Lennart Sjöström
DVM, MScVM, Diplomate European College of Veterinary Surgeons
Director of Surgery, Centre for Surgery and Orthopaedics, Strömsholm Small Animal Referral Hospital . Sweden
G.S-S. Why did you decide to become a veterinarian and did orthopaedics particularly interest you prior to your clinical years in University?
L.Sj. I started to study veterinary medicine because I planned to work with horses, but found at the University that small animal medicine and surgery were much more interesting, and that the possibilities for professional development were better. After graduation I started as a general small animal practitioner, but realized within a year that surgery was the topic I wanted to specialize in.
G.S-S. Once you knew that you wanted to specialise in surgery, had you already decided to go deeper into the subject of orthopaedics and did any particular teacher influence your thoughts and decision?
L.Sj. Initially, I worked as much with soft tissue surgery and orthopaedics, but gradually my interest in orthopaedics grew. I had the possibility to work together with international specialists in orthopaedic and neurosurgery and learned a lot from them.
G.S-S. Your Hospital at Stromsholm has been in existence for many years – somewhat ahead of the general situation in Europe and elsewhere. Does one section still see Large Animal patients? Were you involved in its initiation or did you start there as a junior clinician. A potted version of the history of Stromsholm Referral Animal Hospital would be helpful to reader?
L.Sj. The Animal Hospital in Strömsholm, Sweden, started in 1964 as a mixed small and large animal practice. When I joined the hospital in 1973 I was the third small animal veterinarian. The development over the years has been tremendous. Strömsholm Small Animal Referral Hospital is now a leading referral hospital for central and northern Sweden. About 70% of the cases are referred for diagnosis and treatment in orthopaedics and surgery, internal medicine, intensive care or ophthalmology, or for advanced diagnostic imaging. The hospital has a staff of 40 veterinarians and 110 nurses. It is owned by a foundation, which also owns the separate Equine Referral Hospital which has 15 veterinarians. For 18 years I was Chief Veterinarian of the small animal hospital, but finally had to make a decision if I wanted to become a full time administrator or a full time surgeon, and the choice for surgery was easy. I am now Director of Surgery of the Hospital’s Centre for Surgery and Orthopaedics.
G.S-S. By what you say there must be close to two hundred people working at the Stromsholm Veterinary Hospital. Would you kindly let readers see a breakdown of the specialities ands the caseload for each sub-section. You will understand that the Orthovet Supersite caters to both large and Small Animal clinicians and their staff.
Stromsholm Small Animal Referral Hospital consists of several specialist centres:
Centre for Surgery and Orthopaedics has about 10.000 patients a year, of which 7.000 undergo surgery.
Centre for Medicine - Internal Medicine, Cardiology and Oncology.
Centre for Diagnostics includes Diagnostic Imaging and Laboratory medicine.
Centre for Emergency Medicine takes care of the ICU and the hospital´s 24 hour emergency service.
Centre for Ophthalmology
All in all the hospital has 32.000 patients a year and a total staff of 190 - veterinarians, nurses, lab techs, referral coordinators, receptionists and support staff.
Stromsholm Equine Referral Hospital has 10.000 patients a year,11 veterinarians, 20 nurses and 6 farriers. The hospital has specialist centres in orthopaedics, surgery, internal medicine, ophthalmology and emergency medicine. 500 surgical procedures are performed each year.
