Get to Know Our Team!
We are solely dedicated to your pet’s care! We look forward to getting to know you, and we hope you’ll take the time to scroll down and get to know us. We offer a best-in-class medical team of specialists in Surgery and Rehabilitation.
Surgery Team
Anke Langenbach
Dr.med.vet, Diplomate ACVS, Diplomate ECVS, ACVSMR
Owner and Chief of Surgery
Neurology Team
Internal Medicine Team
Rehab and Sports Medicine Team
Kirsty Oliver
VN, DipAVN(Surg), RVT, VTS(Phys.Rehab), CCAT, CCRP, CCMT, CSMP, CVPP Rehabilitation Practitioner
Administration Team
Our team of administrative professionals is dedicated to ensuring that our practice delivers the best veterinary surgery and rehabilitative care possible. We take care of everything behind-the-scenes to make sure that our company is running smoothly while fostering strong relationships with our team of referring DVMs, clients and patients through trust, communication, respect, team work and education.
Anke Langenbach
Dr.med.vet, Diplomate ACVS, Diplomate ECVS, ACVSMR Owner and Chief of Surgery
Dr. Anke Langenbach, owner and chief of surgery, is a Diplomate of the American and European Colleges of Veterinary Surgeons. She earned her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in 1992 from the University of Munich, College of Veterinary Medicine in Germany, and was awarded a scholarship to pursue a combined American and German education. She spent most of her third year of veterinary school at Kansas State University and part of her fourth year at Ohio State University, Cornell University, and Animal Medical Center of New York.
After receiving her veterinary degree, she continued her studies with a one-year internship followed by a three-year residency program at the University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine. During her residency, she completed a doctoral thesis with the University of Zurich, Switzerland, on Medical Patellar Luxation and Hip Dysplasia in Cats. With her residency finished, she accepted a lectureship position with the University of Pennsylvania.
In 1998, Dr. Langenbach achieved Diplomate status as a board-certified surgeon. Since her time at the university, she has published several articles, authored a book chapter, and presented at many regional, national, and international meetings. She is currently collaborating with North Carolina State University on clinical studies. Her clinical interests include arthroscopy; canine and feline dysostosis; orthopedic disease, such as cranial cruciate disease; elbow and hip dysplasia; and oncologic and reconstructive surgery. In the 2007 book “In Their Shoes,” written by Deborah Reiber, Dr. Langenbach was featured as an occupational example for young women. In 2016, Dr. Langenbach passed the ACVSMR examination and became board certified in sports medicine and rehabilitation.
In her free time, Dr. Langenbach enjoys mountain biking, running, gardening, and spending time with family and friends. She lives with her husband and their three children and their beloved pets in Vienna, Virginia.
Vienna, Virginia
Leesburg, Virginia
Julia Hawthorne
DVM, Diplomate ACVS VSC Staff Surgeon
Dr. Julia Hawthorne received her bachelor’s degree from Kenyon College and her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in 1994 from the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine. She continued her academic studies, completing a one-year rotating internship at Mississippi State University and a one-year surgical internship at Affiliated Veterinary Specialists in Winter Park, Florida. After finishing a three-year surgical residency at Purdue University’s School of Veterinary Medicine, she accepted a clinical instructorship position with the university.
She achieved Diplomate status as a board-certified surgeon in 2001.
Following her time with the university, Dr. Hawthorne spent more than seven years as an associate surgeon with a veterinary referral practice outside of Richmond, Virginia. A native of Northern Virginia, she returned to the area and joined Veterinary Surgical Centers. Her clinical interests include soft tissue and emergency surgery.
Dr. Hawthorne lives with her husband and their three children and French Bulldog Franklin in Falls Church, Virginia.
Locations: Vienna, Virginia
Jim Taylor
DVM, Diplomate ACVS-SA VSC Staff Surgeon
Dr. Jim Taylor received his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from the Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2004. He began his professional career working for two years in small animal private practice in Edmond, Oklahoma. Following his time in private practice, he continued his academic studies by completing a one-year small animal rotating internship at Garden State Veterinary Specialists in New Jersey. In 2007, he joined Veterinary Surgical Centers (VSC) for a one-year surgical internship and remained to complete his three-year surgical residency.
He achieved Diplomate status as a board-certified small animal surgeon in 2012, and is now VSC’s chief surgeon at its Leesburg, Virginia, location. He is a member of the Loudoun County Veterinary Medical Association.
In his free time, Dr. Taylor enjoys various outdoor activities and watching Oklahoma football.
Leesburg, Virginia
Winchester, Virginia
Richard Wong
DVM, Diplomate ACVS-SA VSC Staff Surgeon
Dr. Wong is a California native who completed undergraduate training at UCLA and attended veterinary school at Western University College of Veterinary Medicine. After graduating from veterinary school in 2010, he pursued a competitive internship at Red Bank Veterinary Hospital in Tinton Falls, New Jersey. His success in this internship led to his selection for a Small Animal Surgery Residency at a busy private practice, Animal Specialty Group, in Los, Angeles, CA (2011-2014).
After finishing his residency, Dr. Wong went to Massachusetts to build a surgery department at a private practice where he became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons. Since leaving Massachusetts in 2017 he went on to several multispecialty practices in the south east and is eager to join Veterinary Surgical Centers at the Gaithersburg location. His professional interests lie in orthopedics, oncologic surgery, and neurosurgery.
When not at work, Dr. Wong enjoys cycling, kayaking, and hiking.
Location: Gaithersburg, Maryland
David McChesney
DVM Practice Limited to Surgery
David (Dave) McChesney attended undergraduate at Boston College and then dove straight into two years of pharmaceutical research before realizing that he wanted more interaction than what bench-top science allowed. So, he went to obtain his DVM through Tufts veterinary followed by a rotating small animal internship at Angell Animal Medical center in Boston, MA. He followed this with a combined ER and surgery position at Angell West while his wife finished a work contract in Boston.
He is excited to be joining VSC to he continues his path towards becoming a board-certified veterinary surgeon! He is currently living in VA with his wife Meg and 2 cats (Bunk and Henry). They look forward to adding a dog to the home, as well! In his spare time, Dave likes to hike, fish, mountain bike, and tinker on half finished home projects.
Vienna, Virginia
Leesburg, Virginia
Meg Goodale
DVM Resident in Surgery
Margaret (Meg) Goodale grew up outside of Boston before moving down to Virginia to pursue her undergraduate degree in Chemistry at James Madison University. After graduation, Meg moved back up north to join a comparative orthopedics laboratory at Cornell University. Here, she participated in a variety of research projects prior to beginning Cornell’s veterinary school.
An avid equestrian in her youth, Meg’s initial focus was equine medicine but later found she was drawn to small animal surgery.
Upon graduation from Cornell, Meg returned to Boston to complete a rotating small animal internship at Angell Animal Medical Center. Meg is now looking forward to joining VSC on her path to becoming a board-certified veterinary surgeon.
She recently moved back to Virginia with her dog, Westley, her cat, Remi, and her tiny house on wheels in tow. When time allows, Meg still enjoys riding as well as spending time with her many small nieces and nephews.
Vienna, Virginia
Leesburg, Virginia
Jory Clark
DVM Resident in Surgery
Dr. Jory Clark grew up in Southern California (SoCal) where he completed all of his schooling. He received his B.A. in Biology at California State University San Bernardino (CSUSB). He also received his M.S. in Biology at the California State Polytechnic University Pomona (CPP). In 2020, Dr. Clark received his DVM at the Western University of Health Sciences (WesternU).
After vet school, Dr. Clark completed a Rotating Veterinary Internship at the North Carolina State University Veterinary Hospital and then went onto a Small Animal Surgery Internship at the Michigan State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital.
Most recently, he completed another Small Animal Surgical Internship at the Dallas Veterinary Surgical Center in Texas.
Dr. Clark is most interested in cadiothoracic procedures, as well as minimally invasive surgery in both orthopedics and soft tissue. He comes with a warm mindset of treating every patient as his own. At home, he has many pets of his own: a 6 foot Columbian red tailed boa named Kiara “who is not nice at all and honestly, a bit unappreciative of the life I’ve provided after rescuing her.” He also acts as a stepdad to his girlfriend’s dogs, a pitbull “Zara” and “the cutest but also most annoying chihuahua named Zaida.”
Outside of the veterinary world, Dr. Clark loves football (Raiders!), comedy, snowboarding and the beach.
Vienna, Virginia
Leesburg, Virginia
Tasha Faletti
DVM Surgery Intern
Dr. Tasha Faletti grew up in an area just north of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania called the Lehigh Valley. In this area, she attended Crest Crest College for her undergraduate studies. She completed veterinary school at St. George’s University and attended The Ohio State University for her clinical year. She completed a small animal rotating internship at Tufts University and, most recently, completed a surgical internship in New York at Guardian Veterinary Specialists.
Outside of veterinary medicine, she enjoys reading, tennis, and hiking, among other small hobbies. She has a cat named Arya, who was named after her favorite character from Game of Thrones when she was reading the series. Dr. Faletti is looking forward to joining the VSC team and work towards becoming an ACVS board-certified veterinary surgeon!
Vienna, Virginia
Leesburg, Virginia
Elizabeth Waskover
DVM Surgery Intern
Dr. Waskover grew up outside of New York and graduated Cum Laude at the University of Florida for her undergraduate degree in Biology. She went on to pursue her dream of becoming a veterinarian at the Royal Veterinary College in London, England. After graduation, she completed a rotating internship at the Animal Medical Center in NYC. She has also completed a Surgical Specialty Internship at Wheat Ridge Animal Hosptial in Denver, Colorado.
Dr. Waskover is hoping to one day become a board-certified surgeon and is loving continuing on her journey. When she is not at work, you can find her working out, cooking, or hanging out with her dog Hunter.
Vienna, Virginia
Leesburg, Virginia
Daniel Cuff
DVM, DACVIM (Neurology) VSC Neurologist/ Neurosurgeon
Dr. Daniel Cuff is a board-certified Veterinary Neurologist and Neurosurgeon. Dr. Cuff earned his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from St. George’s University School of Veterinary Medicine in 2008. He continued his professional studies by embarking on a rotating internship in small animal medicine and surgery at the Center for Specialized Veterinary Care in Long Island, NY. Following this, he moved to the DMV to join Bush Veterinary Neurology Service as a Neurology Intern after which he was accepted into the 3-year Neurology and Neurosurgery Residency program at BVNS.
Following the successful completion of his residency, Dr. Cuff achieved Diplomate status as a Board-Certified Veterinary Neurologist and remained with BVNS as a Staff Neurologist before joining VSC in 2023.
Dr. Cuff enjoys all aspects of veterinary neurology but his passions include spinal surgery, seizure management, and MRI in the diagnosis of neurological disease. He is always keen to assist primary care veterinarians with the management and treatment of patients with neurologic disease.
Outside of the clinic, Dr. Cuff loves to travel and is a keen photographer.
Location: Gaithersburg, Maryland
Erin Galemore
DVM, DACVIM (SAIM) Internal Medicine & Interventional Radiology
Dr. Erin Galemore is a 2012 graduate of North Carolina State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. Following veterinary school, she completed a small animal medicine and surgery rotating internship at BluePearl in Tampa, followed by a small animal internal medicine internship at Animal Specialty Group in Los Angeles. Following her internship training, Dr. Galemore completed a rigorous small animal internal medicine residency at Tufts University. She received her board-certification in 2018 and is a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
Dr. Galemore returned to the Southeast after her residency and helped build the internal medicine services at two private speciality hospitals. After working in private practice, Dr. Galemore wanted to further her expertise and knowledge in minimally invasive procedures, so she completed a fellowship in interventional radiology and interventional endoscopy at the University of Georgia’s College of Veterinary Medicine. Following her fellowship, she stayed on as faculty at the University of Georgia before returning to private practice to build an internal medicine service in coastal South Carolina. Dr. Galemore is excited to bring her skills and expertise to Veterinary Surgical Centers and enhance the care of animals in the Maryland Virginia area.
Dr. Galemore has a special interest in minimally invasive endoscopic procedures, nephrourology, infectious disease, and feline medicine. She has published articles on feline Anaplasma infection, acute feline immunodeficiency virus infection, and canine polypoid cystitis.
In her free time, Dr. Galemore enjoys live music, dancing, and traveling, as well outdoor activities, like kayaking, paddle boarding, cycling, and hiking. Dr. Galemore shares her home with three cats, a dog, a tortoise, and a snake.
Location: Gaithersburg, Maryland
Cameron Weber
DVM, CCRP, CVA Rehabilitation Veterinarian
Dr. Cameron Pickett Weber grew up in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and graduated from Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, in 1999 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and a minor in German Studies. She then earned her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine in 2005. After graduation, Dr. Weber moved to the Northern Virginia area and began working at Pender Veterinary Centre as a general and emergency small animal practitioner.
She decided to pursue her interest in rehabilitation medicine and became a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner through the University of Knoxville, Tennessee, in December 2012. She joined the rehabilitation department at Veterinary Surgical Centers in May 2013. She became a Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist in January 2017.
Dr. Weber’s interests include swimming, travel, and reading. She especially enjoys spending time with friends, family, her husband and their spirited dog, Arya.
Vienna, Virginia
Leesburg, Virginia
Nandita Fernandes
DVM Rehabilitation Veterinarian
Dr. Nandita Fernandes has called Northern Virginia her home for the past 20 years. She earned a Master of Public Health and a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from St. George’s University School of Veterinary Medicine completing her clinical year at the University of Tennesse in Knoxville, Tennesse. She is also certified in Canine Physical Rehabilitation and certified in Veterinary Medical Acupuncture.
Dr. Fernandes is a Fear Free certified professional and strives to decrease the fear, anxiety and stress of her patients both at the hospital and at home.
She feels lucky to be able to help her patients improve their quality of life through physical rehabilitation and all that it can offer to help them live their best lives! In addition, she is able to use acupuncture as an adjunct to assist with numerous cases that respond favorably to this modality.
Dr. Fernandes joins the VSCR team with interests in fostering the human-animal bond and has a keen interest in both orthopedic and neurologic cases.
In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, dogs, watching movies, baseball games and funnel cake and outdoor activities in the sun!
Vienna, Virginia
Leesburg, Virginia
Kirsty Oliver
VN, DipAVN(Surg), RVT, VTS(Phys.Rehab), CCAT, CCRP, CCMT, CSMP, CVPP Rehabilitation Practitioner
Kirsty Oliver joined the VSC/ VSCR family in 2016 after spending 14 years at a large veterinary hospital in New Jersey. Kirsty is an English-trained Veterinary Nurse and holds an Advanced Diploma in Veterinary Nursing (surgical). Having dedicated the first half of her career to nursing surgical and orthopaedic patients, Kirsty qualified in veterinary rehabilitation (CCRP) in 2005.
In 2010, she added CVPP (Certified Veterinary Pain Practitioner) through the IVAPM. In 2018, she obtained her VTS in physical rehabilitation with the APRVT (Academy of Physical Rehabilitation Veterinary Technicians). Kirsty’s specialty and keen interest in manual therapy & myofascial work ensures that all our patients are moving at their best!
Vienna, Virginia
Leesburg, Virginia
Lynn Nalepa
LVT, CCRP, CVPP Rehabilitation Practitioner
Lynn Nalepa earned her Veterinary Technology degree from Fairmont State in West Virginia in 1991. In 2014, she became a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner following completion of the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine’s program. She is also certified in veterinary pain management by the International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management.
Outside work, she enjoys spending time with her family, including her Dutch Shepherd, Silas, and her cat, Niddely.
Publications:
Preventing Injuries in Canine Athletes
Location: Vienna, Virginia
Krysta Bailey
DVM, CCRP Resident in Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation
Dr. Krysta Bailey is a native to Maryland, growing up in the countryside of West Friendship. She received hers B.S. in Animal Nutrition from West Virginia University in 2009, followed by completion of a business incubator program at Howard community college in 2010. Prior to pursuing veterinary school, she worked as a veterinary technician and built a small business revolving around improving animal nutrition. Dr. Bailey graduated from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine in St. Kitts completing her clinical year at the Royal Veterinary College in London U.K.
Dr. Bailey continued to build upon her interest in sports medicine and rehabilitation therapy, completing an intensive internship program at VOSM in 2019. She is currently a first-year resident working towards a specialty in sports medicine and rehabilitation therapy.
Dr. Bailey has completed certifications in Animal Reiki, AIS Penn hip, and Fear Free Pets to name a few. She is currently working to complete her certification in rehab from the University of Tennessee CCRP program.
She is compassionate and focused building a bond with each of her patients. Her priority is to facilitate a team approach with pet parents, in order to create a well rounded, healthy, and enjoyable lifestyle for their animal companions.
In her free time, Dr. Bailey enjoys spending time with her family, leopard gecko, and cat. She enjoys dancing, singing, boxing/fitness, outdoor adventures, and creating healthy enjoyable snacks for her and her pets.
Vienna, Virginia
Leesburg, Virginia
Kim Christie
DVM, CCAT Resident in Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation
Dr. Kimberly Christie was born and raised in Troy, MI, a suburb of Detroit. She attended Michigan State University for her bachelor’s degree and obtained a B.S. in Animal Science with a concentration in Animal Biology and Pre-Veterinary Medicine. Following her graduation, she remained in East Lansing, MI and attended Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine where she obtained her DVM and graduated with honors in 2020.
This past year, Dr. Christie has stayed true to her midwestern roots and completed a small animal rotating internship at Iowa State University.
During her time at Iowa State, she obtained her certification from Fear Free Pets and began working on obtaining her certification in rehabilitation through the University of Tennessee CCRP program.
Although a true Midwesterner at heart, Dr. Christie is looking forward to moving to the east coast and becoming a member of the VSCR team. When not working with her four-legged patients in the clinic, she spends her free time biking, cooking, baking, exploring the outdoors, and spending time with family, friends, and her fur baby, Ajax.
Vienna, Virginia
Leesburg, Virginia
Christel Tavares
Hospital Director
Christel Tavares was raised in Vermont and spent most of her adult life on the South Coast of Massachusetts enjoying all the outdoor experiences that the mountains and ocean have to offer. Christel has worked in Veterinary medicine for 20 years, including everything from General Practice in Vermont to working both on the floor and in leadership at large specialty emergency facilities. She spent many years as a nurse on the floor at a busy Emergency/Specialty facility in Massachusetts where she was also part of the leadership team that grew the hospital from trailers to its current state today.
During this growth, her passion transitioned to training leaders and supporting them in learning all aspects of running a healthy hospital. This new passion led her to a National level role in operations where she advised multiple single and multi-specialty hospitals. Her family recently relocated to Purcellville, VA and she is enjoying the deeply rooted horse culture with her two daughters. She also has two older sons who reside in Maine and Wisconsin. Her family also includes a black cat and little black dog!
Vienna, Virginia
Leesburg, Virginia
Northern Virginia
Gaithersburg, Maryland
Stewart Smith
Operations Manager
Stewart has been in the Veterinary field for 32 years both in general and specialty practices. He spent the first 20 years in nursing and technician roles before transition to leadership and administrative positions. He has been with Veterinary Surgical Centers since 2007. He assumed his current role of Operations Manager in 2019.
Locations:
Vienna, Virginia
Leesburg, Virginia
Winchester, Virginia
Nicole Lancaster
Inventory Manager
Bio Coming Soon
Locations: Vienna, Virginia
Brittney Benedetto
Imaging Specialist
Brittney is a born animal lover. Her first word was the family German Shepherds name, ‘Shep’ (sorry Mom and Dad) and she grew up on a horse farm, ‘riding’ horses before she could walk. This, coupled with her passion and empathy for animals, meant that veterinary medicine was an easy career choice. She participated in 4-H for many years, raising horses, cattle, pigs and sheep and worked at Piedmont Pets Veterinary Care while in high school.
Next, she attended college at Virginia Tech where she coauthored a paper (Cow and Herd Variation in Milk Urea Nitrogen Concentrations in Lactating Dairy Cattle published in the Journal of Dairy Science), was on the equestrian team, was an innertube water polo champion and graduated in 2010 with a degree in Animal and Poultry Science equine and poultry emphasis.
After graduation she participated in a sporthorse breeding internship at the MARE Center in Middleburg and then worked at the Equine Medical Center in Leesburg as a nurse. She came to Veterinary Surgical Centers in 2012 and hasn’t looked back since! She currently manages the Imaging Department for VSC and is passionate about research, anything German Shepherd-related or neurology-based!
In her free time, Brittney foxhunts with Caroline Hunt, plays competitive flag football, and pretends she can paint. She lives in northern Virginia with her husband Kyle, giant German Shepherd Lincoln, goldfish Leviathan, and her perfect pony Petey.
Location: Vienna, Virginia
Kelly Fox
Account Auditor (Vienna)
Kelly started with VSC in 2016 as part of the client services team and joined the admin team as an auditor is 2021. She lives in Herndon with her partner Josh and pitbull Charlie. Outside of work you can find her reading, tending her plants, and generally doing anything outdoors.
Location: Vienna, Virginia