Careers aren’t always planned.

Sometimes they unfold through moments of serendipity.

For Dr Callum Bennie, leaning into his strengths, following his curiosity and building connections with supportive mentors led him to a career in veterinary dermatology that he LOVES. 
Veterinary dermatology was not on Dr Bennie’s radar in veterinary school. Rather, his interest in the field developed naturally during his early career as a general practitioner:

In my new grad year, I accidentally became the “skin guy”. But I was OK with that! I found such satisfaction in seeing long term skin patients improve after I investigated WHY they were having issues. I loved seeing the patient get better and I loved the difference I was making for every member of that family.

At his next clinic, the same pattern repeated:

I naturally started seeing more and more skin cases. My team knew I enjoyed derm and our reception team would book all the skin cases in my column.

Not quite convinced that this was his life’s work, Dr Callum Bennie undertook a Medicine Internship at the Animal Referral Hospital. To his surprise, veterinary dermatology kept reappearing! He discovered that many of the complex medical cases he worked on had a dermatological component. This exposure led him to work closely with Dr Dani Hoolahan, who would later become his mentor, trusted colleague, and now business partner at the Veterinary Dermatology Clinic (VDC). Dr Bennie speaks of Dr Hoolahan with deep respect, crediting her for planting the seed of specialising in veterinary dermatology.

Whilst rumblings that specialisation might be on the cards were starting to appear, as a self-confessed Type A personality, Dr Bennie is not one to rush. Instead, he tested his interest. He joined the SASH Dermatology team’s journal club, spent one day a week shadowing Dr Hoolahan in practice, and enrolled in the CVE’s year-long Dermatology Distance Education program. These steps confirmed his passion and built connections that would later prove invaluable. 

At the same time, he continued working as a locum in general practice. However, he wanted to see dermatology cases through from start to finish, and that meant committing his career to the field.

Residency positions weren’t available in Australia at the time, so Dr Bennie had to look overseas for opportunities. Supported by Dr Hoolahan and his CVE tutors, world-renowned dermatologists Dr Ralf Müller and Dr Sonya Bettenay, he successfully matched with his first program choice: 

They were instrumental in my career development.

After completing his residency at Colorado State University and returning to Australia as a specialist post-COVID, Dr Bennie rejoined Dr Hoolahan at VDC. Together with others, they have recently established Medipaws; a new specialist hospital designed not only to deliver exceptional care but also to create a sustainable, supportive workplace for veterinary professionals. 
Dr Bennie also takes pride in maintaining strong relationships with referring veterinarians: 

I get it. I was a GP for many years and referred a bunch of patients out the door every day. I knew who I liked to refer to and why I liked to work with them. I try to incorporate those attributes into the way I practice now. I don’t judge, I pick up the phone to call referring vets back and I answer emails whenever I can because that was what was important to me as a GP.

Dr Bennie values the opportunity to share knowledge with others interested in dermatology as a tutor in the CVE’s Dermatology Distance Education course, the same program that helped shape his own journey:

I love teaching otoscopy and promoting antibiotic stewardship. I’m passionate about immunology – and dermatologists are essentially the immunologists of the veterinary world. It’s great to teach this material because there’s so little exposure during vet school.

Dr Bennie’s story is one of growth and giving back. What began as a personal quest for knowledge evolved into a role where he empowers others to succeed. By sharing his enthusiasm, he’s helping colleagues see dermatology as a key component in promoting better welfare for patients and supporting the wellbeing of clients who, when it comes to dermatological conditions, so often suffer alongside their pets. His story reminds us that collaboration and education are the driving forces behind a stronger veterinary community.