BSR™'s Veterinary Advisory Panel
Boykin Spaniel Rescue, Inc.™is very fortunate to have an incredible team of advisors. We rely on their insight and advise when developing Policies & Procedures, as well as consulting on our most difficult cases. We are so grateful to them for their time and dedication.
Dr Janette Blackwood
Dr. Blackwood still remembers the strong bond she and her younger sister felt immediately with the kitten their family adopted when they were both young children. This connection to her own family pet, along with a strong desire to know in detail how the biological world worked, easily lead her to choose a career in veterinary medicine at the age of fifteen. When years later she learned in a veterinary ethics class at The University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine that the term “human-animal bond” existed to define this experience, she wasn’t surprised. She made it a goal to respect and foster that bond between her patients and her clients throughout her career.
Before starting Charleston Harbor Veterinarians, LLC in 2015, Dr. Blackwood spent 11 years working as a small animal veterinarian in private practice in both Georgia and the South Carolina Lowcountry. The last 4 years were spent working full-time as a relief veterinarian, giving her the unique perspective of getting a behind the scenes view of over twenty South Carolina veterinary practices. “I started seeing all of these great little individual ideas that each veterinary practice was trying to do to increase client satisfaction or decrease patient stress,” she says. “I had been running several of my own ideas through my own head, and I just kept thinking it would be great if there could be a place I could combine all these exciting practices into one clinic.” When she found out that Dr. Kahuda was working on a similar set of goals for a new veterinary practice, the partnership just seemed to make sense.
What she loves about veterinary medicine: “To engage the client as much as possible in the veterinary visit. I feel that the greater the client understands and participates in the visit, the more likely they are to commit to keeping their pet healthy and foster that bond with them. So, please, ask me questions while you are here.”
When not at the clinic you’ll find her: “If it’s time for her scheduled WOD, you’ll find her at the Crossfit gym. Otherwise, she will be doing her dog Radar’s favorite activity: taking the family out for a walk.”
Something she’s learned about practicing medicine: “It’s always advancing, always changing. Just when you think you have everything figured out, you’ll get a surprise. It’s never boring.”
Before starting Charleston Harbor Veterinarians, LLC in 2015, Dr. Blackwood spent 11 years working as a small animal veterinarian in private practice in both Georgia and the South Carolina Lowcountry. The last 4 years were spent working full-time as a relief veterinarian, giving her the unique perspective of getting a behind the scenes view of over twenty South Carolina veterinary practices. “I started seeing all of these great little individual ideas that each veterinary practice was trying to do to increase client satisfaction or decrease patient stress,” she says. “I had been running several of my own ideas through my own head, and I just kept thinking it would be great if there could be a place I could combine all these exciting practices into one clinic.” When she found out that Dr. Kahuda was working on a similar set of goals for a new veterinary practice, the partnership just seemed to make sense.
What she loves about veterinary medicine: “To engage the client as much as possible in the veterinary visit. I feel that the greater the client understands and participates in the visit, the more likely they are to commit to keeping their pet healthy and foster that bond with them. So, please, ask me questions while you are here.”
When not at the clinic you’ll find her: “If it’s time for her scheduled WOD, you’ll find her at the Crossfit gym. Otherwise, she will be doing her dog Radar’s favorite activity: taking the family out for a walk.”
Something she’s learned about practicing medicine: “It’s always advancing, always changing. Just when you think you have everything figured out, you’ll get a surprise. It’s never boring.”
Dr. Brett Darrow DVM, DACVS, CCRP
Dr. Brett Darrow, DVM, CCRP, DACVS, earned his chemical engineering degree from the University of Iowa, but left the field in search of more fulfilling career. He then received his veterinary degree from University of Wisconsin, performed a small animal rotating internship followed by 2 years in private general practice, and completed his residency in small animal surgery at the University of Tennessee. He also completed his training to become a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner during his residency program. His current research lies in 3D printing bone models and surgical guides to improve the accuracy and efficiency of orthopedic surgery. His focus is in minimally invasive surgery, wildlife and exotic animal surgery, and complex orthopedic procedures. He serves on the board and provides surgical care for animals of the Northeast Florida Wildlife Coalition, and helps out local exotic animal rescues.
Dr. Darrow enjoys life to its fullest with his wife and two young boys, and their Jack Russell Terrorist. He enjoys fishing, surfing/kite boarding, camping, mountain biking, travelling, and most sports.
Dr. Darrow enjoys life to its fullest with his wife and two young boys, and their Jack Russell Terrorist. He enjoys fishing, surfing/kite boarding, camping, mountain biking, travelling, and most sports.
Dr Mary Gardner
A dynamic and engaging speaker, Dr. Mary Gardner is able to draw on a wide range of career experiences and life lessons to educate and motivate diverse audiences. Her presentations cover a variety of topics, and encourage both professional and personal growth within the veterinary industry and beyond. Ironically, veterinary medicine was not her first career choice.
After graduating from the University of Miami, she began working as a Technical Business Architect for an order and supply chain management software company. Her innate talent for understanding logistics in a client-centric organization developed a unique skill set for a veterinarian. After 10 years in software she found herself longing for something different and more meaningful – the path she selected was to become a veterinarian. She completed her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in 2008 from the University of Florida.
After spending two years in general practice, her friend and fellow UF graduate, Dr. Dani McVety, reached out to her about partnering in Lap of Love, which offered end of life services for pets and had been flourishing in the year that she began its service. Together they took the company from one veterinarian in Tampa to over 130 veterinarians around the country.
Dr. Mary leads development for Lap of Love's proprietary web-based practice management software called Sunshine. The program is specifically designed for veterinary hospice and euthanasia services and also dynamically ties to the Lap of Love website to allow families the ability to locate the veterinarian closest to them. Throughout the years, she has also developed The Pet Hospice Journal, an online Quality of Life Assessment program, as well as the first Quality of Life App (Grey Muzzle), both of which are free to the public. She received the Alumni Achievement Award from the University of Florida in 2016 and was voted the veterinarian to watch in 2018 by Fetch/DVM360.
Geriatric medicine, the aging process in animals and teaching family’s practical ways to care and manage their elder pets is Dr. Mary’s passion. Dr. Mary is on the advisory board of The Grey Muzzle Organization, VetSoap, as well as Prized Pals.
After graduating from the University of Miami, she began working as a Technical Business Architect for an order and supply chain management software company. Her innate talent for understanding logistics in a client-centric organization developed a unique skill set for a veterinarian. After 10 years in software she found herself longing for something different and more meaningful – the path she selected was to become a veterinarian. She completed her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in 2008 from the University of Florida.
After spending two years in general practice, her friend and fellow UF graduate, Dr. Dani McVety, reached out to her about partnering in Lap of Love, which offered end of life services for pets and had been flourishing in the year that she began its service. Together they took the company from one veterinarian in Tampa to over 130 veterinarians around the country.
Dr. Mary leads development for Lap of Love's proprietary web-based practice management software called Sunshine. The program is specifically designed for veterinary hospice and euthanasia services and also dynamically ties to the Lap of Love website to allow families the ability to locate the veterinarian closest to them. Throughout the years, she has also developed The Pet Hospice Journal, an online Quality of Life Assessment program, as well as the first Quality of Life App (Grey Muzzle), both of which are free to the public. She received the Alumni Achievement Award from the University of Florida in 2016 and was voted the veterinarian to watch in 2018 by Fetch/DVM360.
Geriatric medicine, the aging process in animals and teaching family’s practical ways to care and manage their elder pets is Dr. Mary’s passion. Dr. Mary is on the advisory board of The Grey Muzzle Organization, VetSoap, as well as Prized Pals.
|
|
Dr Maria Glennon
Dr. Glennon was born in Washington, DC but grew up in Raleigh, NC. She completed her undergraduate degree at North Carolina State University in 1990 and graduated from form the NC State College of Veterinary Medicine in 1994. Dr. Glennon joined Wilson Veterinary Hospital in January of 1996 when it was still a mixed animal practice. She has been happily practicing small animal medicine since 2000.
Dr Glennon interviewed Penny Chenery, owner of Secretariat when she was in 6th grade. It had a powerful effect on her. She still has the signed picture of Mrs Chenery and Secretariat hanging in her home
Dr. Glennon and her husband, John, have 3 boys, 4 cats and 1 dog. Hobbies include choral singing, watching horse racing and traveling.
Dr Glennon interviewed Penny Chenery, owner of Secretariat when she was in 6th grade. It had a powerful effect on her. She still has the signed picture of Mrs Chenery and Secretariat hanging in her home
Dr. Glennon and her husband, John, have 3 boys, 4 cats and 1 dog. Hobbies include choral singing, watching horse racing and traveling.
Wilson Veterinary Hospital
Dr. Anne Grimsley-Cook
Dr. Anne Grimsley Cook grew up in Beaufort, SC where her family still resides. She attended Sewanee (University of the South), a small liberal arts college in Tennessee. She graduated summa cum laude in 1993 with a major in theology and minor in biology. She graduated summa cum laude from veterinary school at the University of Georgia in 1997. After completing an internship at Kansas State University, she then went to Virginia Tech where she completed an equine residency and masters program in 2001. She then completed her ophthalmology residency at Carolina Veterinary Specialists in Greensboro, NC. She is a board certified veterinary ophthalmologist (www.acvo.org).
Dr. Cook has worked at Animal Eye Care since 2006, and purchased the practice in 2010. Dr. Cook is an avid horse lover, but also enjoys yoga, golf, running, biking, swimming and other outdoor activities. She also competes in dog agility with her Boykin Spaniels, Hunley and Pawley. She also enjoys spending time with her husband Dr. Wesley Cook (a small animal surgeon), her son and her three dogs.
Dr. Cook has worked at Animal Eye Care since 2006, and purchased the practice in 2010. Dr. Cook is an avid horse lover, but also enjoys yoga, golf, running, biking, swimming and other outdoor activities. She also competes in dog agility with her Boykin Spaniels, Hunley and Pawley. She also enjoys spending time with her husband Dr. Wesley Cook (a small animal surgeon), her son and her three dogs.
Dr. Lesley Hack
Dr. Lesley Hack graduated as a veterinarian in 1987, from the University of Pretoria, South Africa. After several years, she established and directed her own practice until she moved to Boca Raton in 2002. She became Medical Director of Cypress Wood Animal Hospital until 2007, when she joined Calusa Veterinary Center. In 2010 she established Boca Veterinary Clinic an animal hospital in South Florida. Over the past 25 years, she has developed a wealth of experience in managing complex medical and surgical cases. She believes that a pet is an integral part of a family, and enjoys establishing warm, friendly relationships with her patients` human families.
Boca Veterinary Clinic was established to fulfill her dream of providing an excellent, sophisticated level of care to the pets of Boca Raton, in a warm and caring environment. The emphasis is on superb patient care, delivered with compassion and understanding. We are also deeply committed to animal rescue, as evidenced by our mascot, the rescue mastiff Goliath.
Dr Hack lives in Boca Raton with her husband, two sons, one daughter, and, of course, Goliath. A dedicated workaholic, she enjoys spending her rare time off relaxing with her family.
Boca Veterinary Clinic was established to fulfill her dream of providing an excellent, sophisticated level of care to the pets of Boca Raton, in a warm and caring environment. The emphasis is on superb patient care, delivered with compassion and understanding. We are also deeply committed to animal rescue, as evidenced by our mascot, the rescue mastiff Goliath.
Dr Hack lives in Boca Raton with her husband, two sons, one daughter, and, of course, Goliath. A dedicated workaholic, she enjoys spending her rare time off relaxing with her family.
Dr. Christa Kahuda
Lots of kids grow up wanting to be a veterinarian. Dr. Kahuda wasn’t one of them. It wasn’t that she didn’t love animals, she just never really thought about it. So she went to college, became a math major and then did what lots of kids do when faced with the career options of their degree. She went back to school to do what she really wanted to do. High school algebra teacher by day, organic chemistry student by night for 2 years then 4 more in Vet School at Virginia Tech and she finally got it right. Now, over a decade after graduating from vet school, she couldn’t imagine herself doing anything different.
What she loves about veterinary medicine: “The animals – and their people! I love getting to know owners and teaching them ways to keep their pets healthy. Many people don’t realize that I have two clients – the pet… and its owner.”
When not at the clinic you’ll find her: “Playing at the beach!”
Best things about working and living in Charleston: “The outdoors – even when at work you can pop outside for a break and enjoy the fabulous weather, scenery, and history. It grounds you.”
What makes CHV different: “We are constantly seeking alternatives to make the experience better – so that a visit to the veterinarian isn’t a dreaded event!”
Something she’s learned about practicing medicine: “The owner knows the pet better than blood work, radiographs, and sometimes even a physical exam. My goal is to listen to and to never negate the gut instinct of a pet owner.”
What she loves about veterinary medicine: “The animals – and their people! I love getting to know owners and teaching them ways to keep their pets healthy. Many people don’t realize that I have two clients – the pet… and its owner.”
When not at the clinic you’ll find her: “Playing at the beach!”
Best things about working and living in Charleston: “The outdoors – even when at work you can pop outside for a break and enjoy the fabulous weather, scenery, and history. It grounds you.”
What makes CHV different: “We are constantly seeking alternatives to make the experience better – so that a visit to the veterinarian isn’t a dreaded event!”
Something she’s learned about practicing medicine: “The owner knows the pet better than blood work, radiographs, and sometimes even a physical exam. My goal is to listen to and to never negate the gut instinct of a pet owner.”
Dr. Michael Reese
Dr. Michael Reese obtained his undergraduate degree in microbiology from The Ohio State University, and then his doctorate of veterinary medicine from the University of Florida. He continued his education by pursuing a general rotating internship at Tufts University, followed by a neurology internship at Gulf Coast Veterinary Specialists in Texas. He then completed a residency in neurology/neurosurgery at Purdue University in Indiana. During his residency, Dr. Reese won three awards for his teaching and patient care. While at Purdue, his accomplishments with saving a greyhound with meningitis were documented on their blog.
Upon completion of his residency, Dr. Reese became a board-certified neurologist. He stayed as faculty at Purdue University after his residency before returning to Florida. He and his wife Carissa have since joined the team at Southeast Veterinary Neurology.
His interests include neurosurgery and management of brain diseases (tumors, infectious and noninfectious diseases).
Outside of the hospital, Dr. Reese enjoys the outdoors. Fishing, kayaking, and hiking are among his favorite activities, but he also enjoys taking his two dogs, Phoebe and Porter, out on their walks.
Upon completion of his residency, Dr. Reese became a board-certified neurologist. He stayed as faculty at Purdue University after his residency before returning to Florida. He and his wife Carissa have since joined the team at Southeast Veterinary Neurology.
His interests include neurosurgery and management of brain diseases (tumors, infectious and noninfectious diseases).
Outside of the hospital, Dr. Reese enjoys the outdoors. Fishing, kayaking, and hiking are among his favorite activities, but he also enjoys taking his two dogs, Phoebe and Porter, out on their walks.
Dr. Randy Thomas
Dr. Randy Thomas is a 1992 graduate of the College of Veterinary Medicine at Michigan State University. Following graduation, he worked as a small animal practitioner for 4 years in Fort Wayne, Indiana. In 1996, he began a 3-year residency in veterinary dermatology at the University of Florida. Following completion of his residency training, he passed the certifying examination and is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Dermatology. Dr. Thomas is currently the owner of Southeast Veterinary Dermatology & Ear Clinic, with locations in Mt. Pleasant and Greenville, South Carolina, Charlotte and Asheville, North Carolina, and Savannah, Georgia.
Dr. Thomas’ professional interests include allergic diseases in the dog and cat, diseases of the ear, and autoimmune skin diseases. He has contributed chapters to four veterinary texts: Cancer in Dogs and Cats (Morrison WB, ed.), Small Animal Dermatology Secrets (Campbell KL, ed.), Current Veterinary Therapy XV (Bonagura J, ed.), and Current Veterinary Therapy XVI (Bonagura J, ed.) He has lectured nationally at the NAVC, WVC, AVMA, and AAHA conferences, as well as numerous regional and local conferences.
Dr. Thomas’ professional interests include allergic diseases in the dog and cat, diseases of the ear, and autoimmune skin diseases. He has contributed chapters to four veterinary texts: Cancer in Dogs and Cats (Morrison WB, ed.), Small Animal Dermatology Secrets (Campbell KL, ed.), Current Veterinary Therapy XV (Bonagura J, ed.), and Current Veterinary Therapy XVI (Bonagura J, ed.) He has lectured nationally at the NAVC, WVC, AVMA, and AAHA conferences, as well as numerous regional and local conferences.
Dr. Robert Westra
Robert Westra has served as the Veterinary Market Development Director for Paw Print Genetics since 2020. This position marries his love of science, veterinary medicine, and education. Graduating with a DVM from Washington State in 2008, Rob spent 12 years in small animal general practice and emergency medicine. Prior to that, he capped a 10-year career in wildlife biology working with African tropical fish, Pacific seabirds, and coral reef ecology.
Rob enjoys the outdoors of the Pacific Northwest and providing a lap for his dog to sleep on.
Rob enjoys the outdoors of the Pacific Northwest and providing a lap for his dog to sleep on.
Dr. Fred Wright
Dr. Fred Wright graduated from Ohio State University in 1992. He practiced in North Carolina for 3 years before returning to the practice that he volunteered and then worked with in high school
through undergraduate years. He now owns the practice of general medicine in Independence, Ohio.
"Dr. Fred" first read about the Boykin Spaniel in the early 1980s and got his first Boykin in the fall of 2009. He is one of the veterinarians on hand each year as part of the Boykin Spaniel Health Clinics at Boykin Spaniel Nationals.
When not working or lending his expertise, Dr. Fred spends his time with his wife Holly and children on the farm and watching the kids play sports.
through undergraduate years. He now owns the practice of general medicine in Independence, Ohio.
"Dr. Fred" first read about the Boykin Spaniel in the early 1980s and got his first Boykin in the fall of 2009. He is one of the veterinarians on hand each year as part of the Boykin Spaniel Health Clinics at Boykin Spaniel Nationals.
When not working or lending his expertise, Dr. Fred spends his time with his wife Holly and children on the farm and watching the kids play sports.
