Curriculum Vitae

Lawren Durocher-Babek

DVM, MS, DACVIM, CHPV

Veterinary Specialty and Imaging, 103A Victoria Centre, 15 Watson Road, Fortress Hill, Hong Kong+852 9160 4719info@drlawrenvet.comdrlawrenvet.com

Professional Experience

June 2024–presentHong Kong

Veterinary Specialty and Imaging

Small Animal Internal Medicine Specialist, Owner/Founder

Owner and internal medicine specialist for a bespoke internal medicine and palliative care practice.

February 2021–June 2024Hong Kong

Zodiac Specialty & Imaging Centre

Small Animal Internal Medicine Specialist

Provided abdominal ultrasound, endoscopy, internal medicine, and palliative/hospice care expertise.

May–September 2021Hong Kong

HK Cat Care

Small Animal Internal Medicine Specialist, Managing Director

Provided recommendations for business development for a multi-hospital company in Hong Kong.

2018–2021Hong Kong

Veterinary Specialty Hospital of Hong Kong

Small Animal Internal Medicine Specialist

Provided abdominal ultrasound, endoscopy, and internal medicine expertise.

2015–2019Austin, TX

Oncura Partners Diagnostics, LLC

Consulting Specialist, Ultrasound

Provided remote interpretation of ultrasound images and internal medicine consultations.

2015–2018Hillsborough, NJ

Red Bank Veterinary Hospital

Small Animal Internal Medicine Specialist, Medical Director

Provided abdominal ultrasound, endoscopy, and internal medicine expertise.
Provided telephone and email internal medicine consultations to surrounding veterinarians.
As medical director of a growing satellite practice with 10 doctors (specialists and general practitioners), managed physician scheduling, client complaints, and human resources issues.

2015Lebanon, NJ

Crown Veterinary Specialists

Small Animal Internal Medicine Specialist

Provided abdominal ultrasound, endoscopy, and internal medicine expertise for a growing specialty referral practice.

2007–2015Winston-Salem, NC

Carolina Veterinary Specialists

Small Animal Internal Medicine Specialist

Increased clientele and referral base for a relatively new office within a multi-center North Carolina institution.
Proficient in abdominal ultrasound, endoscopy, biopsy, CT scans, echocardiography, rhinoscopy, and cystoscopy.
Supported 24-hour emergency service through on-call coverage.
Provided telephone and email consultations for local veterinarians.

Education & Training

2020USA

IAAHPC

Certification in Hospice and Palliative Care (CHPV).

2004–2007Columbus, OH

The Ohio State University

Residency, Small Animal Internal Medicine.
MS, Veterinary Clinical Sciences.
Thesis: Hyperketonemia in dogs: relationship of plasma ketone concentration to that of glucoregulatory hormones and substrates.

2003–2004Guelph, Ontario

Ontario Veterinary College

Small Animal Rotating Medicine and Surgery Internship.

1999–2003Athens, GA

University of Georgia

DVM, Magna Cum Laude.

1996–2000Athens, GA

University of Georgia

BS Agriculture with Highest Honors.
Honors thesis: Nuclease Activity in Ruminal Bacteria.

Professional Interests

Diabetes · Ultrasound · Hospice and Palliative Care · Immune-Mediated Disease · Gastrointestinal Disease · Urinary Tract Disorders

Scientific Publications

Al-Khaldi SF, Durocher LL, Martin SA. Deoxyribonuclease activity in Selenomonas ruminantium, Streptococcus bovis, and Bacteroides ovatus. Current Microbiology 41(3):182-6. 2000.
Hinchcliff K, McKenzie EC, Durocher L, et al. Depletion of intramuscular triglycerides and hyperketonemia in sled dogs during prolonged exercise. Poster presented at ACVIM Symposium, 2006.
Durocher LL, Hinchcliff K, Williamson K, et al. Short Communication: Lack of microalbuminuria in sled dogs following exercise. Journal of Equine and Comparative Exercise Physiology 3(1): 1-2. 2006.
Durocher L, Chew D. Diseases of the Urinary Bladder. Handbook of Small Animal Diseases, Rhea Morgan, ed. 2007
Durocher L. Neuromuscular case of the month: Myasthenia gravis and Immune-mediated polymyositis in a 6-year-old mixed breed dog. Comparative Neuromuscular Laboratory Website. June, 2007.
Durocher LL, Hinchcliff K, Williamson K, et al. Strenuous exercise in Alaskan Sled Dogs increases urinary concentrations of homovanillic acid and cortisol but not vanillylmandelic acid. American Journal of Veterinary Research 68(1): 107-111. 2007.
Durocher L, et al. Acid-Base Abnormalities in dogs with diabetes. Poster, ACVIM 2007.
Durocher L. Ketosis in diabetic dogs is not related solely to serum insulin concentration. Presentation, ACVIM 2007.
Durocher LL, Hinchcliff KW, DiBartola SP, et al. Acid-Base and hormonal abnormalities in dogs with naturally occurring diabetes mellitus. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 232(9): 1310-1320. 2008.
Durocher L, Johnson S, Green E. Esophageal diverticulum associated with a trichobezoar in a cat. Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association 45:142-146. 2009.
Durocher L, et al. Chapter 10. Urinary and Renal Diseases. Small Animal Internal Medicine for Veterinary Technicians and Nurses, Linda Merrill, Ed. 2012.
Durocher L. Fanconi Syndrome: A Review. Clinician’s Brief web exclusive, Nov 2012.
Durocher L. GI Pain Management Options. Clinician’s Brief web exclusive, Sept 2015.
Contributing Reviewer, AAHA Diabetic Guidelines, 2018.
Jaffey JA, Kreisler R, Shumway K, et al. Ultrasongraphic patterns, clinical findings, and prognostic variables in dogs from Asia with gallbladder mucocele. J Vet Intern Med. 2022; 1-11.

Awards & Professional Memberships

Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine
National Resident Research Award, Endocrinology. ACVIM 2007
American Veterinary Medicine Association
Founding member, NOMV – NJ
Licensed in Hong Kong and New Jersey, USA
Certificate in Hospice and Palliative Care, AAHA
Member, International Association of Animal Hospice and Palliative Care
Pet Nutrition Coach Certification, NAVC
IAAHPC Certified Hospice and Palliative Care Veterinarian (CHPV)
Recover Certified
Fear Free Elite Professional
Executive board, HKVA (Hong Kong Veterinary Association)

Continuing Education Presentations & Publications

Cushing’s Syndrome. Carolina Veterinary Specialists Continuing Education. Greensboro, NC 2007.
Diabetes Mellitus in Cats. University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine Continuing Education and Alumni Weekend. Athens, GA 2008.
Continuing Education for Emergency Medicine Clinicians, Carolina Veterinary Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC.; Transfusion Medicine; Electrolyte Abnormalities and Fluids; Pancreatitis; Cardiac and respiratory emergencies
Hepatobiliary Disease – A Rational, Case Based Approach. Carolina Veterinary Specialists Continuing Education. Greensboro, NC 2012.
What to Do When Your Patient Turns Blue. North Carolina Veterinary Medical Association. Sixth Annual Appalachian Mountain Veterinary Conference. Asheville, NC 2012.
Stayin’ Alive from ER to Internal Medicine – Blood Issues. North Carolina Veterinary Medical Association. Sixth Annual Appalachian Mountain Veterinary Conference. Asheville, NC 2012.
Stayin’ Alive from ER to Internal Medicine – Electrolyte Issues. North Carolina Veterinary Medical Association. Sixth Annual Appalachian Mountain Veterinary Conference. Asheville, NC 2012.
A Case Based Approach to Hepatobiliary Disease. Crown Veterinary Specialists Continuing Education. Lebanon, NJ 2015.
Introduction to Endoscopy. Crown Veterinary Specialists. Lebanon, NJ 2016.
Chronic Renal Failure: Real World Diagnostics and Treatment. Sponsored by Hill’s. Edgewater, NJ 2017.
Complex Carbohydrates: When Diabetes Isn’t Simple. VSH Continuing Education Symposium. Hong Kong 2019.
Bridging the Doctor-Client Gap: Nurse’s Role in Communication in Diabetics. VSH Continuing Education Symposium. Hong Kong 2019.
Round Table Discussion on the Thrombocytopenic Surgical Patient. VSH Continuing Education Symposium. Hong Kong 2019.
Lessons From the NICU: what we can learn from the NICU and how to apply these lessons to veterinary medicine. International Association of Animal Hospice and Palliative Care (IAAHPC) Conference. Chicago, IL 2019.
Rational Use of Flash Continuous Glucose Monitors in Small Animal Medicine. HKVA, part of VSH Virtual Symposium. Hong Kong, 2020.
Fevers of Unknown Origin: Turning the “Unknown” Into the “Known”. American Veterinary Medicine Association (AVMA) Conference. Virtual, August 2021.
Rational Use of Flash Continuous Glucose Monitors in Small Animal Medicine. American Veterinary Medicine Association (AVMA) Conference. Virtual, August 2021.
Top Tips! Pet Proofing Your Home. Around DB Magazine. August, 2021.
Leptospirosis. Podcast. Your Vet Wants You To Know. Virtual, 2021.
Canine Influenza. Podcast. Your Vet Wants You To Know. Virtual, 2021.
Taking care of dogs and cats – class series for Empower U, Hong Kong.
When Sugar Problems Aren’t Simple: Dealing with the Troublesome Diabetics. AVMA Conference. Virtual, August 2022.
Feeding Tubes – The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly. AVMA Conference. Virtual, August 2022.
A Rational Approach to PU/PD in Small Animal Medicine. AVMA Conference. Virtual, August 2022.
Rational use of Steroids in Hospice and Palliative Care. IAAHPC Conference. Virtual, September 2022.
Bridging the Language Barrier – Tips for Practicing in a Foreign Country. IAAHPC Conference. Virtual, September 2022.
Managing Diabetics in Your Small Animal Practice – From the Simple to the Complex. Hong Kong Veterinary Association. November, 2022.
Tips for Introducing Palliative Care with Practical Care to your Small Animal Practice. AVMA Conference. Denver, CO, USA. July 2023.
Hypoalbuminemia: Where has all the protein gone? AVMA Conference. Denver, CO, USA. July 2023.
The Cushing’s Conundrum: When should we test, how should we test, and what do we do with the results? AVMA Conference. Denver, CO, USA. July 2023.
Rational Use of Steroids in Small Animal Practice. AVMA Conference. Denver, CO, USA. July 2023.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Dogs and Cats: Diagnostic, Treatment, and Communication Considerations. Hong Kong Veterinary Association. Hong Kong. November 2023
Rational Diagnostics and Management of Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Dogs. AVMA Convention, Austin, TX, USA. June 2024
Rational Diagnostics and Management of Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Cats. AVMA Convention, Austin, TX, USA. June 2024
Maximizing the Minimum Database – Tips and Tricks from an Internist. AVMA Convention, Austin, TX, USA. June 2024.
From Sniffles to Sneezes – Rational Diagnostics and Treatments for Chronic Snuffler Cats. Hong Kong Veterinary Association. Hong Kong. October 2024.
Rational Care for the Small Animal Practitoner lecture series, Hong Kong. 2025
From Sniffles to Sneezes – Rational Diagnostics and treatments for Chronic Snuffler Cats. AVMA Convention, Washington DC, July 2025.