Dr. Rebecca Bohlmann has been involved with the veterinary industry for over 30 years, 20 of those as a veterinarian. She enjoys talking to people and helping keep people's pets not only healthy but also happy. She currently has a rescue terrier, rescue roadside ditch kitten, along with her husband and 2 busy/crazy girls.
Dr. McKayla Meyer is a 2021 graduate from CSU that has been working as an emergency veterinarian since July 2021. She’s from the Big Island of Hawai’i originally and worked in small animal general practice prior to attending veterinary school and in veterinary school itself. She is very passionate about client communication and education, emergency and preventative medicine, and end of life quality of care. She recently moved to San Diego and is so excited to be closer to family and back on the west coast. Her hobbies include hiking, camping, surfing, and traveling to new places! She recently began embroidering her own clothes and doing pottery on her days off, and loves spending time exercising different parts of her brain. She has 2 Boston Terriers, Kaia and Cava, that love to go on adventures with her and keep her busy!
Dr. Nilufer (Nil) Wilkins graduated from the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine in 1983. When she was in the ninth grade, her Civics class gave students the project to select three careers they were interested in and to interview someone in the community in each career. Given from a young age Dr. Wilkins had always wanted to help animals, she could only choose one career – to be a veterinarian. Dr. Wilkins has over 39 years as a practicing veterinarian, including working as an associate and relief veterinarian in several small animal practices; as staff veterinarian at two different county animal shelters, adopting several “foster failures” so that at one point their family had six cats; and providing hospice and end of life care for family pets in the home. Dr. Wilkins believes in practicing preventative medicine and educating families on its benefits for both the families and their pets. Her special interests include cats (no surprise!) and helping guide families in end-of-life decisions. Dr. Wilkins enjoys reading, listening to classical music (especially Baroque), traveling, and spending time with family and friends. She currently lives in Florida with her husband of 40 years and three cats. They also have two grown daughters. Dr. Wilkins joined FirstVet in 2023.
Dr. Michael Gerber graduated from Western University of Health Sciences in 2010 and completed a rotating internship at The Animal Medical Center in New York City immediately thereafter. He has been practicing both emergency medicine and general medicine since completing his formal veterinary training. His professional interests include emergency/critical care, reproduction, and dentistry. In his spare time he enjoys anything out on the water and spending time with his human and canine family members.
Dr. Bruce Armstrong has retired from daily clinical practice in December 2022 after 41 successful years as a busy practicing veterinarian and hospital owner with the greater majority of that in small animal clinical general practice with an inclusive background and he strived to keep up with continuing education to be able to provide modern and up-to-date techniques along with medical capabilities and reasonable communications for clients and colleagues. He lives by the philosophy of practicing each year to coordinate the old and new for blended quality medicine for the benefit of the patients and their caretakers. Doing the same thing year in and year out is not reasonable for the advancement of veterinary medicine in his opinion. He now gets to do more "work from home" so telemedicine and consultation fits into the new freelance aspects he has been pursuing. This has provided a more relaxed environment with long sought expanded time off as compared to busy private practice so he can complete tasks on his family’s small ranch and hay operation in Montana and still get a modicum of sleep!
Dr. Sam has been in the veterinary field for over 20 years, and has harbored her passion for the field since the age of four years old. She has practiced in various states, currently holding licenses in both Illinois and Florida, as well as a USDA certification to provide both international and domestic health certificates. Her incredible passion extends to every patient; she is driven to collaborate closely with families to ensure the best quality of life for all household members. Dr. Sam specializes in pain management, mobility, and senior care, emphasizing transparent and consistent communication to address all aspects of their pets' lives. Dr. Sam lives with her husband, two doggos (Piper and Soka, rescued mixed breeds), and her long-haired Russian Blue cat, Floki.
Dr. Nikki Johnson is a Florida native who received her veterinary degree from the University of Florida in 2016. She currently travels and works as a traveling relief veterinarian throughout the United States, practicing small animal medicine in general practice and urgent care. She has one dog named Piccolo, and they both love to hike and camp. She joined the team in 2023 and is excited to provide care for clients across the US.
Dr. Kirstin Kamps received her Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine in 2011 from Western University of Health Sciences outside of Los Angeles. The last 10 years she has been a self employed traveling veterinarian working with small animal clinics all over California. She is currently in the UK working as a clinician with a veterinary school. In her free time she enjoys traveling for theater festivals and volunteer work.
Dr. Angela Moorhead graduated from Ross University School of Veterinary medicine in 2018 and completed her clinical training at Texas A&M University. She is originally from New York, but now calls Texas home! She has worked in equine, mixed animal, and small animal medicine. She is currently working in emergency small animal medicine as a relief veterinarian in various areas of Texas. When she is not working, she enjoys going to rodeos around the country with her husband and their three dogs!
Dr. Jessica Scholl graduated Magna Cum Laude from Texas A&M University-College of Veterinary Medicine. After graduating, she worked 4 years in a busy mixed animal practice outside of Dallas. There, she saw dogs, cats, horses, alpacas, llamas, pigs, cattle, small ruminants, and the occasional chicken. Dr. Scholl has also worked for over 7 years in small animal emergency medicine near Dallas. Currently, she works as a small animal veterinarian while continuing to pursue equine medicine. Dr. Scholl has a passion for low stress cattle and equine handling, ultrasonography, equine reproduction and emergency medicine. In her spare time, she enjoys working on her farm, reading, traveling, and spending time with family. Dr. Scholl joined FirstVet in 2021 and is excited to be a part of the Firstvet team!
Dr. Lauren Hulse graduated from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine in 2016. She has wanted to be a veterinarian since she learned what jobs were in second grade. After completion of her BS and MBA, she fulfilled that dream. Since graduating, she has worked in emergency, general practice, and relief. She loves helping animals and the families they mean so much to. Dr. Hulse lives in Northern California with her husband and two small children. When not working, she can be found on her small farm taking care of everything from sheep to cut flowers.
Dr. Arras graduated from The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2020. She is certified in acupuncture, and integrative rehabilitation and physical medicine. She has worked as a small animal general practitioner since graduation. In her free time, she enjoys reading, crocheting, and spending time with her family.
Dr. Brents grew up in Orlando Florida and has always wanted to be a veterinarian. She has been in the vet field in some capacity since she was 16. She graduated with her DVM from Tuskegee University in 2011. She is currently living in beautiful Asheville North Carolina with her 2 year old son Ethan, husband Dylan and four fur babies.
Dr. Hudspeth was born and raised in central Louisiana. She spent a large portion of her childhood outdoors with animals to keep her company. Dr. Hudspeth also lived a few years of her childhood on a farm tending to many different types of animals. It was then, around age 6, she developed her love for all animals and decided she wanted to be their doctor. Dr. Hudspeth obtained her undergraduate education from Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Louisiana and graduated from LSU School of Veterinary Medicine in 2016. Before being accepted to LSU School of Veterinary Medicine, she worked as a registered veterinary technician for 8 years. She had the fortunate opportunity to work in many aspects of veterinary medicine including a mixed animal practice, emergency animal practice, a small animal practice, and was an instructor at a veterinary technology program. During her time as a technician, Dr. Hudspeth assisted many families during their last moments with their pets and always felt a special connection with clients during that delicate time. Since graduation, Dr. Hudspeth has gained valuable experience in small and exotic animal medicine, end of life care/hospice, telehealth, and as a relief veterinarian in the Houston area. Dr. Hudspeth is a certified Companion Animal Euthanasia Veterinarian and is actively pursuing certification for Fear Free Certified Practitioner. She also aspires to obtain certification in hospice and palliative care as well as acupuncture. In her spare time, Dr. Hudspeth enjoys attending horror/comic conventions, participating in medieval historical reenactment, going to renaissance festivals, attending continued education conferences, reading, watching television, and spending time with her family and little zoo. Dr. Hudspeth lives with her fiancé, Edward, their 3-year-old identical twin daughters, Madeleine and Adelaide, 4 dogs, 8 cats, 4 birds and a chinchilla. Yes, she knows she has a lot of pets! She is incredibly soft-hearted and has rescued many animals during her 22 years working in veterinary medicine.
Dr. Cathryn Doyle earned her veterinary degree at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine in May 2013 and also earned a Masters of Public Health from Virginia Tech University in December 2013. She then went on to train in a small animal rotating internship in Virginia Beach, VA from 2014 to 2015 before making her way into working as an Emergency and Critical Care veterinarian since 2015. Dr. Doyle has a keen interest in wildlife and conservation medicine and spent much of her time during her veterinary training learning and working at various zoos and wildlife rehabilitation centers. In her spare time, she enjoys snuggling up with a good book and her rescued cat, Edana, as well as taking in spectacular views while hiking atop the Rocky Mountains. Dr. Doyle joined FirstVet in 2021.
Dr. Janice Thomas left cold Cleveland, Ohio and headed south for warmer weather and less snow! She completed her medical studies at Tuskegee University School of Veterinary Medicine. Since then, she has practiced in Florida, where she adopted her dog Desi (Arnez), North Carolina, Kentucky & Indiana. Although a “city-girl” at heart, she has developed an appreciation for the south’s more relaxed nature and outdoor activities! When not working you can find Dr. Thomas riding her bike, shopping for shoes or meeting people, ready to share some good news! “My passion for pets started when I was young, after I noticed a bird hobbling, in an empty parking lot. The wing of the bird was injured, so I ran home with the bird in hand, dedicated to nursing it back to health. At age 4, I told my family, ‘I am going to be an animal doctor!’” Dr. Thomas joined FirstVet in 2021.
Dr. Elizabeth Wesson received her veterinary degree from the University of Sydney in 2014. Before pursuing veterinary medicine, she started her career as an environmental scientist and worked as a microbat rehabilitator and educator during her undergraduate degree. Since then Dr. Wesson has worked as a general practitioner for small animals and exotics in the U.K. and the U.S. She is passionate about improving the quality of life of animals and educating owners on caring for their pets. Her special interests are feline and exotic medicine, geriatric care and ultrasonography. In her spare time, she enjoys pottery, gardening, yoga and any outdoor activity. She lives in Florida with her husband, son and Devon Rex. Dr. Wesson joined FirstVet in 2023.
Dr. Matthew Lamare received his veterinary degree from Lincoln Memorial College of Veterinary Medicine in Harrogate, TN. After graduating, he spent time practicing Emergency Medicine in a busy specialty hospital in Lexington, Kentucky. He then went on to complete an internship in Towson, MD and is currently in an Emergency and Critical Care Residency located in Rhode Island. Outside of work he enjoys spending time with his dogs and taking care of his reptiles. Dr. Lamare enjoys establishing a good client relationship and educating pet owners.
Dr. Lauren Aderholdt graduated from Oklahoma State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine in 2011 and pursued additional training as a small animal intern at Virginia Tech’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital. After completing her internship, she practiced small animal medicine outside Denver, Colorado for five years. After getting married, Dr. Aderholdt relocated to Dallas, Texas where she has continued treating dogs and cats in general practice. She enjoys educating clients about the best preventive care choices for the furry members of their families. When not at home with her two cats and dog you can find her running after her toddler. Dr. Aderholdt joined FirstVet in 2021.
Dr. Praadnya Shah earned her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Guelph, Ontario Veterinary College in Canada. Prior to that, she attended University of California, Davis and earned a Bachelor's degree in neurobiology, physiology and behavioral science. After graduation, Dr. Shah moved back to California to practice small animal medicine. She has a strong interest in animal behavior, welfare, is a Fear Free Certified Veterinarian and implements low stress handling in her practice. She enjoys working in small animal medicine, urgent care, and shelter medicine. Away from work, Dr. Shah enjoys good food, travel, and spending time with her golden retriever puppy, Zui. Dr. Shah joined FirstVet in 2021.
Dr. Jessica Lowe graduated from the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago School of Veterinary Medicine. Prior to that, Dr. Lowe attended the University of Maryland, College Park where she earned her first degree. She has a diverse background, working in small animal medicine, emergency veterinary medicine, exotic medicine, lab animal medicine and public health veterinary medicine, for over 10 years. Dr. Lowe has a special interest in feline medicine and internal medicine. She has 2 cats at home and enjoys outdoor biking and traveling. Dr. Lowe joined FirsVet in 2021.
Dr. Patricia Banks graduated from Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine in 1995. After graduation she worked in emergency and critical care before opening her own practice in 2001. She currently owns a small animal practice in Houston, TX where she focuses on internal medicine, geriatric health care, soft tissue surgery, and preventative care for dogs and cats. Dr. Banks loves cooking, quilting, gardening and spending an afternoon at the park with her pups. She lives in Houston with 2 dogs and 4 cats. Dr. Banks joined FirstVet in 2021.
Dr. Monique Lewison obtained her Bachelor of Science in Animal Science and Husbandry with high honors and then went on to realize her childhood dream, graduating from the University of Tennessee, College of Veterinary Medicine in 1987. Since then, Dr. Lewison has had a mobile mixed animal practice in Northern Israel, worked in mixed and small animal practices in New York State, Chicagoland (where she also spent several years as an at home euthanasia veterinarian), Seattle, and East Tennessee. In 2013 she became an IVAS certified veterinary acupuncturist, and in 2015 she completed her veterinary chiropractic certification at the Healing Oasis in Wisconsin. Dr. Lewison is especially interested in animal communication and is dedicated to client education and holistic preventative care. She loves helping people better understand their pet’s issues and how to best care for them. She is currently following her husband’s dream (and now hers) of sailing around the world. While they organize to refit their 41 foot sailboat (in Kent, UK), care for her elderly mother in Israel, and care for their homestead in the foothills of the Smokies in Tennessee, Maximus, her rescued cat waits patiently for her to return from her travels each time. Dr. Lewison joined FirstVet in 2021.
Dr. Leah Talesnick is a 2015 graduate of Western University of Health Sciences College of Veterinary Medicine. She completed a post-graduate internship and worked as an emergency veterinarian at one of the largest emergency/specialty hospitals in the country. Dr. Talesnick now works as a general practitioner at a non-profit private practice that is dedicated to community outreach for an underserved community. She also works with a rescue that takes animals from natural disasters worldwide and high-kill shelters. Dr. Talesnick has been a contributor to NPR’s podcast Talking Animals. She has a special interest in pain management, quality of life, alternative and physical therapy and is certified as a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner through the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine. She currently lives in Maryland with her husband and Boston Terrier. Outside of veterinary medicine, Dr Talesnick enjoys cooking and playing tennis. Dr. Talesnick joined FirstVet in 2021.
Dr. Allison Schwartz graduated from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine in 2011. She completed a Small Animal Medicine and Surgery rotating Internship at Garden State Veterinary Specialists in NJ. Since completing her internship, Dr. Schwartz has enjoyed being a small animal general practitioner, with a special interest in dentistry, pediatrics, and surgery. In her free time, Dr. Schwartz enjoys baking, cooking, reading, and of course spending time with her husband and young son. Dr. Schwartz joined FirstVet in 2021.
Dr. Cindy McCauley graduated from Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine. She knew from a very young age that she had a strong connection to animals and wanted to help them. So, it was no surprise that at eight years old her life would be changed by helping to pour blue antiseptic on an injured rooster. At the time, she had no idea what that “blue stuff” was, but can still remember where she was standing and what she was wearing. During her high school years, Dr. McCauley’s passion to help animals and advocate for their needs grew even stronger. Now, after more than 25 years in practice, she is still grateful to spend her life doing something she loves with people who all feel the same way! Dr. McCauley’s favorite part of being a veterinarian is that it allows her to make a difference. Whether it is preventative health care to keep animals healthy, helping a new life enter the world, performing a life- saving surgery, or assisting an old friend to pass with peace and dignity, she gets to make a difference every single day. Dr. McCauley feels blessed to have a supportive husband, daughter, son, and four-legged fur baby that understand her commitment to this career. Dr. McCauley joined FirstVet in 2021.
Dr. Zack Beresin received his veterinary degree from The University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine in 2017. Following graduation, he completed a rotating internship in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery at the Veterinary Specialty Center of Delaware. Since completing his internship, Dr. Beresin has worked as a small animal general practitioner in Ohio and New Jersey. His veterinary interests include preventative care and client education, radiology, dermatology, and surgery. Dr. Beresin’s undergraduate degree is in Environmental Studies, and he is still passionate about environmental conservation and sustainability. Outside of work, Dr. Beresin enjoys exploring the outdoors, including hiking, biking, camping and travel, cooking, listening to music, and most of all, spending time with his family. Dr. Beresin joined Firstvet in 2021.
Dr. Danielle Woolf received her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine in 2016. Since graduating, she has practiced small animal, emergency and exotics medicine in New York City. Her veterinary interests include internal medicine, dermatology, surgery and dentistry. Dr. Woolf is currently living in South Africa to spend time with family and to do volunteer work. Dr. Woolf joined FirstVet in 2021 and is excited to help with your pet’s care!
Dr. Julie Napier graduated from Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1999. She started work in a small animal, exotics, and emergency practice, with the intent of becoming a zoo and wildlife veterinarian. She spent almost 20 years in a variety of zoological institutions and did field work around the world including South Africa, Botswana, Madagascar, and Belize. Dr. Napier has a passion for animal welfare and conservation. Although she is no longer practicing in the wildlife field, she continues to be involved, writing book chapters and journal articles. She takes in senior dogs (over the years she has rescued 19 to date), has remained active in small animal medicine, and continues to consult in exotic pet and wildlife medicine. Dr. Napier joined FirstVet in September 2020.
Dr. Eve Cohen received her veterinary degree from St. Matthew's University in Grand Cayman in 2014 and spent her clinical year at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She then completed a Small Animal Medicine and Surgery rotating internship at BluePearl Veterinary Partners in New York City. Dr. Cohen has been a small animal general practitioner in NYC, Long Island, and Bluffton, SC. Her special interests include anesthesia and pain management, geriatric care, and wildlife rescue and rehabilitation. Dr. Cohen is a classically trained violinist and violist and also holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Creative Writing from Skidmore College. She lives in Bluffton, SC with her fiance, 3 rescued cats and a toy poodle - all named after musical references. Dr. Cohen joined FirstVet in 2020.
Dr. Diane Givler received her veterinary degree from Ross University in 2008 and spent her clinical year at LSU (Geaux Tigers!). She is originally from Pennsylvania, and has practiced small animal medicine in Rochester, NY, Columbia, SC, and Southport, NC. Dr. Givler has worked in small private-owned hospitals, large corporate hospitals, and on a non-profit surgically-equipped spay/neuter RV. Most recently she has been self-employed as a relief veterinarian and is currently living on a 58 foot sailboat with her husband, two dogs, and one cat. Dr. Givler joined FirstVet in 2020.