World Veterinary Day
First Singaporean female specialist in small animal surgery gives dogs and cats a second chance
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Dr Derniese Goh is the director of Westside Veterinary Emergency and Referral Hospital in Serangoon Gardens.
ST PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR
SINGAPORE – When Dr Derniese Goh was in Secondary 4, cramming for her O-level examinations, a mistake led her down the path to becoming Singapore’s first female small animal specialist surgeon.
She had fed her dog Scott, a two-year-old Japanese spitz, some leftover corn soup, including the cob.
“I thought he would chew it,” she recalls. “But he just swallowed the whole thing.”
Scott required emergency surgery to remove the cob and, days later, he made a full recovery.
That experience ignited Dr Goh’s passion for veterinary medicine.
The 33-year-old holds a fellowship with the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists and is a specialist in small animal surgery. Her clinical interests include minimally invasive surgery, orthopaedics, and neurologic and soft tissue procedures.
Her work encompasses everything from treating fractures to performing spinal operations, navigating complex surgical procedures that many general practice veterinarians cannot manage.
Dr Goh is the director of Westside Veterinary Emergency and Referral Hospital in Serangoon Gardens, which features a 24-hour intensive care unit and emergency department.
She acknowledges that veterinary medicine was not a typical career choice when she was growing up.
“Being a vet wasn’t popular,” says the Hwa Chong Institution alumna. “We had no idea about it as a career option.”
What she did know was her love for science, which motivated her to pursue a career in veterinary medicine despite the lack of guidance.
Challenging and lengthy commitment
Dr Goh’s interest in small animal surgery was sparked during her first internship at a Melbourne referral centre, where she met a mentor who inspired her to follow a similar path.
ST PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR
Since Singapore lacks a veterinary school, she moved to Melbourne, Australia, where she spent about 17 years, including a decade in practice.
She began at the University of Melbourne with a three-year Bachelor of Science degree focusing on animal disease and health, followed by a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, graduating in 2015.
Dr Goh’s interest in small animal surgery was sparked during her first internship at a Melbourne referral centre, where she met a mentor who inspired her to follow a similar path.
Becoming a specialist is a challenging and lengthy commitment. Most veterinarians require one or two internships before entering a three- to four-year residency.
“It’s very competitive. Almost everyone wants to be a surgeon, but the requirements are extremely stringent,” says Dr Goh. “By the time you’re done, you are looking at about 10 years post‑graduation.”
Dr Goh, who is married, returned to Singapore in 2024 and brought home her two dogs and two cats – a six-year-old border collie; a five-year-old Japanese spitz; a 14-year-old domestic shorthair; and a 12-year-old ragdoll.
She joined Westside in December 2024 as the sole specialist surgeon on staff, and performs four to eight operations weekly.
Her patients range from dogs with cruciate ligament tears – “our version of a knee injury” – to pets who have swallowed objects they should not to emergency cases such as ruptured diaphragms.
Her advice to aspiring vets? Volunteer or intern at clinics first to be sure.
“It’s a lot of money, a lot of effort and many years away from family, completely overseas by yourself. But when we have made a difference to someone and their pet, that is enough.”
