Our Team – Fourways Veterinary Clinic Cape Town

Meet the Professionals

Dr Hernan Azorin (Dvm)

VETERINARIAN

I am the founding partner of Fourways Veterinary Clinic. I am originally from Argentina and I studied at the Veterinary faculty at 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 practice 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 Middleburg, 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 fulfill my childhood dream of becoming a veterinary surgeon when I qualified from Onderstepoort Veterinary faculty in 2002. I then spent 3 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 since and in 2022 I officially became a partner. After nearly 20 years, I still love my work. In particularly, 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 Foster (Bvsc)

VETERINARIAN

I am a recent addition to the team and unlike that of many veterinarians, my story does not start 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 the University of Stellenbosch 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 participates in independent sterilisation drives and education campaigns.

Outside of work, I am happiest in the outdoors – hiking, swimming and spending time in the sun with my family and 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 Karin Braune (Bvsc)

VETERINARIAN

I was born in Namibia but grew up and lived in Pretoria most of my life.

I qualified as a veterinarian at the University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort as the Arnold Theiler top student in 1996. I started off my career at the SPCA in Pretoria and then moved to a private small animal practice in the east of Pretoria where I worked for 24 years. In 2019, I became co-owner of this practice.

I am married with 2 teenage children and 3 dogs, and we love spending time outdoors in the bush and on the beach. In February 2022, as a family we decided it was time for a change and moved from Gauteng to beautiful Fish Hoek and I joined the Fourways Veterinary Clinic team. We are loving our new life in Cape Town! In my free time, I enjoy photography, travelling and spending time with my family.