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Phoenix Veterinary Surgical Specialists
Heather Towle Millard

Heather Towle Millard

Heather Towle Millard

DVM, MS, DACVS-SA

Board Certified Small Animal Surgeon

After completing her surgical residency (2007) and obtaining board-certification as a small animal veterinary surgeon (2008), she had the distinct privilege and honor of working as a Surgery Instructor and Clinical Assistant Professor of Small Animal Surgery at Kansas State University (3 years) and Purdue University (3 years), where she taught surgery to veterinary students, interns, and surgical residents, while conducting research, writing numerous book chapters and articles, and teaching lectures/laboratories. At this time, she will only take on writing assignments to serve as a mentor for pre-veterinary,  veterinary students and veterinary interns in order to help them achieve their dreams and goals.

After working in academia for 6 years, she worked for over 9 years at two different corporate veterinary hospitals as a Veterinary Staff Surgeon, Internship Coordinator, and Medical Director.  

Longing for the ability to practice veterinary medicine at a level of compassion, detail, and excellence, she and her husband formed Kansas City’s only private specialty veterinary small business that performs BOTH soft tissue and orthopedics, while offering in-house 24/7 after-care for patients.  

Her surgical interests include any soft tissue surgery, particularly reconstructive surgeries, oncologic surgeries, minimally invasive procedures, such as laparoscopy, ureter stent placement and SUB placement (re-routing from kidney to urinary bladder), knee (TPLO) surgery for torn CCL (cranial cruciate ligament), and congenital orthopedic conditions.  

She is a Board-Certified in Small Animal Surgery and has been a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons-Small Animal since 2008.  Notable honors include 2022 Honored Mentor Award, American College of Veterinary Surgeons and a Top Reviewer for the Journal of Veterinary Surgery, which is the #1 Small Animal Surgical Journal in the world!

Education:

  • Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Surgeons-Small Animal, 2008
  • Residency, Surgery, Purdue University, West Lafayette IN, 2007
  • Master of Science, Purdue University, West Lafayette IN, 2007
  • Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, University of IL, Urbana-Champaign, 2004 
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, West Lafayette IN, 2003

Publications:

  • Wobbler Syndrome in Dobermans,United Doberman Club, Winter 2023
  • Dilated Cardiomyopathy in Dobermans,United Doberman Club, Spring 2023
  • Hypertrophic Osteodystrophy in Dobermans, United Doberman Club, Winter 2022
  • Cranial Cruciate Ligament Tears in German Shepherd Dogs, The German Shepherd Dog Review, 2022
  • Marijuana Exposure and Intoxication in Dogs, The German Shepherd Dog Review, 2022
  • Association of gender and specialty interest with video-gaming, three-dimensional spatial analysis, and entry-level laparoscopic skills in third-year veterinary students Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 2016 DOI: 10.2460/javma.248.12.1414
  • Advanced Surgical Platforms: NOTES and Robotic Surgery, Small Animal Laparoscopy and Thoracoscopy, 2015 | BookPart of DOI: 10.1002/9781118845912.ch28
  • Surgeons’ Skills Training, Small Animal Laparoscopy and Thoracoscopy, 2015 | BookPart of DOI: 10.1002/9781118845912.ch1
  • Image Quiz: A dental radiography curiosity in a corgi, Veterinary Medicine, 2014 
  • In vitro comparison of output fluid temperatures for room temperature and prewarmed fluids, Journal of Small Animal Practice, 2014, DOI: 10.1111/jsap.12236
  • In vitro effect of multiple hydrogen peroxide gas plasma sterilizations on the rate of closure of ameroid constrictors, American Journal of Veterinary Research, 2014, DOI: 10.2460/ajvr.75.10.924
  • In vitro evaluation of three intravenous fluid line warmers, Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 2015, DOI: 10.2460/javma.244.12.1423
  • Effect of cold compress application on tissue temperature in healthy dogs, American Journal of Veterinary Research, 2013, DOI: 10.2460/ajvr.74.3.443
  • Effect of warm compress application on tissue temperature in healthy dogs, American Journal of Veterinary Research, 2013, DOI: 10.2460/ajvr.74.3.448
  • Effects of ampicillin/sulbactam and enrofloxacin on the blood pressure of isoflurane anesthetized dogs, Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association, 2013, DOI: 10.5326/JAAHA-MS-5899
  • Investigation into the impact of audience response devices on short-and long-term content retention, Journal of Veterinary Medical Education, 2013, DOI: 10.3138/jvme.1012-091R
  • Successful treatment of necrotizing fasciitis in the hind limb of a Great DaneJournal of the American Animal Hospital Association, 2010, DOI: 10.5326/0460433
  • Surgical treatment of simple syndactylism with secondary deep digital flexor tendon contracture in a Basset Hound, Veterinary and Comparative Orthopaedics and Traumatology, 2007, DOI: 10.1160/VCOT-06-11-0086
  • Pre- and postoperative radiographic and computed tomographic evaluation of dogs with medial patellar luxation., Veterinary surgery, 2005, DOI: 10.1111/j.1532-950x.2005.00040.x
  • Dysostoses of the canine and feline appendicular skeleton, Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 2004, DOI: 10.2460/javma.2004.225.1685

Furry Pets: 

Gracie Lyn: Golden Retriever

Yukon Arthur Cornelius: German Shepherd Dog

Snickers: Cat

Princess Tater-Tot Chewy Nugget & French Fry: Guinea Pigs

Ralphie: Crested Gecko