Don Wilson, DVM
Dr. Wilson serves full time as the Executive Director of Alexandria Animal Hospital.  Dr. Wilson has been involved in veterinary medicine for over 30 years, most of those years at Alexandria Animal Hospital. During this 30 year period, he served in all conceivable capacities, from receptionist (client services coordinator), veterinary assistant, veterinary technician, veterinary student and associate veterinarian to his present position - hospital director. Dr. Wilson graduated from West Springfield High School in Springfield, Virginia and went on to earn his B.S. degree in Biology from Virginia Tech. and graduated from Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1977. While in veterinary school, he was inducted into Phi Zeta, the Veterinary Medicine Honors Society. In practice, Dr. Wilson's primary interests have been surgery and internal medicine. At the present time, he is focusing on medical compliance and preventative medicine. Dr. Wilson is a past president of the D.C. Academy of Veterinary Medicine and served on the Board of Directors of the Emergency Clinic of Northern Virginia. Dr. Wilson is also on the Advisory Board of the Veterinary Technician Program at Northern Virginia Community College. He has served in the past as an adjunct clinical instructor for the Virginia-Maryland Regional Veterinary College. Dr. Wilson's pets include a German Shepherd named Xena, two Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Roxie and Rudy and Harley the semi domestic cat. In his spare time Dr. Wilson is an avid underwater photographer traveling from the Galapagos Islands to the Caribbean as well as a woodworker and gardener. 


 Rena Allen, DVM
Dr. Allen is a Virginia native who grew up in the suburbs of Richmond. After graduating Summa Cum Laude from Lynchburg College in 1988, she attended the VA-MD Regional College of Veterinary Medicine. She completed her veterinary studies in 1991, and was awarded her Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine. Immediately following veterinary school, Dr. Allen was selected for a one-year internship in small animal medicine and surgery at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine. From 1992-1995, Dr. Allen practiced emergency medicine before pursuing a three year residency in emergency / critical care medicine at the Animal Medical Center in Milwaukee, WI. She joined the Alexandria Veterinary Emergency Service in June of 2002. Dr Allen is married and has two cats, Hansel and Taz, and a dog, Kirin. 


  Julie Augustine, DVM
Dr. Augustine started at Alexandria Animal Hospital in November of 2000. She got her undergraduate degree at Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania in Health Science and Athletic Training and her Master's degree in Biology/Biomechanics at Bucknell University. While at Bucknell she worked as a certified athletic trainer for six years evaluating injuries, providing immediate and long term care as well as rehabilitation of injuries of the athletes of the 26 varsity sports teams. She then went to Oklahoma State University for her veterinary degree and graduated magna cum laude in May 1999. At AAH, she has a great interest in both orthopedic and soft tissue surgery, and is also developing skills to perform minimally invasive laparoscopic procedures as well. Dr. Augustine has been married to her husband Doug, a registered critical care nurse, since November 2001, and currently her family consists of Eric, her step-son, Sidney, an American Eskimo dog, Lizzy and Angus her cats, and Perrier, a veteran Thoroughbred mare. In the fall of 2004, Dr. Augustine and Perrier competed in the inaugural American Eventing Championships where they finished fourth in the Novice Amateur division. The newest member of the family is Tex, a Thoroughbred gelding born in 2001. He came to Dr. Augustine as an uneducated 4-year-old, and after a rocky start involving surgery to Tex's leg in the spring of 2006 and surgery to Dr. Augustine's leg in the fall of 2009, they are developing a successful partnership in the sport of eventing which continues to progress and grow with both of their educations.

 Lara Bartl, DVM, DABVP
Dr. Bartl is a member of the critical care team and is Chief of Staff for the Alexandria Animal Hospital and Veterinary Emergency Service.  Dr. Bartl joined our hospital in May of 1997.  A native to Northern Virginia, Dr. Bartl graduated from West Potomac high school and continued her education at Virginia Tech.  She made the Dean's list on numerous occasions and earned a Bachelor's Degree in Agricultural Economics in 1992.  In 1997 Dr. Bartl graduated from the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech.  In 2006 Dr. Bartl became a diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (DABVP) specializing in canine and feline medicine.  Dr. Bartl's special interests include critical care, trauma surgery, cardiology and ultrasound techniques.  Dr. Bartl currently has two golden retrievers named Jake and Belle and a mix breed dog named Winston.  Along with her pets, she shares her life with daughter, Courtney, son Brendan, and husband, Greg.  In her spare time, she enjoys boating, golf, horseback riding and traveling.


 Janice Baxter, DVM
Dr. Baxter joined Alexandria Animal Hospital in September of 1995.  She attended high school in Oxon Hill, MD and received her B.S. degree in Animal Science from the University of Maryland.  While attending the University of Maryland, Dr. Baxter worked as a research assistant at the USDA Nutrition Research Laboratory in Beltsville, MD. After college graduation, she moved to Blacksburg, VA to attend the Virginia/Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine where she earned her DVM in 1993.  Dr. Baxter lives with her Boston Terriers, Mojo Jojo and Nigel, and her cat named Tomas. In her spare time, she is an avid scuba diver and underwater photographer who enjoys traveling the world to dive, but also enjoys hiking, cooking, and raising tropical fish. She volunteers as a diver at the National Aquarium in Baltimore, MD.

  Sophia Chiang, DVM
Dr. Chiang joined the Alexandria Animal Hospital in July 2006. A native Texan, she received her undergraduate degree in Biology at the University of Chicago in 1997. She then taught high school science in rural North Carolina through the Teach For America Service Program before pursuing her veterinary degree at the North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine. While in vet school, Dr. Chiang traveled to Thailand and Nicaragua to experience various facets of veterinary medicine, including exotic species medicine and sustainable livestock production. After receiving her veterinary degree, Dr. Chiang completed an internship in small animal medicine and surgery at the Regional Veterinary Referral Center in Springfield, VA. She also recently completed the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society course in veterinary acupuncture and is now providing this exciting and important treatment therapy for the patients of AAH. She enjoys spending time with her husband Jeff, their daughter Sela and cats Suvi and Summer. She is an avid reader, traveler and musician.

 Seth Cohen, DVM
Dr. Cohen joined the Alexandria Animal Hospital in August of 2001. Prior to this he worked as an intern at the Georgia Veterinary Specialists for a year. Dr. Cohen began his career in veterinary medicine well before earning his doctorate. During the course of his undergraduate and graduate education he worked as a Veterinary Technician and as a lab assistant at NC State's vet school. In 1996 he earned a Bachelor of Science in Zoology from North Carolina State University, and in May of 2000 his Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from the University of Georgia. Dr. Cohen's special interests include internal medicine, cardiology and ultrasound. In his spare time, Dr. Cohen enjoys working in the yard and grilling.  He can be found spending time with his wife, Laura Jane, and playing with their two kids, Sylvia and Lucas and dogs Maddux and Bailey. 


 Jenifer Farrell, VMD
Dr. Farrell has been with the Alexandria Animal Hospital since January, 2000. She received her bachelor's degree form Duke University in 1991 and her VMD from the University of Pennsylvania in 1995. Following veterinary school, she completed a one-year internship at Hollywood Animal Hospital. Dr. Farrell has special interests in endocrinology and dentistry. She currently resides in Alexandria with her husband and daughter. 


   Stephanie Galvan, DVM
Dr. Galvan is a native of Los Angeles, California.  She graduated summa cum laude from UCLA with a B.S. in Biology.  She then got her DVM from Cornell University, where she graduated with distinction.  She completed a one year internship at a specialty hospital in San Diego, California.  She now lives in Del Ray with her orange tabby Bodhi.  In her free time she enjoys traveling, hiking, mountain biking and spending time with friends.


Katie Gies, DVM
Dr. Gies, a native of Concord, NC, joined Alexandria Animal Hospital in 2008.  After graduating from North Carolina State University (Summa Cum Laude) with a major in Biological Sciences in 2002, she went on to that University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, earning her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in 2006.  Always an avid student of emergency and critical care, Dr. Gies is happy to be practicing emergency medicine at Alexandria Animal Hospital.  New to the DC area, Dr. Gies and her husband Aaron are having a great time exploring it on walks with their dog, Ferris, as well as kayaking, horseback riding, and playing with their two cats, Boniface and Pumpkin.

 
 Donna Krochak, DVM
Dr. Krochak earned her B.S. degree in Genetics/Biology from Cornell University in 1987, and graduated from the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine in 1991.  She then came to work as a full time associate veterinarian at Alexandria Animal Hospital in August 1993.  Along with her duties as a small animal practitioner, Dr. Krochak maintains a strong interest in ophthalmology, surgery and behavioral medicine.  A native New Yorker, Dr. Krochak has lived in Virginia for the past 12 years and has two boys, Sam and Alex. She also is the proud owner of two yellow Labrador retrievers, Madison and Kelly.  Besides being an avid Yankees fan, Dr. Krochak also enjoys gardening and cooking.


Katy Nelson, DVM

Dr. Nelson has been an associate emergency veterinarian at the Alexandria Animal Hospital since 2005.  As the co-creator of the Pawsitively Fit program, AAH’s fitness program for dogs and their owners, and as a consultant for FidoFit DC, Dr. Nelson pursues her passion to help dogs and cats to live the longest, fullest life that they can lead by staying fit and trim.  She gives advice to pet owners online, too, by serving as “Dr. Aarff” on www.aarff.com and by being a contributor to www.petdocsoncall.com.  Dr. Nelson is the President of the District of Columbia Academy of Veterinary Medicine, the oldest and largest veterinary continuing education society in the United States.  She is a member of The Iams Pet Wellness Council, and serves as a media spokesperson for P&G Pet Care.  Recently accredited by the American Society for Veterinary Journalism (ASVJ) as a Certified Veterinary Journalist (CVJ), she serves as a reporter for Veterinary News Network and a regular on ABC’s WJLA News Channel 8’s Live This Morning, as well as a frequent guest on XM Radio’s HGTV Channel’s The Pet Hour with Nancy Glass, Fox 5 DC’s The Pet Project and WJLA’s Let’s Talk Live.  Through her consulting business, KJN Veterinary Consulting, Dr. Nelson serves as a valuable source to reporters around the country.  Despite being a very busy wife, Mom (to 2-year-old Sam), pet parent (to Charlie the Jack Russell, Papi the Labradoodle and Z-Bug the Southern Painted Turtle), and doctor, Dr. Nelson still carves out time to serve on the Public Relations Board of The Animal Welfare League of Alexandria and is one of the visiting veterinarians to the shelter, volunteering her time there caring for the animals in need.


Annette Otis, DVM
Dr. Otis is a native of Ithaca, NY and attended Cornell University, where she graduated with honors.  After she received her MS summa cum laude in Anatomy and Physiology from Colorado State she returned to Cornell to attend NYSCVM and graduated with distinction. 

Dr. Otis received several awards and scholarships including the Cardiology Award, Humane Anesthesia Prize, Merck Manual Award, the Westminster Kennel Club Scholarship and the William C. Rehbun and Samuel Gordon Campbell Memorial Award.  She completed a one year internship at SouthPaws Veterinary Specialists and Emergency Center.  Dr. Otis joined the Alexandria Veterinary Emergency Service in July 2006.  She has a special interest in critical care and internal medicine, especially metabolic disease.  Dr. Otis currently lives in DelRay and shares an home with two wonderful mongrel cats named McGillicuddy and Gonzalo.  She has previously been involved in racing sled dogs and raising goats.  Her passion is traveling, which includes photography, diving, hiking, climbing, trying new foods and learning other cultures.  Her favorite thing to do is laugh.  


 Bridget Shirley, DVM 
Dr. Shirley is a native of Birmingham, Alabama. She attended the University of Alabama at Birmingham and received her B.S. degree in Biology and Chemistry in 1999. Following her undergraduate degree, Dr. Shirley graduated Cum Laude from Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine in May of 2004.  After graduation, Dr. Shirley moved to the Northern Virginia area to complete an internship in small animal medicine and surgery at Southpaws Veterinary Referral Center.  Dr. Shirley chose to stay in the NOVA area after completion of her internship and joined the critical care team at Alexandria Veterinary Emergency Service in July of 2005. Dr. Shirley currently resides in Alexandria with her hound mix otherwise known as Hannah Banana, Chow/Golden Retriever mix named Josie, American shorthair named Dugan, and not so domestic shorthair named Katie. In her time away from the hospital, Dr. Shirley enjoys traveling, cooking, photography, hiking, and spending time with friends and family. 


 Marcus Smail, DVM
Dr. Smail joined the critical care team at the Alexandria Veterinary Emergency Service in July 2003. Born and raised in Albany, NY, Marcus graduated from Siena College with a B.S. in Biology in 1996. He received his DVM degree in 2002 from Cornell University. He was an active member of Omega Tau Sigma Veterinary Fraternity and held several positions including House Manager and Treasurer. Marcus moved to the Northern Virginia area in 2002 to complete a one year internship at a local Veterinary Referral Center. He decided to stay in the area after completion of the program and joined Alexandria Veterinary Emergency Service.  In his free time he enjoys spending time with his dogs, Tyson and Izzy, traveling, reading a good book and participating in many outdoor activities including running, hiking, swimming and skiing. 


 Jackie Suarez, DVM
Dr. Suarez has worked as an associate veterinarian at Alexandria Animal Hospital since 1995. Dr. Suarez graduated with high honors from The University of Notre Dame in 1988 with a B. A. degree in Pre-professional Studies (Premed) / Sociology. She later attended The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine where she received the UPJOHN Small Animal Medicine Award. While attending veterinary school, Dr. Suarez was a member of the Delta Chapter of Phi Zeta National Veterinary Honor Society and a group leader in the raptor rehabilitation program. After earning her DVM degree in 1994, Dr. Suarez completed a one-year internship in medicine and surgery at the Animal Medical Center in New York City. Married to John, Dr. Suarez has three children. Her other family members include her guinea pig, Squeaky and her German shepherd Lola. When not volunteering for her children's schools, Dr. Suarez enjoys sculling on the Potomac. 


 Shannon Talbott, DVM
In 1996, Dr. Talbott joined Alexandria Animal Hospital as a veterinary assistant and returned in 2002, after receiving a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine. During her veterinary education, Dr. Talbott was the recipient of the Greater Fredericksburg Kennel Club Scholarship, Vaughan Scholarship, H.R. Winslow Trust Scholarship, Charles Gose Endowed Scholarship, and Richard and Marie Venable Scholarship. She held offices in student chapters of the American Animal Hospital Association and Omega Tau Sigma, the veterinary service fraternity.  Her special interests include dentistry and oral surgery. A native of Memphis, Tennessee, Dr. Talbott moved to northern Virginia after receiving her B.A. in Political Science from The George Washington University in 1994. Dr. Talbott is a volunteer for the Alexandria Animal Welfare League. Outside the hospital, she enjoys cooking, crafting, and boating with her husband Mark and their dog Sandy, the wonder-mutt. 


 Kristin Terrio, DVM
Dr. Terrio is Alexandria Animal Hospital's resident abdominal ultrasound associate. She has been a member of our veterinary staff since graduating from Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine in 1996.  During her academic years, Dr. Terrio was awarded the John T. Stanley Scholarship, the A. Cleveland Brown Scholarship, the Vaughan Scholarship, the W.R. Winslow Scholarship, the Maryland House of Delegates Scholarship, and the Washington Animal Rescue League Scholarship in recognition of her achievements.  Dr. Terrio began her career in the veterinary field as a veterinary assistant. She has also worked at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the Department of Veterinary Pathology.  Dr. Terrio's husband, John, works as an administrator at NIH. Their family consists of two beautiful children, a lab mix, Wiley, and an orange tabby, Cheddar. When not at work, Dr. Terrio enjoys spending time with her family, reading, painting and traveling.


 Dr. Ashley Zeni, DVM
Dr. Zeni joined Alexandria Animal Hospital in January 2007. Prior to joining AAH, she practiced for several years at another small animal hospital in Northern Virginia. Dr. Zeni is a graduate of Texas A&M University, where she received both her bachelor's degree and her veterinary degree. While at Texas A&M, she was named Who's Who Among Students in American Universities & Colleges. Dr. Zeni's professional interests include internal medicine, cardiology and ultrasound. In her personal time, she enjoys running, yoga, cooking and traveling. She also enjoys finding a good bargain on a good pair of shoes! She shares her home with two furry cats, Tutu and Mo.  

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