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Our Doctors
SURGERY
Dr. Henri C. Bianucci
Dr. Henri Bianucci earned his Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, where he graduated as the Salutatorian of his class. He completed his internship at the University of Missouri, earning the honor of Intern of the Year. He completed his surgical residency at Virginia –Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine (Virginia Tech) and in 1999 achieved Board certification with the American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS). As a resident at Virginia Tech College of Veterinary Medicine, he received the Bente Flatland Award for Compassionate Care as well as the Phi Zeta Award for Research Excellence. Upon completion of his surgical residency in 1998 he began practicing in Charleston and in the spring of 2000 he founded Veterinary Surgical Care.
Dr. Bianucci is actively involved in community service, which includes membership on the Board for Pet Helpers and active participation in fundraising campaigns for The Foundation for Tomorrow (TFFT), an institution dedicated to providing educations toTanzanian orphans. Dr. Bianucci was presented with the Special Volunteer Award by the Myrtle Beach Humane Society, for his care of an intentionally and severely burned puppy. He is also committed to serving for NGO Rescue and Humane Organizations by providing special arrangements for discounted medical and surgical.
Outside his work hours, Dr. Bianucci enjoys his Wadmalaw Island home with his family. He enjoys gardening and all the outdoor opportunities that life on the sea islands affords and time with his many pets, including his cat, Fence; 10 dogs, Trixie, Pepe, Po, Lotus, Punkin, Corkie, Nigel, Pie, Little, and Katie; horses, Ginny, Chief and Smurf; and chickens, Alfred III and Gloria III.
When asked about his work, Dr. Bianucci explains, “God has given me the gift of being able to make a living doing what I love. It’s a gift I appreciate more and more as time goes by. I take very seriously that people whom I have never met trust me to care for their pets and often put their pet’s life in my hands. I consider it my responsibility to fulfill that trust by giving them the best I can offer every time.”
Dr. Wesley Cook
Dr. Wesley Cook is a Board Certified veterinary surgeon and a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS). Dr. Cook received his Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from North Carolina State University in 1996, before going to the University of Georgia for his internship. He performed his residency in surgery at Virginia Tech and served on the faculty at Virginia Tech until his wife completed her residency. Dr. Cook subsequently joined a multi-specialty hospital in North Carolina, where he worked for several years, after which he came to Charleston and joined the team at Veterinary Specialty Care.In 2006, Dr. Cook was honored as the first Orthopedic Fellow at Colorado State University. Dr. Cook performs soft tissue surgery and neurosurgery, and he is a practitioner of minimal invasive surgery, particularly arthroscopy of the shoulders, stifles, hips and elbows. Dr. Cook is a certified Penn Hip evaluator for the early diagnosis of hip dysplasia. Dr. Cook has also received advanced training in the application of external fixators used for limb lengthening, fracture repair, and correction of angular limb deformities.
Dr. Cook is a member of multiple veterinary organizations. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family, playing golf, competing in multi-sport races, and training his dogs for agility trials.
Dr. Lori Ludwig
Lori Ludwig received her veterinary degree from the University of Pennsylvania. After veterinary school, she completed an internship at the Animal Medical Center, a multi specialty non profit veterinary teaching hospital in New York City. She completed a surgery residency and Master's degree at the Ohio State University and became a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons. After her residency, she spent a year in a private practice in Akron, Ohio and then returned to the Animal Medical Center, where she served as the head of a surgery service for 7 years. During her time there, she instructed veterinary interns and residents in surgery and developed a minimally invasive surgery program (thoracoscopy and laparoscopy). She also started a kidney transplant program for cats. She moved to Charleston in 2004 and has been working with VSC since 2005 performing soft tissue, orthopedic and neurosurgery. Dr. Ludwig has been an invited national and international speaker in several areas in soft tissue and emergency surgery. She has authored several publications in both veterinary journals and textbooks and is currently serving as section editor for a new soft tissue surgery textbook. Outside her time at work, she enjoys playing tennis, running and cooking. Her pets include Annie, a 10 year old mixed breed dog her husband rescued after she had been shot by her previous owner, Sylvio and Tito, kittens rescued by VEC and Phineas, a 5 year old domestic shorthair cat she adopted from the Charleston Animal Society.
INTERNAL MEDICINE
Dr. Perry Jameson
Dr. Perry Jameson earned his Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from North Carolina State University in 1991. He then completed an internship at Colorado State University followed by a residency in small animal internal medicine at the University of Georgia. Dr. Jameson is also a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
Beyond his work at Veterinary Specialty Care, he serves on the board for the Charleston Animal Society and serves on the vestry for St. John's Parish, of John's Island. In his leisure time, he enjoys hiking, camping, competing in triathlons, running, and biking. Besides his daughter and son, his favorite companions include his dog, Flipper, and his four cats: Polly, Ollie, Winky, and Inky. When asked about his profession, Dr. Jameson explains, "Pets are important members of our families and need to be treated as such. I probably have one of the best jobs in the world."
Dr. Andrea Nicastro
Dr. Andrea Nicastro obtained her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from the Ohio State University. She continued her education with a one-year rotating internship in small animal medicine and surgery at Veterinary Specialists of Rochester in New York and a two-year residency in small animal internal medicine at Angell Memorial Animal Hospital in Boston, MA. During her two-year residency, Dr. Nicastro studied all medical diseases of dogs and cats with specialized training in cardiology, gastroenterology, nephrology, endocrinology, hematology, infectious diseases, oncology, and neurology.
After obtaining board certification with the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, Dr. Nicastro worked as a clinical instructor at the University of Pretoria in South Africa and as an assistant professor at the University of Prince Edward Island in Canada for three years. With advanced training and experience in the diagnosis and management of medical diseases of the dog and cat, Dr. Nicastro will provide the most current treatment options for your pet. Her primary concern is your pet’s health and happiness. Dr. Nicastro’s favorite leisure activities are kayaking, surfing and traveling. She has one cat, named Dady, and she 13 years old.
Dr. Holly Mims
Dr. Holly Mims received her Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from the University of Georgia in 2003. She completed a 1 year small animal medicine and surgery internship at The Virginia- Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine in Blacksburg, Virginia followed by a 3 year internal medicine residency at Gulf Coast Veterinary Specialists in Houston, Texas. After her residency, she worked in Cary, North Carolina and then Loveland, Colorado as a veterinary internist. Dr. Mims joined our team in August of 2010. Her primary medical interests include gastroenterology, infectious diseases, and interventional radiology. Dr. Mims is an active member of the American Veterinary Medical Association and local Veterinary Medical Association.
Dr. Mims owns a black lab named Ariel and a manx cat named Goldberg. Her favorite leisure activities include running, biking, swimming, reading, and playing the guitar. When asked about her work, she explains that she enjoys meeting people and experiencing the bond that develops from working closely with pet owners, to provide them with key information so that they can make the best decisions for their furry family members. Dr. Mims has participated in puppy training for the guide dog program several years ago and continues to be active in community events, including fundraisers to support the Humane Society.
Dr. Michelle Wall
Dr. Michelle Wall obtained her Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from the University of Georgia. She then completed a small animal internship at Kansas State University, which was followed by a three year residency in small animal internal medicine at the University of Georgia. After obtaining board certification with the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine she realized that her primary interest was working with pets with cancer and their dedicated caregivers. Therefore she remained at the University of Georgia for an additional residency in oncology. After several years of working as a veterinary specialist in the upstate of South Carolina, Dr. Wall and her family decided to relocate to the coast and join our team.
Dr. Wall is dedicated to partnering with the families of pets with cancer and providing state of the art treatment options, but most importantly, providing a great quality of life for her patients. “Even though a diagnosis of cancer is challenging for the entire family, there are numerous treatment options available, and our furry family members can continue to enjoy a great quality life throughout their treatment process. My main priority is to aid my clients in making the best decisions for them and their furry family member.”
In her free time, Dr. Wall enjoys spending time with her husband and two sons, especially at the beach! Their constant companions are Riley, a 12 year old mixed breed dog that was rescued in Kansas, and an 11 year old pug obtained from Pug Rescue. When time allows she enjoys running, hiking, biking and reading.
Dr. Kathryn Taylor
Dr. Kathryn Taylor obtained her Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine in 2002 from Auburn University. After completing a one-year rotating internship at Angell Memorial Animal Hospital in Boston, Dr. Taylor returned to Auburn Univeristy to complete a three-year residency and Master’s degree in Oncology. She is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine--Oncology Specialty (DACVIM-Oncology). Dr. Taylor joined the VSC team in 2006. She is committed to offering the highest quality of care for your pet.
Describing her philosophy for caring for her patients, Dr. Taylor explains, “I understand that our pets are our family. Cancer can be a devastating diagnosis, but the treatment should not be a burden to our pets. Each pet and family is unique, and I strive to help all of my clients make the best decisions possible during difficult circumstances.”When she is not working with patients, Dr. Taylor enjoys spending time with her husband and son, and they all enjoy enjoy spending time with the furry members of the Taylor family: their goldendoodle, Charlie, and their dachshund, Wyatt.
Dr. Kathy Sennello
We are excited to announce the arrival of Dr. Kathy Sennello. Dr. Sennello obtained her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana. She spent 3 years in private general practice outside of Chicago before returning to the University of Illinois for an internship in small animal medicine and surgery. Following her internship she moved on to a three-year residency and masters degree in small animal internal medicine at Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Sennello has been in private specialty practice for the last 6 years and has special interests in gastro-intestinal diseases and endocrinology.
Out side of work she is very interested in enjoying nature, being active,yoga and travel. She also enjoys spending time with her husband, John and their two mix breed dogs Oscar and Truman.
Neurology/Neurosurgery
Dr. Peter Brofman
Dr. Peter Brofman received his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Cornell University in 1998. He continued his education with a one year internship in medicine and surgery at The Veterinary Referral and Emergency Center in Norwalk, CT. He then completed a 2 year residency in internal medicine at The Animal Medical Center in New York City, during which he developed a specific interest in neurology and elected to pursue further training when he completed his internal medicine residency in 2001. He was selected to train at The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine for a 3 year residency in neurology, during which he also completed a Master's degree. Dr. Brofman's research focused on the effects of various anesthetic protocols upon the results of electrodiagnostic testing. Following completion of his training in 2004 he has practiced medical and surgical neurology for 7 years in private practices in Cary and Charlotte, NC until joining the team at Veterinary Specialty Care in 2011.
Dr. Brofman is board certified by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine in both neurology and internal medicine specialties. Dr. Brofman is a founding member of the Veterinary Neurosurgical Society. He has also continued his education by taking the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society’s course in basic veterinary acupuncture. Although he enjoys all aspects of neurology, his particular interests include spinal trauma and surgery, pain management, surgical and medical management of brain tumors, and Chiari malformations. His training in the specialty of neurology will add to the already diverse and advanced care available for your pets at VSC. He is experienced in all aspects of both surgical and medical neurology; yet he also enjoys using his internal medicine training in aiding him to look at the all the problems your pets may be experiencing. Dr. Brofman realizes that it can be a stressful and difficult time when your beloved pet is sick. He will do everything he can to make sure you are aware of all available options and help you to make the right decision for both you AND you pet. Outside of the hospital, Dr. Brofman enjoys backpacking and cycling with his wife. He has two dogs; Forrest a Rhodesian ridgeback, and RJ a lab mix; and a little black cat named Shirley.
CARDIOLOGY
Dr. Baumwart
Dr. Baumwart is originally from Oklahoma. He received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Oklahoma State University. Following his graduation, he completed a one-year internship at the Ohio State University in small animal medicine and surgery. He continued his training at the Ohio State University, completing a four-year residency in cardiovascular medicine. Following his residency he worked for a specialty hospital in Boise Idaho for almost 4 years. His work in Boise was primarily with dogs and cats but he was also involved in equine cardiology cases. Dr. Baumwart has worked part time as an adjunct faculty at Washington State University.
He has been part of FDA drug trials & has authored several publications on cardiovascular disease. His training has allowed him to diagnose and treat both cardiovascular and respiratory disease in animals.
In his leisure time Dr. Baumwart enjoys spending time with his dogs Mac and Halen. He enjoys the outdoors hiking, camping, horseback riding, snowboarding, and fly fishing. He is looking forward to the new outdoor activities that Charleston has to offer.
EMERGENCY
Dr. Mikell Adair
Dr. Mikell Adair obtained her Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from the Ohio State University. She was born and raised in Fairmont, West Virginia. Prior to attending OSU, Dr. Adair graduated from Fairmont State University and became a Registered Veterinary Technician. She then obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Animal and Veterinary Science from West Virginia University. She joined Veterinary Emergency Care in North Charleston in February of 2008. She has spent time volunteering at the spay and neuter clinic at the Charleston Animal Society. She is passionate about providing the best possible care to our clients and their furry family members.
Dr. Adair enjoys spending time with her husband and their golden retriever, Jaxson. She also enjoys staying active in athletics, photography, movies, reading and relaxing on the beach.
Dr. Jeremy Libby
Dr. Jeremy Libby obtained his Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1998. After graduation, he practiced at the Animal Medical Hospital in Charlotte, North Carolina for five years, gaining experience in internal medicine, surgery and emergency and critical care medicine.
Dr. Libby has been practicing emergency and critical care medicine in the Charleston area since 2003 and became the hospital director of Veterinary Emergency Care—North Charleston in 2005. Dr. Libby and the other staff members at Veterinary Emergency Care are committed to providing the most compassionate and practical patient care. He understands how difficult and challenging unexpected pet emergencies can be and will strive to work closely with you and your local veterinarian to achieve the best possible treatment for your pet.
Dr. Judi Bumgardner
Dr. Judi Bumgardner obtained her Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine in 1995 from the University of Minnesota. After that she completed a one-year rotating internship in small animal medicine and surgery at the University of Georgia. Dr. Bumgardner moved to Charleston and joined the staff of the emergency clinic in 1996.
Today, she lives on Johns Island with her husband, two children, three dogs, two cats, several peacocks and chickens. She also does volunteer work at local nursing homes and schools with her dog Rooster, a registered therapy dog.
Dr. Melanie Mokos
Dr. Melanie Mokos graduated from the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine in 1984. After working 2 years in a private practice, Dr. Mokos accepted a position at the Anti-Cruelty Society in Chicago where she developed a passion for shelter work. This shelter also had a full service clinic for the low income population and Dr. Mokos was able to perform several medical and surgical procedures including all emergency procedures. After nine years, the reality of shelter work took its toll and she opted to leave to pursue other opportunities. She worked in several practices as a relief veterinarian before accepting a position at an emergency clinic northwest of Chicago, where she gained extensive experience in emergency medical and surgical procedures.
In the spring of 2009, she decided she had spent her last winter in the Midwest. Dr. Mokos was offered a position at Veterinary Emergency Care and has felt at home at the clinic since she joined VEC last October. Dr. Mokos has a love for animals, a passion for emergency medicine and a commitment to treat each patient as if it were her own. Although she is enjoying the the Lowcountry (especially the weather) she remains a die-hard Cubs and Bears fan.
Dr. Mark McKenzie
Dr. Mark McKenzie obtained his Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine in 2002 from Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine. After graduating, Dr. McKenzie moved to Richmond, VA where he was an associate veterinarian in an equine ambulatory practice. Following a year and a half of practicing equine medicine he began practicing small animal medicine, emergency care, and surgery in a small animal practice in rural southeast PA.
In 2006 Dr. McKenzie began practicing small animal emergency and critical care medicine at Veterinary Emergency Care, and continues on this path with VEC today. Like all of the veterinarians at Veterinary Emergency Care, Dr. McKenzie is committed to provide quality emergency and critical care with compassion for your pet.
Dr. Christopher Powers
Dr. Christopher Powers received his Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from the University of Tennessee in 1999. Following graduation, he worked at a small animal practice here in Charleston, SC for six years. His passion has always been emergency and critical care medicine. Therefore, he decided to take a position at Veterinary Emergency Care and has been with us since 2006.
Dr. Powers was born in India and was raised in an orphanage since two days after being born. He was adopted when he was 3-1/2 years old and grew up in Maryland. Dr. Powers has been blessed with a beautiful wife and a son. During his days off he enjoys playing soccer, exercising, going to the beach, reading the bible, wrestling with his great dane, and being a dad.
Dr. Kelly Love
Dr. Kelly Anne Love earned her doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from the University of Florida. She worked for the Greater Charleston Emergency Clinic before moving to Wilmington, NC to continue working in emergency and critical care medicine. She rejoined our team at VEC in June of 2010 to head up the 24 hour emergency service in Mount Pleasant. Prior to vet school she was an emergency and surgical technician in North Carolina and Florida. She is originally from Charleston, SC.
During her college years at the College of Notre Dame of Maryland, she was awarded Most valuable Player for her swim team 3 years in a row, was recognized as Most Outstanding Underclass athlete, Most Outstanding Senior athlete, held multiple pool and school records for her swim team, and was recently inducted into the college's Athletic Hall of Fame. In her free time she enjoys swimming, bike riding, running, and participating in the Multiple Sclerosis 150 mile charity bike ride annually. She has two boxers named Chopper and Adelheid.
Dr. Russell Bauman
Russell grew up in the mountains of north Georgia on a small farm. He received his B.S. in biology at the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee before moving to Athens for veterinary school at the University of Georgia. Russell practiced in rural Tennessee west of Nashville for two years and gained experience working with large and small animals. During his time in mixed practice Russell found joy in helping people, their pets, and farm animals through emergency situations. He is excited to continue pursuing this joy at Veterinary Emergency Care.
Russell and his wife Jessica live in Mount Pleasant with their two "english" hounds (Tennessee beagle mutts), Siena and Barley. Siena enjoys breakfast, long naps, and dinner, while Barley is more of a squirrel man.
Dr. Kellie Klein
She grew up in Montpelier, VT and after high school moved to Charleston, SC to go to College of Charleston. She graduated with a BS in Psychology. Dr. Klein then spent the next few years working as a veterinary technician at a couple of clinics in the area. After some time she decided that she really wanted to pursue a career as a veterinarian. She went to Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine on the island of St. Kitt's. She spent 3 years on the island and loved it. When she wasn't studying she did a lot of hiking, snorkeling, and enjoying the fantastic weather! Her final year of vet school was completed at Auburn University in Alabama. As soon as she finished vet school (August 2010) she moved back to Charleston where she was lucky enough to get a job with Veterinary Emergency Care.
Besides working as a veterinarian Dr. Klein enjoys going to the beach, reading, and hiking. She has two mixed breed dogs that both came from the island and two cats.
Dr. Juliette Maybay Van Galder
Juliette Maybay Van Galder
Dr Van Galder is originally from Fairview, South Carolina. She received her bachelor degree from Coker College in South Carolina and Her Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from the University of Georgia. She received a merit of excellence in Large Animal Surgery her senior year. Her areas of interest include emergency medicine (large and small animal alike), general medicine, and surgery. As a member of the AVMA, she enjoys networking and staying up to date on trends in medicine. She and her husband, Jason, have 3 dogs (Turk, Goose, and Belle). In her spare time, she enjoys running, riding endurance horses, and spending time with her twin sister and family.
Hospital Administrator
Donna Bauman, BS, CVPM
Donna has been involved in the field of Veterinary Medicine for over 20 years. She earned her B.S. degree in Business Management from Davenport University and has been awarded the designation of Certified Veterinary Practice Manager (CVPM).
In her current position as hospital administrator for Veterinary Specialty Care in Mt. Pleasant, SC, Ms. Bauman manages every aspect of the hospital's operations. Her management approach focuses on providing exceptional client service as well as the highest standards of patient care. Donna is a member of the Veterinary Hospital Managers’ Association (VHMA) & Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society (VECCS).
She has lectured at several national & international veterinary conferences and has contributed several veterinary management articles to Firstline, Veterinary Economics & AAHA Trends.
Donna resides in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina. She is the proud mom of 5 amazing children as well as her 4-legged family members; a Great Dane named Mekhi and 2 Miniature Dachshunds; Carmine and Wrigley.
Practice Manager
Stephanie M. Trimble
Stephanie M. Trimble grew up in Kentucky, where her family bred and showed St. Bernards and Great Pyrenees. She spent more time in a dog kennel than a child’s crib. After receiving her degree in Marine Science from Coastal Carolina University, she moved to Sarasota, FL to work at Mote Marine Laboratory. While at Mote Marine she learned that she missed being around the furry ones she grew up with and obtained a job at a veterinary hospital as a veterinary assistant. While at this hospital, she gained several years of valuable experience, as a technician and a manager. After 6 years, she had worked her way up from a veterinary assistant to head technician, managing over 10 employees. In 2005, she moved back to the Carolina’s and started working for Veterinary Medical Care, LLC. She has been managing both practices, Mt. Pleasant and North Charleston, for the past couple of years.
Stephanie enjoys reading, gardening, going to the beach and spending time with her family. They share their home on John’s Island with Riley a 7 year old English Cocker Spaniel and Chloe a 10 year old Calico Domestic Short Hair.
Veterinary Medical Care North Charleston
Veterinary Medical Care Mount Pleasant
Veterinary Emergency Care North Charleston
Veterinary Emergency Care Mount Pleasant
Veterinary Surgical Care
