VCA Animal Referral and Emergency Center of Arizona

Bios

• Dennis Keith

  DVM

  Dr. Keith, our Radiologist and Medical Director, has always been committed to delivering excellent veterinary care to families in his home state of Arizona. The opportunity to join the vet specialist team in Mesa (named Mesa Veterinary Hospital at that time) not only allowed him to bring his expertise back home, but also allowed him to help shape VCA Animal Referral & Emergency Center of Arizona and eventually lead the medical team. A 1990 graduate of the University of Arizona, he obtained his DVM in 1994 from Colorado State University. After practicing in Flagstaff for 2 years, he completed a 3-year residency in radiology at the University of Pennsylvania (Penn Vet); and served on the faculty for a year as a Lecturer and Alternative Imaging Fellow (also at the University of Pennsylvania) where he advanced his training in both ultrasonography and computed tomography (CT). He is board certified by the American College of Veterinary Radiology. Professionally his interests include contrast radiographic studies, ultrasound, CT and MRI.

• Melinda Wood

  DVM

  Dr. Melinda Wood has been an internist at VCA ARECA since October, 2008. She really enjoys living in the Valley and getting out in the sunshine as much as possible. Prior to joining VCA ARECA, Dr. Wood worked in a private referral practice in Vancouver, Canada. She received a B.A. in French at Bates College in Lewiston, Maine prior to receiving her DVM from The Ohio State University in 2003. She completed a rotating small animal internship at Carolina Veterinary Specialists in Charlotte, NC, in 2004, and a combined internal medicine residency and master's program at Virginia Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine in 2007. Dr. Wood received the Soloxine Award at the Society for Comparative Endocrinology meeting in 2006 for her thesis project evaluating the effects of anesthesia and surgery on thyroid function in dogs. Dr. Wood is interested in all areas of internal medicine, with a special interest in endocrine diseases, gastrointestinal disease and endoscopy. Outside of work, Dr. Wood enjoys traveling, hiking and ballroom dancing and has three rambunctious cats.

• Michael Jaffe

  DVM

  Dr. Michael Jaffe is a 1991 graduate of the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine where he received the American College of Veterinary Surgeon's Award for Academic and Clinical Proficiency in Small Animal Surgery. After practicing as an associate vet for four years in St. Joseph, MO and Ft. Lauderdale, FL, he completed a one year companion animal surgical and medical internship at Louisiana State University College of Veterinary Medicine in Baton Rouge, LA. He then completed a three year companion animal surgical residency at LSU. In 1999, Dr. Jaffe completed a Master's degree program in Veterinary Clinical Sciences at LSU. Dr. Jaffe became a Diplomate in the American College of Veterinary Surgeons in 2002. He served as a Staff Surgeon at Oakland Veterinary Referral Services in Bloomfield Hills, MI from September 1999 until joining VCA Animal Referral & Emergency Center of Arizona in 2004. Dr. Jaffe's areas of surgical interest include oncologic, orthopedic, and general soft tissue surgery, including surgical diseases of the knees and pelvis. His research interests and Master's thesis involve the study of mast cell tumors in dogs. He has published several articles on this subject, and has spoken at local and national meetings on this topic. Other interests are diskospondylitis, osteosarcoma, muscle injuries of dogs, and surgical diseases of the ear. He has received advanced training in arthroscopic surgery, total hip replacement surgery, and performs the TPLO surgery for cranial cruciate ligament ruptures

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• Chris Monarski

  DVM

  Dr. Christopher Monarski completed his surgical residency in Arizona at VCA ARECA, and has been helping to advance veterinary medicine in our community through his residency-related teaching and research projects. However, his unique qualifications also include 2 years as an associate vet and 1 year as a responsible veterinarian at general practices prior to seeking advanced training. His previous work experience gives him an excellent perspective when dealing with clients. His primary research interest is currently in pain management of orthopedic patients, clearly demonstrating his commitment to his patients. He has special interest in minimally invasive procedures such as arthroscopy, tracheal and urethral stenting and laparoscopy. Dr. Monarski is a 2001 graduate of Texas A&M University, College of Veterinary Medicine. He also completed a small animal surgical internship at VCA ARECA. He enjoys all aspects of orthopedics and soft tissue surgery and is committed to high quality, compassionate medicine in combination with proactive client education.

• Elizabeth Easley

  DVM

  Dr. Elizabeth Easley majored in animal science at the University of Missouri-Columbia prior to receiving her DVM from their College of Veterinary Medicine in 2003. During her senior year she received the award for outstanding student in the field of oncology. Following graduation, she completed a rotating internship in small animal medicine and surgery at Mesa Veterinary Hospital before joining the team at VCA Animal Referral & Emergency Center of Arizona. Dr. Easley's professional interests include oncology, internal medicine, and of course, emergency and critical care medicine. She enjoys working closely with clients in order to provide their pets with optimal care in critical situations as well as interacting with their family vets. She is a member of the Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society, and the Phi Zeta Veterinary Honor Society. Outside of work, Dr. Easley lives in Mesa with her two cats and two dogs, who are all rescues and are all very spoiled. She likes reading, yoga, hiking, and live music and is still a proud fan of the Mizzou Tigers.

• Andy Lenius

  DVM

  Dr. Lenius received his DVM degree from Iowa State University in 2004. After graduation, he began his career as an emergency vet at the Veterinary Specialty Center of Tucson, Arizona. In 2005, he joined the emergency/critical care team at VCA Animal Referral & Emergency Center of Arizona. Dr. Lenius' special interests include surgery and endoscopy, as well as all aspects of emergency medicine.

• Brian Sessink

  DVM

  Dr. Brian Sessink, graduated from Michigan State University, receiving a bachelor of science in 1994 and his DVM status in 1996. He completed a Small Animal Medicine, Surgery, and Critical Care Internship at Mesa Veterinary Hospital in 1997. Dr. Sessink has a strong affinity for the excitement and diversity of emergency medicine and has practiced emergency medicine at the VCA Animal Referral and Emergency Center of Arizona since its opening in June of 2004. Dr. Sessink's professional vet interests include emergency and soft tissue surgery and intensive care monitoring for the critically ill. He has become acquainted with and served the referring vet community in the Phoenix area for over the past fifteen years. A focus of his practice is to involve the regular veterinarian as much as possible with any ongoing therapy. His personal life is spent traveling with his family and friends, exercising, and studying real-estate. He has an adopted rescue cat at home who keeps him on his toes. Dr. Sessink also enjoys home improvement as he put himself through veterinary school working for a residential builder in Detroit, Michigan.

• Melissa Moyer

  DVM

  Dr. Melissa Moyer is professionally interested in the large variety of challenging cases seen in Internal Medicine. She particularly enjoys the areas of feline medicine, infectious and immune mediated diseases, as well as endocrine diseases. Dr. Moyer completed her undergraduate education at Yale University, completed a MS degree in Wildlife Ecology at the University of Florida in 2004, then graduated from veterinary school at the University of Florida in 2008. She then went on to complete a one year small animal rotating internship at North Carolina State University. Following her passion for internal medicine she completed a 3-year residency program at Texas A&M University in 2012, participating in both the Feline and the Canine Internal Medicine Services as well as being actively involved in teaching 4th year veterinary students.

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