Our Team
Our Veterinary Team by Specialty
Anesthesiology
Alison Jaeger
Avian and Exotics
Kristin Britton
Matthew Grootenboer
Sharonda Meade
Amanda Steinagel
Cardiology
Hyeon Woo Jeong
Ryan Keegan
Karen Meltzer
Dentistry & Oral Surgery
Kelly Saverino
Dermatology
Ian Spiegel
Emergency / Critical Care
Melissa Berg
Steven T. Berkowitz
Breanna Callejas
Christopher Drastura
Marko Drazenovic
Fabrice Fosset
Anna Gates
Lauren Higgins
Veronica Jones
Chung Lee
Julia Lee
Joanna Lloyd
Ashley McNally
Raquel Muniz
Nathalie Paiva
Jessica Portela
Stacey Rebello
Director of Emergency Services
Juliana Renzi
Arshiya Sayeed
Kanika Singleton
Ross Taylor
Elizabeth Tursi
Nancy Vail-Archer
Medical Director - Maple Shade
Extracorporeal Therapies (ECT)
Fabrice Fosset
Integrative Medicine
Christopher W. Shapley
Internal Medicine
Tammy Anderson
Jessie Markovich
(SAIM, NUTRITION)
Neurology
Anne Chauvet
Alexandra Danel
Oncology
Michael Buss
Diana Sanchez
Angela Summers
Ophthalmology
Kristina R. Vygantas
Radiology
Katherine Lynch Kerrigan
Rehabilitation and Pain Management
Christopher W. Shapley
Surgery
Gabrielle Anaya
Chiara Curcillo
Sarah Friday
Kelly Johnson
Zoë Launcelott
Clair Park
Surgical Resident
Nikesh Patel
Daniel Sandoval
Daniel Stobie
Founder & Chief Medical Officer
M. Joy Weinstein
Gregory Zuendt
Theriogenology
Anum Ahmed
Our Interns
Alison Jaeger
VMD, DACVAA
Dr. Jaeger graduated from The University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine in 2015. She completed a 1-year small animal rotating internship and practiced as a staff emergency/critical care veterinarian in Maryland before pursuing a residency in anesthesia and analgesia at the University of California, Davis from 2017-2020. After completing her residency, Dr. Jaeger organized the establishment and growth of the first anesthesia department at VCA Sacramento Veterinary Referral Center before moving back to her home state of New Jersey to join NorthStar VETS®.
Kristin Britton
DVM
Dr. Britton graduated from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine in 2012. She went on to complete a small animal rotating internship at the Animal Emergency Medical Center in Torrance, CA. She was then accepted into a wildlife specialty internship in medicine and surgery at The Wildlife Center of Virginia. Dr. Britton then traveled to Saskatoon, SK to complete a wildlife, exotic, and zoological internship at the University of Saskatchewan’s teaching hospital. She then accepted an ABVP Avian Residency position at the Veterinary Center for Birds & Exotics in Bedford Hills, NY. Dr. Britton has worked with a wide variety of exotic pets, wildlife, and zoological animals ranging from as small as a vole to as large as a whale.
Matthew Grootenboer
VMD
Dr. Grootenboer graduated from the University of Pennsylvania Veterinary School in 2015. He went on to complete an internship in small animal medicine at Oradell Animal Hospital. He traveled to Florida to complete an internship in exotic animal medicine at Broward Avian and Exotic Animal Hospital where he appeared on the National Geographic TV show Dr. K’s Exotic Animal ER. He has returned to NJ to continue working with exotic companion animals at NorthStar VETS®. An extension of his passion for exotics is his interest in zoo animals and wildlife. He has worked with a variety of unusual species throughout his career, including kinkajous, kangaroos, and giraffes.
Sharonda Meade
MS, PhD, VMD
Originally from NJ, Dr. Meade embarked on her journey to fulfill her passion for working with animals by studying Animal Science at Rutgers
University. She furthered her education in Virginia, obtaining a Master’s degree in Animal Science from Virginia Tech and a PhD in Veterinary Medical Sciences from the VA-MD Regional College of Veterinary Medicine. Following this, she delved into medical research as an NIH postdoctoral associate at Rutgers University, focusing on Biomaterials, and at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of NJ, specializing in Orthopedics. Dr. Meade’s academic pursuits then led her to earn a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Pennsylvania.
Transitioning into private practice, Dr. Meade found particular interest in caring for exotic patients. She later completed an internship in Exotic Companion Animal Medicine and Surgery at the University of Pennsylvania before returning to New Jersey, where she continued her work with exotic companion animals and wildlife. Over the course of her career, Dr. Meade has worked with a diverse array of unique species, including pocket pets, raptors, raccoons, deer, and even crocodiles! Currently, she is on the path to obtaining ABVP board certification in Avian Medicine and Surgery.
Amanda Steinagel
DVM, DABVP, DACEPM
Dr. Amanda Steinagel is a Diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners, Board Certified in Exotic Companion Mammal Practice and a Diplomate of the American College of Exotic Pet Medicine. She is also a clinical assistant professor and facility member at Kansas State University in the Exotics, Zoological, and Wildlife Medicine Department. Dr. Steinagel obtained her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine. After completing veterinary school, Dr. Steinagel completed a small animal medicine and surgical Internship with Pennsylvania Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Associates, as well as, a specialty internship in avian and exotic medicine and surgery at the Animal Medical Center. She completed her ABVP Exotic Companion Mammal residency training at MedVet. In addition to her clinical endeavors, Dr. Steinagel holds leadership positions in many professional organizations. She is a published author on a wide variety of topics, including: hedgehog clinical medicine, gastrointestinal diseases of rabbits, avian reproductive behavior, avian endoscopy, zoological nutrition, and hematology and biochemistry of aquatic species. Dr. Steinagel is passionate about rabbit gastrointestinal disease and small mammal emergency and critical medicine.
Hyeon Woo Jeong
DVM, DACVIM
Originally from South Korea, Dr. Jeong moved to the US alone at the age of 16. He received a bachelor’s degree in Anthropology and Human Biology at Emory University and received his veterinary degree from the University of Georgia. Dr. Jeong went on to complete a rotating internship at Virginia Tech. After his internship, he served as a clinical instructor in Emergency and Critical Care and Cardiology at Virginia Tech. While there, he completed a 3-year residency in Cardiology and became a board-certified cardiologist. Dr. Jeong’s special interests are cardiac interventional procedures, monitoring and management of acquired heart diseases, and diagnosis and management of arrhythmia.
Ryan Keegan
DMV, DACVIM
Dr. Keegan attended the University of Notre Dame and received his Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from Colorado State University. He then completed a one year rotating internship at Oradell Animal Hospital. After his internship, Dr. Keegan completed a 3-year residency in cardiology at Red Bank Veterinary Hospital and received Board Certification in Cardiology in 2014. His goal is to provide the most accurate diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment for your pet’s heart condition. Dr. Keegan’s special interests include early treatment of pre-clinical mitral valve disease and cardiomyopathy, improving quality of life for chronically coughing animals and advanced cardiac cases, accurate assessment of pulmonary hypertension (high lung pressure), and long-term management of congestive heart failure and arrhythmias.
Karen Meltzer
VMD, DACVAA
Dr. Meltzer received her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Pennsylvania in 2006. The following year, she completed a one year rotating internship in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery followed by a Small Animal Internal Medicine specialty internship at Garden State Veterinary Specialists. Following her specialty internship, she completed a 3-year Cardiology residency at Red Bank Veterinary Hospital in 2011 and became board-certified in the specialty of Cardiology in July of 2011. Her interests include acute and long-term management of congestive heart failure, complex arrhythmias, pericardial disease, and many other aspects of cardiomyopathy in pets.
Kelly Saverino
DVM, DAVDC
Dr. Saverino is a Diplomate of the American Veterinary Dental College (AVDC). She grew up in Raritan, NJ and obtained her Bachelor’s of Science from Rutgers University in 2007. She then obtained her veterinary degree from The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2011. After completing a rotating internship, she was an emergency medicine clinician for several years in NJ, PA and DE. She was able to pursue her passion for advanced dentistry and completed a three-year residency in dentistry and oral surgery with the University of Pennsylvania from 2016-2019. Dr. Saverino then spent time in a multi-specialty hospital in Chicago, IL before moving back to the Philadelphia area.
Dr. Saverino has a special interest in periodontal and maxillofacial oncologic surgery. She also enjoys teaching and has lectured extensively to the referral and specialty veterinary communities on topics ranging from extraction technique to advanced jaw surgery.
Ian Spiegel
VMD, MHS, DACVD
Dr. Spiegel is a board-certified veterinary dermatologist with extensive experience in evaluating and treating dermatologic cases. He graduated with honors from the University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine. He then completed an internship in small animal medicine and surgery at The New York State College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University. Dr. Spiegel then pursued a residency in veterinary dermatology and allergy at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, becoming a member of the American College of Veterinary Dermatology in 2005.
His academic journey also included earning a Masters degree in health science (public health) from The Johns Hopkins School of Public Health and Hygiene, during which he developed a dog bite prevention program for elementary students. Dr. Spiegel has published numerous scientific papers and is a consultant for The Veterinary Information Network. In addition to his clinical and academic pursuits, he is actively involved in various veterinary associations and lectures at local, national, and international conferences. Dr. Spiegel’s primary areas of interest include otology, pyoderma, managing allergies, auto-immune skin disease, parasitology, and dermatology related pharmacology.
Melissa Berg
VMD
Dr. Berg is a second-generation veterinarian who grew up in New Jersey. After starting her early career in human pediatric hematology and oncology, spending time as a nurse at the hospital at the University of Pennsylvania, she rediscovered her passion for helping pets and went back to school there to earn her doctorate in veterinary medicine. Since graduation, Dr. Berg has worked in general practice (even owning her own hospital) and in emergency medicine, bringing more than 25 years of veterinary experience to the NorthStar VETS® Emergency team.
Steven T. Berkowitz
DVM, DACVECC
Dr. Berkowitz attended St. Georges University Veterinary School and completed his clinical training at University of Illinois. He worked in the Emergency Departments at some of the United States most prominent specialty animal hospitals. While at Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital of the ASPCA, Dr. Berkowitz appeared on Animal Planet’s “Animal Precinct” (Seasons 5 & 6). He completed a 3-year residency in ECC medicine at Oradell Animal Hospital before joining the ER/Critical Care team at NorthStar VETS® in 2017. Dr. Berkowitz’s professional interests include management of metabolic and endocrine emergencies, as well as septic patient management.
Dr. Berkowitz is the primary author of: “Resolution of Spontaneous Hemoabdomen Secondary to Peliosis Hepatis Following Surgery and Azithromycin Treatment in a Bartonella Species Infected Dog” – an article in the Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care.
Dr. Berkowitz proudly serves on the Board of Trustees for Mickey’s Kids®, a foundation that provides service dogs for children in need. He is a board member of Diversity and Inclusion with the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care (ACVECC). Dr. Berkowitz is also a member of the NJVMA’s Educational Committee, as well as serving as a critical care reviewer for VetCompanion® — an online service for veterinary professionals.
Dr. Berkowitz is currently involved in the reviewing process for updating RECOVER® Guidelines to advance veterinary CPR knowledge. In addition to being the staff Criticalist at NorthStar VETS®, he is also the Director of the Ann Smith Memorial Blood Bank. Dr. Berkowitz is certified in Tactical Emergency and Casualty Care through the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT), qualifying him as a first-responder to mass casualty events involving both human and veterinary patients. He is currently an instructor for this organization as well.
Breanna Callejas
BS, DVM
Dr. Callejas is native to Long Island, New York and ventured to New Jersey
in 2021 to continue her journey as an emergency doctor at Northstar VETS®. She completed her undergraduate studies at Adelphi University in New York
where she earned a degree in biological sciences with a minor degree in Spanish. She completed her veterinary studies at Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, with a year of clinical training at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine. She completed a year-long small animal rotating internship at Veterinary Referral and Emergency Center on Long Island and has found an interest in emergency and critical care medicine along the way.
Christopher Drastura
DVM
Dr. Drastura obtained his Bachelor of Science in Veterinary Technology from Quinnipiac University in Hamden, CT. He then went on to earn his veterinary degree from Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona, CA. He completed a rotating internship at Animal Specialty Group, which is a very active specialty group in Los Angeles, CA. Dr. Drastura joined NorthStar VETS® in July 2017. He has special interests in critical care medicine, toxicology, and cardiology.
Marko Drazenovic
VMD
Dr. Drazenovic received his undergraduate degree in Animal Science from Rutgers. After completing his veterinary education at the University of Pennsylvania, he went to Ocean State Veterinary Specialists, another veterinary trauma center in Rhode Island, for further training during his rotating internship. Dr. Drazenovic joined the NorthStar VETS® team to continue practicing his passion for high-quality emergency care. His clinical interests include emergency stabilization and exotic species.
Fabrice Fosset
DVM, MS, IPSAV, DACVECC
Dr. Fosset earned his veterinary degree from the University of Liege in Belgium. While in Belgium, he worked as a critical care clinician at the University of Liege and for the Prince Laurent Foundation, which offers free care to pets of unprivileged owners. Dr. Fosset moved to Canada to complete a small animal rotating internship at the University of Montreal, then to the Unites States to complete a small animal emergency and critical care internship and a Master’s degree in pharmaco-immunotoxicology focused on canine drug allergies at the University of Illinois. Dr. Fosset completed a small animal emergency and critical care internship and a certification in veterinary extracorporeal therapies at the University of California, followed by a small animal emergency and critical care residency at Oradell Animal Hospital in Paramus, NJ. Dr. Fosset is RECOVER CPR instructor certified. His professional interests include extracorporeal therapies, transfusion medicine, shock, SIRS/sepsis, and immune-mediated diseases.
Anna Gates
VMD
Dr. Gates earned her veterinary degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. She spent some time in general practice out in Ocean County before joining the NorthStar VETS® Emergency and Critical Care team. Her clinical interest is in Emergency Medicine.
Lauren Higgins
DVM
Dr. Higgins is a New Jersey native who completed her undergraduate degree in Animal Bioscience at Penn State University. From there, she moved to Southern California to pursue a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine at Western University of Health Sciences and graduated with honors in 2011. She then returned to New Jersey and completed a small animal rotating internship in medicine and surgery at Garden State Veterinary Specialists in Tinton Falls, NJ. Dr. Higgins joined the Emergency and Critical Care team at NorthStar VETS® in 2012.
Veronica Jones
DVM
Dr. Jones received her Bachelor of Science in Animal Science from Cook College at Rutgers University. Prior to attending veterinary school, she worked as a veterinary assistant and technician for 3 years. She moved to Alabama and completed her DVM at Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2016. Dr. Jones started in general practice after returning home to South Jersey, and then practiced emergency medicine. She has interests in surgery, trauma, and critical care.
Chung Lee
VMD
Dr. Lee was born in Seoul, South Korea, and grew up in Philadelphia, PA. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania for both the undergraduate and veterinary medical degrees. He has worked at multiple emergency/specialty hospitals and has extensive experience in emergency and critical care. Dr. Lee’s professional interests include critical care, emergency surgeries, antibiotic stewardship, and pain management.
Julia Lee
DVM
Dr. Lee grew up in New Jersey and is a 2023 graduate from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine. Her clinical year was completed at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Towson University in 2017. Prior to veterinary school, Dr. Lee worked as a veterinary assistant and spent a summer as an intern at a local wildlife refuge. Her professional interests include pharmacology, zoological companion animal medicine, as well as feline medicine.
Joanna Lloyd
VMD
Dr. Lloyd grew up in Philadelphia before going to Williams College in Massachusetts where she majored in Chemistry with a specialization in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. After college and a brief stint as an ER veterinary technician, Dr. Lloyd earned her veterinary degree from the University of Pennsylvania. She joined NorthStar VETS® in 2018. Dr. Lloyd’s clinical interests include veterinary neonatal and pediatric care, trauma, and urinary obstructions.
Ashley McNally
DVM
Dr. McNally grew up in Warwick, NY. She completed her undergraduate degree at Penn State where she received a Bachelor of Science with a major in Animal Science and minor in Equine Studies. She was proud to compete for the Penn State Hunt Seat Equestrian Team and attended ISHA nationals as a Senior. Dr. McNally earned her doctorate at Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine on the island of St. Kitts. She completed her preclinical studies in 2022 and then went on to Tufts University in Massachusetts to complete her clinical year to graduate in 2023. Her professional interests include trauma, stabilization of endocrine emergencies, and soft tissue surgery. Dr. McNally believes in practicing fear free medicine and takes pride in her compassion towards all animals big and small.
Raquel Muniz
DVM
Dr. Muniz was born and raised in NJ where she also obtained her undergraduate degree from Rutgers University New Brunswick. During college she worked as a veterinary technician until she moved to California to attend Western University College of Veterinary Medicine. After vet school she moved back to the East coast and completed a small animal rotating internship at Garden State Veterinary Specialists followed by a specialty surgery internship at a Blue Pearl in Pennsylvania. Dr. Muniz has a deep interest in both emergency medicine and surgery.
Nathalie Paiva
DVM
Dr. Paiva is originally from northern New Jersey. She received her Bachelors degree in Animal Science from Rutgers University Cook College in New Brunswick, NJ. She went on to obtain her DVM degree from The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2014. She returned to New Jersey and practiced emergency medicine while also serving as a general practitioner for five years at a busy 24-hour veterinary hospital in South Jersey before joining the NorthStar VETS® team.
Jessica Portela
DVM
Originally from Brazil, Dr. Portela moved to New Jersey as a child. She attended North Carolina State University and received her bachelor’s degree in Animal Science before attending their College of Veterinary Medicine. Following graduation, she completed a small animal rotating internship at Red Bank Veterinary Hospital before moving to California to work as an emergency veterinarian in the Bay Area. Dr. Portela has lived in India working with the Wildlife Institute of India on a rehabilitation and conservation project with tigers. She has also spent time in China where she began her study of Chinese medicine through the Chi Institute and completed this program while in veterinary school.
Stacey Rebello
DVM, MS
Director of Emergency Services
Dr. Rebello is a New Jersey native who completed her undergraduate degree in biology at Fairfield University while working as a technician at a local veterinary clinic. She earned a master of science degree in theriogenology,
studying equine placentitis and placental drug transfer at the University of Florida. She continued her studies at UF and was awarded her doctor of veterinary medicine degree in 2008. Dr. Rebello returned to New Jersey for an internship in small animal medicine and surgery at Garden State Veterinary Specialists in Tinton Falls. She joined the NorthStar VETS® emergency department in 2009, where her clinical interests include trauma care and perioperative management of surgical emergencies.
Juliana Renzi
DVM
Dr. Jaeger graduated from The University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine in 2015. She completed a 1-year small animal rotating internship and practiced as a staff emergency/critical care veterinarian in Maryland before pursuing a residency in anesthesia and analgesia at the University of California, Davis from 2017-2020. After completing her residency, Dr. Jaeger organized the establishment and growth of the first anesthesia department at VCA Sacramento Veterinary Referral Center before moving back to her home state of New Jersey to join NorthStar VETS®.
Arshiya Sayeed
DVM
Dr. Sayeed grew up in India and has lived in the United States, India and the Caribbean on her journey to and after veterinary school. She began her veterinary career in Manhattan and her professional background is in Emergency Medicine. She has received additional training in various clinical programs, including a surgical internship. Her professional interests include business & entrepreneurship, emergency medicine and surgery. Dr. Sayeed prides herself on open, direct and kind communication with her patients’ families and her medical support staff alike.
Kanika Singleton
DVM
Dr. Singleton grew up in Huntsville, Alabama and earned a bachelor of science degree in chemistry and biology from the University of South Carolina at Columbia. After graduation, she performed clinical research in human dentistry at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, continuing her studies at Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Singleton then served as a veterinarian in the Army Veterinary Corps, where she spent three years in general practice taking care of military working dogs. She joined NorthStar VETS® in 2012, where her clinical interests include dentistry, dermatology, surgery, and emergency, trauma and critical care medicine.
Ross Taylor
DVM
Dr. Taylor was raised in Syracuse, NY. He attended SUNY Canton to become a Veterinary Technician, then finished his bachelor’s in animal science at Cornell. Dr. Taylor attended Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, completing his clinical year at the University of Missouri. He completed a rotating internship with BluePearl in NYC, and has been working in General Practice in Syracuse since. Dr. Taylor joined the NorthStar VETS® emergency team in 2021.
Elizabeth Tursi
BVMS
A New Jersey native, Dr. Tursi completed her undergraduate education at Muhlenberg College, receiving a dual bachelor’s in biology and the performing arts. Her interest in research lead to a Master’s degree in Lab Animal Science from Drexel University’s College of Medicine in 2011. After graduation, Dr. Tursi moved to Scotland and earned her degree in veterinary medicine from the University of Glasgow in 2016. After returning to the United States, Dr. Tursi completed a rotating internship with BluePearl Veterinary Partners in New York City. During the years that followed, she pursued specialty internship training in surgery and anesthesia, while working part time as an emergency veterinarian. Her special interests lie in soft tissue, neurologic, and orthopedic surgery, wound healing, advanced anesthesia, local and regional blocking techniques, analgesia for post-operative and chronic pain patients, and critical care.
Nancy Vail-Archer
DVM
Medical Director - Maple Shade
Dr. Vail-Archer returned to her hometown of Bordentown, New Jersey along with her two dogs, Ricky and Saba, when she joined NorthStar VETS® in 2007. She completed her undergraduate studies at Rutgers University where she earned a degree in biological sciences, and her interest in research and medicine led her to Princeton University where she worked as a research assistant. She completed her veterinary studies at Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, with a year of clinical training at the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine. She completed a 13-month rotating internship at Fifth Avenue Veterinary Specialists in NYC and has a special interest in emergency and critical care medicine.
Christopher W. Shapley
DVM, CVA, CVCH, CVFT
Dr. Shapley is originally from Fort Wayne, Indiana and moved to New Jersey as a child. He received his Bachelor of Science in Biology from Montclair State University. Dr. Shapley graduated from Western University of Health Sciences in 2010. He returned to New Jersey after graduation and worked in small animal medicine for a few years prior to pursuing his passion for Integrative Medicine. He is Veterinary Acupuncture Certified and Veterinary Herbal Certified from Chi University. Dr. Shapley’s interests include the integration of Eastern and Western Modalities for the treatment of a wide range of maladies, as well as, pain management and sports medicine.
Tammy Anderson
DVM, DACVIM
Dr. Anderson is a NJ native who received her veterinary medical degree from Ohio State University in 1995. She completed her small animal internship at Michigan State University in 1996, and her residency in small animal internal medicine at the University of Tennessee in 1999. She remained at UT as an assistant professor of small animal medicine until 2001, when she returned to New Jersey and entered private practice. Dr. Anderson joined NorthStar VETS® in 2004.
Jessie Markovich
DVM, DACVIM, SAIM, Nutrition
Dr. Markovich is a graduate of Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, and after completing an internship, finished a residency in both small animal internal medicine and small animal clinical nutrition at the Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine. She is board-certified as a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine and the American College of Veterinary Nutrition. Dr. Markovich special interests include feline medicine, infectious disease, interventional radiology, urinary disease, and nutritional management of chronic kidney disease. She also enjoys demystifying decisions regarding the best diets for pets with special dietary needs.
Anne Chauvet
DVM, DACVIM, CHT-V
Of French origin and raised in equatorial Africa and Canada, Dr. Chauvet graduated from the University of Saskatchewan Western College of Veterinary Medicine, Saskatoon, in 1990. She completed a 1-year small animal rotating
internship at the University of Illinois School, Urbana, and pursued a residency in neurology/neurosurgery at the university of California, Davis from 1991-1993. While on staff at the University of Wisconsin from 1994-1999,
Madison, Dr. Chauvet created the Basic Science Course in Veterinary and Comparative Neurology & Neurosurgery that is now known as “brain camp”. She later moved to Florida’s gulfcoast where she grew her practice until its sale in 2016. Since, Dr. Chauvet has worked in practice in both Canada and the USA. She is trained in rehabilitation and certified in hyperbaric medicine. Over her career, Dr. Chauvet has obtained multiple business and veterinary awards, served on ACVIM and not for-profit local committees and boards, lectured in multiple countries, authored or co authored numerous articles and book chapters, created a educational video in rehabilitation for clients, and written a children’s book. She embraces integrating medicine styles to support the need of the patient.
Alexandra Danel
DVM, DAVCIM
Dr. Danel obtained her bachelor’s degree from Rutgers University and her veterinary medical degree from the University of Minnesota in 2018. She completed a small animal rotating internship at Tufts University, followed by two neurology and neurosurgery specialty internships at VCA Shoreline. Dr. Danel then completed her residency in neurology and neurosurgery at the Mississippi State University. Her professional interests include traumatic brain injury, spinal stabilization surgery, and refractory seizures. Outside of work, Dr. Danel enjoys outdoor activities such as gardening, hiking, and snowboarding. She also enjoys spending time with her family, her dog Penny, and her two cats, Tigger and Nubs.
Michael Buss
DVM, MS, DACVIM
Dr. Buss received his DVM
from the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine in 1990. He
completed a small animal medicine and surgery internship at the University of
Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Buss then spent three years in private practice in Chicago, IL before
starting a dual residency in Internal Medicine and Oncology at Washington
State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1994. He finished his Oncology residency back at the University of Missouri–College of Veterinary Medicine. After having worked in multiple specialty hospitals, Dr. Buss joined NorthStar VETS® in
January of 2023. He enjoys working up and diagnosing cancer cases and novel
chemotherapy delivery systems.
Diana Sanchez
DVM, SMSDC, PhD, DACVIM
Born and raised in Mexico City, Dr. Sanchez received her veterinary medical degree from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (FMVZ-UNAM). Following graduation, she completed a rotating small animal internship and residency in Medicine and Surgery for Dogs and Cats at UNAM. She then completed a PhD at the UNAM and the National Cancer Institute of Mexico (INCan). Dr. Sanchez worked as the Chief of Oncology at the largest public veterinary hospital in Latin America (HVCDMX – Mexico), and then went on to pursue further research training and medical specialization. She completed her post-doctoral research at the Unit of Biomedical Cancer Research (IIB-UNAM/INCan), and finally moved to Wisconsin where she completed a residency in Medical Oncology at UW-Madison. Dr. Sanchez joined the NorthStar VETS® team in March 2023.
Angela Summers
VMD
Dr. Summers grew up in Indiana and Pennsylvania. She attended the University of Richmond for her undergraduate degree in Biology, and received her veterinary degree from the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Summers worked at a private veterinary practice in Philadelphia for the majority of her career. Shen then worked for a large veterinary pharmaceutical company before joining PetCure Oncology/NorthStar VETS® (on-site in Robbinsville, NJ). Dr. Summers is Fear Free® certified and has special interests in Internal Medicine and Behavior.
Kristina R. Vygantas
DVM, DACVO
Dr. Vygantas is a graduate of the New York State College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University. She completed an internship in small animal medicine and surgery as well as her residency in ophthalmology at Auburn University. Dr. Vygantas became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists in 2001. She was in private practice in Birmingham, Alabama, for four years prior to joining NorthStar VETS in 2005. She also served on the board of the exam committee of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists. Her special interests include corneal surgery and wound healing as well as equine ophthalmology.
Katherine Lynch Kerrigan
DVM, MS, DACVR
Dr. Kerrigan, originally from Connecticut, is a graduate of the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine. She completed a rotating internship at the University of Pennsylvania and returned to Illinois to complete her residency in diagnostic imaging in 2014. During the course of her residency, she also completed a Master’s degree in veterinary clinical medicine. Dr. Kerrigan joined NorthStar VETS® in 2014. Her clinical interests include CT angiography, and emergency imaging.
Gabrielle Anaya
DVM
Surgical Resident
Growing up, Dr. Anaya moved around and lived in various states. She has been residing in San Antonio, Texas for the past 9 years and has considered Texas her home. Dr. Anaya received her undergraduate degree at Texas A&M University in College Station. She then moved to St. Kitts and graduated from Ross University in 2022. Her clinical year was spent at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine. After receiving her degree, she moved back to San Antonio and completed both her rotating and surgical internships at BluePearl Specialty and Emergency Pet Hospital. Dr. Anaya enjoys the variety of both soft tissue and orthopedic surgery.
Chiara Curcillo
VMD, DACVS
Dr. Curcillo is a native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Following completion of her undergraduate degree at Saint Joseph’s University, she graduated from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine in 2019. She then moved to Raleigh, North Carolina where she completed a one-year rotating internship at North Carolina State University. She returned to the University of Pennsylvania for her residency in Small Animal Surgery from 2020-2023. She has a wide interest including minimally invasive surgery, reconstructive surgery and both soft tissue and orthopedic emergency cases. She is excited to be joining the NorthStar Vets team!
Sarah Friday
VMD, DACVS
Dr. Friday is originally from a small town in central Pennsylvania. She earned her veterinary degree from Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2019. She then completed a small animal rotating internship at the University of Pennsylvania and stayed on to complete a residency in small animal surgery. Dr. Friday’s special interests include soft tissue surgery, wound management, minimally invasive surgery, and orthopedic surgery.
Kelly Johnson
DVM, MS, DACVS
Dr. Johnson received her undergraduate degree from the University of Richmond in 2002. She earned her veterinary degree from Michigan State University in 2006. After graduation she completed a small animal rotating internship at the Hope Advanced Veterinary Center in Vienna, VA followed by her surgical residency at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine. During her residency she also completed a Masters Degree in Biomedical and Veterinary Sciences. Dr. Johnson practiced as a small animal surgeon in northern NJ for nine years before joining NorthStar VETS® in 2020. Dr. Johnson is trained in the tibial tuberosity advancement (TTA) and lateral extracapsular suture techniques for cranial cruciate ligament disease.
Zoë Launcelott
DVM, DACVS
Dr. Launcelott is originally from Nova Scotia, Canada. She obtained her Bachelor of Science degree from St. Mary’s University in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 2009. Following her Bachelor’s degree, she moved to Prince Edward Island where she earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree in 2013 from Atlantic Veterinary College. She completed a rotating internship at the Veterinary Emergency Clinic and Referral Centre in Toronto, Ontario in 2014, followed by a one-year internship in surgery at VCA Veterinary Referral and Emergency Center in Norwalk, CT. Dr. Launcelott then completed a three-year residency in surgery at Red Bank Veterinary Hospital in Tinton Falls, NJ in 2018. After her residency she joined the surgery department at Oakland Veterinary Referral Services in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.Dr. Launcelott’s special surgical interests include, but are not limited to, orthopedic surgery, wound management, surgical oncology, and minimally invasive surgery. She is trained in the tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO) and lateral extracapsular suture techniques for cranial cruciate ligament disease.
Clair Park
DVM, MS, CVA
Surgical Resident
After graduating from Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Park worked in general practice in NJ for few years before pursuing further training via an internship in small animal surgery at Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine. From there, she completed a surgery internship at the Animal Surgical Center of Michigan. Dr. Park is also a certified veterinary acupuncturist and earned a master’s degree in Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine. Her professional interests include joint replacement surgeries like Total Hip Replacement, and other advanced orthopedic procedures.
Nikesh Patel
DVM
Dr. Nikesh (Nick) Patel is a native of New Jersey. He completed his undergraduate studies at Rutgers University and earned his Bachelor of Science degree with a focus in Animal Sciences. He went on to receive his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from North Carolina State University in 2019. Following graduation, he completed a one-year small animal rotating internship in medicine and surgery at the Ohio State University. Dr. Patel migrated to Texas for a year to complete a one-year specialty internship in surgery at the Dallas Veterinary Surgical Center prior to returning to the Midwest to complete a three-year surgical residency at the Ohio State University.
Dr. Patel’s focus and interests are in cardiothoracic surgery, surgical oncology, minimally invasive surgery (laparoscopy, thoracoscopy, arthroscopy), advanced orthopedic surgery, complex upper and lower urinary surgery, and wound management and reconstructive surgery. His previous publications illustrate innovative techniques in non-surgical and minimally-invasive treatments for canine renal cysts, as well as a novel approach in performing penile amputations in dogs. His most recent research is in tumor identification and margin evaluation of canine soft tissue sarcomas using spectral-domain and polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography.
Daniel Sandoval
VMD
Surgical Resident
Dr. Sandoval grew up in Central New Jersey, just a few miles away from NorthStar VETS®. After graduating undergrad from Connecticut College (Go Camels!) he attended the University of Pennsylvania’s Veterinary School where he graduated Magna Cum Laude. Following veterinary school, Dr. Sandoval completed his rotating internship at the Animal Medical Center in Manhattan followed by a 1-year surgical internship at BluePearl Pet Hospital in Conshohocken, PA. Dr. Sandoval, is currently a surgical resident at NorthStar VETS® where he is following his passion for orthopedic and minimally invasive surgery.
Daniel Stobie
DVM, MS, DACVS
Founder and
Chief Medical Officer
Dr. Stobie completed his undergraduate work at Cook College/Rutgers University and is a 1990 cum laude graduate of the University of Missouri-College of Veterinary Medicine. He completed an internship in small-animal medicine and surgery at the Angell Memorial Animal Hospital in Boston, then went on to complete a three-year surgical residency at the University of Minnesota and earn a Master’s Degree in Veterinary Surgery, Radiology, and Anesthesia in 1994. Dr. Stobie became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons in 1995. Following his residency, Dr. Stobie headed a surgical service at the Animal Medical Center in New York City for two years, joining a specialty practice in New Jersey as a staff surgeon in 1996. In 2000, he formed Veterinary Surgical and Diagnostic Specialists (a mobile surgical and ultrasound practice) that evolved into what is today, NorthStar VETS®, where he serves as Chief of Staff.
M. Joy Weinstein
VMD, DACVS
Dr. Weinstein graduated from the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania in 1983, and completed a three-year residency in small animal surgery at Tufts University/Angell Memorial Animal Hospital in 1988. She also completed a postdoctoral fellowship in orthopedic oncology at Massachusetts General Hospital and Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Weinstein was an assistant professor of orthopedic surgery at the Veterinary Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania from 1990-1994, and staff surgeon at Shrewsbury Animal Hospital for seven years. She joined NorthStar VETS® in 2003. Her special interests include lameness evaluation, conservative treatment of orthopedic conditions, orthopedic surgery and surgical oncology. Dr. Weinstein is the longtime president of the Jersey Shore Veterinary Medical Association, and also served as chairperson of the Eastern Veterinary Orthopedic Society.
Gregory Zuendt
DVM, DACVS
Dr. Zuendt graduated veterinary school from the University of Illinois in 2015. He went on to complete a small animal rotating medicine and surgery internship at Oradell Animal Hospital. Following this, he completed a surgery-specific internship in Nashville at Blue Pearl Veterinary Partners. Dr. Zuendt then joined NorthStar VETS® in July 2017 and has a special interest in surgery, critical care medicine, neurology, and cardiology.
Anum Ahmed
DVM, DACT
Dr. Ahmed was born and raised in Florida, and received her bachelors in Biology at the University of Central Florida in 2016. She then acquired a doctorate at Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2020. She completed a small animal rotating internship at BluePearl Veterinary Partners Tampa in 2021. She then completed a small animal-focused, American Kennel Club funded theriogenology residency at the University of Florida in 2023. Dr. Ahmed is passionate about feline and wildlife reproduction, canine pregnancy management, and neonatal resuscitation. She is excited to provide theriogenology services to NorthStar VETS® for both dogs and cats!