Dr. Darien Lawrence became Board-Certified by the American College of Veterinary Surgeons in 1993.  She is interested in, and skilled in, all aspects of orthopedic and soft tissue surgery as well as in neurosurgery.  After her surgery training, Dr. Lawrence was a faculty surgeon at both the University of Florida College of  Veterinary Medicine and the University of Sydney Faculty of Veterinary Science in Australia.  She was then in private surgical referral practice in Sydney for 3 years before returning to Florida to establish her surgery practice here in Brevard County in 1999. 

Dr. Lawrence received her veterinary degree from Massey University in New Zealand.  She completed an internship at the University of Guelph in Canada and a small animal surgery residency at the University of Florida.  During this time she also completed a Master of Science degree in Comparative Pathology.    She is trained and certified to perform the PennHip distraction radiographic technique for early diagnosis of hip dysplasia.  Dr. Lawrence also has additional training in the TTA and TPLO procedures for cranial cruciate ligament surgery, STEM-cell therapy (VetStem and Medi-Vet), Arthroscopy and is a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Therapist.

Dr. Lawrence is a member of the Veterinary Orthopedic Society, Veterinary Neurosurgical Society, American Veterinary Medical Association, the Florida Veterinary Medical Association and the Brevard County Veterinary Medical Association

Dr. Lawrence has several cats that were rescued and repaired before they went to live with her.  The cats have a tropical aquarium for their entertainment.

What is a Veterinary Surgeon?

If your animal develops a problem or injury requiring advanced care and procedures, your primary veterinarian or emergency room veterinarian may refer you to a veterinary surgeon.

Advanced Training
A veterinary surgeon has undergone additional training after veterinary school in order to become a specialist. This training consists of a minimum of a 1-year internship followed by a 3-year residency program that meets guidelines established by the American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS).

During the residency there are specific training and caseload requirements that must be met. In addition to these requirements, applicants must perform research that is published in a scientific journal and then pass a rigorous examination.

Specialists are called a “Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons” or a “board-certified surgeon.”

Your Animal’s Healthcare Team
All veterinarians may perform surgery as part of their veterinary practice. However, difficult cases may be best managed by a specialist. Board-certified surgeons work closely with the owner and the primary veterinarian before and after surgery in a team approach to ensure continuity of care for your animal.

in addition to having advanced surgical training, ACVS Diplomates also have access to state-of-the-art facilities, equipment and support staff that may not be available to your primary veterinarian.