Meet your team

  • Integrative Veterinarian / Clinical Director

    BVSc/BVetBiol (Hons) MRCVS

    CIVT Certified Herbalist

    Matthew obtained a double degree in Veterinary Science and Veterinary Biology in 2010 with first-class Honours from Charles Sturt University. Matthew has worked as a mixed animal general practitioner where he developed strong skills in orthopaedic & soft tissue surgery, dermatology and nutritional counselling. He also worked in London for several years consulting in wellness & internal medicine, out-of-hours emergency and critical care. Matthew has now completed his Certificate in Chinese Herbal Medicine and Chinese Food Therapies. He is available for Integrative Medicine Consultation encompassing conventional, complementary & alternative therapies. His Veterinary interests are wellness & preventative health care, integrative dentistry, cancer care, nutrition, the gut-brain-skin axis, immunology, dermatology and behaviour. Matthew is now also volunteering at Taronga Wildlife Hospital.

    Matthew recently won a 2021 game changer award from Animal Wellness Advocate Dr Karen Becker, click here to watch their conversation

  • Senior Integrative Veterinarian / Director / Hospital Superintendent

    BVSc, CVA (IVAS), Graduate Diploma Veterinary Chinese Herbal Medicine GDVCHM (CIVT)

    Karen Graduated from the University Of Sydney in 1987, and has worked in small animal practice in Sydney and the UK with an interest in holistic small animal veterinary medicine. Karen joined Dr Barbara Fougere at All Natural Vet Care in 2005, at the time the only Integrative Veterinary Practice in Sydney.

    She has studied acupuncture through the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society (IVAS). She has completed her Graduate Diploma in Veterinary Chinese Herbal Medicine at the College of integrative Veterinary Therapies (CIVT). She also practices Western Herbal Veterinary Medicine, and Neuromyofascial Release.

    Karen has many years of experience in Integrative Veterinary Practice and has a special interest in complex cases including endocrine diseases, immune-mediated disease, skin-gut-brain axis imbalances, geriatric care and helping pets with cancer.

    Karen is available for V2V consultations.

  • Integrative Veterinarian / Founder All Natural Vet Care

    BSc BVMS (Hons), BHSc (Comp Med), MODT, MHSc (Herb Med), CVA (IVAS), CVBM, CVCP, CMAVA

    Barbara started her studies in complementary medicine at university in 1986. Since then she has studied human and veterinary complementary medicine and is certified in veterinary and human herbal medicine, veterinary acupuncture and veterinary chiropractic, veterinary Chinese herbal medicine and veterinary and human homeopathy. She has also explored energy medicine with Reiki and several other lesser known therapies such as prolotherapy, tui na and Chinese food therapy

    Barbara is currently not available for consultation but still actively contributes to our clinical protocol development. Dr Barbara has recommended her existing clients see our other Integrative Veterinarian's at All Natural Vet Care until further notice. Please discuss with our friendly reception team who might be the best team member to take on your pet's healthcare.

  • Dr. Steve Marsden is one of the chief educators of veterinarians worldwide in the use of complementary and alternative therapies. Complementary and alternative medicine is being increasingly utilised by veterinarians for cases that cannot otherwise be adequately diagnosed or safely and effectively treated. While once considered questionable, these therapies are now being commonly incorporated into conventional practices and even pharmaceutical preparations to enhance outcomes.

    Dr. Marsden has assisted in making these therapies available and teaching veterinarians how to use them. He regularly lectures for the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society, the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association, the American Veterinary Medical Association, Wild West Veterinary Conference, and the North American Veterinary Conference. He has been a guest speaker for veterinary courses, colleges, and associations spanning five continents, and is co-founder of the College of Integrative Veterinary Therapies, an Australia-based institution offering distance learning programs in integrative medicine. He is also a director of the National College of Naturopathic Medicine, a fully accredited and leading educational institution in the United States offering comprehensive training in a diversity of alternative therapies for physicians. His textbook on natural veterinary medicine, published by Elsevier, has been translated into multiple languages, and is a leading resource worldwide.

    Dr. Marsden is the CVMA representative to the Veterinary Natural Health Products Advisory Committee, commissioned by the Government of Canada to advise on regulations that ensure safe use of herbal products in veterinary medicine. He is also the founder of Natural Path Herb Company, a supplier of safe, effective, and high quality herbal preparations to veterinary practitioners in Canada, the United States, and Australia.

    Dr. Marsden is among the most extensively trained veterinarians in alternative medicine in the world, receiving one of the first Master’s of Science degrees in Oriental Medicine ever to be awarded in North America, as well as board certifications in Chinese herbology, acupuncture and naturopathic medicine. When not teaching, he divides his time equally between veterinary and naturopathic medical practice in Edmonton, Alberta with his wife, Karen, and two children, Noah and Leo.

  • Integrative Veterinarian / Director / Veterinary Acupuncturist / Animal Rehab

    Registered Veterinary Surgeon of NSW , Member of Association of Australian Veterinary Acupuncturists, Graduate Diploma in Veterinary Acupuncture from the College of Integrative Veterinary Therapy

    Dr Ward is an experienced veterinary professional with a unique blend of knowledge, honed over many years in a variety of roles. His broad scope of experience, from zoo medicine to large animals and small animals - where he has practised for the past two decades - and his additional Graduate Diploma in Veterinary Acupuncture from the College of Integrative Veterinary Therapy has garnered him a place among a select pool of veterinarians worldwide. His educational credentials include a Bachelor of Agricultural Science from the University of Sydney, and Masters of Science in Veterinary Science Research degree from the University of Sydney, followed by his veterinary degree from Murdoch University in Western Australia in 1998. Highly qualified and dedicated, Dr Ward continues to demonstrate his commitment to healing animals through balanced care.

    Dr Ward is a highly experienced veterinary surgeon, specialising in integrative care and animal rehabilitation. Drawing from his holistic approach to pet health, he delivers individualised care plans that promote wellness, vitality, and a comfortable lifestyle. Responsible for leading our pain clinic at All Natural Vet Care, Dr Ward is committed to helping animals of all species and has a passion for addressing mobility issues, skin disease, kidney disease and hormonal imbalance to provide preventative treatments and therapeutic solutions. With his diploma in animal rehab, Dr Ward provides the highest level of care so that your pet gets the attention they need.

  • Veterinary Naturopath/Acupuncturist

    BVM, PhD, GDip VCHM (CIVT)

    Certified Fear-Free Practitioner

    Mio has been working in the veterinary industry over 30 years since she started as a vet assistance. She graduated from Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology with a veterinary degree in 2002 and is a registered vet in Japan. After completing a prestigious PhD program on full scholarship at Wadsworth Center, New York State

    Department of Health in the United States, exploring cancer behavior at the cellular and molecular levels, she went back to her hometown of Tokyo and worked as a chemotherapy specialist/researcher to develop tailored care for canine and feline cancer patients. This was also when she discovered the power of natural diet and herbal therapy and how well they complement the conventional cancer treatment.

    Since then, integrating molecular therapies and holistic medicine has become her passion, and she’s been living her dream since she completed Graduate Diploma in Veterinary Chinese Herbal Medicine at College of Integrative Veterinary Therapies (CIVT) in 2016. She is currently a faculty member of CIVT and teaches natural nutrition and naturopathy courses.

    Mio is available for V2V consultations on Mondays and Fridays for Naturopathic Consultations . Her approach is highly individualised and combines multiple modalities – natural nutrition, western and eastern herbal medicines, gut microbiome restoration, lifestyle management, acupuncture, photobiomodulation, homeopathy and flower essence. Mio is also a certified fear-free practitioner.