BluePearl Pet Hospital Downtown NYC New York, NY Our Vets

Dr. Alex Blutinger’s particular clinical interests include mechanical ventilation, toxicities and polytrauma.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Emergency & Critical Care
• Residency, Small Animal Emergency & Critical Care, Animal Medical Center, New York City
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, BluePearl Specialty & Emergency Pet Hospitals, New York City
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
• Bachelor of Science, Biology, Neuroscience, Italian, Brandeis University, Waltham MA

Dr. Blutinger is a DJ who also enjoys music production and surfing. He has an English golden retriever named Gemma who lives for swimming, tennis balls, squirrels and affection.

Dr. Kelly Braly enjoys all aspects of emergency medicine, especially treating trauma patients.

• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, AL
• Bachelor of Science, Biology, Arizona State University, Tempe

Dr. Braly likes to travel, especially through Europe. She has a boxer mix named Waveland.

Dr. Rachel Carlson is especially interested in acute trauma, wound management and all aspects of critical care.

• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge
• Bachelor of Science, Biology, University of Central Florida, Orlando

Dr. Carlson loves surfing, traveling and biking. In New York City, she tries to eat all the food the city has to offer. Her dog is a miniature dachshund named Pickles.

Dr. Ally Yi Chen likes treating trauma and sepsis cases, along with electrolyte and endocrine disorders. Abdominal and thoracic trauma ultrasounds are also a particular interest.

• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, California Veterinary Specialist, Murrieta
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
• Bachelor of Science, Zoology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Some of Dr. Chen’s favorite pastimes include swimming, climbing, baking, reading and going to shows or museums. She has a dog named Schmitty.

Dr. Emily Ehmann has a particular interest in surgical emergencies but enjoys all aspects of emergency medicine because she is able to help pets and their family members when they need it most.

• Internship, Small Animal Surgery, Chesapeake Veterinary Surgical Specialists, MD
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, BluePearl Veterinary Partners, New York City
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
• Bachelor of Science, Animal Science, Rutgers University, New Brunswick NJ

Dr. Ehmann is passionate about volunteering at animal shelters and participating in animal foster programs. She enjoys cycling, long distance running, traveling, hiking, cooking and exploring New York City. Andi is her pit bull mix, and Hector is her cat.

Dr. Philip Fico’s particular clinical interests include electrolyte derangements and treating sepsis and polytrauma cases.

• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Veterinary Emergency and Referral Group, Brooklyn NY
• Clinical Rotation, University of Georgia, Athens
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, St. George’s University, Grenada, West Indies
• Bachelor of Science, Biology, Fordham University, Bronx NY

Dr. Fico is an amateur illustrator and Muay Thai fighter. He and his wife have a cat named Ruby.

Dr. Jeffrey Ganus is especially interested in cardiac and respiratory emergencies; metabolic and endocrine diseases; and immune-mediated diseases such as immune-mediated hemolytic anemia and immune-mediated thrombocytopenia.

• Internship, Cardiology, Red Bank Veterinary Hospital, Tinton Falls, NJ
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Angell Animal Medical Center, Springfield, MA
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Royal Veterinary College, London, England
• Bachelor of Science, State University of New York, Albany

Dr. Ganus enjoys snowboarding, skiing, biking, tennis, hiking and hanging out in Central Park. Passionate about food and music, Dr. Ganus named his English bulldog, Monk, after the jazz pianist Thelonious Monk.

Dr. Laura Gibeon enjoys all aspects of emergency medicine.

• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
• Bachelor of Science, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, England

Dr. Gibeon enjoys rock climbing, skiing and time with her family, which includes two cats, Sponge and Schmutzig.

Dr. Griego-Valles' special interests include ventilator therapy, transfusion medicine, fluid therapy for shock resuscitation, coagulopathies, and trauma, particularly traumatic brain injury.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Emergency & Critical Care
• Residency, Emergency & Critical Care Medicine, Animal Medical Center, New York NY
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Fifth Avenue Veterinary Specialists, New York City
• Clinical Rotation, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Ross University, St. Kitts & Nevis, West Indies
• Bachelor of Science, Zoology, University of Texas, Austin

Dr. Griego-Valles spends her off duty time running, traveling, exploring NYC for the best meal, and getting lost in bookstores. She considers her house an apartment zoo, with two dogs and five cats, that she would like to write about one day in a bilingual children’s book series.

• Internship, Diagnostic Imaging, BluePearl Veterinary Partners, New York City
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, BluePearl Veterinary Partners, New York City
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, West Lafayette IN
• Bachelor of Science, Commerce in Marketing and Biology, Santa Clara University, CA

Dr. Emma Hurley is an intern in our cardiology service. She is most interested in cardiovascular disease and minimally invasive cardiovascular surgery. She has studied animals for over nine years and has worked closely with a variety of different species.

• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, BluePearl Specialty + Emergency Pet Hospital, Midtown, NY
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
• Bachelor of Science, Animal Science, University of Vermont, Burlington

Dr. Hurley loves spending time with family and friends. She also enjoys live music, playing guitar and singing, exercising, cooking and trying new things.

Dr. Sarah Kalafut particularly enjoys treating orthopedic cases, including stifle disorders, like cranial cruciate ligament disease and luxating patellas; juvenile diseases, such as elbow dysplasia and angular limb deformities; and fractures. Skilled in all aspects of minimally invasive surgery including laparoscopy, thoracoscopy and arthroscopy, some of the procedures she performs include laparoscopic ovary, retained testicle, spleen, and bladder stone removal; laparoscopic liver and GI biopsies; laparoscopic gastropexy procedures; thoracoscopic lung tumor removal and treatment of chylothorax; and arthroscopic joint exploration and fragment removal.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Surgeons-Small Animal Residency, Small Animal Surgery, Animal Medical Center, New York City
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Animal Medical Center, New York City
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca NY
• Bachelor of Science, Biology and Economics, Brandeis University, Waltham MA

Dr. Kalafut’s favorite pastimes include traveling, cooking, horseback riding, wine tasting and trying new restaurants with her husband. They have two dogs, Labradoodle Cole, and Remy, a Doque de Bordeaux.

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

Trained in all aspects of internal medicine, Dr.Genevieve Mak especially likes performing laparoscopic procedures, like endoscopies and rhinoscopies, and performing fine needle aspirations via ultrasound.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine Residency, Small Animal Internal Medicine, VCA California Animal Hospital, Los Angeles
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, VCA California Animal Hospital, Los Angeles
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona CA
• Bachelor of Science, Animal Science, Cornell University, Ithaca NY

Dr. Mak loves eating at new restaurants. She’s also obsessed with bubble tea, a tea-based mixture with fruit flavor or milk and tapioca. Her alone time is spent reading, especially the fantasy and supernatural genre. She has two cats, Kon and Donatella.

Dr. Rebecca Meltzer is a doctor in our emergency service. She particularly enjoys treating feline obstructions.

• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, BluePearl Veterinary Partners, New York City
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
• Bachelor of Arts, Molecular and Cellular Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville TN
• Bachelor of Arts, Medicine, Health and Society, Vanderbilt University, Nashville TN

Dr. Meltzer loves eating out and trying new or exotic dishes. She also likes hiking and spending time outdoors, but her favorite pastime is snuggling on the couch with her cat Charlie. She also has a Russian tortoise, Sputnik.

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. Pooja Rathore enjoys all aspects of emergency medicine.

• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, BluePearl Veterinary Partners, New York City
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
• Bachelor of Arts, Biology, DePauw University, Greencastle IN

Dr. Pooja Rathore has volunteered on Native American reservations in Arizona and New Mexico; worked with thoroughbred racehorses in India; and worked in Sri Lanka with the Millennium Elephant Foundation. She is passionate about dancing and enjoys horseback riding.

As an emergency clinician, Dr. Sarah Schiff’s particular interests include unblocking cats with urethral obstructions and performing laceration repairs. She also enjoys soft tissue surgery and oncology cases.

• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, VCA Norwalk and Shoreline, CT
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University, North Grafton MA
• Bachelor of Arts, Biochemistry, Smith College, Northampton MA

Some of Dr. Schiff’s favorite pastimes include travel, playing volleyball and cake decorating. She has a yellow lab named Evvie.

Dr. Allison Schreffler is interested in internal medicine, emergency medicine and critical care. She is passionate about addressing the specific needs of senior pets and their families. She is also Fear-Free certified so that she can provide care in a compassionate and low-stress manner.

• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, BluePearl Specialty + Emergency Pet Hospital, Brooklyn, NY
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
• Bachelor of Arts, Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia

Dr. Schreffler enjoys live music, exploring the city and learning new songs on the guitar, ukulele and banjo. She has a rescue guinea pig named John.

Dr. Judy Seltzer enjoys the challenge of managing long-term diseases and building a strong relationship with her clients and patients, many of whom she has seen for years. Her clinical interests include immune-mediated skin diseases and intradermal skin tests, which are still considered to be the gold standard for atopic dermatitis.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Dermatology
• Residency, Dermatology, University of Florida, Gainesville
• Internship, Dermatology & Allergy, Red Bank Veterinary Hospital, Tinton Falls NJ
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, The Center for Specialized Veterinary Care, Westbury NY
• Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine, Royal Veterinary College, University of London, England
• Bachelor of Science, Animal Science, Cornell University, Ithaca NY

Dr. Seltzer’s favorite pastimes include dining out, cooking, skiing and traveling. She has four cats: Katt, Kabuki, Huxley, named after a layer of the hair follicle, and Allie, rescued from a NYC alley.

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.

Skilled in all aspects of internal medicine, Dr. Emma Stanley’s favorite disorders to manage include endocrinopathies, kidney disease, primary gastrointestinal (GI) disease and all aspects of feline internal medicine.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Small Animal Internal Medicine)
• Residency, Small Animal Internal Medicine, Animal Medical Center, New York City
• Internship, Internal Medicine, BluePearl Veterinary Partners, New York City
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, BluePearl Veterinary Partners, New York City
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
• Bachelor of Science, Biology, Swarthmore College, PA

Dr. Stanley’s hobbies include long distance running, going to the beach, trying new Manhattan restaurants with her husband, and relaxing with cats Dinah, Amelia and Louie.

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. Jesse Tong finds diagnostic imaging and wound closures the most gratifying to perform.

• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, BluePearl Specialty + Emergency Pet Hospital, New York City, NY
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Alberta, CAN
• Bachelor of Science, Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Alberta CAN

Dr. Tong grew up in Hong Kong and Vancouver, Canada. He enjoys soccer, water sports, motorsports, hiking, backpacking, skiing, traveling, and reading. Dr. Tong currently doesn’t have any pets, but he plans to adopt a dog from a shelter soon.

Dr. Marc Weissman is an intern in our oncology service. He is particularly interested in the integration of medical, radiation and surgical oncology to achieve the best clinical outcome for his patients. He co-authored the first report of the successful treatment of squamous cell neoplasia in a pot-bellied pig.

• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, BluePearl Specialty + Emergency Pet Hospital, New York City
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia
• Bachelor of Science, Animal Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

Dr. Weissman enjoys hiking, concerts and traveling. He has a cat named Rosita, who moved with him from Missouri to New York and now Washington.

Dr. Lauren Wiley says that she was born wanting to be a veterinarian but confirmed that decision at the age of 11 when she witnessed her miniature horse’s C-section. Her fascination for cardiology came when her first Portuguese water dog had a litter of puppies, five of whom didn’t survive because of a cardiomyopathy. She’s a huge fan of pacemakers, especially with paroxysmal complete atrioventricular blocks in cats, because they provide one of the few cardiac cures. Additionally, Dr. Wiley finds it gratifying to treat all forms of cardiomyopathies and to help guide pet owners through the stress of treating congestive heart failure. Two of her most recent research projects include a pathology study on the anatomy of the feline tricuspid valve and the use of isosorbide for the treatment of congestive heart failure.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Cardiology)
• Residency, Cardiology, Animal Medical Center, New York City
• Internship, Cardiology, Animal Medical Center, New York City
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
• Bachelor of Arts, Biochemistry, Smith College, Northampton MA

Away from the hospital, Dr. Wiley enjoys swimming, yoga and horseback riding with Jordan, her Arabian Morgan mare. She admits to really loving cats, and even crotchets sweaters for her three: Billie Jean and Beanface are both Devon rex, and Oksana Baiul is a Cornish rex. Genny is her Portuguese water dog who goes everywhere with her.

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.

Dr. Adam Yoskowitz sees diagnostic imaging as puzzle solving, communication, case discussion, collaboration and complex imaging technology. He particularly enjoys diagnostic ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Radiology
• Residency, Radiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Animal Medical Center, New York City
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia Bachelor of Science, Animal Science, University of Delaware, Newark

Dr. Yoskowitz shares his time away from work with Tooey, his calico domestic medium-haired cat.

Dr. Sarah Zelinski volunteered with Veterinarians Without Borders on their Goat Pass-On project in Uganda where she taught single mothers and widows how to raise goats to help them support their families.

• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, BluePearl Veterinary Partners, New York
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada
• Bachelor of Science, Biology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada

Dr. Zelinski enjoys camping, hiking and yoga, and on free evenings, she can be found at a local concert or sampling craft beer at a neighborhood pub. Monty is her French bulldog.