VCA Arboretum View Animal Hospital

Bios

• Jill Keller

  DVM

  Dr. Jill Keller joined VCA Arboretum View Animal Hospital in 2008. She received her DVM from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2004 and completed a small animal rotating internship in 2005 at VCA Aurora and VCA Berwyn. She has worked in emergency and critical care medicine in the Chicagoland area since the completion of her internship. Dr. Keller has a special interest in critical care, trauma and gastrointestinal surgery. Dr. Keller is also the director of the internship program. She resides with her husband, daughter, and mixed breed dog, Pickle. In her free time, she enjoys endurance cycling and running and spending time with her family. Professional Memberships:. American Veterinary Medical Association Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society American Animal Hospital Association Illinois Veterinary Medical Association Chicago Veterinary Medical Association

• Joao Felipe de Brito Galvao

  MV

  Dr. Galvao joined Arboretum View in the summer of 2011 and has been Medical Director since 2012. He is a 2004 graduate of the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Brazil. He did a Small Animal Medicine Residency at Sao Paulo State University, Brazil before coming to the US for an evaluated clinical year at the University of Wisconsin. Later, he completed a one-year rotating internship at Purdue University. He has recently concluded a three-year internal medicine residency at The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine. During his residency he completed a Master's of Science Thesis entitled 'Antitumor effects of combined carboplatin and gemcitabine in canine transitional cell carcinoma'. He has authored 11 book chapters and numerous other publications over the past 3 years. He is the co-administrator of the Team Calcium, which provides consultation on calcium disorders to veterinarians. Dr. Galvao enjoys all aspects of internal medicine with special interest in calcium disorders, gastroenteric, hepatobiliary, kidney, endocrine and immune-mediated diseases as well as interventional radiology. He is also experienced in minimally invasive procedures like rhinoscopy, gastrointestinal endoscopy, cystoscopy, bronchoscopy, ectopic ureter laser ablation, lithotripsy, laparoscopic liver biopsy among others. Dr. Galvao is a reviewer for the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association and for the American Veterinary Internal Medicine Forum. He is also a member of the Small Animal Internal Medicine Credentials Committee for The American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine. . He lives with his wife Cristiane and their two cats, Layla and Lila. Professional Memberships: American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine Team Calcium - The Ohio State University Comparative Gastroenterology Society American Veterinary Medical Association

  Education:

• Nicholas Kelsey

  DVM

  Dr. Kelsey joined Arboretum View in 2011. He received his DVM from from the University of Illinois with his DVM in 2006. He then completed a rotating small animal internship in Boston, MA followed by a small animal surgical internship in Houston, TX where he gained experience in a wide variety of surgical emergencies. In the Spring of 2011, Dr. Kelsey moved back to Chicago with his partner John, dog Noah, and three grey cats- Calli, Echo, and Perseus. Dr. Kelsey enjoys spending time with his partner enjoying all that Chicago has to offer (namely the food and shopping.) He enjoys all aspects of his job but has a special interest in surgical emergencies and trauma.

• Thomas Lassiter

  DVM

  Dr. Thomas Lassiter has been with Arboretum View Animal Hospital since founding it in 1978. He received his DVM degree from University of Illinois in 1976. He worked at a private practice in Villa Park and his own house call practice before starting Arboretum View Animal Hospital. He lives in the area with his wife, two cocker spaniels and a cat. Dr. Lassiter enjoys traveling to Wisconsin in his time off.

• Lex Bonam

  DVM

  Dr. Lex Bonam joined Arboretum View Animal Hospital in 1992. He received his DVM degree from the University of Illinois in 1987. He worked in private practice in Racine Wisconsin for 5 years prior to joining AVAH. Dr. Bonam practices general medicine, with a special interest in rodent medicine. Dr. Bonam is director of the in-house animal blood donor program. Dr Bonam's pets include 3 dogs, 2 cats, 5 rats and a beautiful tank of large cichlids. During his time off Dr. Bonam is a home brewer who enjoys camping, gardening, and watching movies with his wife.

• Todd Gray

  DVM

  Dr. Todd Gray joined Arboretum View Animal Hospital in 2005. He received his DVM degree from the University of Illinois in 2001. He worked in a private practice seeing small animals and exotics prior to joining the staff at AVAH. He is the Education Committee Chair for the Association of Reptilian and Amphibian Veterinarians and has co-chaired many sessions at their annual conference. Dr. Gray's pets include a horse, a cat, a corn snake, a red tailed boa constrictor, and a jungle carpet python. During his time off he enjoys downhill skiing, movies, scuba diving, video games, paintball, and autocross racing.

• Casey Birkel

  DVM

  Dr. Birkel received a DVM degree from The Ohio State University in 2008. After graduation, she completed a small animal rotating internship in medicine and surgery at the Southern California Veterinary Specialty Hospital in Irvine California. She completed a residency in neurology and neurosurgery at the Animal Specialty Center in Yonkers, New York. Dr. Birkel treats medical and neurological cases including seizures, immune diseases, Chiari malformations, tumors and neuromuscular disorders. Her interests include disk disease, cervical spondylomyelopathy (wobbler syndrome), and surgical removal of brain and spinal tumors.

• Lara Sisto

  DVM

  Dr. Sisto joined VCA Arboretum View Animal Hospital in 2012. A native of Cincinnati, she attended The Ohio State University for her undergraduate and DVM degrees. After graduation, she completed a small animal rotating internship at the University of Illinois. Her professional interests include all aspects of emergency and critical care medicine with particular interests in blood and clotting disorders, respiratory disease, and trauma. Dr. Sisto lives with her husband Joel and rescued basset hound Lincoln. In her free time she enjoys cooking, volunteering, and traveling to pursue her favorite activities, snow skiing and scuba diving.

• Jason Headrick

  DVM

  Dr. Headrick attended Marquette University where he received degrees in psychology and philosophy. He received his doctor of veterinary medicine degree from the University of Wisconsin - Madison. His veterinary training continued with a rotating internship at the University of Missouri - Columbia, a surgical internship at Gulf Coast Veterinary Hospital in Houston, Texas, and an orthopedic fellowship at the University of Tennessee. He remained at the University of Tennessee to pursue his residency training in small animal surgery and PhD in comparative and experimental medicine with a concentration in biomechanics. Dr. Headrick has a special interest in orthopedic surgery, skin reconstruction, neurosurgery, and exotic animal medicine and surgery. Dr. Headrick resides in the Chicago area his wife, Anna, young sons, Bowen and Vetter, and a menagerie of animals. They enjoy music, movies, the outdoors, travel, and whatever keeps Bowie interested and happy.

  Education:

• Rachel Sternberg

  DVM

  Dr. Sternberg received her DVM from the University of Wisconsin in 2007 and was valedictorian of her class. She completed a one-year internship in medicine and surgery at the University of Minnesota followed by a three-year residency in medical oncology at the University of Illinois in 2011. Since completing her residency, she has received fellowship funding to conduct osteosarcoma research at the University of Illinois.Dr. Sternberg became board certified in oncology in 2013. Professional interests include diagnosing and treating a variety of canine and feline cancers and investigating ways in which the immune system can be modified to better recognize and eliminate cancer cells. She enjoys working with other specialists, including veterinary surgeons and radiation oncologists, to optimize treatment plans for each patient. Dr. Sternberg can be found spending time outside of the hospital with her husband, cats, and bunnies. Publications and presentations:. 1. Sternberg RA, Pondenis HC, Yang X, Mitchell MA, O'Brien RT, Garrett LD, Helferich WG, Hoffmann WE, Fan TM. Association between absolute tumor burden and serum bone-specific alkaline phosphatase in canine appendicular osteosarcoma. J Vet Intern Med 2013;27;955-963. 2. Sternberg R, Seelig D, and Garrett LD. Plasma cell neoplasms. In: Bonagura J, Twedt D, eds. Kirk's Current Veterinary Therapy XV. Saunders. In press, 2013. 3. Sternberg R and Coyle V. Liver neoplasia. In: Merrill L, editor. Small Animal Internal Medicine for Veterinary Technicians and Nurses. Ames (IA): Wiley-Blackwell;2012. 4. Sternberg R, Tang L, Tong R, Wypij J, Garrett L, Kamstock D, Cheng J, Fan T. Biodistribution, safety, and activity of osteotropic doxorubicin nanoconjugates in dogs with osteosarcoma. 2011 VCS Conference. Albuquerque, New Mexico. 5. Sternberg R, Pondenis H, Segre M, Garrett L, Wypij J, Fan T. Characterizing the innate immune and potential anticancer effects of TLR7 agonism in normal balb/c mice. 2010 VCS Conference. San Diego, California. 6. Sternberg R, Wypij J, and Barger AM. An overview of multiple myeloma in dogs and cats. Vet Med Oct 2009:468-476. 7. Sternberg R, Wypij J, and Barger AM. Extramedullary and solitary osseous plasmacytomas in dogs and cats. Vet Med Oct 2009:477-480.

• Cristiane Otoni

  MV

  Dr. Otoni received her Veterinary degree from Sao Paulo State University, Brazil, in 2004 where she also completed a Small Animal Medicine Residency. In 2007, after completing an evaluated clinical year at the University of Wisconsin, she became licensed to practice Veterinary Medicine in The United States. Dr. Otoni spent a year as a volunteer in an animal shelter in West Lafayette, Indiana while teaching first year veterinary students at Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine. Later, she completed a small animal rotating internship in medicine and surgery at Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine followed by a three-year residency in Small Animal Internal Medicine at Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine. During her residency, Dr. Otoni was awarded a competitive research grant and completed a prospective clinical study on Inflammatory Bowel Disease in dogs. Dr. Otoni has published 6 abstracts and papers over the past 3 years. Dr. Otoni's professional and research interests are broad, but include gastrointestinal and endocrine diseases as well as cardiology. She is also experienced and enjoys performing minimally invasive procedures like laparoscopic organ biopsy, cystoscopy, bronchoscopy, rhinoscopy and gastrointestinal endoscopy. Dr. Otoni is very compassionate and believes the needs of her patients come first. She lives with her husband and their 2 cats Layla and Lila. SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS AND ABSTRACTS. RM Heilmann, CC Otoni, AE Jergens, N Gr퀌_tzner, JS Suchodolski, JM Steiner. Serum soluble rage concentrations are decreased in dogs with idiopathic inflammatory disease. Oral abstract presentation. 31th ACVIM Forum. Seattle, WA, 2013. Y Minamoto, CC Otoni, ME Markel, RM Heilmann, JM Steiner, AE Jergens, JS Suchodolski. Evaluation of the fecal microbiota in dogs with idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease before and after treatment. Oral abstract presentation. 31th ACVIM Forum. Seattle, WA, 2013. J Slovak, CC Otoni, AE Jergens et al. Inter and Intra-Observer Agreement in the Endoscopic Assessment of Canine Inflammatory Bowel Disease. 31th ACVIM Forum. Oral abstract presentation. Seattle, WA, 2013. Otoni, C.C., Heilmann, R.M., Garc퀌_a-Sancho, M., Suchodolski, J.S., Steiner, J.M., Jergens, A.E. Serologic and fecal Markers in prediction of acute disease course in canine chronic enteropathies. Oral abstract presentation. 30th ACVIM Forum. New Orleans, LA, 2012. Otoni, C.C., Abbott, A.J. Mitral valve dysplasia characterized by isolated cleft of the anterior leaflet resulting in fixed left ventricular outflow tract obstruction. Journal Vet Cardiology 2012 Mar;14(1):301-5. Epub 2012 Feb 27. Riesen SC, Schober KE, Smith DN, Otoni CC, Li X, Bonagura JD. Effects of ivabradine on heart rate and left ventricular function in healthy cats and cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Am J Vet Research. 2012 Feb;73(2):202-12. Cooley CM, Makielski KM, Deitz KL, Otoni CC, Ware W, Frana TS, Cramer SH, B.S., Kinyon, JM. Infective endocarditis caused by Enterococcus cassiliflavus - in progress.

• John Przywara

  DVM

  Dr. Przywara graduated from the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine in 2009. Following graduation, he remained at the University of Illinois to complete a small animal medicine and surgery internship. After his internship, Dr. Przywara completed a surgical residency at VCA Aurora. He has authored/co-authored surgical papers in peer-reviewed veterinary journals. Dr. Przywara has lectured on various surgical topics at the University of Illinois as well as at neighboring animal hospitals. . When he is not working, Dr. Przywara enjoys spending time with his family, friends and his dogs Peanut, Bruno and Riggs. He also has a 90 gallon saltwater reef aquarium which contains several different species of fish and coral. Dr. Przywara also enjoys playing sports, fishing, and oil painting. .

• Jared Holtgrave

  DVM

  Dr. Jared Holtgrave started at VCA Arboretum View for a one year internship in small animal medicine. After completing his internship, Dr. Holtgrave joined our emergency department. Originally from St. Rose, a small town in southern Illinois, he earned his undergraduate degree in biochemistry from Augustana College in Rock Island, and then went on to get his DVM from University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign. Dr. Holtgrave and his girlfriend Kaitlin live in Aurora with his yellow Labrador Kain, and his cat Charlie. He spends his free time running, playing with Kain, listening to music, exploring the surrounding areas, and doing anything outdoors.

• Brian Stewart

  DVM
• Enry Garcia da Silva

  DVM

  Dr. Enry Garcia, DVM, MS, graduated from a Veterinary School in Brasilia/Brazil in 2004. Prior to and after graduation, he did clinical rotations at several Veterinary Colleges in the USA. After spending one year at University of Wisconsin-Madison (including a 4-month rotation at the Comparative Ocular Pathology Laboratory), Dr. Garcia went on to complete a rotating small animal internship at the University of Saskatchewan in Canada, followed by a 3-year Ophthalmology Residency and Master's degree at Colorado State University. Dr. Garcia performs all basic ophthalmologic procedures and cutting edge therapies including laser and drainage implants for glaucoma as well as complicated cataract surgeries. His main interests include corneal surgery and small-incision phacoemulsification surgery for lens luxation/sub-luxation. Dr. Garcia is the first Brazilian to ever be accepted to an ACVO-approved Ophthalmology Residency in the USA and to become board-certified by the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists. He has performed and published numerous clinical/basic research papers and case reports on dogs, cats, rabbits, snakes and even fish! Publications 1. da Silva EG, Dubielzig RR, Zarfoss MK et al. Distinctive histopathologic features of canine optic nerve hypoplasia and aplasia: a retrospective review of 13 cases. Vet Ophthalmol 2008; 1: 23-29. (Oral presentation at the ACVO conference 2006) 2. Perlmann E, da Silva EG, Guedes PM et al. Co-existing squamous cell carcinoma and hemangioma on the ocular surface of a cat. Vet Ophthalmol 2010; 13: 63-66. 3. da Silva EG, Gionfriddo JR, Powell CC et al. Iridociliary melanoma with secondary lens luxation - Distinctive findings in a cowfish. Vet Ophthalmol 2010; 13 (sup): 123-127 4. da Silva EG, Gionfriddo JR, Hudacheck SF et al. Evaluation of the ocular penetration of topical alpha-luminol (GVT/Galavit) in rabbits. Vet Ophthalmol 2011; 14: 180-185. (Oral presentation at the ACVO conference 2009) 5. da Silva EG, Gionfriddo JR, Powell CC et al. Histologic evaluation of the immediate effects of diamond burr debridement in experimental superficial corneal wounds in dogs. Vet Ophthalmol 2011;14(5):285-91. (Oral presentation at the ACVO conference 2010) 6. da Silva EG, Sandmeyer LS, Gionfriddo JR et al. Tear production in canine neonates - evaluation using a modified Schirmer tear test (mSTT). Accepted, Vet Ophthalmol - epub ahead of print. (Poster presentation at the ACVO conference 2004) 7. da Silva EG, Gionfriddo FR, Valdes-Martinez A et al. Transorbital extracranial giant foreign body in a dog. In progress (Poster presentation at the ACVO conference 2011) 8. da Silva EG, Johnston M, Powell CC et al. Diamond burr spectaculectomy in refractory ocular dysecdysis on a corn snake. In progress (Oral presentation at the ACVO conference 2012) Book Chapters da Silva EG. Chemical Burns of the Ocular Surface. In: Rabelo R. Emergencies in Small Animals (in Portuguese). 1st ed. Elsevier, p.1094-1097; 2012. da Silva EG. Ocular Foreign Bodies. In: Rabelo R. Emergencies in Small animals (in Portuguese). 1st ed. Elsevier, p.1098-1101; 2012. da Silva EG. Ocular Lacerations. In: Rabelo R. Emergencies in Small Animals (in Portuguese). 1st ed. Elsevier, p.1102-1106; 2012. da Silva EG. Sudden Acquired Retinal Degeneration Syndrome (SARDS). In: Rabelo R. Emergencies in Small Animals (in Portuguese). 1st ed. Elsevier, p.1111-1113; 2012. da Silva EG. Blunt Ocular Trauma. In: Rabelo R. Emergencies in Small Animals (in Portuguese). 1st ed. Elsevier, p.1114-1118; 2012. .