Meet the Team   DOCTORS   STAFF VETERINARIANS   Dana Begnoche, DVM,  Staff Veterinarian I grew up in the suburbs of Detroit, MI. I can always remember having pets while growing up. I owe this privilege to my mother, who never turned away an injured baby bird or a stray cat. My first pet was Rascal, a tabby domestic short hair. She was very independent and over the years was always the boss of all the other pets. Rascal was very strong and healthy and lived to be 22 and ½ years old! However, it was when I was 12 and my Siamese cat, Abraham became sick and was euthanized because of feline leukemia, when I realized my calling was to care for animals, improve their health, and the lives of the people who care for them I attended the University of Michigan (GO BLUE!) and received my undergraduate degree in Anthropology-Zoology. I then went to veterinary school at Michigan State University. After completing veterinary school I relocated to Washington, DC to perform an internship here at Friendship. I was then lucky enough to stay on as a staff veterinarian at the completion of my internship. I am happy to be working with such a fun and dedicated team. Although I enjoy all areas of veterinary medicine, special interests of mine lie in soft tissue surgery and general medicine. I live in Arlington, VA with my two dogs, Lola and Widgit, and my cat, Weezer. My closest friends include my four siblings -- Tim, Andrea, Alex, and Kelly. I enjoy spending my free time with my boyfriend, Kevin, and his Black Labrador Retriever, Stoli. I also enjoy traveling and have a home away from home in Vieques, Puerto Rico, where I work when possible with the wonderful animals of the island. [back to the top]       Becky Bolch, DVM, Staff Veterinarian I grew up just outside of Pittsburgh, PA, where Steeler football is a way of life. My love of animals came from my mom who never seemed to mind all the animals that seemed to "find" their way to our house. I apparently told my aunt when I was the ripe age of 3 that I was going to be an animal doctor. I attended Penn State University where I received my degree in Animal Bioscience. During my undergraduate years, I worked at a veterinary hospital in my hometown with a wonderful vet who encouraged me to pursue my dream. The love that he showed for the veterinary profession really was an inspiration. I went to veterinary school at Purdue University and finally became a doctor of veterinary medicine in 1992. I started working at Friendship Hospital for Animals in 1994. I love being at Friendship because I can practice high quality medicine in a fun, family-like atmosphere. It is a blessing to come to work every day and get to work with some of the most talented people in the profession. I learn something new every day. I truly cannot imagine myself doing anything else! I served as Chief of Medicine for 5 years where I participated in the many administrative aspects of Friendship. With my current schedule, I am now able to focus on what I enjoy the most--establishing life long relationships with my patients. Shortly after graduation from vet school, I married my high school sweetheart of eight years, Jens Bolch. My husband and I live in Gaithersburg, Maryland, with our three children, Alexander, Catherine and Derek. They are the light of our lives. Our four-legged family includes our greyhound, Jax, our two cats, Junior and Mr. Sting, and our turtle, Sampson. Our household is quite busy but we do laugh a lot! In what little time is left in a day, I enjoy gardening, decorating my house and traveling with my family. [back to the top]       Shani Parker Boone, DVM, Staff Veterinarian For as long as I can remember, my family has always had pets, mostly dogs. My father loves to tell the story about when he brought home our first dog, Bruno – an 85-pound Alaskan Malamute/German Shepard mix, from the pound. I was about 2 years old and as soon as he walked in the door, I ran over to him, looked up at this huge dog and said, “This is my dog.” He said it was at that moment that he knew I was going to be a veterinarian. However, while growing up in Connecticut, horses were my true love. Throughout my high school years, I worked at an equestrian center as a barn manager and riding instructor. I even rode on the equestrian team during my undergraduate years at the University of Virginia. After graduating from Tuskegee University School of Veterinary Medicine (May 2004), I completed an internship here at Friendship Hospital for Animals and have developed a special interest in small animal surgery and emergency medicine. Riding horses is one of my favorite hobbies and I love going to the movies, but mostly I enjoy spending time just lounging at home with my rottweiler, Bonnie, and kitty, Nala. [back to the top]       Katherine Calder, DVM, Staff Veterinarian In the fifth grade the Easter Bunny brought me James' Herriott's book All Creatures Great and Small. I was enchanted. Fortunately, over the years, my love of biology supported my interest in pets and their owners. I went to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. I attended the North Carolina State College of Veterinary Medicine but remain a diehard Tarheel. Dr. Stewart and I were vet school classmates but have yet to resolve the ACC rivalry. After vet school I spent an intense year in an internship at the Oradell Animal Hospital in northern NJ -- lots of emergency, surgery, wellness, and specialty care. I stayed on as a staff doctor for a year but then decided New Jersey was not the place for me. I grew up in Maryland and am happy that I moved back. I love working at Friendship and have found my second home. I enjoy all aspects of my job but have a special interest in surgery, intensive care, and kidney disease. For as long as I can remember I have had a Siamese cat, and all oriental breeds hold a special place in my heart. I currently live with my two cats, Celie and Keller and my dog, Bob, a Katrina survivor. He was named Bag Of Bones by his rescuers because he had nearly starved to death before being found. Bob comes to work with me daily and is well loved at Friendship. Outside of work I am passionate about working in my garden and cooking, and I'm very involved in my church. I try to run or workout whenever I can find time, and if there's a musical in town, I'm there! I love to travel, and at least once a year volunteer with Remote Area Vet Services providing free vet care to the impoverished. I'm fortunate to work for a hospital that supports me in doing such work. [back to the top]       Christopher Faggioni, DVM Since I was a young child I have been interested in science, and medicine. Growing up the son of a dentist, I had access to many biology and anatomy books that further fueled my interest. Growing up my family always had many dogs and cats running around the house. Although they are all special, one particular cat I had growing up was Mikey, a male grey tabby. He had the gentlest personality. He could always be found sleeping under the covers in my bedroom, and whenever I had a bad day, he was there to comfort me. As I became older I found many of my interests involved exotic animals as well. Eventually my love for animals, science, and medicine lead me to the University of Georgia veterinary School and a career in veterinary medicine. I have many interests in veterinary medicine. I enjoy surgery. I love the physiology of internal medicine. I have also always been interested in clinical pathology and exotic animal medicine. My most memorable patient was a cat named Dylan, which I treated on the soft tissue surgery service. He had a chronic non-healing wound in his inguinal region, which the owner had unsuccessfully been treating for the previous several months. We were treating his wound with vacuum assisted closure, which required him to be permanently connected to a vacuum pump and a hose. Despite being in and out of veterinary clinics for several months and having a hose connected to his abdomen at all times, he had the most wonderful personality. He was always happy to see me and he loved every minute of our time together. A culture of Dylan's wound revealed that a multi-drug resistant E-coli was present. The owner was extremely concerned about the presence of a drug resistant E-coli since she recently gave birth to a premature child. She was forced to make an extremely tough decision and she eventually had to relinquish ownership of Dylan to the school. Due to my growing fondness for Dylan, I consulted with the supervising clinician of the surgery service and I decided to take Dylan home with me. He is now a permanent member of my family. Dylan is a complete cuddle bug. I also have a 15-year-old female domestic short hair named Critty, who used to be my sisters cat. She has always been attached to me, so when I left for college I brought her with me. She is a fiery lady who is always seeking out a nice warm sunny spot to spend her day. Both my mother and father live in Atlanta. He's a dentist from Pensacola Florida. My mother's an army brat who has lived all over the United States and Europe. I have an older sister who lives in Manhattan. She is an extremely talented artist who has owned her own business making "fabric companions" which are handmade designer small animal dolls. Recently my sister has been the production designer to several music videos and movies as well as directing her own music videos. In my spare time I like to read, learn new things and get outdoors. For fun I like to drive into the mountains and find a nice stream to spend the next 5 hours waving a fly fishing rod in the air in the vain attempt to catch trout. I also love to play ultimate Frisbee and basketball. [back to the top]       Peter S. Glassman, DVM, Director I graduated from the Cornell veterinary college in 1978 and in June of that year began my veterinary career at Friendship. This is the only veterinary job I've ever had. I took over the practice from Harvey Cowan in 1982. Harvey was a wonderful vet who taught me the importance of providing uncompromised quality health-care and quality customer service. I grew up in Washington and went to Sidwell Friends School. I became interested in veterinary medicine because I loved to ride horses and showed throughout Virginia and the east coast as a junior. I have three sons and wonderful wife, Denise, and two dogs, Brodie (a golden retriever) and Willie (an English Cocker). My oldest son, Mat, is a veterinarian who is currently receiving advanced surgical training. We hope that he will one day soon join Friendship. In 2000, I started a company called VetInsite. VetInsite (www.vetinsite.com) produces Pet Portals, which clients use to manage their pets' health online. Pet Portals are now in use at Friendship and hundreds of other animal hospitals nation-wide (see "About Pet Portals"). I enjoy every minute of my time at Friendship. While I enjoy being Director and helping to manage a large animal hospital, I get most enjoyment out of doing surgery and working with the great staff at Friendship. I am very proud of the outstanding team of over one-hundred professionals that provide exceptional service to you and your companions. I enjoy all the time that I spend with pet owners and their furry friends. [back to the top]       Ashley Hughes, DVM I grew up riding horses, and surrounded by animals, but it never occurred to me to become a veterinarian until two years after I graduated from Vanderbilt University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. I was riding my horse one day, wondering what I wanted to do for a living, when it hit me- being a veterinarian was the ideal career for me. I realized that I could dedicate my life to improving the quality of life of animal companions like my unbelievably wonderful dog, Westin, a Golden Retriever/Border Collie mix. Westin is my canine soul mate and my bond with her is one of the reasons I pursued a career in veterinary medicine. I enjoy all of veterinary medicine but have a special interest in Surgery, Emergency/Critical Care and Shelter Medicine. I graduated from the University of Florida's College of Veterinary Medicine--go Gators! After completing my internship at Friendship, I was lucky enough to stay on as a Staff Veterinarian. I have surrounded myself with loving animal companions that include four dogs and three cats; Westin, Tia-- a Brittany Spaniel, Sparkle-- a Rat Terrier, Lilly-- a Chihuahua mix and Furla, Vegas, and Breaker--all Domestic Shorthaired cats. Amazingly, my menagerie gets along most of the time. In my free time I hang out with my very supportive husband, Carter, who has moved all over the country so I could pursue my dreams of a career in veterinary medicine. I also enjoy riding horses, cooking, playing tennis, and reading. [back to the top]       Bharathi Jones, DVM, Staff Veterinarian I grew up in Cumberland, MD, and knew I wanted to be a veterinarian since I was very young. We had a lot of woods around our house and the animals that lived there fascinated me. I remember reading books like Ottawa the Sea Otter and Frosty the Raccoon over and over again. I moved to DC in 1991 and obtained my chemistry degree from Georgetown University. Then I moved to beautiful Ithaca, NY, to attend Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine. After graduating in 1999, I went into private practice for one year before going back to the University of Pennsylvania to do a small animal internship. In Philadelphia I gained more experience in my primary areas of interest - small animal medicine and emergency/critical care. I joined Friendship in 2001 because I wanted to work in a 24-hour hospital that offered the highest quality medical care. The same year I joined Friendship I got married (to another veterinarian) and we currently live in Fairfax, VA. We are managed by my psychotic cat Dante (acquired from the animal shelter in Ithaca) and our one-year-old son, Keeran. When there is leftover time in the day I am still an avid reader and I enjoy taking Keeran out in the jogging stroller. Other interests include gardening, tennis, and traveling but these activities are on hold for now. My favorite part about this profession is developing long-term relationships with clients and their pets. I also enjoy the daily intellectual challenge - being a veterinarian is certainly never boring! [back to the top]       Dana Reay Kuehn, DVM, Chief of Medicine and co-Chief of Surgery I am originally from Minnesota, where I completed a BS in biology and graduated from the College of Veterinary Medicine in 1995. I completed an internship in small animal medicine and surgery in Hollywood, Florida. I stayed on as an associate at this large, 24-hour teaching hospital (much like Friendship) for 10 years. While in Hollywood, I was involved in developing the skills of newly graduated veterinarians and technician training. I also established an in-hospital blood bank and was active in improving patient care. When my family relocated to the DC area in 2005, I was looking for a hospital that provided excellent quality medical and surgical services, 24-hour care and a top notch-nursing staff. I found it at Friendship. My professional interests include endocrinology, ophthalmology, soft tissue surgery, transfusion medicine and urology. I have been married for 16 years to my wonderful husband Dan and we have a terrific 6-½ year old daughter. We have two dogs; Vegas, a 4-year-old Rhodesian Ridgeback and Pearl, an 8-year-old Shih Tzu. My personal interests include biking and general fitness, spending quality time with my family, reading, SCUBA, traveling and home improvement. My most memorable trips include a mountain biking trip to Moab, Utah. We have bicycled coast to coast across Costa Rica and dove under a coral arch 100 feet below the ocean surface in the Bahamas. [back to the top]       Nicole Levine, DVM, Staff Veterinarian Ever since completing an externship at Friendship during veterinary school, I have been impressed with this practice. I graduated from veterinary school at the University of California, Davis in 2004 and went on to complete an internship the following year in small animal medicine and surgery at Bay Area Veterinary Specialists in northern California. After spending several years in California, I returned to Washington DC to be close to my family. Before transitioning to Friendship, I spent a year at a referral center in northern Virginia as an emergency doctor on the night shift. I enjoyed that experience very much, and it solidified my interest in emergency and critical care medicine. I did not always know I wanted to be a veterinarian. After graduating from Swarthmore College, I worked for several years in California at research labs at UCSD and the Salk Institute (where I saw Francis Crick!) studying yeast and bacteria. I am much happier working with the larger organisms, and feel extremely lucky to have found a profession I find so fulfilling. My most memorable moment was during my internship when I helped a kitten who was breathing very hard. An unfortunate traumatic incident ripped his little diaphragm, causing his liver and other abdominal organs to slide up into his chest. After the repair, I brought the kitten home and multiple neighbors were asking to adopt him. He's now a grown up cat and still likes to get into trouble! I live in Washington DC with my two cats, Milo and Beebs. In my free time I enjoy many activities including yoga, hiking, biking, traveling and art. My favorite vacations included cycling 400 miles from Anchorage to Seward, Alaska and back, and kayaking and camping for a week on the Sea of Cortez off the coast of Baja. [back to the top]       Lynn Logan, DVM, Staff Veterinarian I grew up in Fort Worth, Texas and spent my high school years in the bay area of northern California. My decision to attend college at Texas A&M University arose from the certain desire to attend veterinary school, and the inevitable yearning all Texans feel to return to the Lone Star State. I did both my undergraduate and veterinary work at Texas A&M. I was the only one I knew in college who never changed his major after declaring "pre-vet" my freshman year. I just knew I wanted to be a veterinarian! After graduating from veterinary school in 1986, I experienced dramatic climate change and did an internship in small animal medicine and surgery at Cornell University. There I gained valuable experience in clinical medicine and learned how to properly shovel snow. In 1987 I joined Friendship Hospital and have loved my work ever since. The experience here has been, and continues to be, tremendously rewarding and stimulating. Every day I am surrounded by caring, diligent pet owners, outstanding support and technical staff, and the smartest, most devoted veterinarians. My special interest is the human companion animal bond, and the amazing benefits our animal family members afford us as people. As a member of the Delta Society, I join others in improving human health through service and therapy dogs. I feel my work expands awareness of the positive effect animals have on human health and development. I am married to Don Logan, also a native Texan, who I met while in undergraduate school at A&M. He is in sales, but knows his way around an animal hospital, having spent many a weekend helping me with my patients. We have 2 handsome sons, Robert born in 1993 and Jamie born in 1994. Our cats, Earl and Gary and our stocky Bichon Frise, Pete, came from the Washington Humane Society. They are joined by our Retriever mix Jasper, who suffered a serious gun shot wound in rural Virginia, was rescued and fostered by the Chance Foundation, and came to live in our "forever home." Jasper is the star of our family! [back to the top]       Lorna Marke, DVM, Staff Veterinarian I first came to work at Friendship in 1985 after I graduated from college. I worked as a receptionist, taking a year out of my studies to decide if I did, indeed, want to go on to veterinary school. The next year I packed up all my worldly possessions, including my cat Kitty, and headed up to Ithaca, NY, to attend Cornell Veterinary School. In the summers, I came back to DC and worked as a technician at Friendship. I graduated in 1990 and promptly moved back to the area to escape the harsh winters of the north and to join my soon-to-be husband Rob. I have worked at Friendship as both a full-time and part-time veterinarian over the intervening years. I rejoined the practice in September 2007 and am happy to be working again with a great group of colleagues and a hospital that practices a high level of medicine. My husband Rob works for the State Department. We have lived in Costa Rica, India, Croatia, and, most recently, Vietnam. I have been fortunate to be able work as a veterinarian in most of these countries, which has been a fascinating, although very challenging, experience. Rob and I live in Arlington with our two sons, Jonathan and Michael, and two dogs -- Natasha, a street dog from Costa Rica, and Spotz, a street dog from Vietnam. In our spare time, we work on our house and try to stay out of the poison ivy! [back to the top]       Amanda McMurphy, DVM, Staff Veterinarian I have lived in and enjoyed the Washington, DC area nearly all my life. My only hiatuses from DC came when I went to the University of Michigan, where I received a degree in conservation biology, and when I later attended Tufts Veterinary School. Finally, I returned home, where I completed my internship at Friendship in 2005. My time at Friendship has been wonderful, allowing me an opportunity to practice high-quality medicine and giving me exposure to a large variety of cases. Every day in this profession is a blessing for me. It is such a privilege to share in the bond between my clients and their pets. It has allowed me to meet many incredible people and of course, make hundreds of canine and feline friends! I currently live in Washington, DC with the three loves-of-my-life; my adorable husband, Kevin, and even more adorable cats, Irie and Sherman. In my spare time I enjoy reading, hiking, and traveling. I also periodically volunteer at local animal shelters. [back to the top]       Meredith Murtagh, DVM, Chief of Emergency Medicine I've always really loved dogs and grew up with a fox terrier named Pippin. When I was ten, I got in trouble for giving her a Mohawk and dying it many colors. It wasn't until I had my own dog (an Akita named Alianca) that I realized that more than anything I liked talking to people about their dogs. So, after adding a couple more Akitas (Zach and Ferris) to the mix and many hours of extra schooling, I headed to vet school after a brief career in retail management. A quick note about Ferris -- he was my little and small and sweet and cute boy and truly the best dog ever. I lost him to a bone tumor before his 7th birthday. I am a Hokie! I studied medicine at Virginia Tech. After graduation, I completed a one-year internship here at Friendship -- and liked it so much I stayed. My primary interest is emergency medicine, and that is my focus here. I live in a very fur-filled house -- two Akitas (Kajun and Hot Saki) and one cat (Wayne Gretsky) always seem to be shedding! When I'm not taking care of patients here at Friendship, I can usually be found in my backyard with the dogs, on my bike, or somewhere outside. [back to the top]       Ray Phillip, D.V.M., Staff Veterinarian, Athletic Director I have practiced at Friendship since 1992 and am proud to be a part of such a high quality animal care facility. The increasing availability of internists and specialists, high-end equipment, quality technicians, and on-site laboratory all help me give each animal the best care possible. These things, plus the knowledgeable and devoted clientele, are the reasons I love Friendship. The importance and strength of the human-animal bond was taught to me at an early age. I helped my parents care for their beloved Siamese cats. My grandfather was a tough man who would dote on the smallest of dogs. His dogs were usually fed better than himself! I was a Phi Beta Kappa English student before deciding that caring for animals was more exciting to me than reciting Chaucer. I went to the University of Tennessee's College of Veterinary Medicine, graduating in 1992. After an internship at Friendship, I became staff emergency vet for several years before switching to daytime emergency, medicine, and surgery. Throughout my career I have been supported (maybe maintained is a better word) by my very patient wife, Teresa. We have been blessed with four children: Kevin, Natalie, Rebecca, and Julia, the oldest born in 1993 and the youngest in 2001. Having played baseball through high school, umpired high school and college baseball, and dabbled in ice hockey, my dwindling abilities have been replaced by my new hobby of chauffeuring the children to their various sporting events, school activities, and ballets. I am an avid fan of the Orioles and Redskins. However, my heart, which they have broken too many times to count, belongs to my beloved Capitals. The four-legged family member is Emma the yellow lab. [back to the top]       Jennifer Rusk, DVM, Staff Veterinarian I received a Bachelor of Science Degree at Boston College before graduating from veterinary school at Purdue University. My connections with Friendship began long before I went to vet school. While in high school, and after college, I worked at Friendship Hospital as a part-time receptionist and technician. As a native Washingtonian, I came back to the DC-metro area to become a staff veterinarian at Friendship Hospital after finishing an equine surgery internship at the University of Pennsylvania. At Friendship, I have found that my true professional love is helping to care for dogs and cats. I am married to Dr. Tony Rusk and have another full-time position at home taking care of our two baby boys, Evan and Nathan. When time allows, I continue to enjoy horseback riding and visiting DC-area family. [back to the top]       Kimberly Schultz, DVM, Staff Veterinarian I graduated from Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine in 1997 after completing my bachelor's degree in animal science. While at Cornell, I participated in feline virology research and worked with the small animal emergency surgery service. Following graduation, my husband and I relocated from Ithaca, New York to Northern Virginia. After practicing in Virginia for several years, I joined the Friendship staff in 2004. My interests include emergency medicine and general practice. I became a veterinarian because I enjoy helping people and their pets in a direct way. When not at work, I enjoy traveling with my husband, visiting family in New England, and spending time with our two dogs, Mattie and Emma, both humane society rescue dogs. My hobbies include running, home improvement projects and studying foreign languages. [back to the top]       INTERN CLASS 2007-2008   Christopher J. Bowen, DVM I was born in Lockport, New York but have lived several places throughout the course of my life, including Connecticut, North Carolina, Alabama, and Louisiana. I graduated from high school in Daphne, Alabama, in 1998, received my undergraduate degree in biology at Birmingham-Southern College in 2002, and received my D.V.M. from Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine in 2007. I became a veterinarian because I have a passion for medicine, caring for animals, and a deep sense of compassion for their owners. It is a profession that always offers new and exciting challenges, and I thoroughly enjoy the investigative problem-solving required for medicine. I am especially interested in pursuing residency training in veterinary oncology, and one of my most memorable cases while in school came on my oncology rotation. Puddin' was a Maltese with a pituitary tumor that had grown so large that it was interfering with her normal function so that she was almost catatonic. Her owner wanted to pursue radiation therapy at LSU, and after about a week and a half of therapy Puddin' became more lively and playful and we began to see very positive results. After about two months, we were very pleased to be able to send her home happy and healthy with her owner. Outside of veterinary medicine, I enjoy scuba diving (one of my dreams is to dive the Great Barrier Reef), miniature gaming, sports, watching movies, reading, and spending time with Nicole, my beautiful wife of five years. She is a high school teacher and is incredibly supportive of my career in veterinary medicine. [back to the top]       Tyler Baye Carmack, DVM I grew up on the Chesapeake Bay and love to be outside. I decided when I was very young that I wanted to work with animals and people so veterinary medicine was a natural choice as a career path. I received my undergraduate degree in Zoology from North Carolina State University. In 2007, I received my veterinary degree from NC State as well. Growing up on the beach, I have always been drawn to marine mammals and would eventually like to work with these species in a rehabilitation hospital. I love working with dogs and cats, but my special areas of interest in veterinary medicine include marine mammal rescue and rehabilitation, zoological medicine, and anesthesia. In my spare time I enjoy reading- everything from mystery novels and the Harry Potter series to the newspaper. I love romantic comedies, general comedies, and am a reality television junkie. My other hobbies are scuba diving, coaching a variety of sports for Special Olympics, and photography. I enjoy working in emergency veterinary medicine and am excited to be part of this aspect of Friendship Hospital for Animal's internship program. It is very rewarding to be able to help people and their pets through very urgent and stressful situations. Regardless of the outcome of the case, being there for people as they try to help their pets is why I became a veterinarian. [back to the top]       Christin Dean, DVM I was always surrounded by pets when I was growing up and I knew from a very young age that I wanted to work in a field where I could not only work with animals, but also help educate the public about animals. My most memorable pet growing up was a bunny named Sugar. She stayed indoors in my room, and I spent many hours litter box training her and trying to keep her from destroying things (baseboards, cords, etc). She enjoyed chasing the kitties around and grunting at them. She was never caged and enjoyed sleeping with me in bed at night, having her ears scratched until I fell asleep. I graduated from North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2007. After finishing veterinary school, I moved from Raleigh, NC to the DC area in order to participate in the internship program at Friendship. My interests in veterinary medicine include general practice, exotic animals, and aquarium medicine. I love the variety that veterinary medicine can offer and I know that I will never be bored in a career that offers so many different animals to learn about and treat. I have many animals of my own. I have a very cute French Lop rabbit named Sampson, who eats me out of house and home (grocery bill approx $20/week) and weighs approximately 15 pounds. He is the 2nd largest breed of rabbit and he knows it! His favorite past times are chasing my kitties around the house or sitting on the couch with me having his ears scratched. I also have three kitties named Pudgy, Shadow, and Abby who enjoy sleeping all day and watching birds out of the window. Jinx is a Blue tongued skink. He is an approximately 20 inch lizard who loves to eat mealworms, canned dog food, lots of veggies and enjoys making interesting tunnels in his cage. I also have a fresh water fish tank filled with interesting fishies. When I am not working I enjoy reading, watching movies, and taking care of my many animals. I love going to the beach and/or mountains on vacation and I hope to some day live at the beach. [back to the top]       Jeanene Harris, DVM Though I was born in Pheonix, Arizona, I grew up all over the world. My foreign travels began in Greece, and then took me to Western Africa and Austria. I have also lived in several places in the United States, although something kept my family coming back to the D.C. Metropolitan area. I spent my first years of high school at AIS in Vienna, Austria, and finished at Osbourn High School in Manassas, Virginia. I went on to receive my undergraduate degree in Biology from Mary Washington College (now the University of Mary Washington) in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Then in 2007, I graduated from the Virginia- Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine. I currently share my life with two cats, Wren and Gilbert, and I am hoping to get a dog sometime in the near future. Much of my free time is spent with my family, who fortunately live close by, and I also enjoy being outdoors, whether that be watching a National's baseball game or exploring Washington, D.C. on foot. I've also recently found enjoyment in reading classic literature and still try to travel as much as I can. My special area of interest in veterinary medicine is Neurology, and I hope to pursue an internship and/or residency in this field after my time at Friendship comes to an end. [back to the top]       Sara Lister, DVM My mother, an R.N., instilled in me the value of caring for others. Since I've always loved critters of all kinds, I figured the best way for me to take care of other people is through caring for our furry best friends. As a side note, I'd also love to take care of scaled and feathered friends, too. I'd eventually like to be a board certified specialist in zoo medicine, although I do enjoy working with dogs, cats, and surprisingly - cows and llamas! Animal behavior is another interest of mine.  My most memorable case or moment in veterinary medicine happened when I was on the surgery rotation during my 4th year of vet school at OK State. I inherited a little Border Collie named Shadow. She had been hit by a car and was in the hospital because her pelvis was broken in several places and her hip was out of socket. She was so memorable to me because of her spirit and strength. Every time I had to move her to take her outside, do her physical therapy, change her bandages, it was SO painful for her. But she never once got upset with me, and always had a kiss for my face - she knew I was trying to help her, and her sweetness and courage were daily affirmations that we were doing something good and worthwhile. She underwent several surgeries and had some complications, but today she is healthy, happy, and back to herding her favorite rooster at her mom's farm! I was raised in Oklahoma City. Prince Valiant and Archie are my two cats. Their hobbies include obsessively hovering around the food can and intermittently gifting me with hairballs. Archie is a Manx and Val is a quasi-Russian Blue. My mom, Marlena, is a wonderful RN who does great work every day. She lives in Seattle, as does my twin brother Steve (I'm 3 minutes older, which always makes me right, no matter what). He served a few years in Iraq with the US Army and is now in art school in Seattle. He is so incredibly talented, I'm often in awe, and I am SO proud of him. [back to the top]       Tracy Navarra, DVM I was born in Dallas, Texas but I grew up in Marietta, Georgia. I am a Georgia Bulldog, having received my undergraduate degree in Biology from the University of Georgia. My parents, Dan and Susan, have been married for 32 years. I have an older brother, Travis, and two younger twin sisters, Ashley and Lindsey. I have always had a passion for animals. Currently I share my life with Jackson, a Keeshond mix that I adopted while working at Sprayberry Animal Hospital in Marietta, Georgia. All through college, I was lucky enough to work at Sprayberry while I was home on breaks. My other dog is Nubbs, a Caribbean mixed breed that I adopted while living on St. Kitts. I am a 2007 Graduate from the Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine. I perfomed my clinical year at North Carolina School of Veterinary Medicine. I have strong interests in Internal Medicine, Ultrasound, Soft-tissue and Orthopedic Surgery. However, I enjoy all aspects of veterinary medicine. My most memorable patient during veterinary school was, Winky, a wonderful cat that suffered from acute renal failure due to stone formation possibly because of contaminated cat food. Winky was hospitalized, treated for acute renal failure, and eventually went to surgery to have the stones removed. After about a month in ICU, Winky had recovered and was allowed to return home. Last I heard, Winky was climbing trees and chasing her dogs like she used to do. We formed a very special bond and I will always remember her as a very special kitty. Other than veterinary literature, I mostly read historical fiction. My guilty pleasures include reality Television like "American Idol". I also enjoy "Law and Order" and "Grey's Anatomy". In my spare time I like to go jogging and work out in the gym. I enjoying traveling and spending as much time as I can with my wonderful boyfriend, Josh. I also enjoy spending outdoor time with my two dogs; whether it be taking walks, going on hikes, or letting them go crazy in the dog park. Becoming a veterinarian was a dream I have had since I was very young. It has been a long road but a very fulfilling one and I hope to meet lots of wonderful people and animals throughout my career. [back to the top]       CONSULTANTS AND SPECIALISTS   Chand Khanna, DVM, PhD, ACVIM, Oncology Referral I am a graduate of the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. My specialty training included a Small Animal Medicine and Surgery Internship at the Ontario Veterinary College in Guelph, Ontario, followed by a residency in Internal Medicine and Oncology at the University of Minnesota. I am board-certified with the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Oncology). My training in cancer research includes a PhD from the University of Minnesota, where I studied immunotherapy of metastatic cancers, and a postdoctoral fellowship at the National Institutes of Health where I was a Senior Staff Fellow at the National Cancer Institute. Recently, I created and now head the section of Comparative Oncology at the NCI. My primary area of research is cancer investigational drug development. Since moving to the Washington, D.C. area, I have been able to couple my research interests with my love for clinical veterinary oncology through my work with Oncology Service at Friendship Hospital for Animals, and through the development of the Animal Clinical Investigations, LLC. I am on the editorial board of the Journal of Veterinary and Comparative Oncology, am a reviewer for many clinical and scientific journals, and have authored several manuscripts and textbook chapters in the field of veterinary oncology and cancer biology. I am Chairman of the Perseus Foundation, a Maryland-based non-profit organization seeking to improve the lives of animal and human cancer patients. I have five dogs and cats but only two children and one fabulous wife. When not treating cancer, I am playing golf with Drs. Glassman and Rusk. [back to the top]       James McConnell, DVM, Consultant in Internal Medicine, Ultrasound and Endoscopy I received my DVM from Texas A&M University in 1981 and completed my small animal internal medicine residency at Tufts University in 1987. I came to Friendship in September, 2003, bringing over 16 years of experience in performing advanced medical procedures, including ultrasound and endoscopy. My special interests include ultrasound and endoscopic procedures to evaluate gastrointestinal, liver, pancreas, and respiratory disorders of dogs and cats. My interest in helping animals goes back as far as I can remember. As a youngster, I grew up with two poodles, each of whom lived to over fifteen years old and who, as they aged, required diligent care and treatments to maintain their health. Working as a consultant to the National Zoo here in Washington has provided me with many memorable veterinary experiences. I have performed ultrasound and endoscopic procedures on many zoo animals, including cheetahs, orangutans, tigers, sea lions, gorillas, and Tsing Tsing, the older Panda who lived at the zoo prior to the introduction of Tian Tian and Mei Xiang. When I am not at work, I enjoy spending time with my wife Marlene, and our two children, Hunter and Kayleigh. I enjoy composing, mixing, and recording my own music in my home studio. Thanks to my interest in Internet publishing, I have been able to upload my music to the Web. I also enjoy writing, cooking, and Tai Chi. [back to the top]       Tony Rusk, DVM, Oncology I am a native of southern Indiana. I received my Bachelor of Science at Ball State University and graduated from veterinary school at Purdue University. I had been a staff doctor at Friendship Hospital since June of 1999 but now work exclusively in the oncology department here at Friendship. I am also the vice president of clinical trials for Animal Clinical Investigation, LLC where I have successfully managed more than 20 clinical trials for dogs and cats. I had the good fortune of marrying my vet school sweetie, Jen, who is a staff veterinarian at Friendship. We have two sons, Evan and Nathan. The Rusk family also has 2 cats, Mosby and Ellie Mae. [back to the top]       Alexandra Sahora, DVM, Oncology Associate My name is Alexandra Sahora, and I am the new oncology associate working with Drs. Khanna and Rusk. I graduated from the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine in 2006 and practiced in a small animal general practice in South Florida last year. I am very excited to join the oncology staff. When not in the hospital, I enjoy running, swimming, and hanging out with my dog Mouffie. Mouffie is an 11 yr old Tibetan terrier that is the master of the house and spends his day sleeping, barking, sleeping, eating, and again barking. I am also an avid football fan and can't wait for the season to start back up again this fall. My interests besides oncology are internal medicine and clinical pathology, and I hope to pursue a residency in medical oncology and subsequent specialization. [back to the top]       Tommy Walker, DVM, MS Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Surgeons Dr. Walker joined Friendship as our referral surgery specialist. Dr. Walker is a diplomat of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons. After completing a neurology residency and a surgical residency at the University of Tennessee, Dr. Walker remained at the University to teach for 12 years. He has lectured all over the world. Dr. Walker is at Friendship intermittently throughout the week to consult primarily on difficult orthopedic cases and to perform specialized surgeries. Armed with keen sensibilities for veterinary diagnostic and surgical advancement, Dr. Walker worked with Dr. Barclay Slocum in the development of the TPLO procedure for cruciate repair, and continues as one of the foremost surgeons to progressively apply this technique. [back to the top]       TECHNICIANS The technical department at Friendship Hospital for Animals is staffed 24-hours a day to provide the best possible care to our patients. Our technicians have diverse backgrounds and interests. All are committed to Friendship's vision to uphold high standards of patient care and client communication. The role of veterinary technicians in the hospital is to provide compassionate nursing care and emergency care to our patients. The technical staff also plays a vital role in communicating with clients about their pets and is available 24-hours a day to give updates about patients in the hospital. Keeping our skills up to date is a continuing and critical process. Training is very important to Friendship. Training for the technical department includes hands-on skill training as well as written tests for knowledge. We have regular lectures and labs in the hospital. In addition, every year technicians attend veterinary conventions around the country, where the latest techniques and skills are taught. It's a great way to meet other technicians and just talk about problems (and solutions!) that we can all share. Our department also has technicians dedicated to and specially trained in surgery, dentistry, internal medicine, and oncology. Currently Friendship Hospital for Animals employs about 40 technicians led by department manager Brad Howard. Our caring technical staff come from a variety of backgrounds and includes foreign veterinarians, students, science professionals, and those pursing veterinary school. In fact, every year it seems that we lose some of our staff to veterinary school. Many of these techs have come back to Friendship for either an internship or to work as a staff veterinarian. [back to the top]   CLIENT CARE TECHNICIANS The Client Care department is professional, knowledgeable, and dedicated to serving our clients and their pets. They are continuously educated about the evolving field of veterinary medicine through continuing education lectures and department meetings. Client care technicians are able to assist Friendship clients at almost every step on the path to good health and long life for their pets whether it be answering questions or scheduling appointments over the phone, when assisting veterinarians during their appointments, or ensuring that all aspects of their check-in and out of the hospital is accurate as well as caring. As the public face and voice of the Hospital, client care technicians provide excellent and compassionate service to every client. From the first moment a client checks-in with their pet, a client care technician is working with them to provide the warmest and most welcoming experience possible. Client care technicians are trained to identify and respond quickly to ensure that animals in distress have access to immediate care. At discharge from the Hospital or the end of any appointment, a client care technician reviews with our clients all charges and any notes from the doctor, and educates them about any medications to be given at home. These client care technicians are knowledgeable and effective communicators, serving our clients as their advocates to the Hospital. Each client care technician undergoes months of comprehensive wellness care training to provide our clients with necessary guidance and relevant information. This includes all aspects of wellness care (vaccinations, weight maintenance, dental care, etc) to help build a foundation of health and well being that will last a pet its entire life. These client care technicians also perform significant follow-up by checking on patients post-appointment and taking that time to reassure concerned pet owners. Trained extensively on the over 400 medications carried by Friendship's pharmacy, client care technicians also fill every prescription with precision and care. Furthermore, these team members also serve as a vital link to other veterinary practices and commercial pharmacies on behalf of Friendship clients. [back to the top]     Home | Meet the Team | Services | About Pet Portals | About Us New Clients | Admissions | Newsletter | Internship | AAHA | Community Pet Links | Our Location | Contact Us | Employment | Privacy Policy Powered by VetInsite.