Dr. Vilhelmiina Huuskonen

Vilhelmiina Huuskonen is the eldest of seven children and grew up on a small farm on the south coast of Finland, surrounded by animals. Her mother, with her love of literature and the arts, introduced her to James Herriot’s books and TV series, inspiring her dream of becoming a veterinarian, while her father’s background in mathematics and computer science nurtured her interest in science. From the age of five, she knew she wanted to become a veterinarian.

After school, she completed a two-year culinary course and, after winning a national competition for young chefs, was offered a position in a one-Michelin-star restaurant in Finland. She worked in this profession for almost five years before deciding to pursue her original ambition. She enrolled at the Estonian University of Life Sciences and later transferred to Budapest, graduating in 2004 from the University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest.

She then worked at a private small animal hospital in Finland before starting a rotating internship at the University of Helsinki. There she discovered her interests in anaesthesia and in emergency and critical care - enjoying the fast-paced, adrenaline-fuelled nature of emergency work, and the planning, risk management, and preparation involved in anaesthesia.

Unsure which path to follow, she completed a one-year specialist internship in small animal emergency and critical care at Tufts University in Massachusetts, USA. There she realised her true passion lay in anaesthesia, a discipline spanning all species, allowing her to work with the full range of animals she had always hoped for.

In 2009, she returned to Europe to begin a Residency in Veterinary Anaesthesia at University College Dublin. She became a lecturer in 2012, completed her European College of Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia(opens in a new window) (ECVAA) board exams in 2014 becoming a (opens in a new window)EBVS® European Specialist in Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia, and was appointed Associate Professor in 2021 in UCD School of Veterinary Medicine. Alongside her clinical and teaching roles, she undertook a part-time PhD in Veterinary Pharmacology at the University of Helsinki, graduating in 2024.

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Current Research Challenges

Dr. Huuskonen is a clinical academic who divides her time between clinical anaesthesia and (opens in a new window)emergency duties at the UCD Veterinary Hospital, and academic teaching and research supervision. She is one of only four veterinary anaesthesia specialists in Ireland, all based at UCD. Her clinical research on client-owned patients underpins ongoing data collection and publication, and she also supports(opens in a new window) animal welfare at Dublin Zoo, providing anaesthesia and analgesia for species such as snow leopards, gorillas, tigers, and rhinos, work that is vital to conservation and international collaboration.

As Head of Veterinary Anaesthesia in UCD, she oversees the hospital’s anaesthesia service and teaches final-year students on their anaesthesia rotation. She also supervises veterinarians undertaking the combined Anaesthesia Residency and Professional Doctorate (DVMS), a four-year programme integrating advanced education, supervised clinical practice, and research leading to both board certification and a doctorate. Each student completes at least two research publications, and she currently supervises six projects across four students.

Current projects under her supervision include developing an ultrasound-guided local anaesthetic block for ruminant surgery, designed to identify nerves precisely, ensure safe dosing, and improve recovery. Another funded study, in collaboration with Dublin City Council and the UCD School of Biology and Environmental Science with Associate Professor Simone Ciuti, focuses on the humane capture and sedation of wild Dublin foxes to fit GPS collars. The study compares two sedation protocols and tracks recovery using collars that detach after four months, allowing analysis of behaviour, health, viral status, and movement across the city. A third project compares two opioids given before gastrointestinal endoscopy in dogs, examining their effects on the stomach opening and on how quickly and easily the procedure can be performed.

The Researcher

Dr. Huuskonen served as Chair of the Credentials Committee of the (opens in a new window)European College of Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia from 2021 to 2025. In 2025 she was elected Vice President of the (opens in a new window)College and will assume the role of President in 2027. At University College Dublin she sits on the board of the UCD Veterinary Hospital and the Veterinary School’s Admissions Committee. She also contributes to the UCD Animal Research Ethics Committee, where her expertise in pain management provides valuable perspective in the review of research protocols. In addition, she is a member of the Association of Veterinary Anaesthetists (AVA).

She is a collaborative author on several publications with the University of Helsinki and a contributor to a long-standing research group investigating a sedative combination in dogs and sheep that avoids unwanted cardiovascular effects. She also consults in private practices in Ireland and Finland. Dr. Huuskonen is a contributing author to a Finnish veterinary anaesthesia book, the second of its kind - due for publication in 2025. Her chapters focus on anaesthetic ventilators and intraoperative monitoring, with emphasis on preparation for complications, rapid risk recognition, and timely intervention.

Beyond her professional work, Vilhelmiina is married and shares her home with two cats and a (opens in a new window)Hovawart dog, with whom she enjoys mantrailing. She loves reading, cooking, entertaining, and decorating her home, and her passion for vintage clothing and (opens in a new window)interior design has developed into a (opens in a new window)distinctive aesthetic that has been (opens in a new window)featured in (opens in a new window)fashion magazines. A regular attendee at Ladies’ Day at the Dublin Horse Show, her outfits have also drawn some (opens in a new window)media attention and won awards.

Future Research Aspirations

Dr Huuskonen’s future research ambitions are guided by her commitment to animal welfare and advancing veterinary anaesthesia globally through the European College of Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia. She is inspired by the opportunity to teach and empower students, encouraging them to think critically and understand the reasoning behind every clinical decision. Central to her teaching is the tailoring of anaesthetic protocols to each individual animal, with emphasis on anticipating complications, thorough risk assessment, and preparedness for every eventuality. Her precision-led approach, grounded in research and applied analysis on client-owned patients, ensures that students not only recognise complications promptly but also know how to intervene effectively.

Looking ahead, she is keen to develop innovative local anaesthesia techniques and to encourage anaesthesia residents at UCD to expand research in this field. She also aims to reduce the environmental impact of veterinary anaesthesia by promoting injectable agents and local blocks over inhalant gases, which are potent greenhouse contributors. While injectables are more costly, they are often safer for patients’ cardiovascular systems and better for the environment, reflecting her broader goal of balancing animal welfare, patient safety, and sustainability.

Dr. Huuskonen is also passionate about expanding veterinary anaesthesia expertise nationwide. While not every clinic requires highly specialised skills, she envisions advancing education to ensure preparedness for complex cases and making expert anaesthetic care more widely accessible. Her future work brings together research, teaching, and environmental stewardship, with the ultimate aim of enhancing animal welfare through innovation, education, and sustainable practice.