BluePearl Pet Hospital
Rockville, MD
Our Vets

Dr. Sidney Bannister is particularly interested in diabetic ketoacidosis, immune-mediated hemolytic anemia and immune-mediated thrombocytopenia.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Small Animal Internal Medicine)
• Residency, Small Animal Internal Medicine, BluePearl Pet Hospital, Maitland, FL
• Internship, Small Animal Internal Medicine, VCA Animal Specialty Group, Los Angeles, CA
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Carolina Veterinary Specialists, Charlotte, NC
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Tuskegee University, AL
• Bachelor of Science, Biology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Dr. Bannister loves to go hiking, especially with her lab/shepherd mix. She also enjoys cooking, from homemade pasta to smoked pulled pork BBQ. She attempts to keep her two cats out of trouble.

Dr. Maria Bell has worked in several areas of veterinary medicine but ER is her passion because it’s where she feels she can help the most.

• Internship, Clinical Pathology, Kansas State University, Manhattan
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia
• Bachelor of Arts, Chemistry, Arizona State University, Tempe
• Bachelor of Science, Biology, Arizona State University, Tempe

Dr. Bell grew up in Arizona and has lived all over the U.S. Most recently, she lived in Germany with her wife, who was stationed there with the U.S. Army. She and her wife have a dog (Leo) and two Bengal cats (Ares and Apollo). She enjoys being active outside, reading, playing music and martial arts.

Dr. Chivvis is passionate about emergency and critical care medicine. She has extensive experience working in a busy ER and performing complicated emergency and surgical procedures.

• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Iowa State University, Ames
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames
• Bachelor of Science, Biology, Westfield State College, Westfield MA

When not at the hospital, Dr. Chivvis enjoys baking, spending time outdoors, traveling and making memories with her children and husband. She currently has two Pomeranians.

Dr. Patricia DeBow’s favorite modality is ultrasound. She enjoys performing any type of ultrasound-guided procedure. Her interests also include vascular studies on all modalities.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Radiology
• Residency, Diagnostic Imaging, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, AL

Dr. DeBow has one dog, Lumi, who she and her husband share custody of with her mom (who also lives in Rockville). One of her favorite things to do is travel, especially internationally, but any time she can go somewhere new with family or friends, she’s happy! Otherwise, she enjoys reading, spending time outdoors and going to shows or concerts. She is a huge foodie and loves trying new restaurants, bakeries and coffee shops.

Publications and articles

Dr. Aria Guarino finds diabetes mellitus and infectious diseases the most gratifying to treat and is especially interested in interventional procedures such as tracheal stents.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Small Animal Internal Medicine)
• Residency, Small Animal Internal Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Dogs and Cats Veterinary Referral and Emergency, Bowie, MD
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg
• Bachelor of Arts, Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA

Dr. Guarino enjoys singing, musical theatre, opera, mixology, jogging and weightlifting. She lives in Maryland with her husband and their three cats and dog.

Publications & Articles

Dr. Rasmussen understands the importance of multi-modal therapy in cancer treatment for our veterinarian patients, including chemotherapy, immunotherapy, surgery, and radiation therapy. She values the relationships and trust built between the family and the pet, especially when navigating a cancer diagnosis.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Oncology)
• Residency, Oncology, University of Wisconsin, Madison
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Colorado State University, Fort Collins
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona CA
• Bachelor of Science, Biological Sciences & Animal Science, University of Vermont, Burlington

Dr. Rasmussen and her husband have two children. The family pet is a chocolate Lab named Randall. In addition to family time, Dr. Rasmussen enjoys playing golf, yoga, running, music, watching sports, and travel.

Publications & Articles

Dr. Raphael Repellin has a strong passion for soft tissue, minimally invasive and gallbladder surgeries, treating brachycephalic airway syndrome and surgical oncology.

• Residency, Small Animal Surgery, Michigan State University, East Lansing
• Internship, Small Animal Surgery, Michigan State University, East Lansing
• Internship, Small Animal Surgery, MedVet, Cincinnati, OH
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, VCA Sacramento Veterinary Referral Center, CA
• Clinical Rotation, Oregon State University, Corvallis
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Ross University, St. Kitts & Nevis, West Indies
• Bachelor of Science, Biology, University of California, Davis

At home, Dr. Repellin has a wonderful wife, three children, a dog and a cat. He enjoys spending time outside hiking, biking and climbing. He played competitive soccer, rugby and tennis, and enjoys surfing, skiing and scuba diving.

Publications & Articles

Dr. Abbie Speas values the knowledge she gained while working in an integrated service that included medical, surgical and radiation oncologists. She values client education and working with clients to determine the best treatment plan for each individual pet. Her particular clinical interests include the treatment of histiocytic sarcoma, osteosarcoma and lymphoma.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Oncology)
• Residency, Small Animal Oncology, University of Florida, Gainesville
• Internship, Small Animal Oncology, University of Georgia, Athens
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Colorado State University, Fort Collins
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens
• Bachelor of Science, Biology, University of Georgia, Athens

Dr. Speas has two dogs, Luke and Finnegan, and two cats, Dexter and Elliott. She enjoys an active lifestyle, especially exploring outdoors and attending concerts and festivals.

Dr. Spriggs understands the challenges pet parents face, especially regarding allergies and utilizes her experience and knowledge gained over the years to help her patients. She is passionate about client education, building relationships and trust with the family and pet, while managing lifelong diseases. Her clinical interests include treating and managing allergies, including chronic ear disease and autoimmune/immune-mediated diseases.

• Residency, Dermatology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh
• Internship, Dermatology, Long Green Animal Dermatology Center, Baltimore, MD
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, VCA Alexandria Animal Hospital, VA
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Tuskegee University, AL
• Bachelor of Science, Animal Science, Tuskegee University, AL

Dr. Spriggs enjoys swimming, painting, cooking and participating in adult sports groups, specifically bowling and kickball.