About Our Staff
The Animal Emergency Center is staffed 24-hours a day, seven-days a week with highly trained, board certified and specialized veterinarians, nurses and technicians. Our team of over 40 includes:
- Board certified specialists in emergency and critical care.
- Board certified surgeons experienced in emergency medicine.
- Board certified internal medicine specialist experienced in emergency medicine.
- Board certified specialist in veterinary medical oncology.
- Board certified specialist in avian medicine and residency trained in small mammals and reptiles.
- Board certified emergency and critical care nurses.
- Staff members are trained specifically to handle exotic animals.
- AEC staff leads the way in the field of small animal critical care and often deliver lectures,
present papers and publish books and articles for the veterinary profession.
Board Certified Specialist
 Rebecca Kirby, DVM, DACVIM, DACVECC
Executive Director
Director of Education
Dr. Rebecca Kirby grew up in St. Louis, Missouri and graduated from the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine. She is one of the pioneers in small animal emergency and critical care medicine, and sole owner of the Animal Emergency Center. She was formerly Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine and Director of Emergency Services at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. She heads the medical training at the Center as well as the overall organization of the educational programs. She has lectured in over 24 countries and has won recognition as Speaker of the Year at the North American Veterinary Conference. Her articles, textbooks, and clinical research have advanced the veterinary profession as well as inspired many young students to pursue emergency and critical care as their chosen career. She started the first residency-training program in the world in emergency and critical care, and has trained more than 20 residents in the specialty. She was honored to present a "State of the Art" lecture at the 2000 World Small Animal Veterinary Association Congress in Amsterdam. She is a board-certified specialist in both small animal internal medicine and emergency and critical care medicine. Click here to learn more about the Emergency and Critical Care Service
Elke Rudloff, DVM, DACVECC Dr. Elke Rudloff grew up internationally and graduated from Purdue Veterinary School in 1991. She completed an Internship and Residency at the Animal Emergency Center in 1994 prior to obtaining her board certification in emergency and critical care medicine. She supervises and organizes doctors in their day-to-day responsibilities as well as academic work. Dr. Rudloff served on the Board of the Milwaukee Veterinary Medical Association 1996-1999. She is the Scientific Program Chair for the International Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society, as well as a Regent and member of the scientific program committee of the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care. She enjoys lecturing nationally and internationally to veterinarians, students and veterinary nurses. Dr. Rudloff teaches first aid and CPR to pet owners, veterinary staff, and dog handlers of the city, county and state police. Her special interests include fluid therapy and trauma management, subjects on which she has published. Click here to learn more about the Emergency and Critical Care Service
 Andrew Linklater, DVM, DACVECC
Dr. Linklater grew up in Canada and graduated from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in his hometown of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan in 2002. Following veterinary school, he completed an internship in Los Angeles before joining the staff of the Animal Emergency Center in 2003 where he completed a residency in veterinary emergency and critical care. He is board certified by the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care as a specialist in emergency and critical care. Dr. Linklater directs the management of emergency and critical care cases and performs advanced procedures such as ultrasounds, echocardiography, endoscopy, and emergency surgeries. In addition, he is part of the staff of clinical teachers, providing lectures and instruction to staff doctors and visiting veterinary students, nurses, and veterinarians. He has publications in several journals and textbooks and has lectured nationally and internationally. Dr. Linklater currently serves on the board of the Milwaukee Veterinary Medical Association. Dr. Linklater's professional interests include trauma, surgical emergencies and mechanical ventilation. His personal interests include reading, running with his dogs and anything outdoors. Click here to learn more about the Emergency and Critical Care Service
 Dana S. King, DVM, DACVS
Dr. King graduated from Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine in 1995 and completed a surgical residency at the University of Pennsylvania. She is board certified by the American College of Veterinary Surgeons and received the Best Clinical Publication Award in 2001. Dr. King began her career as a large animal surgeon at the University of Wisconsin but now limits her practice to small animal patients. She has trained with specialists in small animal surgical oncology, neurosurgery, orthopedics, and general surgery, and has strong interests in minimally invasive surgery and pain management. Click here to learn more about the Surgery Service  Dale Joseph Kressin DVM, FAVD, DAVDC
Dr. Kressin is a High School graduate of Nathan Hale High School of West Allis, Wisconsin. He is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin- River Falls and majored in Food Science and Nutrition. He subsequently graduated from the University Of Minnesota College Of Veterinary Medicine. He has been in private veterinary practice in Oshkosh, Wisconsin since 1983. Dr. Kressin is the first member of the International Academy of Veterinary Dentistry in Wisconsin. He is board certified in Veterinary Dentistry and a member of the American Veterinary Dental College. Click here to learn more about the Dental and Oral Surgery Service
 Dr. Rachel Reiman, DVM, DACVIM
Dr. Reiman grew up in Nebraska and received her veterinary degree from Kansas State University. She completed a rotating internship in small animal medicine and surgery at Garden State Veterinary Specialists in New Jersey. She has dedicated her career to medical oncology, and finished her medical oncology residency at Louisiana State University in 2005. She achieved board certification in the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine - Medical Oncology - in 2006. Dr. Reiman enjoys all aspects of oncology, with a special interest in feline oncology and pain management in the cancer patient. She values the bond between the owner and pet with cancer, and is known for providing state of the art cancer therapy with compassion and concern. In her free time she enjoys reading, camping, fishing, and running.
Click here to learn more about the Oncology Service
 Andrew Lowe, DVM, MSc, ACVD
Dr. Lowe obtained his DVM in 2003, and completed a one year rotating small animal medical and surgical internship at the University of Guelph. He then completed a residency in Dermatology at the University of Illinois in 2007, where he also completed a Master of Science in Veterinary Clinical Medicine. Dr. Lowe has his main clinical practice at the Fox Valley Animal Referral Center in Appleton, Wisconsin. Dr. Lowe lives with his wife Erin, their allergic Golden Retriever Deirdre, and two cats, Isis and Alex. He enjoys racquetball and rock-climbing in his spare time and is beginning to enjoy the joys of golf.Dr Lowe has strong interests in allergies, diseases of the ear, and cutaneous immune mediated diseases.
Consulting Radiology Specialists The Animal Emergency Center and Specialty Services utilizes the talents of Drs. Hager and Hoskinson, for interpretation of digital radiographs, CT scans and MR images. Though off-site, the radiologists provide consultations and suggestions for positioning and imaging techniques prior to performing CT and MR studies. The AEC&SS veterinarians receive a verbal and written report detailing their assessment and recommendations within hours of taking the images. A faster turn-around time occurs when required for special procedures, such as surgical decompression of the spine. David Hager, DVM, MD Dr. Hager is a board certified veterinary radiologist, and has a unique background in human radiology training. He is both a veterinarian (DVM) and a physician (MD). He received his veterinary degree in 1980 from Purdue University, completed a small animal medicine and surgery internship at Louisiana State University and then a three year veterinary radiology residency at the University of California, Davis. He became a board certification veterinary radiologist in 1984 and joined the faculty at the University of Florida as an Assistant Professor. Four years later, he established a veterinary radiology consulting practice in San Diego (1988).
Due to an intense interest in comparative medicine and advanced imaging procedures, Dr. Hager attended medical school at the University of California, Davis and graduated in 1994, while maintaining a radiology practice in San Diego. He completed a transitional human medical internship at Mercy Hospital in San Diego and two years of radiology residency at the University of California, San Diego.
Dr. Hager's veterinary practice emphasizes internet radiology consultations with a special interest in MR and CT imaging. Dr. Hager has over forty articles on veterinary radiology topics published in various veterinary journals and has spoken both nationally and internationally on veterinary radiology subjects.
Dr. Hager continues his interest in comparative human and veterinary radiology while striving to obtain the highest quality of diagnostic imaging for his veterinary patients and practice. Having been a cat lover his entire career, Dr. Hager continues to own and manage the Animal Imaging & Treatment Center (http://www.animalimaging.org/) in Las Vegas, NV, a hyperthyroid cat treatment center.
Jim Hoskinson, DVM, DACVR Dr. Hoskinson graduated summa cum laude from Washington State University with a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine in 1986. He pursued his residency training in radiology at the University of Tennessee and was board certified in 1990. He joined the faculty at University of California -Davis as an instructor in diagnostic imaging and in 1991 became assistant professor in radiology at Kansas State University School of Veterinary Medicine (14 years). Dr. Hoskinson joined with the internet radiology service in 1997, while continuing to be active in regional, national and international education programs and in providing consulting service to industry and institutional practices.
Dental and Oral Surgery Staff Veterinarian
Steve Honzelka, DVM Dr. Honzelka grew up on the north side of Milwaukee. After completing his undergraduate work at UW-Milwaukee, he received his veterinary degree (DVM) in 1999 from the University of Wisconsin. He has enjoyed working for the past ten years in general practice in the North Shore area. During this time, he developed a passion for veterinary dentistry. Dr. Honzelka is currently participating in a three-year residency program in veterinary dentistry and oral surgery, under the mentorship of Dr. Dale Kressin, dental specialist. After this time, Dr. Honzelka hopes to obtain board certification as a specialist in this new and rapidly growing field of veterinary medicine.
Dr. Honzelka and his wife have three children, two dogs, and a cat. When not working or spending time with his family, he likes to spend time reading, camping, hunting, woodworking, and hiking. Emergency Critical Care Staff Veterinarians
 Polly Glover, DVM
Dr. Polly Anne Glover obtained her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree in 2006, from the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine. After graduation, she completed an internship in emergency and critical care medicine and two in small animal surgery before joining the team at AEC. Her areas of interest include emergency and trauma surgery, traumatic brain injury, and autoimmune diseases. In her free time, Polly enjoys outdoor activities, exercising, and spending time with her friends, family, and pets.
 Stephanie Johnnides, DVM
Dr. Stephanie Johnnides was born and raised in Miami, Florida.
She began volunteering at a local animal hospital in the 8th grade, where she saw her first surgery. This eventually led to her desire to continue to work with animals as a veterinary technician, which she did for 8 years. She obtained a Health Science Education degree at the University of Florida while working as an autopsy assistant and certified tissue bank specialist in Gainesville, Fl during those 4 years. She decided to leave the country for the island in St. Kitts in 2004 to study at Ross University College of Veterinary Medicine. She completed her last year of clinics stateside at Purdue University in 2008, followed by a 1 year rotating small animal internship at LIVS on Long Island. Some of her hobbies include cooking, gardening and dancing. She has 2 dogs, Bully & Monty and a cat named Lena!
 Christine Iacovetta, BVM
Dr. Christine Iacovetta grew up in New York City and attended undergraduate college in upstate NY and New Hampshire. She received her veterinary degree from the Royal Veterinary College in England. From there she moved to Mississippi for an internship at Mississippi State University Veterinary College. Subsequently, she joined the Animal Emergency Center and Specialty Services to participate in the advanced program in the field of small animal Emergency and Critical Care. In her spare time, Christine enjoys spending time with her 3 cats!
 Carol Haak, DVM
Dr. Carol Haak is a native of Salt Lake City, Utah. She completed a bachelor's degree in Animal Science at Utah State University before earning her veterinary degree from Oklahoma State University. Her summers were spent performing veterinary research at Cornell University and the Gluck Equine Research Institute at the University of Kentucky. Dr. Haak completed a small animal clinical internship at Garden State Veterinary Specialists in Tinton Falls, New Jersey, and had the opportunity to complete an additional one-year internship at the University of Missouri-Columbia. Dr. Haak is delighted with the opportunity live in the Milwaukee area, where her life is carefully supervised by two very opinionated cats and one marvelous mutt. In her spare time she enjoys hiking, women's rugby, three-day event riding, and curling up with a good book (and a couple of pets).
 Sarah Humphrey, DVM
Dr. Sarah Humphrey-Pagnotta graduated from the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine in 2004. She completed an internship at Garden State Veterinary Specialists in Tinton Falls, New Jersey in 2005 and has worked in emergency and critical care medicine since that time. Her particular areas of interest include metabolic emergencies and sepsis. In her free time, she enjoys hiking/camping, snowboarding, reading, and spending time with her family. She and her husband share 2 dogs (Bogart and Kaia) and one very dog-like cat (Rastus). Armi Pigott, DVM Dr. Pigott attended Western University of Health Sciences College of Veterinary Medicine, and completed a rotating internship at Pet Emergency Clinics and Specialty Hospital in Ventura, California. When not working, Dr. Pigott enjoys reading, bicycling, and fishing. Carrie Bunger, DVM Dr. Bunger obtained her undergraduate degree in 2001 from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota. After graduation, she relocated to Madison, Wisconsin for employment as a laboratory technician at the University of Wisconsin. Dr. Bunger then returned to school to pursue and then accomplish her dream of becoming a veterinarian. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine in 2010. She joined the team at AEC&SS to continue her education and learn the fine art of caring for the critical patient, especially the feline patient.
Dr. Bunger enjoys spending her free time with her husband, two cats, and a dog. Her additional interests include watching sports, playing and napping with the pets, gardening, swimming, road biking, fishing, knitting, and has recently taken up crossword puzzles. Barbara Qurollo, DVM Dr. Qurollo obtained her undergraduate degree in Florida before moving to North Carolina to pursue a graduate degree in Microbiology at North Carolina State University. After graduating, she moved to Boston, Massachusetts and worked in cancer research for several years with a pharmaceutical company before deciding she really wanted to be a veterinarian. Dr. Qurollo graduated with her veterinary degree from Colorado State University in 2010. She has a personal interest in emergency medicine and critical care, feline medicine and surgery. Dr. Qurollo enjoys swimming, movies, traveling and spending time with family and friends. Chantal Houle, DVM Dr. Houle was born and raised in the province of New Brunswick, Canada. She grew up on a small hobby farm with cats, dogs, and horses. Dr. Houle received a Bachelor of Science degree in biology at Bishop's University. She attended the Atlantic Veterinary College at the University of Prince Edward Island in Canada. Dr. Houle enjoys all aspects of emergency medicine. Her special areas of interest are trauma, shock, and reproductive emergencies. In her spare time, she enjoys running, volleyball, and hiking with her Bouvier des Flandres, Vena. Katherine Coldwell, DVM Dr. Coldwell grew up in Oklahoma. She received her undergraduate degree from Kansas State University, and her Veterinary Medical degree from Oklahoma State in 2002. She has been a small animal general practitioner in Oklahoma for 8 years before joining AEC&SS for advanced training in the field of small animal and exotic animal emergency and critical care medicine. In her spare time, Dr. Coldwell enjoys wilderness adventures with her husband, and improving her practice of martial arts.
Specialists in Nursing
 Mr. Angel Rivera, CVT, VTS (ECC)
Mr. Angel Rivera obtained his veterinary technician training in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Prior to coming to the Animal Emergency Center in 1991, he worked as an emergency service veterinary technician at the University of Pennsylvania Small Animal Hospital Emergency Services. After coming to Wisconsin, he served as a critical care technician and assistant supervisor at the critical care unit in the veterinary teaching hospital University of Wisconsin. Currently he is the Hospital Administrator, and Nursing Education Coordinator at the Animal Emergency Center. Mr. Rivera has been a guest lecturer to veterinarians and technicians at national and international meetings. Mr. Rivera was voted speaker of the year for the 1995 North American Veterinary Conference (technician program). He is the author and co-author in various journals, magazine articles, and research abstracts; as well as author/co-author in various textbooks published for veterinarians and technicians. Mr. Rivera's special interests in the specialty of veterinary emergency and critical care are ventilatory support and management, acid-base disorders and endocrine emergencies. In 1998, Mr. Rivera obtained his certification as a veterinary technician specialist (VTS) in the field of emergency and critical care. Mr. Rivera appeared on the cover of the July/2004 of Veterinary Technician Journal as one of the key-note speakers to technicians on veterinary emergency and critical care nursing.
 Jenny Wendtlandt, CVT, VTS (ECC)
Ms. Jenny Wendlendt received her bachelor's degree in biology from UW-Milwaukee in 1998. She began working at the Animal Emergency Center in 1999 as an ICU nurse. Because of her obvious motivation and apptitude, she was trained to be a surgery/anesthesia nurse to the veterinary surgeons. She became a Certified Veterinary Technician in 2002. She received her certification in 2005 as a Veterinary Technician Specialist (VTS) in Emergency and Critical Care. She is currently the supervisor of the surgery nursing staff and plans to become VTS certified in anesthesia in the next couple of years. Most of Jenny's leisure time is spent with her dog. He is a Jack Russell Terrier named Sushi. They love to go to the park and to the lake with his dog friends and their owners. Jenny also enjoys reading and spending time with her friends and family.
 Cheryl Page, CVT, VTS (ECC)
CherylPage was born and raised in Milwaukee. Her interest in veterinary medicine began as a child, when she adopted and cared for many stray cats. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in1990 with a degree in Biological Science and was a laboratory technician and a laboratory animal caretaker. She joined the staff of the Animal Emergency Center in 1989 and became a Certified VeterinaryTechnician in 1993. Desiring additional experience, Cheryl worked at the UW-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine for 1 1/2 years and then returned to AEC. She has subdsequently earned her certification in emergency/critical care medicine in September 2005.
Cheryl enjoys the challenges of emergency medicine and was the head of the
blood donor program at AEC for many years. She now has two beautiful
daughters, a very special husband,and many animal family members: 1
dog, Ayla, 2 cats, Lincoln and Pearl,1 budgie, Wilson and assorted fish.
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