Current Position

Senior Assistant at the Small Animal Surgery Unit of the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna

Education and Experience

Dr. Gabriele Gradner, Dipl. ECVS, is a Senior Assistant at the Small Animal Surgery Unit of the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, a position held since 2004. She is a board-certified Diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Surgeons (ECVS) since 2011 and Program Director of the Small Animal Surgery Residency since 2020.

Dr. Gradner completed her veterinary degree (Mag. med. vet.) in Vienna in 1998 and gained broad clinical experience in both large and small animal practice in Austria and the United Kingdom before pursuing advanced academic training. She completed her doctoral thesis at Vetmeduni Vienna and a residency in small animal surgery under the supervision of Prof. Gilles Dupré, ECVS.

Her clinical and scientific interests focus on neurology, small animal soft tissue and oncologic surgery, airway surgery, and interdisciplinary collaboration in veterinary oncology. She has authored and co-authored multiple peer-reviewed publications in international journals and actively contributes to translational and clinical research.

In addition to her clinical and research activities, Dr. Gradner holds several administrative roles, including membership in institutional committees and the initiation of interdisciplinary oncology rounds. She is deeply committed to teaching and mentoring, with a particular focus on supporting residents, young scientists, and early-career surgeons.

Her personal strengths include a calm and equilibrating leadership style, a strong dedication to education, and a genuine passion for fostering professional development. She is widely appreciated for her supportive approach, structured supervision, and ability to create a constructive learning environment that promotes both clinical excellence and scientific curiosity.

Teaching Experience

ESAVS STS I and II, Neurosurgery (ESAVS ASIA)
Lecturer with different group sizes at the university

Research

Use of 5-ALA and ICG in neurosurgery
Use of exoscope in surgery – in depth perception
Reconstructive surgery