BluePearl Pet Hospital
Brooklyn, NY
Our Vets

Dr. Jill Abraham has served on the Credentials Committee for the American College of Veterinary Dermatology for a number of years. She has a special interest in feline dermatology and immune-mediated skin diseases.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Dermatology
• Residency, Veterinary Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
• Internship, Red Bank Veterinary Hospital, Red Bank NJ
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
• Bachelor of Arts, Wesleyan University, Middletown CT

Dr. Abraham enjoys spending time with her friends and family and exploring New York city with her dog Norman. She loves watching movies but really prefers to be outdoors.

Dr. Valeria Benítez-Vera is passionate about all aspects of veterinary ophthalmology, with a particular interest in microsurgery. She especially enjoys helping patients regain comfort and vision through corneal and cataract surgeries.

During her residency at the University of Georgia, Dr. Benítez-Vera also developed an interest in research, teaching and public speaking. She enjoys sharing her knowledge with colleagues, students and pet families to help make complex eye conditions easier to understand.

As a native Spanish speaker, Dr. Benítez-Vera is committed to making veterinary care more accessible and inclusive. She takes pride in helping bridge language barriers within the veterinary community and beyond, with the goal of providing compassionate, high-quality ophthalmic care to patients and families from diverse communities.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists
• Residency, Ophthalmology, University of Georgia, Athens
• Internship, Ophthalmology, BluePearl Pet Hospital, Tampa, FL
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Angell Animal Medical Center, Boston, MA
• Clinical Rotation, Tufts University, North Grafton, MA
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Ross University, St. Kitts & Nevis, West Indies
• Bachelor of Science, Psychology, University of North Carolina, Charlotte

Dr. Benítez-Vera is a foodie and enjoys traveling to new cities and countries in her free time. She also enjoys exercising, playing outdoor sports and going on adventures with her two dogs Pippa and Henna.

Dr. Deanna Borchert’s clinical interests include internal medicine, soft tissue surgery, emergency medicine and preventative care.

• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, BluePearl Pet Hospital, New York, NY
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison
• Bachelor of Science, Biology, University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire

In her free time, Dr. Borchert enjoys traveling, working out, reading, spending time with family and friends, and playing with her family dog, Kenai.

Dr. Breanna Dragseth is particularly interested in ophthalmic procedures and in diagnosing and managing conditions associated with polyuria (excessive urination) and polydipsia (excessive drinking).

• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, BluePearl Pet Hospital, New York, NY
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, St. Paul
• Bachelor of Arts, Biology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis

Dr. Dragseth enjoys being outdoors, climbing, volleyball, hiking and hanging out with her dog, Max.

Dr. Canny Fung has a special interest in advanced surgical techniques, particularly minimally invasive orthopedic and soft tissue procedures performed through thoracoscopy, laparoscopy and arthroscopy. She enjoys managing complex fractures using biologic preserving techniques and correcting angular limb deformities with the aid of personalized 3D-printed surgical guides. Dr. Fung is experienced in emergency soft tissue and neurological surgeries, including intervertebral disc disease.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Surgeons (Small Animal)
• Residency, Small Animal Surgery, BluePearl Pet Hospital, Spring, TX
• Internship, Small Animal Surgery, BluePearl Pet Hospital, Spring, TX
• Internship, Small Animal Surgery, Southwest Veterinary Surgical Service, Scottsdale, AZ
• Internship, Small Animal Surgery, Long Island Veterinary Specialist, Plainview, NY
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, BluePearl Pet Hospital, New York City, NY
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
• Bachelor of Science, Biology, Hunter College, New York City, NY

Dr. Fung has two pugs and enjoys traveling, bodybuilding, playing sports and visiting Michelin-starred restaurants.

Publications & Articles

Dr. Sean Garcia is a small animal medicine & surgery intern. He is particularly interested in oncology and surgery, including casting and splinting, laceration repairs and enucleations.

• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis

Dr. Garcia enjoys all forms of dance, but particularly swing, ballroom and other Latin styles. He is also a language lover and is fluent in French, has intermediate proficiency in Italian and Spanish, and is a beginner in American Sign Language and Dutch.

Skilled in all aspects of small animal surgery, Dr. Brian Grossbard’s particular interests include orthopedic, spinal disease, and laparoscopic and oncologic surgeries, as well as wound repair. He is also certified as a stem cell therapy provider.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Surgeons (Small Animal)
• Residency, Small Animal Surgery, Long Island Veterinary Specialists, Plainview, NY
• Internship, Neurology & Neurosurgery, Long Island Veterinary Specialists, Plainview, NY
• Internship, Small Animal Surgery, Long Island Veterinary Specialists, Plainview, NY
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Angell Animal Medical Center, Boston, MA
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville
• Bachelor of Science, University of Florida, Gainesville

A trained classical cellist who played in the symphony during college, Dr. Grossbard enjoys traveling with his dogs, exploring restaurants, biking and hiking.

Publications & Articles

Dr. Patricia Joyce enjoys all aspects of emergency medicine.

• Internship, The Animal Medical Center, New York City
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University, North Grafton, MA
• Bachelor of Arts, Washington University, St. Louis, MO

Dr. Joyce volunteers for animal rescue organizations and veterinary relief organizations during natural and man-made disasters. She lived in Tokyo, Japan, for several years and speaks fluent Japanese.

Dr. Amanda Lazar is a small animal medicine & surgery intern. Her clinical interests include the management of chronic diseases such as endocrinopathies and autoimmune conditions.

• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
• Bachelor of Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY

In her free time, Dr. Lazar enjoys creating art projects, caring for her houseplants, being outdoors and spending time with her family. She rescued her pet rabbit, Ralph, as a veterinary student.

Dr. Michaël Lora-Michiels previously worked as a family veterinarian in Bogota, Colombia. He enjoys all aspects of diagnostic imaging.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Radiology
• Residency, Radiology, Tufts University, North Grafton MA
• Master of Science, Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham NC
• Research Associate, Soft Tissue Sarcoma and Hyperthermia Clinical Trial, Duke University, Durham NC
• Fellowship, Radiology, Kansas State University, Manhattan
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Universidad of La Salle, Bogota, Colombia

Dr. Muskanjot Makkar is a small animal medicine & surgery intern. Her clinical interests include diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), urethral obstruction, immune-mediated hemolytic anemia, gastrointestinal foreign bodies and endoscopy.

• Bachelor of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana, Punjab, India

Outside of the hospital, Dr. Makkar enjoys traveling, exploring new cities and trying new restaurants and cafes. She also loves getting regular updates on Kilo, her energetic mixed-breed dog who is currently keeping her family entertained back in Vancouver.

Dr. Getachew Mesfin’s clinical interests include cardiology and internal medicine. He is dedicated to delivering high-quality and compassionate veterinary care.

• Member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons
• Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine, Royal Veterinary College, University of London, England
• Bachelor of Science, Animal Science, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg

In his free time, Dr. Mesfin enjoys staying active, trying new restaurants and hosting movie nights with friends.

Dr. Vazul Munjal is a small animal medicine & surgery intern. His clinical interests include emergency and critical care medicine, radiology, surgery and wellness and preventative medicine.

• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada

Originally from Vancouver, Canada, Dr. Munjal enjoys playing and watching sports –particularly hockey – trying new restaurants and spending time with his family, friends and his dog, Pepper.

Dr. Candice Phipps served as a government veterinarian for the country of Jamaica for over 13 years before she moved to the U.S. to become an emergency clinician for BluePearl in 2015.

Her passion is surgery with particular interest in wound healing and repair as it can involve surgical reconstruction and challenging wound repair procedures. Dr. Phipps takes pride in her diagnostic skills, including abdominal fast scans, and her commitment to the human animal bond.

• Internship, Small Animal Surgery, Sierra Veterinary Specialists, Reno, NV
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Tuskegee University, AL
• Fellowship, Small Animal Surgery, Michigan State University, East Lansing
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of the West Indies, Trinidad & Tobago

Dr. Phipps loves performing 5 and 10 km medium-distance running, going to the beach, experiencing new cultures and cuisines and hanging out with friends, family and her adorable shih tzu mix, Daisy.

Dr. Ryan Phoenix is a small animal medicine & surgery intern. She has a strong interest in diagnostic imaging.

• Clinical Rotation, University of Florida, Gainesville
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, St. George’s University, Grenada, West Indies
• Bachelor of Science, Animal Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY

Dr. Mallika Prabhakar enjoys the management of gastrointestinal (GI) disease.

• Residency, Small Animal Internal Medicine, BluePearl Pet Hospital, Tampa, FL
• Internship, Small Animal Internal Medicine, BluePearl Pet Hospital, Tampa, FL
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, BluePearl Pet Hospital, Tampa, FL
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University, North Grafton, MA
• Bachelor of Science, Biomedical Sciences, University of New Hampshire, Durham

Dr. Prabhakar has a kitten named Chikki, who loves playing, cuddling, and eating treats.

Dr. Imara Savon is a small animal medicine & surgery intern. She is particularly interested in chronic internal diseases.

• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson
• Bachelor of Science, Animal Science, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ

Outside of the hospital, Dr. Savon enjoys reading, hiking and fitness.

Dr. Shelby Scanlin is interested in all aspects of both medical and surgical neurology. She has a special passion for the treatment of refractory epilepsy, spinal tumors and intervertebral disc disease. She is experienced in more advanced neurologic surgeries such as the debridement of an intracranial abscess and placement of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt, but helping dogs regain the ability to walk remains one of the most rewarding parts of her work.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Neurology)
• Residency, Neurology & Neurosurgery, Gulf Coast Veterinary Specialists, Houston, TX
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Angell Animal Medical Center, Boston, MA
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh
• Bachelor of Science, Biology, Elon University, NC

Dr. Scanlin has a rambunctious cat named Cash and enjoys traveling overseas and running. She is excited to explore New York City after spending three years in Houston, TX.

Dr. Stephanie Silberstang’s special interests include wound management, respiratory diseases and critical care.

• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Carolina Veterinary Specialists, Charlotte NC
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca NY
• Bachelor of Science, Animal Science, Cornell University, Ithaca NY

Dr. Silberstang enjoys rock climbing/bouldering, walking her dogs, traveling abroad, listening to live music and Asian food. A pitbull lover, Dr. Silberstang has two pit bull-Catahoula mixes named Tembo and Laika and a cockatiel named Doobie.

Dr. Jason Simmons is a small animal medicine & surgery intern. His clinical interests include soft tissue surgery, orthopedic surgery and diagnostic imaging.

• Internship, Large Animal Medicine & Surgery, Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital, Saratoga Springs, NY
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson
• Bachelor of Science, Animal Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington

In his free time, Dr. Simmons enjoys working out, hiking with his golden retriever named Willie and exploring the NYC nightlife.

Dr. Gretchen Singletary is particularly interested in novel treatments for heart failure.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Cardiology)
• Residency, Cardiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia Internship, Texas A&M University, College Station
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens
• Bachelor of Arts, Emory University, Atlanta, GA

Dr. Singletary enjoys traveling, photography and music.

Dr. Laura Stock’s particular clinical interests include intoxications and endocrine diseases.

• Diplomate, American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (Canine & Feline Practice)
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
• Bachelor of Science, Bioresource Research & Animal Science, Oregon State University, Corvallis

Dr. Stock enjoys time with her husband running, biking, hiking and eating her way through NYC. They share their home with a ridgeless Rhodesian ridgeback and two cats.

Dr. Francis Volz IV is a small animal medicine & surgery intern. He is particularly interested in oncology, including radiation and chemotherapy.

• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Long Island University, Brookville, NY

In his free time, Dr. Volz enjoys skiing and playing and watching soccer, basketball and football. He has three dogs, three lizards and a snake.

In addition to being an emergency clinician, Dr. David Wohlstadter is a certified canine rehabilitation therapist. This therapy has been shown to improve dogs’ mobility and strength, particularly for geriatric dogs suffering from arthritic conditions and other musculoskeletal and neurologic conditions. Rehab is also particularly helpful after surgery for all ages to help dogs regain muscle mass and coordination.

• Certification in Canine Rehabilitation, Canine Rehabilitation Institute, Wellington, FL
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Animal Medical Center, New York City
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia
• Bachelor of Science, St Louis University, MO
• Bachelor of Arts, St Louis University, MO

Dr. Wohlstadter is married to a veterinarian and enjoys spending time with his large family, which includes many people, many dogs and many cats.