinic, Alfred enjoys bouldering, unwinding with video games, and catching up on his ever-growing Netflix watchlist.

Codie Wooster-Raven
vet nurse

Codie Joy Wooster-Raven is a dedicated veterinary nurse with a strong commitment to animal health and welfare. Having worked with animals since 2015 and qualifying in 2018, Codie brings both experience and compassion to every aspect of her role.

  • She is currently studying at Murdoch University, majoring in Conservation and Wildlife Biology alongside Marine Biology, where she combines clinical expertise with academic knowledge to support both domestic and wild species.

    As a licensed wildlife carer, Codie provides rehabilitation and care for native fauna, reflecting her deep respect for nature. Passionate about all animals, she has a special interest in feline medicine, dedicating focused care and knowledge to improving outcomes for cats.  

     Outside of her professional life, Codie enjoys spending time with her own cats and birds, exploring the outdoors through 4WD and camping adventures, and connecting socially with friends. This balance of dedication and personal passion highlights her commitment to animals and the natural world.

Sheree Manning
vet nurse

Sheree graduated from Edith Cowan University in 2016 with an undergraduate degree in Conservation and Wildlife Biology. Following her enthusiasm for animal care, she went on to complete her Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing at Applied Vocational Training.

  • For the past seven years, Sheree has worked as a Veterinary Nurse within a major veterinary corporation in Perth, providing high-quality general nursing care across multiple clinics.

    Sheree has a strong passion for surgery and a particular interest in anaesthesia. She prides herself on low-stress handling techniques and, combined with her calm and compassionate manner, works to ensure her patients feel safe, comfortable, and relaxed during their hospital stay.

    Outside of work, Sheree enjoys running, hiking, hand embroidery, spending time with her nieces and nephews, and caring for her sassy bunny, Mr Riddles.

Kara van Rullen
vet nurse

Kara is one of our veterinary nurses at Cedar Mountain Vet Referral. She graduated from Applied Vocational Training in 2016 and has nine years of experience in general small animal practice. Kara has a strong passion for patient care and surgical monitoring and loves supporting patients through all stages of their treatment. Her favourite part of nursing is seeing both patients and clients leave happy and healthy. Kara looks forward to meeting all the new fur babies and ensuring their experience is positive and stress-free.

Shayler Owens
vet nurse

Shayler is a veterinary nurse with a deep passion for animal care and wellbeing. Animals have always been central to her life, and she brings energy, warmth, and a positive presence to both her patients and the team. She is committed to providing compassionate, gold-standard care and ensuring every patient feels safe and loved during their hospital stay. Shayler has a strong interest in rehabilitation, postoperative recovery, blood work and patient care.

  • She values teamwork, continuous learning, and working in environments that prioritise high clinical standards and respectful collaboration.

    Outside of work, Shayler loves scuba diving, video games & spending time at the beach with her husband and their dogs: Ruby the Rottweiler and Scrim, the Aussie Shepherd x Border Collie and participating in sheep-dog herding training with Scrim on their camping & 4WD trips down south.

Sue Dunkley
receptionist

After 10 years as a medical receptionist, Sue finally followed her heart into veterinary reception - a dream she has had since leaving school thanks to her lifelong love of animals. Sue is friendly, easy-going, and always happy to help pets and their people feel welcome and cared for.