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Meet Our Team of Expert Specialists
Internal Medicine
Cheryl Wood, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM), CVA
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Dr. Cheryl Wood attended Oklahoma State University and obtained a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science (2005) and her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (2008). Her Internship was completed at VCA Mission Animal Referral and Emergency Center in Mission, KS (2009), followed by an SAIM Residency with BluePearl in Kansas City. She has been board certified by the College of Veterinary Internal Medicine since 2015. Dr. Wood has practiced at multiple specialty hospitals in Kansas City, Austin, and Dallas. She has been on staff with Oncura Partners since April 2021 interpreting ultrasounds. Dr. Wood also obtained her CVA via Chi University in 2021 and enjoys practicing acupuncture on the weekends.
Professionally, Dr. Wood is passionate about infectious diseases, in particular Leptospirosis. She also has a special interest in renal disease/proteinuria, hypoalbuminemia, and GI disease. She is also fascinated at the synergistic effects noted when traditional Western Medicine is paired with Acupuncture.
Dr. Wood is originally from North Texas and lives in Dallas, TX. When she is not working, you can find her hanging out with her son (Colton), 2 dogs (Kora and Shael), or at the barn with her horse (Ichi Mate).
Jessica L. Larson, B.S., DVM, DACVIM (SAIM)
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After graduating from the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine with honors, I completed a rotating small animal internship at Michigan Veterinary Specialists in Southfield, Michigan (now Blue Pearl Veterinary Partners), and then a residency in Small Animal Internal Medicine at Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine. I am Board Certified through the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine. I worked in private clinical practice for many years, including home hospice and euthanasia, then moved into an industry position as a Veterinary Medical Liaison for an innovative pet therapeutics company. I was most recently with a national mobile specialty company serving the metropolitan Nashville, TN area. Currently, I am focusing on bringing a new veterinary service option to Nashville, including ultrasound consultations and outpatient endoscopy.
Alice Benedict, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM)
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Dr. Alice Benedict graduated from Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine in 2004. Following graduation, she completed a one-year internship in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery at the Veterinary Referral and Emergency Center/Darien Animal Hospital in Connecticut. Dr. Benedict completed a Residency in Small Animal Internal Medicine at the New York College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell University and joined the staff at VCA Roberts Animal Hospital. Dr. Benedict achieved her Board-Certification in Small Animal Internal Medicine in 2007. She came to Portland Veterinary Emergency and Specialty Care in 2018. She enjoys all aspects of Internal medicine and has a special interest in renal, hepatic, and gastrointestinal diseases.
Dr. Alice Benedict and her family are happily settled in Maine. She spent many summers down east as a child and is now enjoying the Maine outdoors with her children in all seasons. In addition, she particularly enjoys practicing hot yoga.
Cindy Panek, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM)
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Dr. Panek obtained her doctorate from the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine. She completed both her small animal internship and her internal medicine residency at a large specialty hospital in California. She has worked at multi-specialty hospitals in California and Colorado prior to joining the Oncura team of specialists. Dr. Panek enjoys abdominal ultrasound imaging and has special interests in gastroenterology, immune mediated disease and renal disease.
Heather Vaske, DVM, MS, DACVIM (SAIM)
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Dr. Heather Vaske was born and raised in Tempe, Arizona and received her undergraduate degree in biology from Arizona State University in 2006. After earning her doctorate in veterinary medicine (DVM) from Iowa State University in 2011, she completed a one-year rotating internship in small animal medicine and surgery at VCA Veterinary Referral and Emergency Center in Norwalk, CT. She then returned to the Midwest to complete her residency in small animal internal medicine, as well as her masters in veterinary biomedical sciences at Kansas State University, completing both programs in 2015. After 8 years of clinical practice at a large specialty and emergency hospital, she found her passion for providing more accessible specialty internal medicine services to primary care clinicians.
Rebecca Green, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM)
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Dr. Green graduated with a Bachelors of Science (Zoology) in 1990 from the University of California at Davis. She then went to Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine in which she received a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 1994. From 1994-1995, Dr. Green completed a rotating small animal internship at the University of Pennsylvania. In 1998, she completed a small animal internal medicine residency at Michigan State University. Dr. Green worked close to 20 years in the internal medicine department at Red Bank Veterinary Hospital. While at RBVH, she received referrals from veterinarians throughout New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. She has lectured to referring veterinarians and intern classes on topics such as canine hepatopathy, canine and feline enteropathies, and feline hyperthyroidism. In 2018, Dr. Green left RBVH to create her own consulting business- Veterinary IM Consults. She performs abdominal ultrasounds and internal medicine consultation for a local veterinary clinic. She reviews ultrasound studies and internal medicine cases for Oncura Partners Diagnostics. She is also an internal medicine consultant for Rayne Nutrition. Dr Green is a board member of The Seeing Eye in Morristown, New Jersey.
Sally Purcell, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM)
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Dr. Sally Purcell grew up primarily in Texas, near Dallas and now lives in Boston, Massachusetts. She received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Texas A&M University in 2007 and then went on to complete a small animal rotating internship at the Ohio State University. She completed her Small Animal Internal Medicine residency with a feline focus at Texas A&M University in 2011 and is board-certified in Internal Medicine.
Dr. Purcell has a special interest in diagnostic ultrasonography and advanced imaging. She loves working with geriatric patients (especially kitties!) and working closely with internal medicine, cardiology, and critical care patients. When not working, she can be found cooking, dining out, or thinking about her next meal.
Samantha Muro, DVM, MS, DACVIM (SAIM)
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Dr. Samantha Muro is a board certified Small Animal Internal Medicine specialist. She lives in coastal Mississippi with her family. Dr Muro obtained her Bachelor’s Degree with honors from Louisiana State University. She received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Degree from Louisiana State University in 2013. She went on to complete a rotating internship at Texas A&M University followed by a specialty internship in Small Animal Internal Medicine and Oncology at Mississippi State University. Dr. Muro completed her Small Animal Internal Medicine residency and obtained a Master’s Degree in Veterinary Medical Science with Mississippi State University. Dr Muro earned her board certification by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine in 2018. After finishing her training, Dr Muro spent time in private specialty practice becoming proficient in ultrasound, endoscopy and minimally invasive tissue sampling techniques. Her interests include ultrasound, hematology and gastroenterology. Dr Muro has recently joined Oncura Partners and is excited about her role in advancing veterinary imaging and telemedicine.
Sarah Noble, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM)
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Dr. Sarah Noble has been in private referral practice since 1999. Sarah graduated from the Atlantic Veterinary College, UPEI and then completed an Internship and Residency at the University of Minnestoa. She started in Ohio at AVIMP/Metropolitan Referral Hospital, then in Maine at Portland Veterinary Specialists, now PVESC. Her interests are in anything internal medicine, ultrasound, and endoscopy. Her interests outside the medical field are horses.
Dr. Noble is a Board-Certified Small Animal Internal Medicine Specialist.
Stacey Lent, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM)
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I graduated from KSU in 1987, and did an internship and IM residency at Purdue from 1987-1990. I was employed in the biotechnology sector from 1990-1995. I have lived in Tucson, AZ since 1996. My husband, Michael Lent, is also a small animal veterinarian, practice owner and currently the AVMA regional representative. We have two grown sons. In the last 28 years I have worked in several specialty hospitals in Tucson, and operated my own mobile internal medicine and ultrasound business from 2006-2017. Most recent clinical employment was at Civano Animal Hospital 2021-2022. I started consulting for Oncura in summer 2023.
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In my spare time, I enjoy hiking, camping and fishing. I ride and compete in Working Equitation and dressage on my Lusitano gelding, Galante. Our 4 legged family includes 1 horse, 5 pygmy goats, 2 desert tortoises, a corgi and a lab retriever. I enjoy staying current with continuing education and attend lectures and webinars regularly. Reading consultations for Oncura has been an enjoyable way to utilize my years of experience to help other veterinarians as my clinical years wind down.
Tara Ghormley, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM)
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Dr. Ghormley grew up in Arizona and graduated from Colorado State University in 2005 with a bachelor’s degree in biology. She obtained her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree at Colorado State in 2009 followed by a one-year rotating internship in San Diego. She completed her residency training at specialty practices in Los Angeles and became board certified in internal medicine in 2014. She spent 9 years in private specialty practice in California before opening her own mobile ultrasound and internal medicine consulting business.
Dr. Ghormley lives with her husband, cats, rabbits, and angry chinchillas. In her free time, she enjoys going to theme parks and fandom conventions.
Teresa Dye, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM)
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Dr. Teresa Dye grew up on a farm in western Nebraska where she realized her love of animals and desire to pursue a career in veterinary medicine. She attended the University of Nebraska and obtained a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science. She earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree at Kansas State University in 1994. She completed an internship in small animal medicine and surgery at Alameda East Veterinary Hospital in 1996.
Dr. Dye has spent the majority of her veterinary career working in specialty veterinary medicine. She completed a surgical residency at Wheat Ridge Animal Hospital and an internal medicine residency at the Veterinary Referral Center of Colorado. She also obtained additional training in ultrasound through the Sound DVM imaging program. After working in a busy specialty practice in the Denver area for several years, Dr. Dye returned to western Nebraska where she enjoys reading ultrasounds for Oncura Partners and performing on-site ultrasounds and consultations for practices in the local area. She is also actively involved in her family’s beef cattle operation.
Nicole Smee, DVM, MS, DACVIM (SAIM)
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I attended veterinary school at Kansas State University graduating in 2008. Afterward, I completed a one year internship at VCA Veterinary Specialty Center in Lynnwood, Washington. I returned to Kansas State University where I completed my internal medicine residency and masters in 2012. I practiced for a bit in Kansas City (Mission Med Vet) before moving to Las Vegas (Las Vegas Veterinary Specialty Center), where I have been for the last 10 years in a busy private practice. I have done additional training and has been performing ultrasounds since my internship. I also have previous consulting experience with ultrasound and internal medicine consultations. I am excited to be part of Oncura and hope I can help veterinarians all over the country provide excellent care to their patients, especially in areas that may not have access to specialty medicine. My masters is in urinary tract infections so I love urinary cases especially. I hope my many years in clinical practice will come in handy! When I am not busy with work, I enjoy spending time on my farm where I rescue special needs animals.
Laura Seibert, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM)
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Central Michigan is where my veterinary journey began and currently ends. Being born and raised in Midland, MI, I left to earn my Doctor of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Minnesota in 2002. Unsure of which passion to follow, internal medicine or public health, I joined the United States Army during veterinary school. After serving more than 6 amazing years serving as a military veterinarian, active duty and reserves, I completed my small animal rotating internship at Affiliated Veterinary Services in Florida. Upon completing my small animal internal medicine residency at Cornell University in 2010, I worked at multiple large referral hospitals along the East Coast and central Midwest. Finally, in 2019 I headed back home, where there are no specialists nearby, to provide internal medicine services to local rescues and veterinarians.
Outside work, my time is spent exploring the beautiful Michigan outdoors, reading, baking and trying to learn gardening. My great dane, boerboel, and 2 very spoiled kitties graciously allow me to reside with them.
Tara Mauro, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM), CVA
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Dr. Mauro earned her undergraduate degree in biology from the University of Colorado Boulder, after which she spent several years compiling research regarding marine mammals in Alaska, South Carolina, and San Diego. She later earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Ross University. Dr. Mauro was also trained in acupuncture through the Chi Institute.
Dr. Mauro completed a small animal Internal Medicine residency at Kansas State University. Her professional interests include all types of medicine-related diseases however, she enjoys endocrine disease, feline medicine, gastrointestinal disease, and acupuncture/integrative modalities. Dr. Mauro enjoys all opportunities to befriend dogs and cats and practices the best feline-friendly practice techniques. She also loves to teach students, interns, and fellow veterinarians and is looking forward to providing more accessible specialty internal medicine services to primary care clinicians.
In her free time, Dr. Mauro enjoys being outdoors in the sun and near the water. Scuba diving, water sports, running, and hiking are some of her favorite activities, as well as swimming, cooking, and traveling. If you don’t find Dr. Mauro keeping busy outdoors, she is bound to be enjoying an afternoon at home with her cat Bob.
Critical Care Medicine
Kristin Welch, DVM, DACVECC
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A 2005 graduate with Honors from Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Welch completed an Internship in Medicine and Surgery at the University of Pennsylvania in 2006 and residency in Emergency and Critical Care at Tufts University in 2010. She is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care. Relocating to South Carolina after her residency, Dr. Welch played a pivotal role in establishing the Southeast's first VECCS Level I Emergency and Critical Care certified hospital. More recently, she co-founded a private specialty and emergency hospital, contributing significantly to the advancement of veterinary care in the region. Dr. Welch has been a primary sonographer for over 13 years, both mobile and at large multispecialty hospitals. She enjoys teaching ultrasound techniques to other veterinary practitioners in the Southeast. Dr. Welch has been an avid regional and national lecturer since 2006.
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Dr. Welch is the founder of DVM STAT Consulting, a teleconsultation platform launched in 2019 to expand accessibility to specialty medicine beyond traditional financial and geographic boundaries. Proficient in mechanical ventilation, interventional procedures, endoscopy and diagnostic ultrasound, she finds joy in the intricacies of internal medicine and emergency and critical care. Her special interests include diagnostic imaging, trauma management, transfusion medicine and complex metabolic and respiratory emergencies.
Cardiology
Alyssa Pinkos, DVM, DACVIM (Cardiology)
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Dr. Alyssa Pinkos is a board-certified veterinary cardiologist. She attended Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine (2013). Dr. Pinkos went on to do 1 year rotating internship in small animal medicine at the University of Wisconsin, followed by a 1 year cardiology internship in Los Angeles at the Animal Specialty and Emergency Center. She completed a 3 year residency in Cardiology at the University of Minnesota (2018) and became board certified the same year. Dr. Pinkos has a particular interest in the management of refractory heart failure as well as the diagnosis and treatment of arrhythmias. In her free time she enjoys spending time on the lakes in Northern Michigan with her husband, sons, and Labrador retriever.
Anthony Ishak, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM, Cardiology)
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Dr. Anthony Ishak grew up in Massachusetts. He went to the University of Virginia for college studying chemical engineering. Following a brief stint as an engineering company in Georgia, he moved to Florida to attend the University of Florida for veterinary school. He did his internship at NC State and an internal medicine residency at Colorado State University. He worked at Florida Veterinary Specialists in Tampa, FL where he completed a second residency in cardiology. He is married with two children and lives in Tampa with his family. He has 2 dogs and six cats. Free time is spent with family, hiking, traveling, and he enjoys wildlife photography.
Bryan Bottorff, DVM, DACVIM (Cardiology)
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Dr. Bryan Bottorff received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Purdue University in 2008. He then completed a rotating small animal internship at the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine and began his Cardiology residency at Oregon State University in 2009. Dr. Bottorff completed his residency and obtained board certification by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine in Cardiology in 2012.
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Since that time, Dr. Bottorff has practiced high quality medical and interventional cardiology in private practice throughout the Pacific Northwest. He also has extensive experience in telemedicine and remote cardiology, serving as a consultant cardiologist for various ultrasound and imaging groups since 2014. Having also served as medical director for an emergency and specialty referral center, as well as national director of cardiology for a large veterinary hospital network, Dr. Bottorff brings not only expertise in medical and telemedicine cardiology, but also veterinary management and operations to the Oncura team.
Dr. Bottorff recently relocated to Bend, Oregon where he lives with his wife and three children. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his family, traveling, and outdoor adventures in the Pacific Northwest.
Rebecca Cervenec, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Cardiology)
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Dr. Rebecca Cervenec earned her bachelor's degree in animal sciences from The Ohio State University and then attended graduate school at the University of Arizona. While at the University of Arizona, she studied muscle biology and obtained her master's degree in animal sciences. She earned a degree in veterinary medicine from The Ohio State University in 2011 and completed a small animal medicine and surgery rotating internship at the University of Minnesota. After her internship, she completed a residency in cardiology at the University of Minnesota. She became board-certified by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine in Cardiology in 2015. Dr. Cervenec has an interest in the medical management of congestive heart failure. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and daughter and exploring the Houston food scene. She is also an avid Buckeyes fan and has the self-proclaimed best dog in the world, a miniature Golden retriever named Shelby.
Radiology
Emily Morrison, DVM, DACVR
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Dr. Morrison graduated with a DVM from Tufts University and completed a rotating internship at Red Bank Veterinary Hospital and a diagnostic imaging internship and residency at MedVet in Cincinnati. She is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Radiology. Before starting with Oncura, Dr. Morrison worked as a teleradiologist with VetCT and part-time staff radiologist at Wisconsin Veterinary Referral Center in Racine, WI. She also previously worked as a full-time radiologist at MedVet in Chicago. She has authored and co-authored multiple peer-reviewed journal publications. Dr. Morrison enjoys teaching and working with students and residents and has had the opportunity to teach veterinary students and residents virtually and in person, most recently as a boards prep “Boot Camp instructor” for ACVR boards. Her favorite hobby is her twin toddlers.
Veerle Volckaert, DVM, PhD, DipECVDI
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Veerle graduated from Ghent University with a Masters in Veterinary Medicine in 2010. She continued at the university in an internship, followed by a residency at the European College of Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging (ECVDI). She received the diploma of the ECVDI in 2015 and finished her PhD in nuclear medicine at Ghent University in 2016. Veerle Volckaert is the author and co-author of different scientific publications and has participated in international conferences.
David V. Kerr, DVM, DACVR
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Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Radiologists
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DVM at Tufts Veterinary School graduated 1983
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Radiology residency Tufts Veterinary School 1984-1987
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Formed Veterinary Radiology and Diagnostic Imaging Service (VRDIS) In 1988 in northern Virginia and has been performing ultrasounds and reading radiographs since then. Since 2016 have been working with Oncura reading radiographs and ultrasounds via teleradiology.
Megan MacLellan, DVM, DACVR
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Dr. Megan Maclellan is a board-certified veterinary radiologist. She attended the Atlantic Veterinary School of Veterinary Medicine (2011) in her home town of Prince Edward Island, Canada. Dr. Maclellan went on to do 1 year rotating internship in small animal medicine at the Tufts Vets in Walpole, MA prior to her residency at the University of Minnesota. Dr. Maclellan has a particular interest in computed tomography and brain MRI. In her free time she enjoys walking, working out, spending time with family (husband, four kids and two dogs) and trying to make things grow.