Dr Alan Julian
BVSc. Diplomate ACVP.
Alan graduated from Massey in 1973 and then worked for a short time in clinical practice in Wanganui before joining the Wallaceville Animal Health Reference Laboratory as a Veterinary Investigation Officer. He trained as a pathologist with Dr. Peter O’Hara and then in later years worked with Dr. Bill Hartley so had the benefit of learning from two very experienced and well recognized pathologists.
During this period Alan had one year working at the Regional Animal Health Laboratory in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada on a job exchange. Alan then spent four months at the University of Guelph preparing for the American College of Veterinary Pathology examination. One of Alan’s first responsibilities at Wallaceville was screening of the exotic sheep in quarantine on Mana Island for Scrapie and other exotic diseases. From this arose an interest in neuropathology that has continued till today.
Alan moved north to join the Ruakura Animal Health Laboratory in 1986. Once at Ruakura and the lab started to become commercialized, work with the equine industry was started. The knowledge and cases received over the initial years were used when Alan was a Moderator for a conference on the diseases of horses for the other pathologists in New Zealand.
Since 1986 Alan has seen several changes in the organizations but his work as a pathologist has continued. In recent years Alan has a specialist role in screening all cases from meatworks where Cysticercosis or hydatids is suspected. Alan is also one of the pathologists contracted to the Animal Health Board to examine tissues for tuberculosis.
Personal interests include vintage car restoration, woodwork, photography and amateur jazz trombone.