Meet the STAAR Team
Laura Hackett MSc Veterinary Physiotherapy, BA, Cert.ClinEd, IRVAP (VP) (ICH), RAMP
Co-Founder, CEO
Laura Hackett is a Veterinary Physiotherapist, Founder and Clinical Lead of Apollo Animal Physiotherapy & Hydrotherapy, and Co-Founder and CEO of STAAR UK.
Laura established Apollo in 2018 and has developed it into a multidisciplinary canine rehabilitation centre providing physiotherapy, hydrotherapy and individually structured rehabilitation for orthopaedic, neurological and complex mobility cases. Her clinical approach centres on detailed assessment, clinical reasoning and progressive rehabilitation, with particular interests in therapeutic exercise and conditioning, manual therapy, distal limb rehabilitation and the restoration of functional movement.
A graduate of the University of Nottingham with a Master’s degree in Veterinary Physiotherapy, Laura’s postgraduate research developed her specialist interest in exercise programming and its application within rehabilitation. She has continued to pursue advanced clinical education throughout her career, including further training in aquatic treadmill therapy and advanced manual therapies via travel to the United States, which is where Laura gained first-hand experience of the format that is STAAR.
Laura has a particular passion for translating education into better clinical practice. Her experience as a clinician, clinical educator, practice owner and professional-body representative has reinforced her belief that progress in animal rehabilitation comes through collaboration between veterinary surgeons, physiotherapists, rehabilitation professionals and educators.
That philosophy is central to her work with STAAR UK: creating opportunities for veterinary and rehabilitation professionals to learn together, challenge their clinical reasoning and develop practical, hands-on skills that translate directly into better rehabilitation for their patients.
Ilaria Borghese MS, MA, OT
Co-Founder
Ilaria earned her MS in Neuroscience from the University of Connecticut. She served as Clinical Coordinator for the Brain Research Center at Children’s Hospital in Washington, DC, where she was responsible for evaluating emerging drug therapies for children with autism. She later continued her academic work at Yale University School of Medicine and published multiple articles in peer-reviewed medical journals.
She went on to complete her MA in Occupational Therapy at New York University, where she combined her research background with clinical practice. This work led her to focus on canine patients, and in 2001 she founded Thera-Paw, Inc., a company dedicated to the design, development, manufacturing, and distribution of soft orthoses, mobility aids, and other assistive products for animals with special needs. Ilaria collaborates closely with small animal practitioners to advance innovative approaches to custom splinting and bracing.
She teaches internationally and contributed to the 2013 publication Canine Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation published by J. Wiley & Sons. In 2010, Ilaria co-founded STAAR, the Symposium on Therapeutic Advances in Animal Rehabilitation, a conference created for veterinary professionals seeking advanced, comprehensive education in animal rehabilitation, sports medicine, and fitness taught by leaders in the field.
In 2020, Ilaria founded Vital Vet, an online, multi-platform supercenter created to improve the lives of animal companions. Vital Vet brings together veterinary rehabilitation, animal physical therapy, mobility, fitness, and wellness in one central destination, supporting both veterinary professionals and dedicated pet parents as they learn, connect, and make informed decisions.
Ilaria has a special interest in Greyhound dogs. She has lectured and written articles on paw-related conditions in ex-racing Greyhounds, and has conducted and co-authored one of the largest epidemiological studies on the breed.
