Meet the AERC Team

Gregory M. Anderson, DVM, DACVS, graduated from the School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1996. He then completed a rotating internship in small animal medicine and surgery at the Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island, Canada, and a surgical internship at Affiliated Veterinary Specialists in Winter Park, FL. Dr. Anderson then completed a three-year residency at the University of Florida and became board certified in small animal surgery in 2002. Dr. Anderson spent most of time since then on faculty at the College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota where he was a Professor and Chief of Small Animal Surgery.

Dr. Anderson has experience and expertise in several areas of small animal surgery, particularly TPLO surgery, reconstructive orthopedics, minimally invasive surgeries (arthroscopy, laparoscopy and thoracoscopy), thoracic and abdominal procedures, wound management, and reconstructive soft tissue surgeries.

When not at work, Dr. Anderson enjoys spending time with his wife and trying to keep up with their three young children. Ozzie, a black domestic short-hair cat, rounds out the family.

Andrew Bean, DVM, MPH, DABVP (Exotic Companion Mammal Practice,) received his veterinary degree from the University of Minnesota in 2011, with an emphasis on small animal and companion exotic animal medicine and surgery. Dr. Bean earned a Masters of Public Health in 2014, and he became board certified in exotic companion mammal practice in 2019. He has worked in zoos, primary care practices, and emergency facilities around the country, settling in Virginia Beach for six years prior to his return to Minnesota.

Dr. Bean is happy to be back in the Twin Cities with his wife and two young children. He is a passionate guinea pig enthusiast and in his leisure time, Dr. Bean enjoys vintage video games, naval history, jazz and classical music, birdwatching, and baking.

Rebekah Brown, DVM, DACVIM, received her doctorate in veterinary medicine from the University of Minnesota in 2018. She went on to complete a general rotating internship followed by a residency in small animal internal medicine at the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana. Dr. Brown’s professional interests include endocrinology, gastroenterology, and immune-mediated diseases.

As a Minnesota native, Dr. Brown is excited to be back home with her family. In her free time, she enjoys relaxing with her two cats, Sugar and Buffy, as well as hiking, reading, and nurturing a small collection of African violets.

Jenny Cho, MS, DVM, DACVIM, received her Master of Science degree and veterinary degree from the University of Minnesota. She completed a small animal rotating internship at Iowa State University and worked as a small animal practitioner in Stillwater for 1 year before returning to the University of Minnesota to complete a residency in small animal internal medicine. Dr. Cho’s professional interests include gastrointestinal diseases, infectious diseases, and diseases of the urinary tract.

In her spare time, Dr. Cho enjoys cooking, swimming in the ocean, exploring new wines, running and cross-country skiing. Her personal goals include finishing a few more marathons as well as participating in the American Birkebeiner ski race.

Corie Fitschen, DVM, DACVIM received her bachelor of science in animal sciences and her doctorate in veterinary medicine from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She completed her rotating internship at the Animal Medical Center in New York City and her small animal internal medicine residency at the University of Minnesota. After one year in private practice in the Madison, WI area, she is excited to return to the cities to practice as a board-certified internist.

Dr. Fitschen’s professional interests include hematology (blood diseases), immune-mediated disease and endocrinology, as well as growing the human-animal bond.

In her time, she enjoys spending time outdoors (hiking, kayaking, camping), eating at local restaurants and breweries, and spending time with family, friends, and her two cats, Smokey and Bandit.

Robert S. George, DVM, DACVIM (Cardiology), earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree in 2010 from University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine. After an internship in small animal medicine and surgery at Texas A & M University, he completed a cardiology residency at  MedVet in Columbus, Ohio in 2017. He earned board certification in summer of 2017.

Although Dr. George enjoys all aspects of cardiology, he has particular interests in managing degenerative heart valve disease, cardiomyopathies (heart muscle diseases), arrhythmias, and performing minimally invasive treatment of congenital and acquired heart diseases including patent ductus arteriosus occlusion and balloon valvuloplasty of pulmonary valve stenosis.

Although a Wisconsin native, Dr. George attended Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota and lived in the Twin Cities prior to attending veterinary school. He is glad to be back living and practicing in one of his favorite parts of the country. When not working, Dr. George enjoys canoeing, camping, woodworking, home brewing, and trying to make the perfect cup of coffee.

Kayla Hanson, DVM, DACVECC, cHPV, cVMA, is a board-certified veterinary criticalist, a Certified Hospice and Palliative Care Veterinarian, and Certified Veterinary Medical Acupuncturist. Dr. Hanson graduated from the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2012, completing her rotating internship at Iowa State the following year. She then completed her residency in Emergency and Critical Care at Lakeshore Veterinary Specialists in Wisconsin. Dr. Hanson joined the AERC team in July 2019.

A veterinary criticalist is dedicated to treating life-threatening conditions and traditionally works in an emergency room or intensive care unit. A Certified Hospice and Palliative Care Veterinarian focuses on providing support and comfort care for a pet’s end-of-life needs, giving pet parents the time they need to prepare to say goodbye. Lastly, a Certified Veterinary Medical Acupuncturist has expertise in the area of acupuncture and integrative medicine.

Sarah Humphrey, DVM, DACVECC grew up in Illinois, earning her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Illinois in 2004. She then completed a rotating internship at Garden State Veterinary Specialists in Tinton Falls, New Jersey. She practiced emergency medicine on the East Coast for several years prior to moving back to the Midwest to complete her residency training in Wisconsin. Dr. Humphrey became board certified in emergency and critical care in 2014 and has been part of the AERC team since then.

Dr. Humphrey’s professional interests include mechanical ventilation and metabolic emergencies. Outside of the hospital, she enjoys spending time with her family, baking, music, and running. She enjoys mornings and generally anything outdoors. Dr. Humphrey has a human child, a Rhodesian Ridgeback named Linus who can run a lot faster than she can, and a cat named Pico that rules the roost.

Kate Jones, DVM, DACVIM, attended Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine. She also completed a medicine and surgery rotating internship at Carolina Veterinary Specialists, in Charlotte, NC. Her residency in small animal internal medicine took place at University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine. While Dr. Jones enjoys all aspects of internal medicine, her specific areas of professional interest include gastrointestinal disease, hepatobiliary disease, and immune-mediated diseases.

Outside of work, Dr. Jones enjoys hiking, spending time in nature, gardening, reading, and spending time with her family: a Lab mix -Sydney, a retired research cat – Petunia, her two young children, and her husband, Matt.

To make an appointment with Dr. Jones or Internal Medicine, call (651) 501-3766.

Tracy Julius, DVM, DACVECC, received her undergraduate degree in biology from the University of Minnesota and completed her veterinary degree at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine in 2008.  She then relocated to San Diego, California to complete an internship at the Pet Emergency and Specialty Center.  Dr. Julius remained in San Diego for a three-year residency in emergency and critical care at Veterinary Specialty Hospital.  She completed her residency and became board certified in veterinary emergency and critical care in 2012.

After becoming board certified, Dr. Julius stayed on as a criticalist at Veterinary Specialty Hospital and also became the director of the blood banking program there.  In 2014, she relocated back to her native Minnesota with her husband, and they have enjoyed being close to their families again.  Dr. Julius continued to work as a criticalist in the Twin Cities area prior to joining the team at AERC in 2016.

Professional areas of interest include respiratory disease, trauma, toxicities, and metabolic emergencies, as well as all of the variety that the field of emergency and critical care has to offer.

Outside of the hospital, Dr. Julius enjoys snowboarding, traveling, running, reading, and spending time with her husband and son.  They share their home with 2 cats (Percy and Zelda) and one energetic dog named Betty.

Sam Keepman, DVM, MPH, DACVIM (Oncology) received his veterinary degree and a masters degree in public health from the University of Wisconsin in 2016. He then completed a rotating internship at a private specialty hospital in Grand Rapids, Michigan, followed by an oncology specialty internship at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, before returning to Wisconsin to complete a residency in medical oncology in 2021. He became board-certified in 2022. He enjoys working with pet owners to determine the best diagnostic and treatment options for his patients – tailored to owners’ goals and to promote quality of life. Dr. Keepman values client education and is especially interested in seeking palliative care options when the standard-of-care cannot be pursued or does not exist.

Outside of work, Dr. Keepman enjoys running, biking, skiing, playing volleyball, and practicing piano. He enjoys the variety of restaurants, concerts, and outdoor activities that the Twin Cities has to offer year-round.

Briana Keller, DVM, DACVIM (Oncology), cHPV, is a board-certified veterinary oncologist, a Certified Hospice and Palliative Care Veterinarian, and a Human-Animal Bond Certified Veterinarian. She graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2013, and she was a rotating intern and oncology intern at North Carolina State University, where she also completed her oncology residency in 2018.

Cancer can be a devastating diagnosis, but Dr. Keller aims to provide compassionate and informative care to help pet owners make the best decisions for their furry family members regarding treatment. She is particularly interested in hematopoietic tumors (such as lymphoma and leukemia), electrochemotherapy, and palliative cancer care. She is a Certified Hospice and Palliative Care Veterinarian and a Human-Animal Bond Certified Veterinarian, and her goal is always to give her patients as much quality time as possible with their families. She enjoys working with pet owners to provide care that supports the human-animal bond, from the initial cancer diagnosis through the cancer treatment process and even including end-of-life care.

Dr. Keller knows firsthand how important quality of life is for pets with cancer since she previously treated her own dog Raleigh, and Raleigh enjoyed tennis balls, snuggling, and raiding the recycling bin for cardboard until the very end! Dr. Keller currently lives with her husband and three dogs, Fiona, Daphne, and Lilo. When not working, she enjoys hiking, musicals, cooking, wine tasting, and movie nights.

Rima Kharbush, DVM, DACVIM (Cardiology) was born and raised in Madison, WI. She crossed the border into Minnesota to attend Gustavus Adolphus College for her undergraduate education and then received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Wisconsin in 2016. After pursuing rotating and cardiology internships in Albuquerque and Los Angeles respectively, she completed her residency training in cardiology at the Animal Medical Center in New York City. In 2021, she obtained board certification.

Dr. Kharbush’s clinical interests include treating cardiac emergencies and clinical utilization of echocardiography, optimizing chronic heart failure therapy to maximize the quality of life in her patients, and performing minimally invasive interventional procedures to treat congenital and acquired diseases. She also has a particular interest in the advancement of feline medicine.

When she is not at work, Dr. Kharbush’s hobbies include reading, playing soccer, watching the Packers beat the Vikings, and taking advantage of local cuisine and breweries. She also spends a significant amount of time spoiling her dog, a little chihuahua mix named Dobby, who she adopted as a resident after surgical repair of a heart defect.

Maria Killos, DVM, DACVA, graduated from the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine in 2004, and completed a rotating small animal internship at Tufts University. She received specialized training in anesthesia at the University of Minnesota and became a board-certified veterinary anesthesiologist in 2009. With a passion for teaching, Dr. Killos became an instructor of veterinary anesthesiology and pain management and taught at North Carolina State University, Virginia Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, and the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Killos joined Animal Emergency & Referral Center of Minnesota in June of 2023.

Fun fact, Dr. Killos also worked at the Miracle of Birth Center at the Minnesota State Fair from 2001-2003, narrating live births and answering questions!

Dr. Lizabeth Lueck grew up in the Twin Cities and began her academic journey with a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Loyola Marymount University, followed by a master’s in Neurobiology from Brandeis University. She went on to earn her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine. After completing a Small Animal Rotating Internship at UW–Madison Veterinary Care, Dr. Lueck pursued a Neurology Residency at UW–Madison, where she achieved board certification in Neurology.

Dr. Lueck is especially passionate about helping pets with neurological conditions live their best possible lives and finds great reward in supporting both her patients and their families through complex medical challenges.

Andrea Meyer, DVM, DACVD, our board certified dermatologist, graduated from the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine in 2008.

When she started vet school, Dr. Meyer initially wanted to be a dairy veterinarian. By the time she graduated however, she decided to preserve the health of her knees, and she changed her vocation of choice to a small animal specialty veterinarian.  She became board certified in 2013. She worked as a staff dermatologist for a referral hospital in Seattle after which she joined AERC!

Dr. Meyer particularly enjoys putting the puzzle together to determine what therapy plan works best for each patient and client.  She also thrives on the patient, client, and doctor relationship that is achieved with our dermatologic patients. She strives to help our dogs live long (and hopefully less itchy!) lives.

Her “kids” include a goofy lab named Fred and a regal Great Pyrenees named Oscar. Both of her dogs are allergic, so she understands the challenge of multiple therapies to treat one disease.

Outside of work, Dr. Meyer enjoys camping, hiking, home decorating, and spending time with her husband, Ben!

Katherine Meyers, VMD, DACVS-SA, received her veterinary degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine in 2013. She completed a rotating internship in small animal medicine and surgery at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine in 2014 before returning to the University of Pennsylvania for a small animal surgery residency. Following completion of the residency, Dr. Meyers remained at Penn as a lecturer and attained board certification from the American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS) in February 2018.

While Dr. Meyers enjoys all aspects of surgery, her professional interests include minimally invasive surgery (arthroscopy, laparoscopy, and thoracoscopy), surgical oncology, microvascular surgery, and orthopedics.

When not working, Dr. Meyers enjoys yoga, cooking, golfing, hiking and spending time with her Golden Retriever, Winnie, and two cats – Zizou and Tom. 

Dr. Moschetto graduated from University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine in 2021. She comes to AERC with extensive volunteer experience at The Raptor Center and the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Minnesota. The Exotic Companion Mammal residency that Dr. Moschetto is undertaking is the first of its kind in the history of the state of Minnesota, and that means Dr. Moschetto is the very first resident!

Dr. Moschetto enjoys fostering dogs for local Minnesota rescue organizations. Her pets include Josie (a mixed breed rescue dog), Maxwell (tuxedo domestic shorthair), and Layla (a Meyer’s Parrot). Dr. Moschetto is also an avid gardener and mother of many houseplants! In her spare time, you’ll likely find her covered in dirt in the backyard!

Jon Nevins, DVM, DACVR graduated veterinary school from the University of Minnesota in 2011 and completed a rotating internship and advanced imaging residency at the University of Pennsylvania. He remained at the University of Pennsylvania as a lecturer in radiology before returning to Minnesota and joining AERC in 2016. Outside the hospital, Dr. Nevins enjoys outdoor activities with his family including hiking, kayaking, mushroom hunting, and biking.

Dr. Nevins interprets AERC’s radiographs, CTs, MRI examinations as well as performs referral ultrasounds.

Michelle Rose, DVM, DACVIM (Cardiology) has educational pursuits that have led her all over the country. A Fairfax, Virginia native, she lived in the Washington, D.C. suburbs for 17 years and was only a young child when she discovered her passion to become a veterinarian. After graduating as her high school’s valedictorian, she obtained her B.S. degree in animal science summa cum laude at the University of Florida. Dr. Rose received early acceptance into veterinary school at the age of 20, and developed an enthusiasm for cardiovascular medicine during her second year of veterinary training. She obtained her veterinary degree cum laude in 2004 from the University of Florida, and then completed an internship in small animal medicine & surgery at Texas A&M University.

Dr. Rose returned to Virginia for one year and worked as a general practitioner concurrently at two feline-only hospitals. In 2006, she was accepted into University of Minnesota’s comparative cardiology residency and achieved board certification as a Diplomate of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Cardiology) in 2009, scoring the highest in her class on her board exam.

She joined a specialty hospital in Albuquerque, New Mexico from 2009-2013 and served as New Mexico’s first board-certified veterinary cardiologist. During this time, she developed her cardiology service into a busy practice, and also developed a love for teaching young veterinarians while serving as the hospital’s internship director. Her professional interests include minimally invasive procedures for the treatment of congenital heart disease and strategies for congestive heart failure that optimize the patient’s quality of life. Dr. Rose’s experience as a cardiologist, general practitioner, and fellow pet-owner enable her to customize treatments for heart disease that benefit both the animal and its human guardian.

Michelle and her husband, a veterinary surgeon, moved back to the Twin Cities in 2013 to be closer to family. They have two young children. Dr. Rose enjoys hiking, downhill skiing, SCUBA diving, inline skating, and wine tasting in her spare time.

Travis Saveraid, DVM, DACVR is a board-certified veterinary radiologist. Dr. Saveraid was born and raised in Iowa, and he attended Iowa State University and received his veterinary degree in 2000. He then worked for a couple of years as an associate veterinarian in a small animal practice in Maine prior to doing his radiology residency at Washington State University.

In 2006, Dr. Saveraid founded VetRadiologist LLC through which he began working for AERC, reading ultrasounds and later, CT scans. VetRadiologist is the only mobile ultrasound company in the state of Minnesota staffed entirely by board-certified radiologists. In August 2016, in addition to owning and operating VetRadiologist, Dr. Saveraid accepted a position as an employee of AERC.

Dr. Saveraid interprets AERC’s radiographs, CTs, and performs MRI examinations as well as referral ultrasounds.

Steve Shadwick, DVM, DACVIM, received his veterinary degree from the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine. Upon graduation, he completed a rotating internship in small animal medicine and surgery at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. In 2011, he completed his small animal internal medicine residency at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital and was hired as the second specialist at AERC.

Dr. Shadwick enjoys the challenges of internal medicine cases, and he appreciates the help and support of his skilled internal medicine team and colleagues at AERC. The varied experiences, strengths, and teamwork of the emergency and specialty teams at AERC motivate his commitment to providing the best possible care for his patients. “You really can’t find a more cohesive, intelligent, supportive or fun group of veterinarians or support staff at any emergency or specialty hospital in the country,” says Dr. Shadwick.

Dr. Shadwick is also an integral member of AERC’s senior leadership team. As Chief Medical Officer, he assists Dr. Karen Reynhout, CEO, in setting the standards of medical care and growing the emergency and specialty service offerings at AERC.

When he isn’t working, Dr. Shadwick enjoys spending time with his wife, Mey, and three kids Sophie, Robert, and Lucy. Although children have taken priority over his previous hobbies, Dr. Shadwick hopes to eventually introduce his oldest daughter, Sophie, to the thrills of falconry.

Tess Smith, DVM, DACVIM (Neurology), received her veterinary degree from the University of Missouri. She completed her rotating internship at Pittsburgh Veterinary Specialists & Emergency Center and her specialty internship at Sage Veterinary Centers near San Francisco. Dr. Smith completed her neurology residency at the University of Wisconsin and became board certified in 2021. She is especially interested in seizures, neuro-oncology, and intervertebral disc disease.

Dr. Smith has an enthusiastic Australian Shepherd mix named Leo and a sociable black cat named Norman. In her spare time she enjoys hiking, playing the viola, baking, and yoga.

Erin Vicari, VMD, DAVDC, received her veterinary degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine and completed a rotating internship in small animal medicine and surgery at the Delaware Veterinary Specialty Group. After 15 years in general, specialty, and emergency practice in Delaware, Dr. Vicari was thrilled to move with her family to Minnesota for her residency program. She completed her residency training in Dentistry and Oral Surgery at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine and passed her examination to attain board certification with the American Veterinary Dental College.  

Dr. Vicari’s professional interests include:

• Maxillofacial trauma and fracture repair
• Oral tumors
• Veterinary dental education for veterinary students and graduate veterinarians
• Compassionate client and patient care that creates individualized treatment plans for each pet
• Sponsoring the Dental Club at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine and teaching and mentoring students

Dr. Vicari enjoys hiking, kayaking, gardening, reading, and cycling. She lives in Oakdale with her son and two dogs The family has a Little Free Library in their front yard as a way to share their passion for reading with the community.

Dr. Vicari’s publications include:

• Vicari ED, Stepaniuk KS, Goldstein G. Diagnostic Imaging in Veterinary Dental Practice: Odontogenic Cyst in a Dog.  JAVMA 245:8, 2014
• Vicari ED, Stepaniuk KS. Step by Step: Traumatic Lip Avulsion Repair in the Dog and Cat. Accepted for publication to the Journal of Veterinary Dentistry. JVD Vol. 31:3, 2014
• Vicari ED, Goldstein G, Stepaniuk KS. Diagnostic Imaging in Veterinary Dental Practice: Tooth Resorption in a Dog. Submitted to Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association.
• Vicari ED, Stepaniuk KS. Step by Step: Secondary Cleft Palate and Soft Palate Repair in the Dog Using an Overlapping Flap Technique.  Submitted for publication to the Journal of Veterinary Dentistry.
• Vicari ED. Heart Base Tumors, Clinical Veterinary Advisor, Cote E. Elsevier, St. Louis, MO, 2007.
• Vicari ED, et al:  Survival times and prognostic indicators for dogs with heart base masses: 25 cases
• (1986-1999). JAVMA 219:4, 2001.  Presented at the 2000 ACVS Symposium, Washington, D.C.

Amber Vitalo, DVM, DACVECC, received her veterinary degree from the University of Minnesota in 2018. She then went on to complete a small animal rotating internship and an emergency and critical care residency at the University of Florida. She became a board-certified criticalist in November 2022.

Upon completing her undergrad degree at the University of San Diego, Dr. Vitalo developed a passion for animals and veterinary medicine while volunteering at a local animal shelter. Prior to attending vet school, Dr. Vitalo was a technician at a general practice for three years in her home state of California. During veterinary school, Dr. Vitalo worked at AERC as a veterinary assistant.

Dr. Vitalo is thrilled to be back in the Twin Cities with her husband, their Pitbull, Bear, and African leopard tortoise, Tortellini. Her husband is a music teacher and has inspired her to learn how to play the drums now that she is done with her residency. In her spare time, she enjoys binge-watching crime and law TV series as well as sports, traveling, cooking, live music, and trying new food.

Conni Wehausen, DVM, DACVECC, received both her undergraduate and veterinary degrees from the University of Minnesota. Prior to veterinary school, she worked as a veterinary assistant, working with large, small and laboratory animals. She developed her love of emergency and critical care medicine during her 8 years as an emergency veterinary assistant with us, when our name was just “Animal Emergency Clinic.” She completed an internship at the very busy Animal Medical Center in New York and a residency in emergency and critical care at the Animal Emergency Center and Specialty Services in Wisconsin. She became a Board-Certified Criticalist in November of 2010.

Her areas of special interest include ventilator therapy and endocrine emergencies. She performs advanced diagnostics including abdominal ultrasound, ultrasound-guided biopsies, endoscopy, tracheal lavage, bone marrow biopsies and arthrocentesis.

Conni has two loving but opinionated cats, Wendell and Leo. She enjoys hiking, kayaking, camping (with her cat!) and reading.

Dr. Wilcox received her veterinary degree from the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine in 2007. She was a general practitioner in central Minnesota for two high-volume small animal practices, over which time her interest in imaging began to grow.

In May 2021, while applying for a medical imaging residency, Dr. Wilcox decided to focus her practice on mobile ultrasound. She is the first resident from a private practice in the Upper Midwest to achieve board certification in radiology!

Dr. Wilcox enjoys spending time with her husband, two dogs, and a bearded dragon. Her favorite activities include mountain biking, triathlons, meditation, yoga, and music.

Doug Albrecht, DVM, graduated from the University of Minnesota’s College of Veterinary Medicine. He worked at several small animal primary care practices both before and during his time at veterinary school.

Dr. Albrecht has two dogs of his own, a pair of golden retrievers named Barley and Rye, and a cat named Simcoe.

In his life, Dr. Albrecht is most proud of his son, who learns new things each day.

Melanie Neufeld, DVM, is a University of Minnesota graduate, where she received her Animal Science B.S. degree (2012) and her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree (2016). After graduation, Dr. Neufeld completed a one-year rotating internship at a busy specialty referral hospital in the Chicago area.

Dr. Neufeld’s professional interests include diagnostic imaging (especially radiology and ultrasound) toxicology, infectious diseases, and transfusion medicine.

Dr. Neufeld has a lively shiba inu named Alphonse and an overly-affectionate tuxedo cat named Harry. She lives in Minneapolis with her husband, Matt, and newborn son. Outside of work, she enjoys baking, running, singing in church choir, cheering on Gopher hockey, reading, watching sci-fi movies and TV shows, snowshoeing, and exploring the many wonderful lakes and forests of Minnesota.

Doug Albrecht, DVM, graduated from the University of Minnesota’s College of Veterinary Medicine. He worked at several small animal primary care practices both before and during his time at veterinary school.

Dr. Albrecht has two dogs of his own, a pair of golden retrievers named Barley and Rye, and a cat named Simcoe.

In his life, Dr. Albrecht is most proud of his son, who learns new things each day.

Susan Antes, DVM, joined the staff of AERC in 2004. She is a 1996 graduate of the University of Minnesota. Veterinary medicine is actually her second career; previously she was a nurse and worked in a Medical ICU.

She lives in south Minnneapolis with her husband Todd and son Matt. They are owned by Maggie, the Border Terrorist-Terrier, Josie the Rhodesian Ridgeback, and a posse of cats, Bob, Carl and Maarken.

Alexandria Armeni, DVM, was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio, where she graduated from Ohio State University with a bachelor’s degree in Zoology. Following that, she earned her veterinary degree from the University of Minnesota. After completing a small animal and exotics internship at a specialty hospital in Tucson, Arizona, she moved back to the Midwest to join AERC. Her veterinary interests include exotic and wildlife medicine, shelter and rescue work, and emergency and critical care.

Dr. Armeni lives with her husband and their menagerie of animals: three dogs (Groot, Harley, and Indy), four cats (Drogon, Frejya, Anikan, and Cinnamon), and a leopard gecko (Bruni). When not working, she enjoys cooking, exploring the Twin Cities, and traveling.

Dr. Kayla Bergeson earned her bachelor’s degree in animal science from the University of Minnesota in 2019 and went on to complete her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Minnesota in 2023. During both her undergraduate and veterinary training, she gained extensive hands-on experience working as a veterinary assistant, triage technician, and emergency room technician at several veterinary clinics and emergency hospitals across the Twin Cities.

After veterinary school, Dr. Bergeson completed a one-year small animal emergency mentorship program at MedVet in Cincinnati, OH, where she continued on as an Emergency Veterinarian before returning to Minnesota. Her professional interests include emergency medicine, toxicology, and supporting both pets and their people during times of crisis.

At home, Dr. Bergeson shares life with Bronze, her retired racing greyhound. Outside of veterinary medicine, she enjoys reading—her personal library holds nearly 500 books—along with lyra and aerial arts, playing Dungeons & Dragons, writing, singing, video games, hiking, and traveling.

Jeff Bush, DVM, was born in Rochester, Minnesota, and grew up in Minnesota and Iowa. He attended Iowa State University, receiving his DVM in 1989. Jeff began practicing emergency medicine in Portland, Oregon, and has since worked in both Wisconsin and Minnesota.

Dr. Bush began working for Animal Emergency & Referral Center of Minnesota in March of 2003. He particularly enjoys emergency surgical procedures.

Dr. Bush spends all of his free time upgrading his summer cabin in Becker, MN. He has three children and resides in Minnetonka.

Dr. Heidi Fay grew up in rural Vermont, surrounded by cats, dogs, and small mammals that inspired her early love for animals. She later moved to northern Wisconsin, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in biology from Northland College in 2000. She went on to earn her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Wisconsin in 2009.

During her training, Dr. Fay completed a Wildlife Rehabilitation externship at Northwoods Wildlife Center and participated in two wildlife research projects—one focused on black bears and another on timber wolves—further deepening her passion for animal care.

After veterinary school, she completed a rotating internship in emergency medicine and surgery at the Wisconsin Veterinary Referral Center in Waukesha, WI, and then worked as an emergency veterinarian at Veterinary Emergency Services in Madison.

In 2014, Dr. Fay joined AERC as a full-time emergency doctor. She especially enjoys triage, stabilization of critical patients, and pediatric medicine.

At home, Dr. Fay shares life with three pets: Daisy, her beloved golden retriever and lymphoma survivor thanks to AERC’s oncology team, and her two cats, Loki and Lucy, who rule the household. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, camping, and hiking in the mountains whenever possible!

Paige Gardas, DVM, graduated from North Dakota State University with a bachelor of science degree in microbiology. Prior to veterinary school, Dr. Gardas worked as a veterinary assistant and client service representative in an animal emergency hospital in Fargo, North Dakota.

Dr. Gardas is most passionate about patient pain and emotional management to keep our animal family members comfortable while in the ER and ICU. Outside of work, she loves gardening and pretty much any other outdoor activity!

Dr. Gardas’s personal pets include Howard, an orange tabby domestic long hair and Vassili, a flamepoint Siamese mix.

Dr. Stephanie Krco is originally from Rochester, Minnesota and recently relocated back to Minnesota to be closer to family. Dr. Krco completed her veterinary training at St. Matthew’s University School of Medicine and University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine. Prior to attending veterinary school, Dr. Krco attended school to become a certified veterinary technician (CVT) and worked as a CVT at a local emergency practice. Following graduation from veterinary school, Dr. Krco completed a veterinary emergency mentorship and training program in New York and continued practicing there for several years prior to moving back to Minnesota.

Dr. Krco has always been passionate about emergency medicine and strongly values the human-animal bond. She adores small dogs in particular and currently has a chihuahua that lives rent-free in her home. In her free time, Dr. Krco enjoys reading, jewelry making, and Netflix binges.

Dr. Ashlyn Kuklock earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine.

Her lifelong connection to animals began on her family’s dairy farm, where she grew up milking cows and learning the meaning of hard work. In college, she expanded her love of animals by volunteering at a cat shelter, and today she continues to give back by fostering hospice cats and litters of kittens in need of care.

At home, Dr. Kuklock has quite the menagerie—three goats affectionately named Uncle Rico, Napoleon, and Barbara Walters, along with four dogs, several cats, and two guinea pigs, Potato and Popcorn.

When asked what drives her as a veterinarian, Dr. Kuklock says: “I put my soul into every patient I see. I want pet owners to know their family pet is being cared for as if they were one of my own.”

Anna Malone, DVM, is originally from California, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in physiology and neuroscience at UC San Diego, then went to UC Davis to earn her veterinary degree. After that, she completed a rotating internship at University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine.

Dr. Malone has worked in a variety of veterinary settings, including wildlife, raptors, and spay/neuter clinics, as well as outreach clinics with underserved communities. She has also volunteered to help provide vet care to the homeless population in Sacramento, California. Additionally, Dr. Malone was a member of the California Veterinary Medical Reserve Corps which provides much-needed emergency care to dogs and cats during natural disasters.

Dr. Malone lives with her husband, a wild border collie named Juniper, and three fluffy kitties named Rumi, Kuma, and Yotta! Her hobbies include hiking, rock climbing, kayaking, guitar, meditation and writing! Her medical interests include polytraumas, feline medicine, and endocrine emergencies, but she is most passionate about nourishing the human-animal bond and helping to preserve the sacred connection between a pet and their family. Her goal is to provide medical care, but also emotional, mental, and spiritual support to her patients and their families, especially in times of crisis.

Dr. Alex Molldrem knew from childhood that he wanted to be a veterinarian. Growing up he had a variety of pets, mainly cats and dogs, with an occasional reptile.

He completed his undergrad at Luther College in Decorah, IA, where he also enjoyed fly-fishing and mountain biking. He went on to University of Wisconsin, Madison to obtain his degree in Veterinary Medicine. He and his wife welcomed home their first pet (a black and white cat named Cleo) the day after returning from their honeymoon.

Dr. Molldrem worked in small animal general practice for three years, especially enjoying dentistry and ultrasound. Always having an interest in critical care and emergency medicine, Dr. Molldrem began working at Animal Emergency & Referral Center of Minnesota as an emergency veterinarian in 2005 and truly loves his work.

In his free time, he enjoys spending time outdoors with his wife and kids.  Reading, hiking, biking, and home projects are some of his favorite pasttimes.

Erica Moore, DVM, earned her veterinary degree from the University of Minnesota and completed an internship in Portland, Oregon. She has worked as an emergency veterinarian in the Twin Cities since 2005.

Dr. Moore enjoys cooking, playing the fiddle, gardening, and quilting. She lives in Minneapolis with her wife Carol, their two dogs, and two cats.

Dr. James Newton completed his undergrad at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. He then continued at the University of Minnesota for veterinary school, graduating in 2011. During veterinary school he got his first dog, Colossus, a crazy rescue from the Humane Society.

Dr. Newton then did a rotating academic internship at the University of Wisconsin, where  he grew his interest in  surgery as well as emergency and critical care medicine. He then did a surgical internship at Sonora Veterinary Specialists in Phoenix, Arizona. There he gained a great deal of surgical and emergency medicine experience. He has been an emergency veterinarian since 2013, and now works at the Animal Emergency & Referral Center of Minnesota.

In his free time, he enjoys training for endurance races (marathons and IronMan triathlons) with his wife, reading to his daughter and constantly working at his never ending list of home improvements. He has two older, but still crazy dogs, Colossus (black Lab) and Brunhilda (American Pit Bull mix).

Dr. Joe Nitcher earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine, where he first discovered his passion for emergency medicine. Following graduation, he completed a small animal rotating internship at Lakeshore Veterinary Specialists in Milwaukee, WI. Before joining AERC, Dr. Nitcher gained valuable experience working as an emergency veterinarian in both private practice and academic settings.

Outside of the hospital, Dr. Nitcher enjoys relaxing with movies, attending live concerts, and playing video games.

Stephanie Pylka, DVM, MPH, graduated from the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine in 2011. After graduation, she did an emergency-focused internship at Veterinary Emergency and Referral Group in Brooklyn, New York. She then worked as an emergency veterinarian in Brooklyn and Chicago.

Dr. Pylka’s veterinary interests revolve around managing endocrine emergencies and emergency surgery.

Dr. Pylka has three cats of her own – Mousse, Monkey, and Penelope – as well as two pet birds. She enjoys kayaking and paddleboarding during Minnesota’s all-too-short summers.

Beth Rausch, DVM MPH, graduated from the University of Minnesota School of Public Health in 1992 and the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine in 1996.

Dr. Rausch worked in mixed-animal practice for the first decade of her veterinary career before transitioning to full-time emergency practice with AERC in 2006. In 2015, she transitioned to part-time with AERC while teaching as an Associate Professor at UW- River Falls. She retired from academia in 2022, returning once again to full-time practice with AERC. Dr. Rausch values and enjoys AERC’s team-approach to providing excellence in patient care and client communication.

Dr. Rausch’s personal interests include outdoor activities, especially those focused on wilderness preservation and protection.

Kathy Rausch, DVM, graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2002 and started working at AERC in the summer of 2003 after an internship at Dove Lewis Animal Hospital in Oregon. Her interests in the field of veterinary medicine include feline medicine, anesthesia, pain management, and toxicology.

She lives in an 1891 farmhouse, south of New Richmond, where her hobbies include bee-keeping, yoga, bonfires and doing chores. She is at least a little interested in almost everything except baseball, cars, and orthopedic surgery.

Dr. Caroline Rauschendorfer graduated from the Iowa State College of Veterinary Medicine. She then went on to work in large animal medicine in California, Minnesota, and Wisconsin until she made the change to work in small animal emergency and urgent care medicine.

Dr. Rauschendorfer says she and her husband have numerous "nerd" hobbies including board gaming, reading, miniatures, and ethnic dancing. She has recently (and proudly!) developed several "granny" hobbies as well: gardening, bird watching, and crochet!

Her pets' names indicate an abiding love of Harry Potter as well: Sirius, Remus, Crookshanks, Norbert, and Darkness.

Sarah Schader, DVM, graduated from Argosy Institute in 2008 with her A.A.S. and Certification in Veterinary Technology. She also has an M.A.E. from Augsburg as well as a teaching license, and she has a degree in Music from the College of St. Benedict! In June 2018, she graduated from the U of M Veterinary College.

Sarah has worked at Minnesota Veterinary Referral Services, the U of M, and Skadron Animal Hospital.

She has a great dog named Yukon, with whom she enjoys ski-joring, swimming, and going to the dog park. Sarah played ice hockey in college and now plays in the Women’s Hockey Association of Minnesota. She also loves music performance and soccer!

Nikki Scherrer, DVM, is a 2019 graduate of the University of Minnesota. Dr. Scherrer had an emergency medicine and surgery focused internship in Virginia. Before and during veterinary school, she also worked as a veterinary assistant at a local private practice and a local emergency clinic.

Dr. Scherrer has a large variety of pets including a dog named Kallie, cats named Mittens and Monty, and a rabbit named Bunita Carmelita.

Dr. Scherrer is very passionate about wildlife conservation medicine as well as volunteering in the community.

Latasha Sikes, DVM was born and raised Michigan and graduated from Michigan State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine in 2019. She also has a B.S. in Biology from Grand Valley State University.

She enjoys spending time with her dog, a chihuahua named Percy, as well as reading fiction and science fiction novels, especially anything by Terry Pratchett. She also enjoys cooking, crafting, and exploring the Twin Cities!?

Dr. Kylie Tabor earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine in 2020. Since graduating, she has worked primarily in emergency medicine, though she has experience in general practice as well. Originally from Arizona, Dr. Tabor moved to Minnesota for veterinary school, where she met her fiancé.

At home, she shares life with a lively crew of pets: four cats—Ted, Emery, Fiona, and Cheese—a Chihuahua mix named Josie, and a tortoise named Marvin. Outside of the hospital, Dr. Tabor enjoys spending time outdoors camping, mountain biking, hiking, and birding. She also loves reading, puzzles, and caring for her collection of houseplants.

Dr. Ally Thell earned her degree in veterinary medicine at the University of Minnesota; while she attended school, she worked at AERC as a member of our triage team. Upon graduation, she moved to Portland, Oregon for a small animal rotating internship at VCA Northwest Veterinary Specialists. In 2015, Ally returned to AERC as an emergency veterinarian. Beyond emergency and critical care, her professional interests include internal medicine, nutrition and dentistry.

Prior to veterinary school, she earned a B.S. in marine biology from the University of California Santa Cruz. Following graduation, she worked as a technician’s assistant at a general practice veterinary clinic providing care for dogs, cats and exotic pets. In her free time, she volunteered to care for leopard sharks, California sea lions, Northern elephant seals and harbor seals!

Outside of work, Ally enjoys spending time with family, painting, cooking and traveling to locations with excellent snorkeling. She frequents dog parks with her trusty black Labrador named Dexter, so named due to his infamous reputation with the local squirrel population.

Dr. Ulfeng joined AERC as a full-time emergency veterinarian in November of 2012, but she had already been part of our team, for 5 years prior, as a part-time veterinarian.

She graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1991 with a B.A. degree, and later graduated as a DVM in 1999. Her particular area of study throughout school was in avian and exotic medicine. In her last quarter of veterinary school, she studied Avian Pathology at the University of Utrecht in the Netherlands. She feels this study helped frame the foundation for the next 14 years, where she practiced in private practice both with small animals and exotics of all kinds.

She and her family enjoy outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, fishing, and skiing. Other hobbies include music; Dr. Ulfeng plays the violin, and her children are learning violin and guitar. They also have a Christmas tree farm called The Newell Family Christmas Tree Farm in Scandia, Minnesota, which keeps them busy year-round. This past year, Dr. Ulfeng began dabbling in beekeeping, and she was very excited to harvest her first batch of honey!

Dr. Ulfeng has one elderly Golden Retriever named Gypsie, and a white tabby cat named Squishy Tickles, who is two years old.

Dr. Ulfeng is very excited to be part of the AERC team; the staff are such an inspiration to her to learn more, work hard, and grow in her personal and professional life.

Dr. Grace White earned her bachelor’s degree in biology from St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN, before completing her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine. She went on to complete a small animal rotating internship at WestVet Boise 24/7 Animal Emergency and Specialty Center, where she then stayed on as a staff veterinarian. After several years in Idaho, she returned to the Midwest to join the team at AERC.

At home, Dr. White shares life with her fiancé, Ross, and their “one very large super mutt,” Remus (“Remy”). She’s an avid skier and is thrilled to dive back into Minnesota winters. Outside of work, you’ll often find her enjoying the outdoors with Ross and Remy. In her veterinary career, Dr. White is passionate about partnering with pet parents to ensure their pets live long, healthy, and happy lives.

Chelsea Wolf, DVM, joined our team in 2018. She graduated from Iowa State University with a Bachelors of Science in Animal Ecology, Oregon Sate University with a degree in Forestry, and received her veterinary degree from Western University of Health Sciences College of Veterinary Medicine in California.

Dr. Wolf has done some really interesting things in her life thus far! She spent a year at the Lincoln Park Zoo on a Zoo Medicine internship where she loved working with large primates and rhinos; she lived for two months in Zimbabwe and South Africa where she captured and translocated rhinos, giraffe, and hoofstock as part of a conservation medicine program. She was also born and raised in Nova Scotia and has bungee-jumped off Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe! Within her (much tamer!) role of emergency veterinarian at AERC, Dr. Wolf most enjoys working with exotic pets and performing emergency procedures.

Dr. Wolf has two pets of her own, Maisie D., a velveteen mini rex rabbit, and Mr. Wilson, a labrador and golden retriever mix.

Heidi earned an undergraduate degree in English from the University of Minnesota, and she later received an MBA from Cardinal Stritch University. She became a Certified Veterinary Practice Manager in August 2013, a designation that is known and appreciated as the highest level of credential for professional veterinary managers. Heidi has worked at Animal Emergency & Referral Center of Minnesota since 2001.

Heidi loves the variation in her job – no two days are the same – and she loves sharing what makes AERC great with pet owners and the veterinary community.

Heidi enjoys cross-country skiing, mountain biking, and watching movies, but her true love is rock climbing. She and her husband, Erik, share their home with their two sons, and two dogs, Polo and Sally.

Kate Jones, DVM, DACVIM, attended Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine. She also completed a medicine and surgery rotating internship at Carolina Veterinary Specialists, in Charlotte, NC. Her residency in small animal internal medicine took place at University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine. While Dr. Jones enjoys all aspects of internal medicine, her specific areas of professional interest include gastrointestinal disease, hepatobiliary disease, and immune-mediated diseases.

Outside of work, Dr. Jones enjoys hiking, spending time in nature, gardening, reading, and spending time with her family: a Lab mix -Sydney, a retired research cat – Petunia, her two young children, and her husband, Matt.

To make an appointment with Dr. Jones or Internal Medicine, call (651) 501-3766.

Tracy Julius, DVM, DACVECC, received her undergraduate degree in biology from the University of Minnesota and completed her veterinary degree at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine in 2008.  She then relocated to San Diego, California to complete an internship at the Pet Emergency and Specialty Center.  Dr. Julius remained in San Diego for a three-year residency in emergency and critical care at Veterinary Specialty Hospital.  She completed her residency and became board certified in veterinary emergency and critical care in 2012.

After becoming board certified, Dr. Julius stayed on as a criticalist at Veterinary Specialty Hospital and also became the director of the blood banking program there.  In 2014, she relocated back to her native Minnesota with her husband, and they have enjoyed being close to their families again.  Dr. Julius continued to work as a criticalist in the Twin Cities area prior to joining the team at AERC in 2016.

Professional areas of interest include respiratory disease, trauma, toxicities, and metabolic emergencies, as well as all of the variety that the field of emergency and critical care has to offer.

Outside of the hospital, Dr. Julius enjoys snowboarding, traveling, running, reading, and spending time with her husband and son.  They share their home with 2 cats (Percy and Zelda) and one energetic dog named Betty.

Matthew Jurikson, VMD, MBA, grew up outside of Philadelphia and earned his Veterinary Doctorate at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine and an MBA from the Wharton School of Business. Dr. Jurikson has extensive experience in veterinary startups as well as in both private and corporate veterinary medicine.

His professional background includes working in the veterinary pharmaceutical industry with Zoetis as part of the Major Accounts team, serving as Director of Scientific Services for the U.S. at Royal Canin, and as Vice President of Business Development at NVA. Most recently, he oversaw operations for multiple multispecialty clinics at Ethos Veterinary Health (NVA/Compassion First) and Veritas Veterinary Partners. Dr. Jurikson is deeply passionate about supporting private ownership in veterinary medicine and dedicated to developing patient- and employee-centered practices.

On a personal note, Dr. Jurikson is married with two children and enjoys tennis, exercising, and outdoor activities. Summers are often spent jet-skiing and enjoying the outdoors.

Katherine Meyers, VMD, DACVS-SA, received her veterinary degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine in 2013. She completed a rotating internship in small animal medicine and surgery at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine in 2014 before returning to the University of Pennsylvania for a small animal surgery residency. Following completion of the residency, Dr. Meyers remained at Penn as a lecturer and attained board certification from the American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS) in February 2018.

While Dr. Meyers enjoys all aspects of surgery, her professional interests include minimally invasive surgery (arthroscopy, laparoscopy, and thoracoscopy), surgical oncology, microvascular surgery, and orthopedics.

When not working, Dr. Meyers enjoys yoga, cooking, golfing, hiking and spending time with her Golden Retriever, Winnie, and two cats – Zizou and Tom. 

Jayde has worked in the veterinary field since 2007, beginning her veterinary career as a certified veterinary technician. Her diverse background includes experience in primary care, emergency and specialty medicine, and academic settings. Now serving as HR Director, she brings a wealth of industry knowledge along with credentials as a CVT, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, and CVPM.

At home, Jayde shares life with her husband, two teenagers, four cats, two dogs, and a lively collection of reptiles and tarantulas. She enjoys quiet moments spent reading, creating, and recharging.

Sonja Schmitt’s journey to veterinary medicine started in the great outdoors—teaching others about wildlife, working with birds of prey, and banding songbirds. Along the way, she discovered a love for business operations and client service, and she has spent years leading and teaching teams to deliver outstanding experiences.

Sonja is passionate about creating meaningful connections—whether that’s between people and their pets, or within the teams with whom she works. Sonja believes great service comes from empowered, supported people, and she loves helping teams grow into their best selves while making sure clients and patients feel truly cared for.

Outside the hospital, Sonja is usually out exploring nature, creating paintings, or at home being bossed around by her two cats, Ranger and Yuki.

Ashley has a bachelors degree from the University of Wisconsin at River Falls in Animal Science and a Veterinary Technology degree from Argosy University. She completed her technician internship at the University of Minnesota, then worked in a primary care practice before joining AERC’s Internal Medicine Department.

Ashley and her husband have a beautiful daughter, Brinley, and two dogs: Addie, an American Staffordshire Terrier, and Cain, an American Pitbull Terrier.

When asked what is the most beautiful place she has ever been, Ashley is hard pressed to decide between Moab, Utah and Bozeman, Montana. And in answer to her favorite restaurant, Ashley replies, “Red Robin. Yum!”

Steve Shadwick, DVM, DACVIM, received his veterinary degree from the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine. Upon graduation, he completed a rotating internship in small animal medicine and surgery at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. In 2011, he completed his small animal internal medicine residency at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital and was hired as the second specialist at AERC.

Dr. Shadwick enjoys the challenges of internal medicine cases, and he appreciates the help and support of his skilled internal medicine team and colleagues at AERC. The varied experiences, strengths, and teamwork of the emergency and specialty teams at AERC motivate his commitment to providing the best possible care for his patients. “You really can’t find a more cohesive, intelligent, supportive or fun group of veterinarians or support staff at any emergency or specialty hospital in the country,” says Dr. Shadwick.

Dr. Shadwick is also an integral member of AERC’s senior leadership team. As Chief Medical Officer, he assists Dr. Karen Reynhout, CEO, in setting the standards of medical care and growing the emergency and specialty service offerings at AERC.

When he isn’t working, Dr. Shadwick enjoys spending time with his wife, Mey, and three kids Sophie, Robert, and Lucy. Although children have taken priority over his previous hobbies, Dr. Shadwick hopes to eventually introduce his oldest daughter, Sophie, to the thrills of falconry.

Shari joined the AERC team in July of 2018. She has been an amazing addition; Shari is rarely seen without a smile on her face and is always happy to help out her teammates.

Shari has one dog, Pepper, an 11-year-old beagle mix, who was adopted from a rescue as a puppy. Pepper and Shari enjoy long walks and hikes together as often as possible. Shari also loves time spent at the cabin with family and friends, as well as cooking (especially after shopping at the farmer’s market!) and making wire-wrapped jewelry.

Tate joined the AERC team part-time in 2013 as a “handyman” of sorts–keeping the clinic in good repair. In 2015, he joined us full-time as our Facilities Manager. As such, Tate oversees the maintenance, operation, and efficiency of all hospital facilities and IT. His role is critical to the safety, cleanliness, and operational function of our buildings, which, in turn, supports the continuous care of clients and patients.

Tate’s pets include a PitBull Mix named Betty, a Black Lab Mix named Gertrude, three Domestic Shorthair kitties named Motorboat, Railroad, and Vespa, and a Bearded Dragon who goes by the name of Beardo the Weirdo!

Something notable about Tate? He has no spleen (due to a mountain biking accident), and he used to “model” toys for Tonka Toys way back when he was a wee baby.

Outside of work, Tate’s hobbies include raising two first graders, reading, binge-watching television shows, Legos, biking, and an ongoing battle to clear his backyard of buckthorn.