University Of California-Davis Veterinary Teaching Hospital

Dr. Andrew Willis obtained his veterinary degree from Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Upon graduation, he participated in a one-year rotating equine internship at Weatherford Equine Medical Center in Texas. Dr. Willis began his residency at UC Davis in 2017.

Dr. Betsy Vaughan earned her veterinary degree from Colorado State University in 2002. She then completed a two-year internship/residency in large animal ultrasound at UC Davis. Dr. Vaughan has been a member of the faculty at UC Davis since 2005, and currently serves as chief of the Large Animal Ultrasound Service. She is a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation. Dr. Vaughan’s research interests include equine abdominal ultrasound, equine musculoskeletal ultrasound, and ruminant abdominal ultrasound.

Dr. Bruno Karam obtained his veterinary degree from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine. He completed his clinical rotations during his fourth year of veterinary school at Texas A&M. Upon graduation, Dr. Karam completed a one-year rotating internship at Equine Sports Medicine and Surgery before beginning his residency at UC Davis in 2017.

Dr. Callum Donnelly obtained his veterinary degree from Charles Sturt University School of Veterinary Medicine in Australia. Upon graduation, he participated in a one-year rotating internship at the Goulburn Valley Equine Hospital in Victoria Australia. Dr. Donnelly then completed a residency in theriogenology at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, before beginning his equine medicine residency at UC Davis in 2016.

Dr. Carrie Finno received her veterinary degree from the University of Minnesota. Following graduation, she completed a one-year internship in Large Animal Medicine and Surgery at Minnesota, before coming to UC Davis to complete a three-year residency in Large Animal Medicine and Surgery. Dr. Finno went on to complete a PhD in Comparative Pathology at UC Davis, and then returned to Minnesota to join their faculty as an Assistant Professor. After two years on their faculty, she once again returned to UC Davis as a faculty member in genetics and a clinical role with the Equine Medicine Service. Dr. Finno's research is focused on companion animal genetics, particularly the genetic and environmental risk factors associated with equine neuromuscular diseases.

Dr. Catherine Renaudin obtained her doctoral veterinary degree from the School of Veterinary Medicine in Lyon, France in 1988. After working in private practice in France for several years, she completed a residency in equine reproduction at UC Davis and received the Christopher Smith Equine Resident Research Award for her project on the ultrasonographic evaluation of the normal combined thickness of the uterus and placenta (CTUP) in the mare and its application to early diagnosis of ascending placentitis. Using ultrasonography, Dr. Renaudin established fetal growth charts, studied parameters of the biophysical profile in the equine fetus, and showed that fetal sex determination could be performed during mid gestation via the transabdominal approach. She joined UC Davis as a clinician during the 2015 breeding season. Dr. Renaudin is a Diplomate of the European College of Animal Reproduction (equine emphasis). Dr. Renaudin’s special interests are in high-risk pregnancies, placental pathologies, fetal well-bein and ultrasonography of the genital tract of mares and stallions.

Dr. Charlene Noll obtained her veterinary degree from UC Davis in 2014 following completion of her MS in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University. Following graduation, she completed a one-year large animal rotating internship at New Bolton Center at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Noll then completed a one-year equine rotating internship at North Carolina State University prior to beginning an equine surgery residency at UC Davis in 2016.

Resident

Dr. Daniela Orellana obtained her veterinary degree from National University of Colombia in Bogota, Colombia, and she completed his clinical year training at Liege University (Belgium) and National University of Colombia (Colombia). Upon graduation, she participated in a one-year rotating internship and Masters at Liege University in Liege, Belgium. Dr. Orellana then worked as a field veterinarian in her hometown, Colombia before beginning her theriogenology residency at UC Davis in 2017.

Dr. David Maggs received his veterinary degree from the University of Melbourne, Australia in 1988 and then spent five years in mixed animal practices there and throughout Great Britain. He completed small animal and equine internships at Colorado State University and a research fellowship and comparative ophthalmology residency at the University of Missouri before joining UC Davis in 2000. He is author of Slatter’s Fundamentals of Veterinary Ophthalmology and president-elect of the International Society of Veterinary Ophthalmology. Dr. Maggs’ special interests include ocular surface disease, particularly feline herpesvirus infection and tear film disorders.

Dr. Emily Berryhill received her veterinary degree from UC Davis in 2010. She then completed a year-long internship and stayed on an additional year at Brock Veterinary Clinic in Texas, with an emphasis in equine practice. Dr. Berryhill returned to UC Davis to complete a year-long fellowship in Equine Medicine and Field Service in 2013 and a three-year residency in Large Animal Internal Medicine in 2016.

Resident

Dr. Esther Millares Ramirez earned her veterinary degree in 2012 at the Alfonso X El Sabio University in Madrid, Spain. Following graduation, she completed a one-year equine rotating internship in UAX Hospital Veterinario in Madrid, then moved to Canada to complete a 6-month equine rotating internship at Paton and Martin Veterinary Services in Langley, British Columbia. During that time, Dr. Millares gained significant interest in equine surgery and sport horse medicine and came to UC Davis in 2016 to complete the one-year equine integrative sports medicine fellowship. She stayed on at UC Davis to puruse the equine field service fellowship in 2017. Dr. Millares is finishing her acupuncture certification at the Chi Institute in Florida, and she is also pursuing the Practice Experience Residency of the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation.

Dr. Gary Magdesian earned his veterinary degree from UC Davis in 1993. He is board certified in the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care, and the American College of Veterinary Clinical Pharmacology. Dr. Magdesian also holds a certification in veterinary acupuncture. He is the Roberta A. and Carla Henry Endowed Chair in emergency medicine and critical care at UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. Beyond his duties in internal medicine, Dr. Magdesian also serves as chief of the Equine Internal Medicine & Dentistry Service.

Dr. Ghislaine Dujovne is originally from Santiago, Chile and earned her DVM degree from Universidad de Chile in 2004. Following veterinary school, she worked for four years in private practice at several thoroughbred breeding farms and stud farms in Chile. During that time, she maintained continuing education and teaching by participating in an Animal Reproduction Diploma (Universidad de Chile) and assisting with labs and courses for two veterinary schools in Santiago. In 2008, Dr. Dujovne moved to the United States to continue her reproduction specialization, completing a residency in theriogenology at the University of Auburn, practicing on many species. While at Auburn, she earned a Master of Biomedical Sciences degree, and became a board-certified Diplomate of the American College of Theriogenologists. Following her residency, Dr. Dujovne accepted a clinician position in the theriogenology service at Auburn. She has been with UC Davis since June 2012.

Dr. Isabelle Kilcoyne earned her veterinary degree from University College Dublin (Ireland) in 2008, after which she spent a year as an equine surgical intern at their University Veterinary Hospital. She then joined UC Davis, first as a team member with the Equine Field Service for two years, and then completing a three-year residency in equine surgery. Dr. Kilcoyne is board certified (Diplomate) in the American College of Veterinary Surgeons. She currently serves with several services including: Equine Surgical Emergency and Critical Care Service; Equine Surgery and Lameness Service; and Equine Field Service. Dr. Kilcoyne’s main clinical and research interests are in emergency surgery and medicine, particularly gastrointestinal surgery.

Dr. Jannah Pye obtained her veterinary degree from Charles Sturt University in Australia. Upon graduation, she worked in mixed animal practice for one year, before completing an 18-month surgical internship at Scone Equine Hospital in New South Wales, Australia. Dr. Pye then worked as an associate veterinarian at the Ballarat Veterinary Practice Equine Clinic in Victoria, Australia, for 18 months before beginning her residency in equine surgery at UC Davis in 2017.

Dr. John Madigan received his DVM from UC Davis in 1975, and has spent nearly 40 years caring for animals and improving their lives. Dr. Madigan has made many discoveries and inventions which directly improve the lives of animals worldwide on a daily basis. He is board certified in internal medicine and the author of more than 250 peer-reviewed and proceeding scientific publications and the editor of two textbooks on the care of foals. Dr. Madigan founded the UC Davis Veterinary Emergency Response Team which has gained national attention as a Medical Reserve Corp under the Office of the Surgeon General. He has responded to floods, fires and other disasters to aid animals in California and nationally. Dr Madigan is a member of the California Animal Emergency Response Steering Committee, and the American Association of Equine Practitioners Welfare committee. In 2006, he received the national honor of the American Veterinary Medical Association animal welfare award, and School of Veterinary Medicine Alumni Achievement award in 2007.

Dr. Joie Watson received her DVM from UC Davis in 1986. She also received a PhD (Comparative Pathology) from UC Davis in 1994. Following completion of her PhD in 1994, Dr. Watson became a member of the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine faculty. She is board certified in the sub-specialty of large animal in the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.

Dr. Jorge Nieto is originally from Mexico, and received his veterinary degree from National University of Mexico in 1981. After completing a residency in equine surgery at the VMTH in 1994, Dr. Nieto held several clinical and instructional positions at UC Davis. He then earned a PhD in comparative pathology, and became a faculty member in 2004. He is board certified in the American College of Veterinary Surgeons and the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation.

Dr. Julie Dechant earned her veterinary degree from Western College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan in 1996. After completing a private practice internship in her home province of Alberta, she moved to Fort Collins, Colorado to complete a Combined Masters and Clinical Residency in Large Animal Surgery at Colorado State University from 1997-2000. After her residency, Dr. Dechant joined the Large Animal Surgery faculty at the University of Saskatchewan for a 1-year position as a Clinical Associate. From 2001-2004, she was a Visiting Assistant Professor and an Equine Emergency Clinician at Oklahoma State University. She has been with UC Davis since 2004. Dr. Dechant is board certified in the American College of Veterinary Surgeons and the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care. Dr. Dechant’s research interests are related to improving the diagnosis and care of large animal emergency and critical care patients. She has a secondary interest in camelid medicine and associated research.

Dr. Karen Shaw obtained her Bachelor's of science degree at California Polytechnic University, followed by her veterinary degree from the University of Glasgow School of Veterinary Medicine in Scotland. Upon graduation, she participated in a one-year equine rotating internship at North Carolina State University, where she developed a special interest in sports medicine and advanced imaging. Dr. Shaw began a second internship in lameness and surgery at UC Davis in 2017.

Dr. Kathryn Good received her BS in Biology from UCLA in 1994 and her DVM from UC Davis in 1998. She then went on to complete a one-year internship in small animal medicine and surgery at the University of Florida. Dr. Good returned to UC Davis in 1999 and completed a residency in comparative ophthalmology in 2002. Following her residency, she was an associate in a private ophthalmology practice for six years before returning as a clinical faculty member at UC Davis. Dr. Good has been a member of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists Credentials Committee and a reviewer for professional journals, including Veterinary Ophthalmology and Veterinary Medicine. Her professional interests include all aspects of ophthalmic surgery and ocular manifestations of systemic disease.

Dr. Lais Costa received her veterinary degree from Sao Paulo State University, Brazil. Following veterinary school, she completed: a clinical internship, residency and fellowship at Louisiana State University (LSU); a Master’s Degree at the Gluck Equine Research Center at the University of Kentucky; a PhD in respiratory immunopathology at LSU; and clinical training at UC Davis. While at UC Davis, Dr. Costa received a Young Investigator Award by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine for a project evaluating Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis infection. She has practiced internal medicine in veterinary teaching hospitals at LSU, University of Georgia, Tufts University, and Mississippi State University and has worked as an internal medicine consultant for several years. Dr. Costa’s specialty interests are in respiratory and infectious diseases, immunology, neonatology and geriatrics.

Dr. Larry Galuppo earned his veterinary degree from UC Davis in 1990. His clinical expertise is in equine orthopedic surgery, including tendon and ligament injuries and joint disease, with special interest in traumatology and fracture repair. His research emphasis is on biomechanics of fracture generation, implant design and fracture repair, with focus in novel healing methods for musculoskeletal injuries utilizing regenerative medicine technology. Dr. Galuppo is board certified in the American College of Veterinary Surgeons.

Resident

Dr. Marcos Perez Nogues obtained his veterinary degree from the School of Veterinary Medicine of Complutense University in Madrid, Spain. He then completed a 1.5-year equine internship at the School of Veterinary Medicine of Complutense University along with a Master's degree in Veterinary Research. Dr. Perez then completed two equine surgery internships in private practice: Milton Equine Hospital in Ontario, Canada; and Hagyard Equine Medical Institute in Lexington, Kentucky. Upon completion of these internships, he joined the equine surgery residency program at UC Davis.

Dr. Mary Beth Whitcomb earned her veterinary degree from UC Davis in 1996. Following graduation, she completed a one-year internship with Las Colinas Veterinary Clinic in Texas and a one-year fellowship in large animal ultrasound and & cardiology at the University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center. She returned to UC Davis in 1999, and has been on the School of Veterinary Medicine’s faculty ever since. Dr. Whitcomb completed an MBA at the UC Davis Graduate School of Management in 2014. She is considered one of the nation’s leading authorities on large animal ultrasound, and lectures on the topic throughout the world.

Dr. Mary Lassaline earned her veterinary degree from Michigan State University in 2000, where she graduated with honors. Following graduation, she completed a one-year medicine and surgery internship at the world-renowned Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky. Dr. Lassaline then completed a three-year residency in veterinary ophthalmology at the University of Florida. Following two years in private practice, she spent the last eight years developing and leading the equine ophthalmology program as a faculty member at the University of Pennsylvania, where the won the Class of 2013 and 2014 Award for Excellence in Teaching. Her research interests span the breadth of equine eye problems, with a particular focus on equine corneal disease. Dr. Lassaline holds several memberships in professional and scientific societies, including the American Association of Equine Practitioners, the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists (Diplomate), the American Veterinary Medical Association and the International Equine Ophthalmology Consortium.

Dr. Monica Aleman received her veterinary degree from the National Autonomous University of Mexico in 1991, and has been with UC Davis almost continuously since 1992. She received her PhD in neuromuscular disorders in equines from UC Davis in 2004, and has completed two residency programs (Large Animal Internal Medicine – equine emphasis; and Neurology and Neurosurgery). Dr. Aleman provides primary care for patients in the Large Animal Clinic, and is also currently doing research in comparative neurology. She is board certified in the sub-specialties of neurology and large animal internal medicine in the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.

Dr. Nicola Pusterla earned his veterinary degree and PhD from the University of Zurich (Switzerland). He is board certified in the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine with an equine emphasis, and he has an ongoing interest in all aspects of equine internal medicine and dentistry. Dr. Pusterla’s research focuses on selected aspects of equine infectious diseases with an emphasis on epidemiology, clinical disease understanding, diagnostics, prevention, and treatment.

Dr. Pablo Espinosa obtained his veterinary degree at the University Complutense of Madrid in 2007. Following veterinary school, he started his professional career in a large animal private practice in the east of France, and then completed an internship in equine medicine and surgery at the University of Montreal. Following his internship, Dr. Espinosa worked for an orthopedic referral practice in Paris for one year, and then completed an equine surgery internship at Milton Equine Hospital in Canada. In 2013, Dr. Espinosa began a three-year surgical residency with the UC Davis Large Animal Clinic. He completed the residency in 2016, and is now board certified in the American College of Veterinary Surgeons. Following his residency, he remained at UC Davis and serves the Large Animal Clinic in several capacities, including the Large Animal Intensive Care Unit, surgery services, clinical trials, and PET scan research. Dr. Espinosa’s specific clinical interests are lameness, orthopedics and colic surgery.

Dr. Sarah le Jeune is originally from Belgium has been a member of the UC Davis faculty since 2003. She is board certified in Equine Surgery and Equine Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation, as well as being certified in veterinary acupuncture and chiropractic.

Dr. Scott Katzman earned his veterinary degree from the University of Minnesota. Following three years in private practice, he came to UC Davis to complete an internship in Equine Medicine and Surgery and a residency in Equine Surgery. He then joined the VMTH as a staff veterinarian before moving on to become an associate surgeon at Cleary Lake Veterinary Hospital in Minnesota. Dr. Katzman’s research interests are in the area of equine lameness and gait analysis. Dr. Katzman has also worked as a researcher in the UC Davis J.D. Wheat Veterinary Orthopedic Research Laboratory.

Dr. Steve Hollingsworth received both his BS in Biology and his DVM degrees from Purdue University. He subsequently completed a residency in comparative ophthalmology at UC Davis, where he has been on the faculty since 1994. Dr. Hollingsworth is the author of numerous textbook chapters, as well as research papers. He is currently the chief of the Ophthalmology Service and president of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists.

Dr. Thomas Cullen obtained his veterinary degree from the University of Glasgow in 2013. After finishing his degree, he completed a one-year surgical internship at Hagyard Equine Medical Institute in Kentucky. Dr. Cullen returned to England after his year in Kentucky and spent a year as an intern with the University of Nottingham at their equine hospital. He then worked in a private ambulatory practice in the southeast of England for a year before moving to Oregon to undertake a one-year large animal clinical fellowship with Oregon State University. Dr. Cullen then moved to UC Davis in 2017 to begin his equine surgery residency.