Veterinarians
Our staff includes the following veterinarians:- Brett Levitzke, D.V.M., Medical Director
Brett Levitzke, DVM
Medical Director and Emergency/Critical Care Clinician
Brett received his Bachelor of Science in Microbiology from Cornell University in 1994 and his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine in 2000. Upon graduation, he completed a rotating one year internship in Emergency, Surgery, and Internal Medicine at Garden State Veterinary Specialists in Tinton Falls, NJ. He then parlayed his keen interest in emergency medicine into a position as medical director of the Brooklyn Veterinary Emergency Services.
Sensing the need for a 24 hour emergency and specialty hospital, Brett was the founding partner of the Veterinary Emergency and Referral Group in the spring of 2005, where he has since been working as the Medical Director and emergency/critical care clinician. His special interests are cases of trauma – including vehicular and high rise. When he is not working, you can find Brett cheering on his beloved Georgia Bulldogs in football, saltwater fishing, or playing Texas Hold’Em. He shares his apartment with his Springer Spaniel Toby and cat Broccoli.
- Timothy P. Anderson, D.V.M.
Timothy P. Anderson, DVM
Emergency/Critical Care Clinician
Tim received a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics from William Jewell College, a Masters in Animal Science from California State Polytechnic, and his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Wisconsin. His post-graduate work included a rotating one year internship in Internal Medicine and Surgery at the Animal Medical Center in New York City and a one year Surgical Internship at Affiliated Veterinary Specialists in Jacksonville, Florida. Tim has been employed at the Brooklyn Veterinary Emergency Services and then the Veterinary Emergency Referral Group since 2004, and has special interest in soft tissue surgery, especially gastrointestinal procedures. In his spare time, Tim enjoys bicycling, cooking with his wife, and freshwater fly fishing. He is joined at home by his Irish Setter Mix Nora and his cats Ian, Hank, and Anna.
- Kenneth M.E. Humphreys, D.V.M.
Kenneth M.E. Humphreys, DVM
Emergency/Critical Care Clinician
Kenneth is a 2005 graduate of the Ross University, School of Veterinary Medicine. He completed a small animal medicine and surgery internship at Brooklyn Veterinary Emergency Services. Dr. Humphreys is a staff Emergency Veterinarian at VERG.
- Amy Lipnicki, D.V.M.
Amy Lipnicki, DVM
Emergency/Critical Care Clinician
Amy received her Bachelor of Science in Animal Science from Rutgers University in 2000 and her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine in 2004. After completing a clinical year at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, she took a part time position at the Brooklyn Veterinary Emergency Service, and is now a full time emergency/critical care veterinarian at VERG. Her medical interests include gastrointestinal diseases, including liver disease in cats. Amy enjoys painting, rooting for her beloved N.Y. Rangers, and spending time with her two cats Jack and Tubbs and her dog Howie.
- Kara Sessums, D.V.M., Diplomate ACVIM
Kara Sessums, DVM, Diplomate ACVIM
Neurology/Neurosurgery
Dr. Sessums graduated from Texas A&M University in May of 2000. Afterwards, she worked as an emergency and critical care veterinarian in the Dallas area for three years. Dr. Sessums completed an internship in neurology and neurosurgery at the Dallas Veterinary Surgical Center in 2004. She then went to the University of Florida’s College of Veterinary Medicine for a Neurology residency. Her residency training was completed at Animal Neurology and Neurosurgery of Texas in 2007 where she gained additional neurosurgical training. For the past two years, Dr. Sessums has been practicing veterinary neurology in Colorado and recently relocated to Brooklyn. Her professional interests include refractory epilepsy, treatment of CNS neoplasia and new therapies for GME. Dr. Sessums is available for medical and surgical neurologic referrals and/or phone consultation.
- Danielle Schoen, D.V.M.
Danielle Schoen, DVM
Emergency/Critical Care Clinician
Danielle received a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the State University of New York College at Geneseo in 2001 and her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine in 2005. She completed a clinical year at Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine, followed by a year long rotating small animal internship in Internal Medicine and Surgery at Fifth Avenue Veterinary Specialists in Manhattan. Danielle has been at VERG since the summer of 2006, and has a strong interest in endocrine disorders – especially diabetes. Outside of the clinic she is an avid reader, and her other interests include walking her dog Clyde, going to the beach in the summer, and swimming both recreationally and competetively.
- Emma Ryan, BVSc
Emma Ryan, BVSc
Emergency/Critical Care Clinician
- Nicole Shaw, D.V.M., Diplomate ACVIM
Nicole Shaw, DVM, Diplomate ACVIM
Internal Medicine
Nicole earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Anthropology from the University of Pennsylvania in 1995 and her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine in 1999. Upon graduation, Nicole pursued a rotating internship in Internal Medicine and Surgery and a residency in Internal Medicine at the Animal Medical Center in New York City from 1999 to 2002. She is a Diplomate of the American College of Internal Medicine.
Nicole had been a staff internist at Oradell Animal Hospital from 2002 to 2006 before joining VERG in the same capacity in April 2006. Her special interests include feline asthma/bronchitis, renal disease, and topics in endocrinology. When not at work, you can find Nicole enjoying beautiful Prospect Park with her husband and two daughters, or playing with her Russian Blue, Maya.
- Amy M. Tamulevicus, D.V.M., MS (Board Elegible)
Amy M. Tamulevicus, DVM, MS (Board Elegible)
Internal Medicine
Amy earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Science and Policy for Muhlenberg College in 1995, Master of Science degree in Environmental Science from Rutgers University Graduate School in 1999, and a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine in 2003. She completed a rotating internship in small animal medicine and surgery at Garden State Veterinary Specialists in 2003-2004, and a small animal medicine residency at Kansas State University from 2005-2008. Her special interests include endocrine diseases, particularly difficult diabetic cases, as well as immune-mediated diseases and renal disease.
When not at work, she enjoys running, hiking, and kayaking. She shares her apartment with her Italian Greyhound DiMaggio, two cats (Oprah and Forrest), and two African Grey parrots (Harley and Mango).
- Rada Panich, D.V.M., Diplomate ACVD
Rada Panich, DVM, Diplomate ACVD
Dermatology
Rada completed her residency in Veterinary Dermatology at the New York State College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell University, and spent an additional year at Cornell as a research associate. Dr. Panich has been in private referral practice since 1991, and is currently the only Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Dermatology in the Long Island and New York City area. Dr. Panich is especially interested in immune-mediated dermatopathies, allergic skin disease and alopecias. She has authored numerous articles and several veterinary textbook chapters on dermatology.
- Raymond G. Prata, D.V.M., Diplomate ACVS
Raymond G. Prata, DVM, Diplomate ACVS
Surgery
Dr. Prata graduated from The University of Illinois Veterinary School in 1969. He completed a one year internship program and a three year surgical residency at The Animal Medical Center in New York City. He became a Diplomate of The College of Veterinary Surgeons in 1975. Employed as a staff surgeon there, specializing in neurology, neurosurgery, and orthopedics, he became Head of Surgery in 1979. He was also an Adjunct Professor at New York University Hospital. Dr. Prata left the Animal Medical Center in 1984 when he joined the staff at The Oradell Animal Hospital in Oradell, New Jersey. He specializes in neurology, neurosurgery, and orthopedics. He performs the Tibial Tuberosity Advancement (TTA) technique for the repair of anterior cruciate ruptures. He is now the chief surgeon at Veterinary Emergency and Referral Group.
Dr. Prata’s professional contributions include authorship of more than 40 publications in neurosurgery and orthopedics, national and international lecturer, and instructor for TTA training courses nationally.
You can also find Dr. Prata on the streams of upstate New York where he indulges his passion for fly-fishing and the outdoors. - Michele Cohen, D.V.M., MS
Michele Cohen, DVM, MS, Diplomates ACVIM (Medical Oncology) and ACVR (Radiation Oncology)
Oncology
Dr. Cohen is a graduate of Brown University and the College of veterinary medicine at Cornell University. She completed her internship in small animal medicine and surgery at The Animal Medical Center and her residency training in medical and radiation oncology at Auburn University. Dr. Cohen has numerous publications and has lectured locally and nationally on various topics in the field of veterinary oncology.
She has also received many awards for her contributions to the field, including the E. Gregory MacEwen Memorial Award for the Outstanding Basic Science Research Project from the veterinary Cancer Society in 2002. Dr. Cohen is one of less than 20 veterinarians to be board certified in both medical and radiation oncology. She has been in private practice in Long Island prior to joining The Veterinary Emergency and Referral Group. Dr. Cohen is available for consultation, diagnosis and treatment of various types of cancer at The Veterinary Emergency and Referral Group. Radiation therapy, if needed, can be performed at a nearby facility.
- Seth A. Koch, V.M.D., DACVO
Seth A. Koch, VMD, Diplomate ACVO
Ophthalmology
Seth A. Koch, VMD, DACVO, was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, educated in Binghamton, NY for undergraduate studies and received his degree in veterinary medicine in 1965 from the University of Pennsylvania. Following graduation, he obtained an NIH Fellowship to study ophthalmology at the University of Pennsylvania Medical School where he received a masters degree in comparative ophthalmology from the Graduate School of Medicine and the Veterinary School.
Dr. Koch was the first veterinarian to open a specialty private practice and over the years he has trained many students in the field of ophthalmology. He was an adjunct member of the faculty at the University of Pennsylvania for 20 years.
He has published 40-plus papers, contributed chapters to scholarly textbooks and has lectured throughout the U.S., Europe. Considered an expert in the area of Parotid Duct surgery, he has produced an instructional video titled: Parotid Duct Transposition in the Dog (© 2008)
While he resides in Washington D.C., Dr. Koch enjoys reading and traveling throughout the U.S. and Europe. - Jonathan C. Goodwin, D.V.M.
Jonathan C. Goodwin, DVM
Practice Limited to Cardiology
Jonathan received his veterinary degree from Tuskegee University. He completed his internship in 2000 at the Coral Springs Animal Hospital, and then went on to complete a cardiology residency at Purdue University from 2005 to 2008.
- Justin M. Goggin, D.V.M., Diplomate ACVR
Justin M. Goggin, DVM, Diplomate ACVR
Radiology (Outside Consultation)
Justin M. Goggin, DVM, DACVR, has been board certified in radiologist since 1998. He received undergraduate and veterinary degrees with distinction from Cornell University. He completed an internship in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery and Radiology Residency at Kansas State University, with additional residency training at UC Davis and Colorado State University. His practice in Northern New Jersey provides radiology consultation and diagnostic ultrasound imaging services for veterinarians in general and specialty referral practice.
His special interests include diagnostic radiology, ultrasound, CT, MR neuro- and musculoskeletal- imaging, and radioiodine therapy program for hyperthyroid cats. Dr. Goggin has authored multiple peer reviewed veterinary journal articles, contributed to several text book chapters and provides continuing education training and lectures to veterinarians on topics in radiology. Dr. Goggin evaluates and provides interpretations of diagnostic images transmitted electronically to him from patients imaged at this practice.
- Thomas D. Scavelli, D.V.M.
Thomas D. Scavelli, DVM, Diplomate ACVS
Surgery (Outside Consultation)
Founder and Director of Garden State Veterinary Specialists. Thomas is a 1982 graduate of The New York State College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University. He completed an internship and 3 year surgical residency program at The Animal Medical Center in New York City. He became a Diplomate of The American College of Veterinary Surgeons in 1987 and headed the surgical service at The Animal Medical center for 6 years. He established a surgical referral practice (Veterinary Surgical Specialists) in 1990 which has evolved into Garden State Veterinary Specialist. He is also an outside consultant for Veterinary Emergency & Referral Group.