IronHorse VetCare

Bios

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  John Haburjak

  DVM, Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Surgeons. Owner.

  Dr. John Haburjak graduated from UC Davis Veterinary School in 1993 with his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Degree. He practiced for 5 years before returning to academics to complete a combined surgical residency program in San Diego and the University of Illinois. Dr. Haburjak is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons his clinical surgical interests include surgical oncologic procedures of the face, head and neck, corrective orthopedic procedures, and disorders of the canine stifle. Finally, he has dedicated most of his post-graduate emphasis on minimally invasive procedures including: laparoscopy, thoracoscopy and interventional radiology (urethral and tracheal stenting). Dr. Haburjak’s hobbies include singles tennis, Oakland A’s baseball, riding with his kids and cooking (not to mention eating, too!). He shares his life with his wife, Aimee (also a veterinarian), daughters Eva & Emery and sons Ian, and Isaac – along with Addison (bubble-headed Japanese spaniel), Poppy (a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel with a freckled nose!), Pixie (mutant Chihuahua) – some Guinea Pigs and a Cat named Ginger Cookie.

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  Jamie Wignall

  BvetMed(Hons), MS, MBA, Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Surgeons

  Dr. Wignall comes from a family of veterinarians in the United Kingdom, and after pursuing veterinary school at the Royal Veterinary College in London, he returned home for a year in rural mixed animal practice. Adventure beckoned, and he completed his surgical training at Louisiana State University where he found a southern girl, a love for the New Orleans Saints and a terrier called Maverick. He then worked in Southern California for 4 years where the family expanded to add two more terriers, Biff and Ziggy. His hobbies include snowboarding, soccer, hiking and spending time with his partner, Luli, also a veterinarian. His professional interests cover all aspects of orthopedics, soft tissue, and neurosurgery, with a particular emphasis on the upper airway and minimally invasive surgery. He holds a Masters degree in upper respiratory surgery and recently completed a Masters of Business Administration at the University of Redlands.

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  Andrew Grange

  BSc (Hons), BVetMed, Diplomate Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Surgeons

  Dr. Andrew Grange is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons. He attended University College London where he received his bachelor’s degree in orthopedic science, and then graduated in 2008 from the Royal Veterinary College in London with a degree in veterinary medicine. Following graduation he completed a rotating internship in Southern California, and a residency in small animal surgery at Angell Animal Medical Center in Boston, MA. His professional interests include the application of minimally invasive surgical techniques (Arthroscopy, Laparoscopy, and Thoracoscopy) in the management of soft tissue and orthopedic disease, and the surgical treatment of cruciate disease, fractures, and Total Hip Replacement. Dr. Grange’s personal interests include skiing, cycling, ice hockey, and spending time with his wife, Allison (also a veterinarian), children Amelia and Ethan, their dog, Abby, and 5 cats.

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  Christine H. Kim

  DVM, Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine

  Dr. Kim received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree at UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine in 2006. She went on to pursue a 1-year rotating internship at Veterinary Specialty Hospital of San Diego. She returned to UC Davis to complete a 3-year residency in small animal internal medicine in 2010. Her residency research project investigating diagnostic modalities in cats with Feline Interstitial Cystitis, was given the House Officer Small Animal Research Award. Her mission is to nurture the human-animal bond by providing the next step in veterinary care. Dr. Kim originally hails from Sacramento. She lives with her husband, two daughters, a rescue dog named Penny, and an assortment of snails, caterpillars, and insects captured in jars by the kids. She enjoys cooking, sewing, and playing the piano.

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  Barry Kipperman

  Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine & the American College of Animal Welfare

  Dr. Kipperman is from Long Island, New York and received his DVM degree from the University of Missouri. He completed an internship at the prestigious Animal Medical Center in New York City, and a residency at University of California at Davis. Dr. Kipperman founded VetCare in 1997. Dr. Kipperman is a board certified specialist in internal medicine and animal welfare, and obtained a Masters degree in international animal welfare, ethics and law from the University of Edinburgh. Dr. Kipperman has published numerous articles on the topics of animal advocacy and veterinary ethics. Dr. Kipperman teaches veterinary ethics at UC Davis. When away from the hospital, Dr. Kipperman plays guitar and piano, and lives with Buttercup, a Chihuahua mix

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  Valerie K Fournier

  DVM, MPH

  Dr Valerie Fournier is a 2007 graduate of Michigan State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. While there, she started a dual degree in public health, graduating in 2009 with a masters in public health (disaster preparedness/emergency response) from the University of Minnesota. She grew up splitting her time between a suburb of metro Detroit and a beef cattle farm in Northern Virginia. She’s a proud Red Wings fan, loves classic cars, and sometimes slips a “y’all” into a sentence if she’s not paying attention! Immediately after graduating Dr Val began working in small animal emergency medicine and she has practiced small animal emergency medicine nearly exclusively since graduating. Dr Val worked all over Southeast and Northern Michigan at various 24 hour hospitals, learning new things at each. In 2017, she packed up her 2 Pittie mixes, Saaz and Cascade, and headed west to California. After a short stint in non clinical work, she found she missed the pace of the ER too much, and began doing relief at area hospitals. Professionally, her areas of interest include infectious/zoonotic disease, pain/anxiety management, and teaching. One of her favorite things is to mentor veterinary students and new graduates, and recently she got to have a very proud moment when a mentee she’d known since high school graduated with her doctorate. Dr Val and her husband, also a veterinarian, have 3 dogs between them now. The oldest is a 13+ (yes, really) Bassett mix named Cali who keeps the Pitties in line! They spend as much time outdoors as possible, hiking, canoeing, kayaking, and enjoying all that Northern California has to offer.

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  Victoria Hare

  Staff DVM

  Dr. Victoria Hare graduated from Glasgow Vet School in 2014. In between her 2nd and 3rd year she obtained a second degree; Bachelor of Science at the University of Bristol in Animal Behavior and Welfare. She worked in general practice for two years in England and passed her Veterinary boards and moved to sunny California. After 2 more years in General Practice she has decided to work along side all of the specialty departments offered at our hospital in hopes of pursuing a residency. Her interests include soft tissue surgery, animal behavior, internal medicine and cardiology. On days off she spends time with her two dogs Bonnie and Dolly and trains for body building competitions with her fiance.

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  Rebecca Rader

  DVM, Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care

  Dr. Rebecca Rader grew up in Illinois and graduated from University of Illinois Veterinary School in 2006. She then completed a 1 year general, rotating internship at Bay Area Veterinary Specialists in San Leandro. Her residency program in emergency and critical care took her to Ocean State Veterinary Specialists in Rhode Island for 4 years, but her love for the Bay Area brought her back to California in 2011 after the completion of her residency. Dr. Rader is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care. Her professional interests include trauma, blood clotting disorders, and critical illnesses. She enjoys working in a variety of situations including part-time work with Muttville (senior dog rescue). Her most recent interest has been learning more about pain management and geriatric care. In order to develop this, she is pursuing certification in veterinary acupuncture. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, live music, and spending time with her family, which includes two dogs named Zyzzx and Sheila. They have been with her through all of her cross country moves!

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  Meredith Stepita

  DVM, Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Behaviorists

  r. Stepita grew up in Maryland, but now calls Northern California home. She received her DVM from the University of Tennessee in 2006. After completing an internship and working in general practice in Arizona she entered into the Clinical Veterinary Behavior Residency Program at the University of California-Davis, becoming a Board-Certified Veterinary Behaviorist in 2011. She spends most of her time in her San Francisco Bay Area-based practice, Veterinary Behavior Specialists, helping pet owners improve their pet’s behavior problems, and finds working with dedicated pet owners to be highly rewarding. Dr. Stepita’s research involves the frequency of parvovirus in puppies attending puppy socialization classes. Results of this study showed that vaccinated puppies attending these classes were no more likely to be diagnosed with parvovirus than those not attending these classes. She has authored chapters on canine aggression, feline anxiety, feline house soiling, and canine and feline mourning in veterinary texts. Dr. Stepita is also a local and national speaker. Her areas of interest include canine and feline anxiety and aggression, the human-animal bond, and animal welfare. She shares her life with her husband Chris and their dogs (Chewy and Snoopy), cats (Maddie, Cali, and Tarzan), and the occasional foster dog. Please visit Dr. Stepita‘s website vetbehaviorspecialists.com for more information or to schedule an appointment.

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  Brook Niemiec

  DVM, DAVDC

  Dr. Niemiec is a 1994 graduate of the University of California, Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Niemiec is a Board Certified Specialist in Veterinary Dentistry of both the American and European Veterinary Dental Colleges. In addition he is a Fellow in the Academy of Veterinary Dentistry. He is one of fewer than 10 veterinarians worldwide to hold all three of these certificates. Read more about what Dr. Niemiec brings to veterinary dental care.

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  Kelly Davidson

  DVM

  Dr. Kelly Davidson grew up in San Diego, California and received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of California, Davis. She has diverse interests, having spent time studying capybaras at the San Diego Zoo and researching antibiotic resistance in addition to working with veterinary hospitals and animal shelters. She loves teaching and strives to encourage those interested in pursuing a career in veterinary medicine. Dr. Davidson is passionate about providing veterinary care to animals in underserved communities. She has had the opportunity to volunteer in the United States, Mexico, Armenia, Honduras, and the Navajo Nation. Outside of the clinic, she is a mentor to middle school students and enjoys running and being outdoors. She hopes to visit every U.S. National Park. She finds it a joy to help animals and people every day. Dr. Davidson looks forward to working with you to provide compassionate, high-quality care for your furry family members!

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  Louis Roussille

  DVM

  My name is Dr. Louis Roussille and my journey to becoming a veterinarian began when I was a toddler. I don’t remember the exact moment it started, but I’d like to think it was when I was napping in our doghouse under the watchful eye of the family dog. I spent my childhood trying to surround myself with a great number of creatures. Feathery, scaly, fluffy, big or small, I loved them all! I was born in Bordeaux, France and since those early days, I have been a bit of globetrotter. My family moved to San Francisco in 2005 and I immediately fell in love with the Bay Area. I attended college in Canada and completed my veterinary training in Sydney, Australia. During my travels, I have also spent some time in East Africa and Southeast Asia. I moved back to San Francisco in 2018 to start a new graduate mentorship program. I then decided to stay on as a General Practitioner until May 2020. I love working with dogs and cats, and I have an interest for reptiles, birds and pocket pets. Developing my skills in internal medicine and medical imaging is of great interest to me. I think the field of veterinary medicine is both rewarding and challenging. I also think that as a veterinarian, I play an important role as custodian of the human-animal bond. This responsibility drives me to learn more every day, to offer my patients the very best standard of care. I am currently the proud underling of my very own feline overlord: a fluffy creature named Mikah.

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  Devon Ueda,

  BVetMed

  Dr. Devon Ueda is a Bay Area Native, having grown up in Pleasanton. After completing her undergraduate degree at UC Davis, she attended Veterinary School at the Royal Veterinary College in London. Where she gained a different perspective and enhanced her experiences in the veterinary field. She is excited to be coming back to the Bay Area for her Internship at Ironhorse VetCare and OakVet Animal Specialty Hospital. She hopes to use this Internship as a launching off point towards a Residency. Dr. Ueda has a passion for Exotics, Nutrition, Internal Medicine, and Emergency Medicine. In her spare time, she enjoys baking, pub quizzes, traveling, and cross-stitching. She has a golden retriever named Sadie and two mutts, Roxie and Evie. Dr. Ueda looks forward to treating and taking care of your four-legged loved ones.

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  Edith Blair

  DVM

  Bio Pending.

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  Renee McComb

  Practice Manager

  Renee McComb grew up in the East Bay along the 680 corridor. As a child, she played in the hills with her animals both great and small. Renee knew at a young age she was going to dedicate her time to being around animals. Renee has been committed to enhancing the lives of companion animals since 1984. She has successfully managed several Veterinary practices in the area. She owns an established pet care business, and dedicates her free time to volunteering for animal rescue groups, services for the Veterans, and special needs children and horses. Some of Renee’s accomplishments include her development of several rescue groups and non-profits. Some of the groups she is recognized in are: Bay Area German Shepherd Rescue, Paws in Need, SonRise Equestrian Foundation, Horses Healing Hearts, and The National Search Dog Foundation. Renee was recognized in 2015 by the International Rotary Foundation for her furtherance of better understanding and friendly relations among our community. She spends time with her horse and dog, and loves hiking and Motorsports. Renee’s commitment to the animal-human bond makes her a valuable part of our management team.