Meet the Professionals

Dr Hernán Azorin (DVM)

VETERINARIAN

I am the founding partner of Fourways Veterinary Clinic. I am originally from Argentina and I studied at the Veterinary Faculty of the National University of Central Buenos Aires in Tandil.

In 1981, I moved to South Africa and worked a short stint as a pizza chef at Al Ponte Restaurant in Hillbrow. I then worked for the Department of Agriculture while I wrote my veterinary board exams, allowing me to practise in South Africa. After passing my exams, I worked at the SPCA in Booysens in Johannesburg for two years before moving to Cape Town and joining the SPCA in Grassy Park, where I worked for six years. Due to my limited English at the time, I gained extensive experience in surgical procedures developing my competence in this area.

I am passionate about diagnostics and all the investigatory elements of this process, especially the interaction with pet owners and the thorough examination of the patient. Animal welfare is important to me and therefore it is a great privilege to have been instrumental in helping establish AfriPaw and offer ongoing support.

Dr Ben Botha (BVSc)

VETERINARIAN

I was born in Middelburg, Eastern Cape where my dad was an agricultural researcher. This is where my interest and love for animals started, as I spent many hours playing with all the farm animals.

The rest of my childhood was spent in Pretoria and I managed to fulfil my childhood dream of becoming a veterinary surgeon when I qualified from the Onderstepoort Veterinary Faculty in 2002. I then spent three years in the UK working as a small animal vet in Leicester.

In 2007, I returned to South Africa for a month-long locum and never left. I have been part of the Fourways Veterinary Clinic team ever since, and in 2022 I officially became a partner. After nearly 20 years, I still love my work. In particular, I enjoy surgery and diagnostics, but I also find it very rewarding helping people with their animals.

In my spare time, I enjoy cycling and spending time in nature. I also try to spend as much time as possible with my family and my own furry children.

Dr Patti-Jane Foster (BSc, BVSc)

VETERINARIAN

Unlike many veterinarians, I did not start out with a childhood dream of becoming a vet. More of a pure scientist by nature, I took the scenic route to veterinary medicine, completing a BSc in bio-organic chemistry and genetics at Stellenbosch University before eventually realising my true calling and enrolling at Onderstepoort.

In my spare time, I am committed to improving the lives of all animals, especially those in our neighbouring low-income communities, through my continued close relationship with TEARS Animal Rescue. I regularly volunteer, foster critically ill patients, and participate in independent sterilisation drives and education campaigns.

Outside work, I am happiest in the outdoors: hiking, swimming and spending time in the sun with my family and my own fur kids. Where time allows, I love nothing more than to travel and to share South Africa’s national parks with our wildlife.

Dr Carolyn Fryer (BVSc)

VETERINARIAN

After I qualified from Onderstepoort in 2005, I started working in a small animal practice on the East Rand. I then went to practise in England for a year, but returned to Johannesburg after missing South Africa incredibly.

For a change of scenery and quieter lifestyle, I moved to the Eastern Cape in 2012, where I ran my own practice for 12 years.

Thereafter I followed the semigration trend to this beautiful part of South Africa, and to Fourways Veterinary Clinic.