BluePearl Pet Hospital
Augusta, GA
Our Vets

Dr. Sequoia Bruinton enjoys all aspects of emergency medicine.

• Internship, Cardiology, Animal Specialty & Emergency Center, Los Angeles, CA
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, BluePearl Specialty + Emergency Pet Hospital, Grand Rapids, MI
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Tuskegee University, AL
• Bachelor of Science, Animal, Poultry & Veterinary Science, Tuskegee University, AL

Dr. Bruinton enjoys running, reading, horseback riding and spending time with her family.

As a dedicated emergency clinician, Dr. Maria Flippo is particularly interested in trauma and toxicity cases.

• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Regional Institute for Veterinary Emergency and Referrals, Chattanooga, TN
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Tuskegee University, AL
• Bachelor of Science, Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Clemson University, SC

Outside of work, Dr. Flippo loves traveling with her husband and son, and she also enjoys Pilates. She has two dogs, a Chihuahua and a Labrador retriever.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Cardiology)
• Residency, Cardiology, Tufts University, North Grafton, MA
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
• Bachelor of Arts, Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia

Dr. Kevin Kunkel is board certified in small animal surgery, and his particular interests include fractures, traumatology and orthopedic implants. Dr. Kunkel is also active in research and has published on several topics, including cranial cruciate disease.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Surgeons-Small Animal
• Resident, Small Animal Surgery, South Carolina Veterinary Specialists, Columbia
• Intern, Small Animal Surgery, South Carolina Surgical Referral Service, Columbia
• Intern, Small Animal Surgery, Veterinary Referral and Emergency Center/Darien Animal Hospital, Norwalk CT
• Intern, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Colorado State University, Fort Collins
• Bachelor of Science, Physiology, Cornell University, Ithaca NY

Dr. Kunkel lives on a farm with his wife and two sons. They have horses, dogs and cats.

Publications & Articles

Dr. Diana McGovern enjoys building relationships with clients and their pets. She is particularly interested in gastrointestinal (GI) and liver diseases.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Small Animal Internal Medicine)
• Residency, Small Animal Internal Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Kansas State University, Manhattan
• Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, University of Glasgow, Scotland
• Bachelor of Science, Microbiology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins
• Associate of Arts, Business, University of Central Florida, Orlando

Dr. McGovern is married with two daughters and many pets. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, visiting breweries, traveling to foreign countries and scuba diving.

Publications & Articles

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Oncology)
• Master of Science, Veterinary Science, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
• Residency, Oncology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
• Internship, Oncology, Animal Cancer Care Clinic, Fort Lauderdale, FL
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, VCA Fifth Avenue Veterinary Specialists, New York, NY
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
• Bachelor of Science, University of North Carolina, Wilmington

A board-certified large animal surgeon, Dr. Marilyn Rumbaugh is now an emergency clinician and finds it especially rewarding. Her interests include wound management and toxicology.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Surgeons-Large Animal
• Residency, Large Animal Surgery, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge
• Master of Science, Veterinary Physiology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge
• Internship, Equine Medicine & Surgery, Pioneer Equine Hospital, Oakdale, CA
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus
• Bachelor of Science, Veterinary Science, University of Nevada, Reno

Dr. Rumbaugh’s hobbies include horseback riding and CrossFit. She has four dogs and two horses.

A highly experienced clinician, Dr. George Runnels has successfully managed thousands of medical and surgical conditions, from infectious disease to orthopedic injuries. He began his career in a dairy practice in North Carolina and has practiced emergency veterinary medicine in the Augusta area since 2003.

• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, AL

Dr. Runnels and his wife are active members of their church, along with their three daughters. They enjoy outdoor activities such as basketball, volleyball, tennis and golf. Their family includes Pumpkin and Sandy, two of the best dogs ever.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine
• Residency, Small Animal Internal Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Angell Memorial Animal Hospital, Boston, MA
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
• Bachelor of Science, Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY