BluePearl Pet Hospital
Overland Park, KS
Our Vets

Before joining BluePearl, Dr. Aarstad worked in Arizona for several years as medical director of an emergency animal hospital and as a primary care veterinarian.

• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Mesa Veterinary Hospital, Mesa AZ
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan
• Bachelor of Science, Kansas State University, Manhattan

Dr. Aarstad enjoys spending time with his family and his dog, Lightning. His hobbies include hiking, camping, bird watching, hunting, fishing and working on his house.

Dr. Ryan Bragg is especially interested in mechanical ventilation, arterial blood gas monitoring, derangements in pulmonary function and tissue oxygenation, acute abdominal disorders and the management of associated postoperative complications. He also is interested in enteral and parenteral nutrition, continuous renal replacement therapy, and coagulation abnormalities – particularly disorders of hemostasis in the critical patient.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Emergency & Critical Care
• Residency, Emergency & Critical Care, Colorado State University, Fort Collins
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, VCA South Shore Animal Hospital, Boston MA
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison
• Bachelor of Science, University of Wisconsin, Madison

Dr. Bragg shares a home with his wife and children, two poorly behaved mutts, Billie and Wallace, and Elvis, an even more poorly behaved cat. He enjoys watching movies, traveling, running, and raising show lambs.

Dr. Ryan Chang is an intern in our cardiology service. His clinical interests include the diagnosis and management of congestive heart failure, pulmonary hypertension and minimally invasive cardiac interventions.

• Internship, Cardiology, Veterinary Cardiopulmonary Care Center, Pompano Beach, FL
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, University of Missouri, Columbia
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Ohio State University, Columbus
• Bachelor of Science, Animal Science, California Polytechnic University, Pomona

In his free time, Dr. Chang enjoys cooking, weightlifting and relaxing at home with his pet rabbit, Cinnamon, who has a ventricular septal defect (VSD).

• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan
• Bachelor of Science, Biology, Benedictine College, Atchison, KS

Dr. Allison Duquaine loves the variability of emergency medicine and particularly enjoys treating urinary obstructions.

• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, BluePearl Pet Hospital, Overland Park, KS
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia
• Bachelor of Science, Biology, University of North Texas, Denton

Dr. Duquaine has two dogs and one cat that keep her hands full and her vacuum busy. She enjoys spending time reading books, crafting and traveling with her husband.

Dr. Loren Easterwood has an interest in gastrointestinal diseases, with an appreciation for investigating their underlying causes.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Small Animal Internal Medicine)
• Residency, Small Animal Internal Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, BluePearl Pet Hospital, New York, NY
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan
• Bachelor of Science, Biology, Evolutionary Anthropology & Anatomy, Duke University, Durham, NC

Dr. Easterwood’s hobbies include yoga and running. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her spouse and her dog, a rescued Maltese mix.

Dr. Mary Gardner provides compassionate care for pets with urgent medical needs. She transitioned to emergency medicine around four years ago after spending over five years in general practice and has found her home treating the emergent needs of the pets in the greater KC area.

• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan
• Bachelor of Science, Animal Science, Kansas State University, Manhattan

Outside of work, Dr. Gardner enjoys spending time outside, reading and cheering on her favorite sports teams: the Chiefs, Current, Royals and Sporting. She has two girls at home who keep her busy with their many sports and extracurriculars. She also loves spending time with her cat, recently rescued dog and brand new snake.

Dr. Kim Gugler is excited by all aspects of emergency medicine but especially enjoys caring for trauma and toxicology patients. She is passionate about educating owners to make the best possible decisions for their pet and their families.

• Residency, Emergency & Critical Care, DoveLewis Veterinary Emergency and Specialty Hospital, Portland, OR
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Arboretum View Animal Hospital, Downers Grove, IL
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan
• Bachelor of Science, Biology, University of Puget Sound, Tacoma, WA

Dr. Gugler is always eager to enjoy the outdoors with her husband and son. She frequently spends weekends camping, hiking and playing in the dirt in her vegetable garden. She loves watching her plants grow and then sharing the resulting salsa and spaghetti sauce.

Dr. Paige Hafner enjoys all aspects of internal medicine. Although, she finds gastrointestinal and infectious diseases the most interesting to investigate and treat.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Small Animal Internal Medicine)
• Master of Science, Mississippi State University, Starkville
• Residency, Small Animal Internal Medicine, Mississippi State University, Starkville
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, BluePearl Pet Hospital, Franklin, TN
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater
• Bachelor of Science, Biology and Zoology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater

Dr. Hafner played soccer for a short period in college and still enjoys the opportunity to play or watch. She also loves to read and is a huge Harry Potter fan. Her pets include Dalmatian Cassie and tuxedo cat Elsa.

Dr. Ashton Harlan discovered his passion for veterinary medicine at a young age following the loss of his beloved Great Dane. This formative experience inspired a lifelong dedication to animal health and welfare, education and hands-on clinical practice. His clinical interests include managing hemoabdomens, stabilizing critically ill patients and treating ocular emergencies.

• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Oradell Animal Hospital, Paramus, NJ
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan
• Bachelor of Science, Animal Science, Kansas State University, Manhattan

Dr. Heather Heeb enjoys all aspects of the oncology field.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Oncology)
• Residency, Oncology, Kansas State University, Manhattan
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Texas A&M University, College Station
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan
• Bachelor of Arts, University of Kansas, Lawrence

• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames
• Bachelor of Science, Animal Science, Iowa State University, Ames

Dr. Meghan McManus is passionate about providing high-quality care for animals and educating owners, enabling them to make informed decisions for their family. Her clinical interests include:

• Endocrine diseases (such as kidney disease, diabetes and hormonal dysregulation)
• Gastrointestinal diseases
• Wound care and bandaging
• Client communication

She is excited to join BluePearl and provide individualized emergency care for your pets!

• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Ohio State University, Columbus
• Bachelor of Science, Animal Science (Pre-Veterinary), Northwest Missouri State University, Maryville

Dr. McManus enjoys spending time with her two cats (Dani and Brutus), her horse (Dutch) and her husband. You can usually find her tending to her flowers, cooking, shopping and spending time with family.

Dr. Odle enjoys all aspects of emergency medicine.

• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Veterinary Specialty & Emergency Center, Overland Park KS
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan

When not at the hospital, Dr. Odle enjoys the outdoor life.

Dr. Andrea Plá loves everything related to the heart, with a particular passion for emerging advancements in cardiac imaging, the medical management of heart failure and teaching veterinary students, interns and residents.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Cardiology)
• Residency, Cardiology, University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, Canada
• Master of Science, Veterinary Science, University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, Canada
• Internship, Cardiology and Emergency & Critical Care, Atlantic Coast New York Veterinary Specialists, Bohemia
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Michigan State University, East Lansing
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
• Bachelor of Science, Veterinary Science and Molecular & Cellular Biology, University of Arizona, Tucson

In her free time, Dr. Plá enjoys going to death metal concerts with her husband, reading alongside her three cats, sipping tea, caring for her houseplants and cooking.

Dr. Karissa Severud finds orthopedic diseases and internal medicine conditions the most gratifying to treat. She is interested in exotic and zoo animal medicine and enjoys discussing conservation and fun facts about the different species she has treated.

• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, BluePearl Pet Hospital, Overland Park, KS
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan
• Bachelor of Science, Animal Science and Industry, Kansas State University, Manhattan

Dr. Severud has three dogs that she refers to as “the girls.” She also has a cat and a horse. She enjoys spending time with her husband and their young son. In her spare time, she enjoys organizing and decorating her house, being outside and running half marathons.

Dr. Kaitlynn Solberg is drawn to emergency medicine because of its fast-paced environment and unpredictability. Because every day brings something new, she stays engaged and constantly learning. Dr. Solberg values the opportunity to build trust with pet owners, even in a short amount of time. She strives to provide comfort and reassurance during stressful situations, helping owners feel confident that their pet is in good hands.

• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames
• Master of Science, Biomedical Science, Iowa State University, Ames
• Bachelor of Arts, Biology, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls

Outside of the hospital, Dr. Solberg enjoys reading, spending time with her golden retriever named Oakley and staying active through lifting and Pilates. In the fall, you can usually find her watching football, cheering on UNI, Iowa State and the Green Bay Packers.

Dr Julia Spade medical interests include pain management, acupuncture, and hospice and palliative care. She is certified in all three areas and enjoys collaborating with veterinarians to provide exceptional care for geriatric patients and their families. Dr. Spade is especially passionate about ensuring pets experience a dignified end-of-life and about teaching new veterinarians advanced pain management techniques, end-of-life communication and patient care.

• Certified Peaceful Euthanasia Veterinarian
• Certified Veterinary Medical Acupuncturist
• Certified Hospice and Palliative Care Veterinarian
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Veterinary Centers of America, Aurora and Berwyn, IL
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan

Outside of the hospital, Dr. Spade enjoys running, reading, traveling with her husband, Geoff, and spending time with her two-legged children, Scarlett and Wesley, and her four-legged children, Gimli and Dizzy.

Dr. Mary Stallings is particularly interested in the medical and surgical management of neurologic conditions, including managing seizures, surgical spinal diseases and inflammatory conditions of the brain and spinal cord.

• Residency, Neurology, Animal Neurology and Imaging Center, Algodones, NM
• Internship, Neurology, Bush Veterinary Neurology Service, Richmond, VA
• Internship, Neurology, SAGE Veterinary Centers, Redwood City, CA
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, University of Missouri, Columbia
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis
• Bachelor of Science, Animal Science, University of California, Davis

In her free time, Dr. Stallings enjoys exploring museums, board game stores and new local eateries with her husband. To relax, she enjoys reading and making jewelry – often selling pieces at local artisan markets. She is happy to be back in the land of green trees and grassy lawns, but not as much as her high-energy pointer named Ginger and cattle dog mix named Badger or bug-watching cats, Liz and Artemis.

Dr. Kayla Viebrock enjoys all aspects of internal medicine but has a special interest in respiratory diseases and endocrinology. She has the expertise to evaluate and treat hyperthyroid cats with I-131 radiation.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Small Animal Internal Medicine)
• Residency, Small Animal Internal Medicine, BluePearl Pet Hospital, Kansas City
• Internship, Internal Medicine, BluePearl Pet Hospital, Kansas City
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Miami Veterinary Specialists, FL
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan
• Bachelor of Science, Kansas State University, Manhattan

Dr. Viebrock enjoys time with her husband and sons. The family has two dogs, beagle Madison and dachshund Sven.

Dr. Dana White’s clinical interests include upper airway surgery, intervertebral disc disease and cranial cruciate ligament repair.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Surgeons-Small Animal
• Master of Science, Kansas State University, Manhattan
• Residency, Small Animal Surgery, Kansas State University, Manhattan
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, University of Florida, Gainesville
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia

Dr. White enjoys kayaking and baking. She and her husband live with a multitude of dogs.

Dr. Brenna Williams has extensive experience in oncologic surgery and works closely with our medical oncologist to provide your pet with the best care possible. This includes the surgical treatment of many different types of cancer, such as bone cancer and skin tumors. She enjoys helping pets return to active lives after traumatic injuries, like fractures, bite wounds and vehicular trauma.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Surgeons (Small Animal)
• Master of Science, Biomedical Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia
• Residency, Small Animal Surgery, University of Missouri, Columbia
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, University of Wisconsin, Madison
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia
• Bachelor of Arts, Microbiology, University of Kansas, Lawrence

In her free time, Dr. Williams likes cycling, hiking, gardening, knitting and quilting. She has a Portuguese water dog and a standard poodle.

Dr. Carmen Yeamans utilizes implanted vagal nerve stimulators to assist in controlling epilepsy in patients. She has completed numerous procedures to assist in relieving pressure within the brain due to excess fluid accumulation within the ventricular system or cystic structures within the skull.

Her clinical interests include surgical management of neurological conditions, intervertebral disc disease and inflammatory disease of the brain.

• Member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons
• Residency, Neurology & Neurosurgery, University of Glasgow, Scotland, UK
• Internship, Small Animal Neurology & Neurosurgery, VCA Animal Specialty Group, Los Angeles, CA
• Internship, Small Animal Surgery, SAGE Veterinary Centers, Concord, CA
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, VCA Animal Hospital, Chicago, IL
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan
• Bachelor of Science, Biochemistry and Animal Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins

In her free time, Dr. Yeamans enjoys traveling and outdoor activities, such as skiing and hiking. She loves spending time with her daughter, Dachshund named Angus, German shepherd named Sergeant and Savannah cat named Echo.

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