Meet the team
Dr Mel Routledge BVSc (Hons)
Senior Veterinarian
Melissa graduated from the University of Queensland in 2016 and worked for the following years as a Mixed Practice Veterinarian on the Gold Coast. In 2020 she gave birth to her daughter Madeline and after some time being a full time mother the urge to return to work occurred and Vet Xpress was born.
Working in a mixed practice for many years Melissa has a wide range of skill sets including all areas of Small animal medicine and surgery, equine ambulatory work including a Certificate in Equine Dentistry and farm call outs including goat and sheep medicine. She has a special interest in canine reproduction and the health and care of brachycephalic breeds of dogs particularly French Bulldogs and Pugs.
When not at work you will find Melissa with her family- her Husband Nick and daughter Madeline enjoying all the Gold Coast has to offer. They are held together by their beloved Irish Setter- Bentley who is more work and trouble than their daughter and their rescue cat Winston who is the king of their house. She has been since a young age ‘horse mad’ and also finds time to ride her Belgian Draft X mare ‘Flo’ whenever she has some spare time.
Michelle Passeri
Practice Manager and Head Nurse
Michelle and Melissa have known each other for many years - since Melissa was a young 12 year old horse riding with Michelle’s daughter Sharni and when Vet Xpress was formed Melissa knew that she couldn’t do it without the help of a superstar Practice Manager, Nurse and friend Michelle.
Michelle is a qualified Certificate IV Veterinary Nurse and has worked in the industry for over 10 years. She has also bred and shown Pugs, Italian Greyhounds and French Bulldogs for over 10 years and has also successfully run her own dog grooming business. This gives Michelle a wealth of experience and knowledge in many areas of the Veterinary world and when Vet Xpress was created Michelle has been an integral part of the team. She also has a special interest in Canine Reproduction and Whelping Dogs.
When not at work you’ll find Michelle at home with her family and beautiful Drum Horses- Wattle and Truffle who she successfully shows in hand, under saddle and in harness! She also has her old faithful Licorice - a 12 year old Stockhorse, her pug Misty, Bull Mastiff Bonnie plus a menagerie of chickens.