We are extremely proud of our dedicated team. We hire only the best and most experienced employees to become a part of our team here at The Barn Door Veterinary Care. Our team is filled with highly dedicated animal lovers who are well trained at their jobs. They will do anything possible for their patients and the owners who love them.
Learning and education are very important here at The Barn Door Veterinary Care. We strive to have a state of the art hospital with a staff trained in the latest medical advances. Our patients deserve the very best veterinary care.
Basically, our team is full of animal lovers. They make it a goal to treat each patient like their own. They give each patient plenty of love and attention. They are prepared to discuss preventative medicine so that every pet can stay as healthy as possible. They will also do everything that they can to make a sick pet feel better as soon as possible.
If you would like to speak to someone on our team, don’t hesitate to contact us today at (604) 227-3111.
Dr. Ina & Lola + Ruby
Veterinarian
Founder of The Barn Door Veterinary Care
College of Veterinarians of B.C
Canadian Veterinary Medical Association
The American Academy of Ozonotherapy
American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association
Our founder and principal, Dr. Ina Purborini, is truly one-of-a-kind. Her reputation and candor follows her wherever she goes. Dr. Ina has garnered immense veterinary experience including surgical operation, integrative medicine, microbiome restorative therapy, mobile veterinary specialization, joint and muscle treatment, diagnostics, animal dermatology, and the list goes on.
Dr. Ina Purborini graduated in 1989 from Bogor Agricultural Institute, Indonesia. She had a successful small animal practice in Jakarta for 14 years before she immigrated with her family, along with their three cats and a dog in 2004.
Upon passing the National Board Exams to obtain her British Columbia license in 2007, Dr. Ina practised all over the lower mainland before deciding to finally pursue her dream to have her own integrative small animal practice.
Dr. Ina currently resides with her husband and their rescue bull dogs, Lola & Ruby, in the Westwood Plateau area and is a proud grandmother to her grandog, Willow. Dr. Ina also loves to decorate and create interior designs, especially for her clients when they come to visit.
Dr. Ina strives to provide the utmost care to all her patients and she looks forward to seeing you and your furry family members!
Dr. Schlicht & Lola
Veterinarian
Veterinary Dentistry
College of Veterinarians of B.C
Universidad Austral de Chile
University of British Columbia
Master of Science degree in Animal Science
Dr. Alberto Schlicht is so happy to be a part of the team at The Barn Door Veterinary Care.
Born in Chile, Dr. Alberto spent a memorable childhood amongst howler monkeys and silent sloths in the jungle of Venezuela, and when older, graduated with a degree in Veterinary Medicine earned at the Universidad Austral de Chile.
Dr. Alberto finished a M.Sc degree in Animal Science at UBC in 2003 and completed his Canadian veterinary accreditation in 2008. He has been passionately practicing since then.
He enjoys talking to pet guardians, explaining medical conditions and the needs of their pets as simply and clearly as possible. Dr. Alberto is passionate about veterinary dentistry and it has become the focus of his professional development.
He has accumulated extensive dental training with veterinary dental specialists and continues attending conferences, lectures and wet laboratories on a yearly basis.
On a personal note, Dr. Alberto lives in East Vancouver with his wife Michelle and their teenage son Oliver who shares his love of travel, spontaneous road trips and the gentlemanly sport of Rugby.
Dr. Elizabeth Kuan
Veterinarian
University of Melbourne
Dr. Elizabeth Kuan graduated from the University of Melbourne, Australia in 2014. Upon graduation she came back to Vancouver and accepted a GP position with the clinic she had volunteered at for over 10 years. She left her position after a couple years to gain more experience working as a locum GP veterinarian as well as a hospitalist at a local specialist referral centre. While she learned a lot working directly with specialists, she realised her passion was in GP work. She likes the relationships she forms with her clients and enjoys the updates she receives on how her patients are doing. And although she loves an intriguing emergency case, emergency vets don’t have the added bonus of cute, healthy puppy and kitten visits!
Dr Kuan is currently working at a handful of clinics around the Lower Mainland. This allows her to work with and learn from different veterinary teams while still practicing GP medicine. She has a soft spot in her heart for geriatric medicine because of her fur family.
You can sometimes catch Dr Kuan walking her 2 senior dogs around the clinic. Oreo is a wobbly Scottie mix with chronic spinal disease who she’s had since a pup. Uncle Gino is her recent “Covid-adoption” and has the cutest lower canines you’ll ever see. Dr Kuan also lives with Bee, a senior cat.
Dr. Kuan enjoys taking her two senior dogs out for little adventures. Their favourite places are Queen Elizabeth park and the New Westminster Quay. If she is not with her dogs, you can find her exploring the tri-cities with her friends for good eats. Like many during the pandemic, she is also trying to turn her black thumb into a green thumb. The jury is still out on how successful she will be at keeping her plants alive..
Iona & Charlie
Registered Animal Health Technologist
Thompson Rivers University
Iona graduated from the Animal Health Technology program at Thompson Rivers University in 2008. After graduation, she started her career as a Registered Veterinary Technician in beautiful Victoria, BC. She spent four years working in a busy, small/ large animal practice where she was mentored by knowledgeable, skilled senior technicians. Since moving back to the lower mainland in 2012 to be closer to her family, she worked in two multi-doctor practices before joining the Barn Door team in 2018. She briefly left the Barn Door in 2020 to try her hand at emergency medicine at the Animal Emergency Clinic of the Fraser Valley where she spent one year developing new skills in a fast-paced, hectic environment. She re-joined the Barn Door family officially in July of 2021 and couldn’t be happier about this decision! Outside of the animal health world, Iona has been playing competitive rugby for over 20 years although her body is no longer co-operating. She enjoys staying active in other ways such as bootcamp and walking her two Pitbull rescues Charlie and Odin. She looks forward to meeting you and your four-legged family members!
Renata & Chase
Animal Health Technologist
Since graduating from university in 2006 as a Veterinarian, in her warm native country Brazil, Renata has been working in the veterinary medicine industry, fulfilling her dream since very young age.
Since arriving in Canada, in the beautiful British Columbia, as a permanent resident with her husband and young son, Renata has always been lucky enough able to work as an Animal Health Technician to showcase her passion, commitment, hard work and ethics.
She has special interest in cats and dogs, being mom of a very special dog herself, but all fuzzy, feathered, scaled, furry and hairless creatures have a special place in her heart. But the senior patients are definitely her soft spot.
Amidst a very busy schedule, trying to balance her professional life and her personal life in a full house (she has a husband, three kids, a stepson and a blind dog, Chase), Renata still manages to find some time to read and recycle her knowledge about two particular areas of her interest: veterinary anaesthesia and imaging diagnostics.
When not working, Renata likes to spend active time, preferably outdoors, with her family. Their favourite activities are ice skating and playing tag in the backyard with Chase.
Karman & Penny
Registered Veterinary Technologist
Karman graduated from Douglas college in 2011 and has been working with animals since she was 16. She started volunteering at the Vancouver SPCA and then graduated from Granville business college as an VOA. She has worked in multiple different animal practice and have seen her fair share of the good the bad and the ugly. She loves to be involved with the squeamish stuff in the clinic and enjoys educating owners on proper pet care and nutrition. If your pet is on the chonky side Karman will be the first to set them up with a weight loss plan.
During her time away from the clinic she is running after her toddler or trying to keep her orchid plants alive. Her favourite thing about The Barn Door Vet is fancy-dancy medical equipment we have to serve our patients; like the surgical laser machine, capnograph, mobile ultrasound, and much more.
Krista & Coco + Juliette
Registered Veterinary Technologist
Douglas College
Krista graduated from the Animal Health Technology program at Douglas College in 2010. In grade 12 she started working in a small, cats only clinic in North Vancouver. She continued to work at that practice throughout school and for a year afterwards. In 2011 Krista began working at a large, busy hospital where she gained a wealth of experience and knowledge. She has since worked at 2 other large, busy hospitals in the lower mainland. She has always had a passion for animal welfare and started volunteering with her local animal shelter at 10 years old. Krista’s passions are preventive care and nursing sick patients back to health. At home, Krista has a young daughter and a household of rescue pets that keep her busy. She is happy to be a part of the team at Barn Door Veterinary Care and looks forward to meeting your furry family members!
Colleen & Wolfie
Animal Health Technician
Colleen has a love for animals of all shapes and sizes, currently her hobby farm houses 14 cats, 3 dogs, a couple horses, a donkey (named Donkey; of course), a few roosters and hens, and a 2000 pound steer!! Colleen has never said no to a rescue, most recently she has welcomed a young dwarf bunny named Bun Bun.
Colleen has been with The Barn Door Veterinary Care for a few years now, but she has been in the industry for almost half her life. She is a wealth of knowledge, with a keen interest in veterinary nutrition.
Kari & Ash
Animal Health Technician
University of Guelph, ON
Associate Diploma in Veterinary Technology
Kari has enjoyed a fulfilling and inspirational 30 year journey in veterinary medicine and has acquired extensive experience in many areas of both conventional & holistic practice. She has a deep appreciation for the human animal bond and her experiences have fostered an astute interest in furthering her education in animal behavior, ethology and welfare.
Kari has completed Fear Free Level 3 Certification and is actively working on professional development in the area of behavioral medicine with the aspiration to further nurture the authentic connections and kindness that are core to understanding & supporting the relationships that we are privileged to share with our animal companions.
During interludes from studying or listening to the latest dog training podcast while cuddling with Ash, Kari enjoys yoga, hiking and time with her family & friends, basking in the sun with her bearded dragon, Achilles, and play time with her adorably cute rats, Sunna & Manuka.
Alex & Luna
Inventory & Pharmacy
Veterinarian Assistant
Veterinary Technician Assistant
Alex has been working at The Barn Door Veterinary Care since it’s opening in 2019, which also marks his entrance into the world of veterinary medicine. Motivated by his love for animals and their welfare, Alex enjoys making connections with pets and their parents that will last a lifetime. With shared parenthood of his best friend and senior family dog Luna, they enjoy going for long walks through the forest in the rain hunting for rocks, followed by cuddles on the couch. In his spare time you’ll find Alex pursuing his passion working as a hairdresser, catering to the LGBTQ+ youth and adults of the lower mainland.
Aleta & Mateo + Kuzco
Receptionist
Resident Crazy Cat Lady
Since entering the veterinary industry in 2014, Aleta has worked primarily in clinics with a holistic approach. She has always maintained a growth mindset to stay informed regarding the wellness of her pets. Aleta firmly believes in advocating for animals who can’t speak for themselves.
Driven by her passion for helping animals, Aleta enjoys making connections both with pets and their parents. In the clinic you’ll find her welcoming you at the front desk, answering your questions over the phone, and assisting you with your pets needs and annual checkups.
Currently living with her husband and two fur-babies, Mateo and Kuzco, Aleta enjoys spending her free time going for walks, and can usually be found in the forest with her kitties on leash. Throughout her life Aleta has enjoyed the company of many beloved pets, from hamsters and fish to, cats and dogs, turtles and even a Senegal parrot named Mojo!
Jeannie & Poe
Receptionist
Jeannie grew up taking care of a variety of different pets from goldfish, hamsters, rabbits, budgies, love birds to dogs, and even degus. She enjoys nothing more than giving your pets all the treats and love as a member of the fantastic team at the Barn Door.
Although a recent graduate from the University of Simon Fraser with a Major in Communications and a minor in Digital Publishing, she can really see herself settling into a career in the veterinary industry. In her spare time, she enjoys bringing her 8-year-old Yorkie to the beach to swim and fetch giant logs!
Mikayla & Chloe
Veterinary Technician Assistant
Douglas College
Mikayla graduated from the Veterinary Office and Animal Care program at Douglas College in 2021. To complete the program, she started her practicum with us and has been here ever since. She grew up volunteering with various animal shelters; giving her the experience with animals she has today. Outside of the animal health world, Mikayla is also a creative writer and musician. She enjoys being creative and finding new outlets to help others experience joy from the smaller things in life. She is ecstatic to have joined such a dedicated team at The Barn Door Veterinary Care, and looks forward to meeting you and your four-legged friends!
Ellanna & Archie
Veterinary Assistant
Inventory
Ellanna is a fun outgoing individual from Ontario who loves animals. Her education comes from her 5 years of on the job experiences. Having grown up around animals and owning a sweet little cat of her own, she has a passion for animal welfare and aims to create a fear free and enjoyable environment for vet visits with all your four legged companions. When not working Ellanna enjoys her time hiking and exploring the beautiful backyard of BC.
Christy & Abby
Inventory & Pharmacy
Social Media Manager
What started out as helping out a couple times a month, turned into an exciting new venture for Christy. With most of her work experience in Event Management and Planning, Christy has found her perfect fit running the inventory & pharmacy team. Christy grew up with a minimum of 4 fur babies in the home at any given time, so it was very natural to be surrounded by all the dogs and cats at the clinic. She recently foster-failed an adorable kitten named Winston, who has completely stolen her heart.
Sylvia & Sophie
Clinic Manager
Sylvia is a proud dog mama to her precious pug, Sophie. As a young girl in Zell am See, Austria, she spend her summers on the family farm raising chickens, pigs, cows and horses. She has always been a lover of all animals and has found her perfect fit here at the Barn Door! After finishing her degree at a later stage in life, she brings a wealth of corporate and human resources experience to support the staff and clients, respectively.