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Doctors
Pacific Veterinary Specialists and Emergency Service opened it's doors on January 15th, 1999. It's founding doctors were two internal medicine specialists, one surgery specialist, one critical care specialist and one radiology specialist. They have succeeded in creating an environment that not only provides the highest level of medical expertise and care for animal companions, but one that provides a sincere and comfortable experience for the client.
All of the founding doctors are board-certified specialists in their respective fields, which involves up to four years of post-graduate training, publication in professional journals and a rigorous certification examination. Due to the overwhelming response and needs of the community, the staff of doctors has grown to include an additional surgeon, internist, oncologist, criticalist, two radiologists and four experienced emergency doctors.
Due to the nature of specialty and emergency medicine, the requirements for operating a successful hospital are many. PVSES offers comprehensive specialized services including fiber-optic bronchoscopy and endoscopy, cystoscopy, laparoscopy, Doppler ultrasound, surgery, oncology, 24 hour ICU care and emergency services. The hospital is staffed to provide specialty medicine during the weekdays and emergency and critical care in ICU nights, weekends, and holidays. In addition to the board certified specialists available, the veterinarians staffing the emergency service have post doctoral internship training and extensive "hands on" experience. |
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Kelly Akol - Founder
DVM, Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine
Dr. Akol graduated from UC Davis in 1987 with a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine. Her internship at Coast Pet Clinic in Hermosa Beach followed and was completed in 1988. Dr. Akol then pursued residency training in internal medicine at University of Pennsylvania (1988-1990) She became board certified in internal medicine in 1992. She has published articles in the area of diabetes mellitus, pancreatitis and lipidosis. Dr. Akol has a special interest in feline medicine as well as the sub-specialties of gastroenterology, endocrinology and diseases of the respiratory system. |
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Merrianne Burtch - Founder
DVM, Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine
Dr. Burtch received her Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from UC Davis in 1993. She completed an internship at Santa Cruz Veterinary Hospital in 1994. In 1996 she completed an ACVIM approved residency in internal medicine at the same facility, which included out-rotations at UC Davis. She became board certified in internal medicine in 1999. Dr. Burtch's special interests include diabetes mellitus, gastroenterology and liver disease. |
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Michelle Pressel
DVM, Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine
Dr. Pressel received her Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from Colorado State University in 2000. Her internship at Veterinary Care Animal Hospital in Albuquerque followed, and was completed in 2001. She remained in Albuquerque in general practice for one year before pursuing her residency training in internal medicine at Iowa State University which she completed in 2005. She became board certified that same year. She has published several articles and participated in a number of presentations and lecture series. Dr. Pressel's special interests include gastroenterology, oncology, and hematology. She is active in regional and national veterinary societies, as well as a participant, on the local level, in agility, obedience, and therapy dog visitation. She joined PVSES in June 2007, and shares her life with her kitties, Minza and Nutmeg, and her Golden Retriever, Cedar. |
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Larry Kerr - Founder
DVM, Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Radiology
Dr. Kerr received his Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from Mississippi State University in 1981. He attended UC Davis as a radiology resident and was board certified in radiology in 1985. Following two years as a staff radiologist at UC Davis, he entered private practice. He also offers mobile radiographic and ultrasound services through his own radiology practice, Veterinary Radiology Specialists. |
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Mark Lee
DVM, Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Radiology
Dr. Lee graduated from Washington State University in 1981 with a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine. Following ten years as a private practice owner, he attended UC Davis as radiology resident and was board certified in radiology in 1994. He joined Dr. Kerr at VRS in 1995. |
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Jim Hoskinson
DVM, Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Radiology
Dr. Hoskinson graduated summa cum laude from Washington State University with a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine in 1986. He pursued his residency training in radiology at the University of Tennessee and was board certified in 1990. He joined the faculty at UCD as an instructor in diagnostic imaging and in 1991 he became assistant professor in radiology at Kansas State University School of Veterinary Medicine, where he remained for 14 years. Dr. Hoskinson joined VRS in 1997, while continuing to be active in regional, national and international education programs and in providing consulting service to industry and institutional practices. |
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Lisa Metelman - Founder
DVM, MS, Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Surgery
After receiving a masters degree in cytogenetics in 1985, Dr. Metelman received her Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from Colorado State University in 1991. She completed an internship at Santa Cruz Veterinary Hospital in 1992. She returned to CSU for her residency in small animal surgery, which was completed in 1995. During that time Dr. Metelman completed a second masters degree in surgery. She was a faculty instructor in surgery at CSU the following year. She became board certified in 1997. Her particular interest is in oncologic surgery including both thoracic and abdominal surgery. |
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Thomas LaHue
DVM, Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Surgery
Dr. LaHue received his Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from UC Davis in 1982. From 1982-83, he served his internship at Santa Cruz Veterinary Hospital in small animal medicine and surgery. His residency in small animal surgery was completed at both UC Davis and Santa Cruz Veterinary Hospital. He became board certified in 1989. Dr. LaHue performs soft tissue, orthopedic, and neurosurgery. He has a special interest in respiratory surgery. Dr. LaHue also teaches AP Environmental Science at one of our local high schools, is married to a general practice veterinarian and has two sons. He also shares his life with a "perfect" Border Collie and a "slightly ornery" cat. |
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Emergency & Critical Care |
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Colleen Brady
DVM, Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care
Dr. Brady received her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Louisiana State University in 1997. At the University of Pennsylvania, she completed her internship in 1998 and her residency in emergency and critical care in 2001, that same year she became board certified. She stayed on at the University of Pennsylvania during 2001-02 as staff lecturer at the School of Veterinary Medicine and joined PVSES in July of that year. She has published several articles on feline sepsis, sodium homeostasis, and the stress response to critical illness. Her areas of special interest include sepsis, acute heart failure, electrolytes and fluid therapy. |
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Lillian Good
DVM, Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care
Dr. Good graduated from Cornell University with a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine in 1999. Her internship in small animal medicine and surgery, at Angell Memorial Hospital in Boston, followed and was completed in 2000. She continued on at Angell Memorial for her residency training in emergency medicine and critical care (2000-2003), and joined PVSES upon completion. She became board certified in 2004. Dr. Good finds the challenge of helping animals through critical medical emergencies to be extremely rewarding. |
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Christian Robison
DVM, Director of Emergency Services
Dr. Robison received his Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from UC Davis in 1995, and completed his internship the following year at Santa Cruz Veterinary Hospital. He remained in Santa Cruz in general practice until 1998 when he became one of the vanguard of doctors who began PVSES. Dr. Robison is known for his great and abiding love and advocacy for all creatures, as well as for his exceptional skills and wide-ranging knowledge in emergency medicine. |
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Kim Delkener
DVM, Emergency Medicine
Dr. Delkener received her Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from UC Davis in 2002. Her internship, completed in 2003, was at Veterinary Specialty Hospital of San Diego, where the high emergency case load afforded her numerous opportunities for patient stabilization and care, emergency surgical procedures, and the practice of emergency medicine in all its inherent variety. She joined PVSES in July, 2003. Dr. Delkener participates as a trainer and exhibitor in dog agility and has competed on the national level. Her three Border Collies are Rayne, Pyro, and Ari. |
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Mark Saphir
DVM, Emergency Medicine
A native from Chicago, Dr. Saphir graduated from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine and finished his clinical year at Colorado State University in June 2007. He then completed an internship in small animal emergency and critical care and surgery at Animal Urgent Care in Escondido, CA. He enjoys all aspects of emergency medicine and has special interests in emergency surgery and trauma. Dr. Saphir shares his life with Murphy, his golden retriever and his 3 cats Gus, Gonzo, and Tonka Truck. In his spare time he enjoys spending time with his family, hiking, backcountry camping, skiing, traveling, and is a diehard Chicago sports fan. |
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Brian Allett
DVM, Emergency Medicine
Dr. Allett graduated from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine and finished his clinical year at Minnesota Veterinary Medical Center in 2004. He then completed in 2005 an internship in small animal emergency, critical care and surgery at VetCare in Dublin, CA. He worked for three years at an emergency and specialty practice in Southern California. Dr. Allett enjoys all aspects of emergency medicine with a strong interest in internal medicine. He is well known for his compassionate care and warm bedside manner. In his free time, Dr. Allett enjoys a wide variety of outdoor activities, traveling and baseball, he is a diehard Oakland A's fan. He shares his life with 3 dogs and 3 cats. |
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