Pittsburgh Veterinary Specialty & Emergency Center North Hills, PA Our Vets

Dr. Rachel Walters Adams' particular clinical interests include surgical emergencies and polytrauma.

• Fellowship, Small Animal Surgery, University of Georgia, Athens
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Metropolitan Veterinary Emergency and Referral Hospital, Akron, OH
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens
• Bachelor of Arts, Biology, Adrian College, MI

Dr. Adams loves to play and watch ice hockey, especially the Pittsburgh Penguins. Other favorite pastimes include snowboarding, soccer and running. Her family includes her husband, son, and two dogs: Shetland sheep dog Reese, and Catahoula mix Trafford.

Dr. Jonathan Anderson considers challenging surgical cases to be the most rewarding, but particularly enjoys complicated fractures, other orthopedic injuries, polytrauma, minimally invasive thoracoscopic surgeries and thoracic tumor removals.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Surgeons-Small Animal
• Residency, Surgery, University of Georgia, Athens
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, North Carolina State University, Raleigh
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens
• Bachelor of Science, Biochemistry, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg

Dr. Anderson enjoys skiing, both water and snow, home renovations, and restoring/using early to mid-century American-manufactured woodworking machinery. He and his wife have three rescued dogs: yellow lab Bosun, golden retriever mix Cal Naughton, Jr., Jr., and Newfoundland Rookie.

Dr. Isla Arcaro enjoys challenging conditions, like sepsis, a life-threatening response to infection; pheochromocytoma adrenal gland tumors; and diaphragmatic hernias. Creating multi-modal pain management plans for patients with polytrauma or chronic pain is another special interest.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Anesthesia & Analgesia
• Residency, Anesthesia and Pain Management, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
• Master of Science, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
• Internship, Anesthesia, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, VCA Aurora Hospital, IL
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, St. Matthews University, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands
• Bachelor of Science, Animal Science, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

Dr. Arcaro enjoys traveling the world, kayaking and yoga. She has three cats, Quiz, Lefty and Potato.

A veteran in the veterinary ophthalmology field, Dr. Lawrence Bagley started and owned his own practice in Pittsburgh for 20 years before joining BluePearl. His special interests include cataract surgery with lens implantation, corneal disease and eyelid disorders.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists
• Residency, Ophthalmology, Eye Clinic for Animals, Garden Grove, CA
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Mesa Veterinary Hospital, AZ
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Colorado State University, Fort Collins

Married with three children, Dr. Bagley volunteers with youth organizations, his church and with his children’s schools. He coaches his sons’ baseball teams, plays on softball/basketball teams and cheers on all the Pittsburgh professional teams. The family has two beagles, Gimme and Tucker.

Dr. Shari Brown particularly enjoys treating dental and dermatology cases.

• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, VCA Arboretum View Animal Hospital, Downers Grove IL
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing
• Bachelor of Arts, Biology, Albion College, MI

Dr. Brown’s favorite pastimes include reading and traveling. She is married with three daughters and two cats, Cody and Flower.

Within the critical care field, Dr. Kelsey Casey particularly enjoys treating respiratory disease, polytrauma, sepsis, blood dyscrasias and Addison's disease.

• Residency, Emergency and Critical Care, Pittsburgh Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Center, PA
• Internship, Emergency and Critical Care, Pittsburgh Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Center, PA
• Clinical Rotation, Colorado State University, Fort Collins
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Ross University, St Kitts & Nevis, West Indies
• Bachelor of Arts, Biology, Colby College, Waterville ME

Dr. Casey and her husband have one daughter and a house full of pets: golden retriever Louie, Portuguese water dog Splash, coconut retriever Dee and tuxedo cat Jax.

Dr. Amanda Castle is especially interested in exploratory surgeries and finds foreign bodies, soft tissue injuries, fractures, and joint injuries the most gratifying to treat.

• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens
• Bachelor of Science, Biology, West Liberty State College, West Virginia

Dr. Castle enjoys spending time with her husband and two boys. Her hobbies include beekeeping, gardening, indoor and outdoor home improvement projects and community service.

Dr. Rebecca Chesne is a resident in our surgical service. She likes the variety of cases presented and specifically enjoys soft tissue surgery, wound management and emergency surgeries.

• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, VCA California Veterinary Specialists, Murrieta
• Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Ireland
• Bachelor of Science, Biology, Chapman University, Orange, CA

Outside of work, Dr. Chesne’s pastimes include horseback riding, cooking and spending time with her friends, family and pets. She has a white standard poodle named London.

Dr. Hope Chisnell's particular clinical interests include trauma surgery and wound management/reconstruction.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Surgeons-Small Animal
• Residency, Small Animal Surgery, Pittsburgh Veterinary Specialty & Emergency Center, PA
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Pittsburgh Veterinary Specialty & Emergency Center, PA
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus
• Bachelor of Arts, Biology, College of Wooster, Wooster OH

Dr. Chisnell likes to stay active with fitness classes, running, lifting weights, water activities and cycling. Her pets include mixed breed dog Pucky, bulldog mix Baloo, and three cats, Kinta, Daku and Loki.

Dr. Brendan Cloonan’s clinical interests include polytrauma, head trauma, enucleations, laceration repair, toxicities and orthopedics.

• Internship, Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, Pittsburgh Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Center, PA
• Clinical Rotation, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Ross University, St. Kitts & Nevis, West Indies
• Bachelor of Science, Biology, Mercyhurst College, Erie PA

Dr. Cloonan is a die-hard Steelers fan who enjoys golfing, hiking, kayaking and trying new restaurants and breweries. He and his wife, a general practice veterinarian, have two dogs, Bubba Gump and Ox.

Dr. Devin Cunningham is an resident in our surgery service. His particular interests include complex fractures, wound management and skin reconstruction.

• Internship, Small Animal Surgery, Pittsburgh Veterinary Specialty & Emergency Center, North Hills PA
• Internship, Soft Tissue Research, University of Missouri, Columbia
• Internship, Small Animal Surgery, Dallas Veterinary Surgical Center, TX
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Oradell Animal Hospital, NJ
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona CA
• Bachelor of Science, Animal Science, University of Florida, Gainesville

An avid outdoorsman, Dr. Cunningham enjoys hunting, fishing, surfing and snowboarding. He has a three-legged mixed breed dog named Hodor and a cat named Thor.

Dr. Maria Davila enjoys all aspects of emergency medicine.

• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, BluePearl Veterinary Partners, New York City
• Clinical Rotation, Colorado State University, Ft. Collins
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Ross University, St. Kitts & Nevis, West Indies
• Bachelor of Science, Veterinary Technology, University of Puerto Rico

Dr. Christine DePompeo’s particular clinical interests include angular limb deformities, fracture management, minimally invasive surgery and laser ablation of ectopic ureters.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Surgeons-Small Animal
• Residency, Small Animal Surgery, Washington State University, Pullman
• Master of Science, Washington State University, Pullman
• Internship, Small Animal Surgery, West Vet Emergency and Specialty Center, Boise ID
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Angell Animal Medical Center, Boston MA
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona CA
• Bachelor of Science, Bioengineering (biomechanics), Syracuse University, NY

Some of Dr. DePompeo’s favorite pastimes include rock climbing, distance running, rowing and sporting events, especially Phillies, Flyers and Eagles. She has a German shorthaired pointer named Jeri Lynn and two cats, Leonidas and Fishy.

Dr. Walter Detwiler particularly enjoys ultrasounds and computer tomography, especially with the ability to use 3D printers to convert CT images into teaching tools for clients.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Radiology
• Residency, Diagnostic Imaging, Medvet, Cincinnati OH
• Internship, Diagnostic Imaging, Medvet, Cincinnati OH
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Michigan State University, East Lansing
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Starkville
• Bachelor of Science, University of Florida, Gainesville

An avid outdoorsmen, Dr. Detwiler enjoys hunting and fishing. He's married to a veterinary dermatologist, and the family includes mixed breed dog Kirra, Australian shepherd Lily, miniature Australian shepherd Roxy, ball python Hurley, bearded dragon Crush, and leopard tortoise Erie.

Prior to joining us, Dr. Michael Doornink was a clinical instructor at Auburn University. Trained in soft tissue, oncologic and orthopedic surgery, he is particularly interested in minimally invasive orthopedic procedures and oncologic reconstruction. He also has a special interest in the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of antimicrobials and has lectured on antimicrobial use and orthopedics.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Surgeons-Small Animal
• Residency, Small Animal Surgery, Auburn University, AL
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Auburn University, AL
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames
• Bachelor of Science, Buena Vista University, Storm Lake IA

Dr. Doornink enjoys fishing, conservation land management and hobby farming. Married to another veterinarian, their family includes yellow lab Samford T. Coates, and feline brothers CBSB and Weagle C. Newton.

Dr. Sam Durkan’s particular clinical interests include trauma, emergency surgery, sepsis, coagulation, endocrine emergencies and mechanical ventilation.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Emergency & Critical Care
• Residency, Emergency & Critical Care, Tufts University, North Grafton MA
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Rochester Veterinary Specialists, NY
• Clinical Rotation, North Carolina State University, Raleigh
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Ross University, St. Kitts & Nevis, West Indies

Away from the hospital, Dr. Durkan enjoys hiking, biking, water sports, yoga and is an avid motorcyclist. He and his wife have two children and two dogs.

Dr. Todd Erfourth likes how rapidly the oncology field is evolving especially with the increasing availability of immunologic and molecular targeted therapies. He finds treating lymphoma cases particularly gratifying.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Oncology)
• Residency, Medical Oncology, Michigan State University, East Lansing Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Charlotte Veterinary Specialists, NC
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing Bachelor of Arts, Biology and Chemistry, Albion College, MI

Dr. Erfourth’s favorite pastimes include golf, going to the movies, running and travel. He and his wife have a boxer mix named Bentley and two cats, Moses and Cringer.

Prior to joining BluePearl, Dr. Michael Finn was a clinical assistant professor at Oklahoma State University. His particular clinical interests include cataract surgery and corneal surgery. Dr. Finn volunteers his expertise with the annual free service dog eye exams, sponsored by the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmology.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists
• Residency, Ophthalmology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
• Master of Science, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Auburn University, AL
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan
• Bachelor of Science, University of Notre Dame, IN

Experienced in all aspects of emergency and critical care medicine, Dr. Michelle Fulks is particularly interested in transfusion medicine and coagulopathies, or conditions in which the blood’s ability to clot is impaired.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Emergency & Critical Care
• Residency, Emergency & Critical Care, Cape Code Veterinary Specialists, Buzzards Bay MA
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Angell Animal Medical Center, Boston MA
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Colorado State University, Ft. Collins
• Bachelor of Science, Veterinary Science, University of Arizona, Tucson

Dr. Fulks enjoys cooking, hosting dinner parties and exploring the outdoors. She has a dog and cat.

Dr. Emily Gardner is a small animal medicine & surgery intern. She is especially interested in feline medicine and exotic companion animal medicine.

• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
• Bachelor of Arts, Biology, Oberlin College, OH

Dr. Gardner’s hobbies include yoga, traveling and hiking in the Adirondack Mountains. At home, she enjoys reading, playing the violin and spending time with her cat.

Dr. Christina Genareo finds trauma and toxicity cases the most gratifying to treat.

• Residency, Emergency & Critical Care, Cape Cod Veterinary Specialists, Buzzards Bay, MA
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Pittsburgh Veterinary Specialty & Emergency Center, Pittsburgh, PA
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA
• Bachelor of Science, Biology, Grove City College, Grove City, PA

Dr. Genareo has an elderly cat named Subaru who was found as a kitten near a car motor.

Dr. Melissa Gettinger finds gratifying the human-animal bond and its role in the diagnosis, treatment and management of the chronic diseases so often seen in internal medicine. Her particular clinical interests include immune-mediated blood conditions, lower urinary tract disease and kidney diseases. She also enjoys performing minimally invasive procedures.

• Residency, Small Animal Internal Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, The Ohio State University, Columbus
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, AL
• Bachelor of Science, Biology, Saint Vincent College, Latrobe PA

A Pittsburgh native, Dr. Gettinger likes watching hockey, cooking and DIY home renovations. She has a dog Finnegan and two cats, Stella and Archie.

Dr. Kara Gornik's particular clinical interests include golden retriever pigmentary uveitis, the genetics related to ocular conditions, and inherited retinal conditions.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists
• Residency, Ophthalmology, Tufts University, North Grafton MA
• Fellowship, Comparative Ophthalmology, Michigan State University, East Lansing
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Michigan State University, East Lansing
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens
• Bachelor of Science, West Virginia University, Morgantown

Some of Dr. Gornik’s favorite pastimes include camping, traveling and hiking with her two dogs, Brie and Rascal. She also has a cat name Nacho.

Dr. Lindsey Jett finds stabilizing trauma patients, managing sepsis, treating respiratory diseases, performing mechanical ventilation and transfusion therapy the most gratifying.

• Residency, Small Animal Emergency & Critical Care, Pittsburgh Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Center, PA
• Internship, Emergency & Critical Care, Pittsburgh Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Center, PA
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Pittsburgh Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Center, PA
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Western University, Pomona, CA
• Bachelor of Science, Biology, Messiah College, Mechanicsburg, PA

Dr. Jett enjoys spending time with her husband, her Newfoundland mix named Jack and three cats – Jasper, Jewel and Jasmine. She loves to cook, garden, paint, kayak and practice yoga.

Dr. Erin Johnson is part of our emergency medicine training program for clinicians. She is passionate about delivering excellent client service, communication and fostering the human-animal bond. Her interests include avian and exotic animal species.

• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Starkville
• Master of Business Administration, California University of Pennsylvania
• Bachelor of Science, Applied and Environmental Microbiology, West Virginia University, Morgantown
• Bachelor of Science, Animal and Nutritional Science, West Virginia University, Morgantown

Dr. Johnson and her husband share their home with Australian shepherds Cinder and Tali, cat Troy and bearded dragons Biggie and Tupac. In her free time, she enjoys reading, weightlifting, traveling, red wine, anything outdoors and Harry Potter.

After working in primary care and emergency medicine in Chicago for 12 years, Dr. Joey Kallem joined us in Pittsburgh where she loves complicated medical emergencies. She also has a special interest in exotic animal medicine.

• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia

Married with two boys, Dr. Kallem is a black belt in karate and Tae Kwon Do. She also loves to read, paddle board and ride her horse Rudy. The family has two dogs, three cats, one lizard, two birds, one fish and a rat living in the house with them.

Dr. Rachel Keller Vaughan finds the field of ophthalmology appealing because it combines medicine cases with surgical cases, allowing her to practice a variety of medicine. She also likes the variety of species she is able to see and treat as an ophthalmologist. Volunteering within her field is important to her, and she has served as both a committee member and board member on the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmology (ACVO) Vision for Animals Foundation. She is also a consultant with the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium and participates in the ACVO annual free Service Dog Eye Exam Event. Particular clinical interests include immune-mediated disease cases, such as uveitis and retinal detachments, and eyelid, corneal and cataract surgeries. Her research interests include sudden acquired retinal degeneration syndrome and equine ophthalmology, both of which resulted in publications and teaching opportunities.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists
• Residency, Comparative Veterinary Ophthalmology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Auburn University, AL Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Colorado State University, Fort Collins Bachelor of Science, Veterinary Science, University of Arizona, Tucson

Dr. Keller Vaughan is active in local civic and school organizations. She and her husband, who is also a veterinarian, have a son who loves baseball and cats. The family spends time together hiking, camping, traveling and reviving their older home. Shorty, who is short, and Willie, who has one eye, are the family dogs. Joe Patti, the household "boss" cat comes from Pensacola, Florida where he was rescued outside of Joe Patti's fish market as a kitten. Winnie, is their older diabetic cat, and Chibi (Japanese for Pipsqueak), is their newest cat who received a life- saving transfusion from the generous blood bank donors at PVSEC.

Dr. Michael Kraun’s clinical interests include general soft tissue and reconstructive surgery, tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO) for treatment of cranial cruciate ligament disease, less invasive fracture repair, spinal decompressive surgery, and procedural innovation/modification. He is also passionate about teaching, pain management, and issues pertaining to patient safety.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Surgeons-Small Animal Residency, Small Animal Surgery, Michigan State University, East Lansing
• Internship, Small Animal Surgery, Dallas Veterinary Surgical Center, TX
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Cornell University, Ithaca NY
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens
• Bachelor of Science, Biomedical Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens

Dr. Kraun enjoys playing sports, especially hockey. An avid college football fan, he is a proud Georgia Bulldog. He loves the outdoors, especially being on the water, and likes to incorporate music into his life whenever possible. He has two cats, Metzy and Cali, and two dachshund-mix brothers, Milo and Graham.

Dr. Kristen Krisulevicz toxicity, trauma and urinary obstruction cases particularly gratifying to treat.

• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Pittsburgh Veterinary Specialty & Emergency Center, PA
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing
• Bachelor of Science, Biology, Allegheny College, Meadville PA

Dr. Krisulevicz enjoys spending time with friends, family and her two cats, Earl and Cameron.

At North Carolina State University (NCSU), Dr. Edward MacKillop was awarded the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine Resident Research Award for his project on the incidence of urinary tract infection in dogs after surgery for intervertebral disk disease. He was the cofounder of the NCSU College of Veterinary Medicine Clinical Research, Education, And Treatment of Encephalitis (CREATE) Fund, which is intended to provide financial assistance for the diagnosis and treatment of inflammatory central nervous system disease in dogs and cats along with supporting small clinically-based research projects. A prolific writer, he has been published numerous times and is a reviewer for a number of professional journals. Dr. MacKillop is particularly interested in malformations of the central nervous system and axial skeleton.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Neurology)
• Residency, Neurology and Neurosurgery, North Carolina State University, Raleigh
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Tufts University, North Grafton MA
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca NY
• Bachelor of Science, Animal Science, Cornell University, Ithaca NY

Dr. MacKillop and his wife have three daughters. Their pets include an English bulldog Tulip, calico cat Peach, and momma and baby cat, Mochi and Tsubu. One of Dr. MacKillop’s favorite pastimes is collecting console video games.

Dr. Meredith Maczuzak's clinical interests include polytrauma, parvoviral infections and acute abdominal syndrome.

• Residency, Emergency & Critical Care, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Southpaws Veterinary Specialists & Emergency Center, Fairfax VA
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA
• Bachelor of Science, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV

Dr. Maczuzak has a black cat she calls Dr. Tipper Bruce, PhD, an expert in seasonal conifers and décor. Her great Dane is Sir Lloyd Von Maczuzak.

Passionate about emergency medicine, Dr. Kayleigh McCormick's clinical interests include gastric dilatation volvulus, abscesses and urethral obstructions.

• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery Emergency Pet Center, Arizona
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
• Bachelor of Science, Toxicology and Veterinary & Biomedical Science, Pennsylvania State University, University Park

An avid reader, Dr. McCormick enjoys most genres. She also loves being in the water and is happy that she can swim year-round in Arizona. She grew up with a beloved Welsh terrier named Lucky.

• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca NY

Dr. Shaina Mooshian particularly enjoys transfusion medicine, mechanical ventilation, and treating sepsis and traumatic brain injuries.

• Residency, Emergency & Critical Care, Pittsburgh Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Center, PA
• Internship, Emergency & Critical Care, Pittsburgh Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Center, PA
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Pittsburgh Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Center, PA
• Clinical Rotation, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Ross University, St. Kitts & Nevis, West Indies
• Bachelor of Science, Biology, Lebanon Valley College, Annville PA

Dr. Mooshian loves to sing, and enjoys traveling, cooking and gardening. Her pets include dogs Ripley, Eros and Apollo; cats Khaos and Raja; and rats Odin, Ramses, Maui and Loki.

Dr. Rebecca Newman worked as a researcher at the National Institute of Child Health and Development in Bethesda, Maryland before vet school. She chose the veterinary medical oncology field because it allowed her to combine her love of research and molecular biology with medicine. Extensively published, she has been invited to make presentations at numerous conferences and continuing education events.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Oncology)
• Residency, Medical Oncology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Michigan State University, East Lansing
• Master of Science, Comparative Oncology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
• Bachelor of Science, Molecular Biology, Colgate University, Hamilton NY

Dr. Newman has an active lifestyle and loves playing sports, like ice hockey and soccer, and running after her children. In her quieter time, she enjoys baking and gardening.

Dr. Corinna Palko is a resident in our emergency & critical care service. Her clinical interests include emergency surgeries, polytrauma, post-operative patient management and transfusion medicine.

• Internship, Small Animal Surgery, BluePearl Virginia Veterinary Surgical Associates, Richmond
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, BluePearl Veterinary Partners, Tampa FL
• Clinical Rotation, Purdue University, West Lafayette IN
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Ross University, St. Kitts & Nevis, West Indies
• Bachelor of Science, Biology, Gannon University, Erie PA

Dr. Palko enjoys playing basketball, working out and spending time with her two dogs, Pixie and Sven, who she adopted while in vet school in St. Kitts and Nevis.

Dr. Anthony Pardo is especially interested in respiratory surgical conditions - tracheal collapse, laryngeal paralysis and in orthopedics - knee surgery, fractures and hip replacement.
He spent five years as an associate professor of surgery at the University of Tennessee and is currently an adjunct assistant professor with the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. His current research interests include tracheal collapse in the toy breed dog; management of cranial cruciate ligament deficiency in the dog; canine hip replacement; and oncologic surgery.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Surgeons
• Residency, Small Animal Surgery, University of Tennessee, Knoxville Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Animal Medical Center, New York City
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis
• Master of Science, Plant Physiology, University of California, Davis Bachelor of Arts, Biology, Brandeis University, Waltham MA

Dr. Pardo is on the executive board of Humane Animal Rescue, a local animal shelter in Pittsburg. Some of his favorite activities include fly fishing, bowling, bicycling and hiking. He is married and has three sons and three cats.

Dr. John Payne is a pioneer in the field of veterinary arthroscopy and has been a sought-after lecturer and instructor in the field for over 20 years. He spent nine years as a professor of surgery at the University of Missouri and is currently an adjunct associate professor with the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. He serves as a consulting surgeon for a number of zoos at major cities throughout the Midwest and for manufacturers of minimally invasive surgical equipment. As an expert in the field, Dr. Payne enjoys arthroscopy and other minimally invasive orthopedic procedures. Other clinical interests include joint reconstruction and fracture repair procedures.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Surgeons
• Residency, Small Animal Surgery, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg VA
• Master of Science, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg VA
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Grady Veterinary Hospital, Cincinnati OH
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus

Dr. Payne volunteers his time as a board member of the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium and with annual Christian Coalition Outreach fundraisers. Married with two sons, he enjoys fly fishing and shark diving, and is a licensed pilot. The family has a small farm and two dogs, black lab Molly and Chesapeake Bay retriever Roxy.

Dr. Pedro Rivera Puig is a resident in our surgery service with an interest in thoracic and orthopedic surgery.

• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Pittsburgh Veterinary Specialty & Emergency Center, North Hills PA
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, BluePearl Veterinary Partners, New York City
• Clinical Rotation, Colorado State University, Fort Collins
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Ross University, St Kitts & Nevis, West Indies
• Bachelor of Science, Interdisciplinary Sciences, University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras

Born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Dr. Rivera loves the beach and the ocean. One of his favorite hobbies is installing and maintaining salt water reef aquariums. He has an American bulldog mix named Belgium, and a long-haired Chihuahua named Demo.

Before joining our team, Dr. Saile worked as an assistant professor of companion animal surgery at Louisiana State University where she served as chief of the companion animal surgery service and program director for the small animal surgery residency program. She has lectured around the world, and has authored and coauthored numerous book chapters and scientific papers.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Surgeons-Small Animal
• Master of Science, Biomedical Sciences, Auburn University, AL Residency, Small Animal Surgery, Auburn University, Auburn AL Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Auburn University, AL
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge
• Bachelor of Science, Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge

One of Dr. Saile’s favorite pastimes is training for and competing in triathlons and running events. She also enjoys traveling and is an avid baker. Dr. Saile has three pets, terrier mix Gromit, suspiciously tall beagle Huck and a cat named The Kid.

Dr. Laura Scoda is an experienced clinician in our neurology department. Her medical interests include the treatment of inflammatory disease in critical patients, as well as any and all types of surgery.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Neurology)
• Residency, Neurology & Neurosurgery, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
• Internship, Neurology, Tufts University, North Grafton, MA
• Internship, Neurology, Affiliated Veterinary Specialists, Maitland, FL
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Veterinary Medical Center of Long Island, West Islip, NY
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus
• Bachelor of Science, Biology & Philosophy, University of Scranton, PA

Dr. Scoda likes exploring new cities, especially if she can find a new restaurant or brewery. While at home, she enjoys crocheting and spending time with her terrier mix, Primrose, and two orange cats, Sheldon and Elliot.

After her residency, Dr. Lisa Sepesy worked in academia at Ontario Veterinary College and Cornell University. Her particular clinical interests include endocrine and gastrointestinal diseases, and hepatic disorders.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine
• Residency, Small Animal Internal Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca NY
• Internship, Oncology, Purdue University, West Lafayette IN
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
• Master of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, PA
• Bachelor of Science, Allegheny College, Meadville PA

Dr. Sepesy returns to Ithaca, NY every year to participate in an annual fundraiser in which she swims across Cayuga Lake. Other interests include travel, hiking and birding. She has two golden retriever rescues, Snicker and Amber, and a Yorkie/Maltese mix named Little Bear-Bear.

Dr. Casey Simchik finds laceration repairs, abscesses, toxicities, neurologic disorders and infectious diseases the most gratifying to treat.

• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, Urbana
• Bachelor of Arts, Biology, Alfred University, NY

Dr. Simchik enjoys running, photography, traveling and learning about other cultures. She also enjoys taking her mixed breed dog, Tenney, to the dog park and watching TV with her cat, Alley.

During veterinary school, Dr. Rachel Smith's peers selected her for an award that recognized the highest level of professionalism, collegiality and compassion. Her particular clinical interests include endocrinology, particularly diabetes, gastrointestinal disease and urinary tract disease.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine
• Residency, Small Animal Internal Medicine, University of Minnesota, St. Paul
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Angell Animal Medical Center, Boston MA
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
• Bachelor of Science, Biochemistry, Northeastern University, Boston MA

Dr. Smith can often be found at a sporting event or somewhere near the water. Payton is her Labrador retriever who came to the family after deciding to make a career change from being a service dog.

Dr. Loren Sri-Jayantha is a resident in our surgery service.

• Internship, Small Animal Surgery, Pittsburgh Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Center (BluePearl)
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, North Carolina State University, Raleigh
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University, North Grafton MA
• Bachelor of Science, Biology, Bucknell University, Lewisburg PA

Dr. Sri-Jayantha says that he lives to eat and eats to live, so it’s no surprise that cooking is one of his hobbies. He also enjoys hiking, camping and reading. He has two cats Luna and Ripley.

Dr. Kate Stewart is a doctor in our emergency service. Conditions she especially enjoys treating include immune-mediated thrombocytopenia and anemia, transfusion medicine, seizure disorders and toxicities.

• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Metropolitan Veterinary Specialists, Louisville KY
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, AL
• Bachelor of Science, Biology, Centre College, Danville KY

Dr. Stewart enjoys riding hunter/jumper horses and going to concerts. She has two dachshund mixes and two guinea pigs.

Dr. Danna Torre’s particular clinical interests include transfusion medicine and mechanical ventilation. She also finds it rewarding to treat coagulation disorders and immune-mediated diseases.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Emergency & Critical Care
• Residency, Emergency & Critical Care, Tufts University, Medford MA
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Red Bank Veterinary Hospital, Tinton Falls NJ
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University, Medford MA
• Bachelor of Science, Biology, Binghampton University, NY

Dr. Torre enjoys exercise classes. She and her husband have two children and three brachycephalic (short-snouted) dogs.

Dr. Bridget Urie’s particular clinical interests include hematopoietic malignancies, thyroid carcinoma, immune-mediated hematologic disorders, and palliative, hospice and end-of-life care.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Oncology)
• Master of Science, Veterinary Comparative Biosciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus
• Residency, Clinical Oncology, The Ohio State University, Columbus Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, The Ohio State University, Columbus
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, AL
• Master of Science, Agriculture, Auburn University, AL
• Bachelor of Science, Auburn University, AL

Dr. Urie volunteers her time with local shelters and off-the-track thoroughbred rescue and rehoming organizations. She enjoys Auburn football, Pirates baseball, photography and just about anything outdoors. She and her husband, another veterinarian, have many pets: Googie, the lymphoma-surviving boxer; Samford T. Coats, the geriatric lab; cats Weagle C. Newton and CBSB; Shrimp, an off-the-track thoroughbred; and Fina, a retired, bay thoroughbred.

Dr. Madeline Vind’s past experience includes working for a cardiology research group managing anesthesia for animal patients. Her clinical interests include treating toxicities, coagulation disorders and urethral obstructions.

• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Veterinary Referral Associates, Gaithersburg MD
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona CA
• Master of Laboratory Animal Science, Drexel University, Philadelphia PA
• Bachelor of Arts, Zoology, Miami University, Oxford OH

Dr. Vind loves to be outdoors and particularly enjoys hiking with her husband and Wirehaired Pointing Griffon, Emmylou. She also likes to ski, read and try new restaurants.

Skilled in all aspects of imaging, such as radiography, CT and MRI, Dr. Christopher Warrington especially enjoys performing diagnostic ultrasound studies, and finds it gratifying to either directly identify the primary cause for the patient's illness or lead the clinician to the diagnosis, via guided sampling of a lesion or recommendations for additional testing based on ultrasound findings.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Radiology
• Residency, Radiology, University of Minnesota, St Paul
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Garden State Veterinary Specialists, Tinton Falls NJ
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus Bachelor of Science, Zoology, Miami University, Oxford OH

Dr. Warrington spends his free time playing broomball at the local, regional and national levels. He also enjoys reading fantasy/science fiction and watching movies. He is married with two children, and a family cat, Ziggy.

Dr. Sara Wilkes is a resident in our internal medicine service. Her clinical interests include acute kidney injury and chronic kidney disease, immune-mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA) and Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP).

• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, BluePearl Specialty + Emergency Pet Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan
• Bachelor of Science, Biology, Denison University, Granville, OH

Dr. Wilkes enjoys watching movies with her cat, Gabby, and exploring the great outdoors.

Karen is passionate about helping patients enjoy their lives to the fullest, and for helping families understand their pets’ illness and treatment in order to make the best decisions. She enjoys learning about rare forms of cancer, radiology and advanced imaging.

Jacqueline is passionate about both the science behind medicine and the nursing component, whether that is the comfort of a bed, attention to small details, or advocating for treatment changes based on the patient's needs and finding creative solutions that fit within the client’s budget. Her particular clinical interests include transfusion medicine, blood auto-immune disorders and mechanical ventilation.

Kristen strives to give her patients the best anesthesia treatment and pain management, and finds complicated abdominal surgery and thoracoscopy to be particularly interesting procedures. She enjoys time with her husband and daughter, as well as cooking, baking and running, and has two dogs, Tucker and Olive.

A lifelong love of animals led Kyle, who once dreamed of being a zookeeper, into the veterinary field and emergency care, where he relishes the look on families’ faces when a pet has been saved. He finds respiratory cases to be the most interesting, with the opportunity they present for using advanced skills.

Relieving patients’ pain and giving them the best care possible are priorities to Vicky, who is also particularly interested in pediatric and thoracotomy surgeries. She works to help technicians attain their VTS certifications, and teaches bible school at her church. Married with two kids, she loves horseback riding and hiking with her four dogs.