BluePearl Pet Hospital
Augusta, GA
Our Vets

Dr. Candice Bailey has extensive experience at both academic institutions and specialty hospitals. She has specialized training in multiple areas of internal medicine and clinical interests in:

• Gastrointestinal diseases
• Endocrinology
• Autoimmune diseases
• Abdominal ultrasounds
• Endoscopy
• Bronchoalveolar lavage
• Bone marrow aspirate and core biopsy
• Arthrocentesis

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Small Animal Internal Medicine)
• Residency, Small Animal Internal Medicine, Oregon State University, Corvallis
• Master of Science, Veterinary Science, Oregon State University, Corvallis
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Michigan State University, East Lansing
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Tuskegee University, AL
• Bachelor of Science, Biology, Winthrop University, Rock Hill, SC

Outside of the hospital, Dr. Bailey enjoys walks in nature, traveling, biking, hiking, spending time with her sweet kitty named Addy and hanging out with her family and friends.

Dr. Sequoia Bruinton enjoys all aspects of emergency medicine.

• Internship, Cardiology, Animal Specialty & Emergency Center, Los Angeles, CA
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, BluePearl 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.

Dr. Morgen Dugan finds repairing wounds, performing foreign body surgeries and treating blocked cats, diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and immune-mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA) particularly gratifying.

• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh
• Bachelor of Science, Biology, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC

Dr. Dugan has a husband and two amazing cats (only one of them has a functioning brain cell – the other is very cute). She and her husband enjoy being outdoors doing things like hiking, rock climbing, exploring and building a garden. Dr. Dugan is obsessed with crocheting.

• Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine, Royal Veterinary College, University of London, England
• Bachelor of Science, Animal, Poultry and Veterinary Science, Tuskegee University, AL

• 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’s special interests include fractures, traumatology and orthopedic implants. Dr. Kunkel is 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
• Internship, Small Animal Surgery, South Carolina Surgical Referral Service, Columbia
• Internship, Small Animal Surgery, Veterinary Referral and Emergency Center/Darien Animal Hospital, Norwalk, CT
• Internship, 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, two sons, 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 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