Meet the Founders of Veterinary Specialist Services

Behind every great veterinary hospital is a team of people with enormous hearts. We're honouring the veterinarians who were here right from the very beginning. These were the clinicians who believed in a vision long before VSS had multiple hospitals, an ever-expanding team or state-of-the-art equipment. Their dedication, willingness to dream big and courage to build something new, laid the foundation for everything VSS has become. As we celebrate 25 years, we say thank you for the excellence you’ve modelled, for the culture you’ve shaped and for building the future we now stand on. Here’s to our founders, our history, and the next 25 years. 

Bruce Mackay
 

For more than four decades, Dr Bruce Mackay has been a pillar of the veterinary profession - a clinician, mentor, innovator and one of the driving forces behind specialist medicine in Australia. After graduating from the University of Queensland in 1979, he spent over a decade as a principal in a busy multi-vet small animal practice. In 1991, he embarked on a new chapter: the journey into specialist medicine. By late 2000, Dr Mackay and a growing team of highly skilled veterinarians founded Veterinary Specialist Services (VSS). 

From the very beginning, his special interests in gastroenterology, endocrinology, cardiology and oncology were clear, although anyone who knows Dr Mackay knows he’s endlessly curious and passionate about all aspects of veterinary internal medicine. Beyond his clinical expertise, he has always been a teacher at heart. He has provided continuing education across Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Japan, Hong Kong and China; generously sharing his knowledge with small animal veterinarians worldwide. His educational and training contributions have included the Australian College of Veterinary Scientists, the University of Queensland and the Brisbane Veterinary Practitioners Branch.

Today, after nearly 40 years in small animal practice, Dr Mackay remains as dedicated as ever. His depth of experience, steady leadership and unwavering commitment to patient care helped shape VSS into the respected institution it is today - and have profoundly influenced the countless vets who have trained, worked and grown under his guidance. Thank you, Dr Bruce Mackay, for your extraordinary service, mentorship and passion for veterinary medicine. Our patients, their families, our profession and our community are better because of you.

Kim Smith
 

Dr Kim Smith is a highly respected specialist surgeon whose skill, dedication and generosity have left a lasting legacy at VSS. Dr Smith began his veterinary journey in general practice, before undertaking the demanding path to specialist registration in small animal surgery. His years of rigorous training and his natural aptitude for problem-solving saw him develop expertise across orthopaedic, soft tissue and neurosurgical procedures. In 2000, he was one of the founding partners of VSS. Dr Smith was an integral part of the original surgical team, known for his calm, methodical approach in theatre, his thoughtful case management and his ability to translate complex surgical conditions into clear, reassuring guidance for families. His colleagues value his exuberant spirit, dry sense of humour and the generosity with which he shares his knowledge.

Dr Smith played a key role in mentoring veterinarians, interns and nurses at VSS - helping shape the clinical culture and supporting the next generation of veterinary professionals. Many surgeons who trained alongside him still credit him with influencing their surgical thinking and professional growth. Now based in Darwin, Dr Smith continues to provide world-class surgical care to pets in the Northern Territory and north Queensland. His commitment to excellence, compassion for his patients and inimitable optimism and enthusiasm remain hallmarks of his practice. We are grateful for Dr Smith’s immense contributions to VSS and are proud to celebrate the positive impact he continues to have for pets, their families and the veterinary community nationwide. 

Philip Moses
 

A 1986 graduate of the University of Sydney, Dr Philip Moses spent his early years in mixed and small animal practice, before his passion for advanced surgery led him to referral hospitals across the UK and Australia, including the University of Sydney’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital. In 2000, he became one of the founding partners of VSS. Just three years later, he was recognised as a Registered Specialist in Small Animal Surgery. His professional life was driven by deep curiosity, precision and an unwavering commitment to improving outcomes for pets and the people who love them.

Dr Moses’ surgical interests were vast, but he was especially known for his work in brachycephalic airway surgery, spinal anomalies in brachycephalic breeds, spinal surgery (particularly IVDD) in chondrodystrophic dogs, orthopaedic procedures including those performed pro bono for Australian wildlife (most notably koalas, wallabies and kangaroos). His generosity with his time and skill touched countless lives - from family pets to Australia’s native wildlife - and his willingness to teach ensured the next generation of veterinarians benefited from his depth of knowledge. As Adjunct Professor at the University of Queensland, he inspired countless students, including his own son, with his enthusiasm for surgery and lifelong learning.

Dr Moses’ contributions extended far beyond the operating theatre. He served the veterinary professional community at the highest levels, including as President of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists (ANZCVS). He was recognised with several major honours including Member (AM) of the General Division of the King’s Birthday Honours (2023) for significant service to the veterinary profession, life Member of the AVA and AVA Meritorious Service Award recipient.

Beyond his professional achievements, Dr Moses was devoted to his family, being the proud father of six incredible children - now including two veterinarians - as well as a loving owner of Pugs, Dachshunds, Burmese cats and a three-legged Rex. He was also a loyal supporter of the Queensland Reds and the Wallabies and is the reason VSS still has several framed team jerseys lining its halls. Dr Moses passed away on the morning of the annual VSS conference in 2024, an educational event he was instrumental in founding. He was not only an exceptional surgeon and leader, but a mentor, colleague, educator and friend to so many. His legacy is woven into the fabric of VSS, through the thousands of animals and families he helped; the students, interns and residents he mentored; and the standards he helped shape. We are grateful for his vision, his dedication and the lasting influence he leaves on our profession.

Terry King
 

Dr Terry King is not only one of Australia’s most experienced internal medicine and critical care veterinarians, but he is also a guiding force behind the development of specialty medicine in Australia. A proud north Queenslander, Terry graduated from the University of Queensland in 1975 and spent the first two decades of his career in general practice, before moving into academia as a clinician and director at University of Queensland’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital. In 2002, he joined VSS as a Director, bringing with him a passion for emergency and critical care that helped establish "PICU" - our Pet Intensive Care Unit - which is now recognised as a leader in its field.

Dr King has always been drawn to the challenge and complexity of caring for critically ill patients. His commitment to his craft, and to the families who trust him with their pets, has made a lasting impact on countless lives. Beyond clinical work, he has given tirelessly to the profession. He has served on numerous veterinary councils and committees, including the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists, the Australian Veterinary Association and the Australian Small Animal Veterinary Association. He has also contributed to continuing education across Queensland and supported generations of veterinarians as a mentor, lecturer, examiner and colleague.

Today, with over 45 years in veterinary practice, Dr King continues to embody compassion, curiosity and the lifelong pursuit of excellence. If you’ve spent any time at Veterinary Specialist Services, chances are, you’ve heard the name Dr Terry King spoken with awe and immense admiration. We are incredibly privileged to have had the opportunity to work alongside him, and are grateful for the leadership, wisdom and heart he brought to the VSS team every day.