Meet Our Team

Emergency & Critical Care

Amanda Rutter

DVM

Dr. Rutter graduated from the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine and practiced in Florida and New York before settling in Vermont in 2012. She joined the BEVS team in September 2012.

Dr. Rutter received her veterinary CPR certification in 2016 through the American College of Veterinary Emergency & Critical Care (ACVECC). In 2018, she became a Fear Free Certified Professional, meaning she can not only look out for your pets’ physical health but also their emotional well-being.

Her veterinary interests include emergency and critical care medicine, and ultrasound. In her free time, Dr. Rutter can be found hiking and camping with her children and husband.

Jodi Halpin

DVM

Dr. Halpin graduated from Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University in 1998. Following a one-year internship at Garden State Veterinary Specialists, she moved to Vermont to work at Brown Animal Hospital. She joined BEVS as one of our full-time emergency doctors in July 2005.

Dr. Halpin lives in Essex Junction with her family, who share their home with a Greater Swiss Mountain Dog (Fiona), a Great Dane (Libby), and two cats (Puddles and Lars).

Lisa Kiniry

DVM

Dr. Kiniry received her veterinary degree from Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University in May 2004. She completed her internship at Ocean State Veterinary Specialists in East Greenwich, RI.

Dr. Kiniry served as medical director and a practicing emergency veterinarian at Bay State Veterinary Emergency Services from 2006 until she joined InTown Veterinary Group in 2008. She became part of the BEVS team in May 2015.

Dr. Kiniry grew up in Shelburne, VT, and is happy to be home.

Mallory Sullivan

VMD

Dr. Sullivan joined BEVS in June 2018 after graduating from University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. She completed a Rotating Internship here at the hospital from 2018-2019 and joined our Emergency Department full time in August 2019.

Megan Gibeley

DVM

Dr. Gibeley graduated from the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University and received her undergraduate degree at UVM with a BS in Biological Sciences. She completed a rotating internship at Pieper Memorial in Middletown, CT. Dr. Gibeley joined BEVS in July 2019.

Brianna Letaw

DVM

Dr. Letaw graduated from North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine. She worked in several multi-doctor general practices before joining our emergency department in August 2019.

Jamie Peake

DVM

Dr. Peake graduated from Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Prior to vet school, Dr. Peake held a variety of positions in various animal hospitals. During vet school she continued to work and volunteer in shelters, private practices, and emergency clinics. Dr. Peake joined BEVS as an intern in June 2020 and works in our Emergency Department when not rotating through our specialty departments.

Eric Weiner

DVM

Dr. Weiner joined the BEVS team in March 2021. He earned his veterinary degree from the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech in 2015. Post-graduation, he provided medical and surgical emergency veterinary care in Florida until he joined us here in Vermont. Prior to his veterinary training, he worked as a veterinary assistant and a veterinary technician. Dr. Weiner earned his Bachelor of Arts in biology with a double minor in biochemistry and music from Hofstra University in New York. Dr. Weiner is a third-generation veterinarian.

Heather S. York

BVSc, CCRT, CVAT

Dr. York joined BEVS in 2021, bringing a wealth of unique training and veterinary experience to our team. She graduated with honors from the University of Vermont, then worked as a veterinary surgical nurse and a critical care veterinary nurse before earning her BVSc from Massey University’s School of Veterinary Science in New Zealand. She went on to work in many emergency and critical care centers up and down the East Coast before developing a special interest in rehabilitation. A certified canine rehabilitation therapist (CCRT) and certified veterinary acupuncture therapist, (CVAT), Dr. York served as Director of Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation at Maine Veterinary Medical Center in Scarborough, ME, and Owner and Medical Director of Peak Pawformance Mobility and Pain Management Center in West Bolton, VT, before coming to BEVS.

Outside of practice, she is an avid hiker and has completed the End-to-End Long Trail, which stretches 272 miles through the wilderness of Vermont.

Mary Lummis

DVM

Briana Wilkinson

BVM&S MRCVS

Brittain Shorter

DVM

Internal Medicine

Bryan Harnett

DVM, DACVIM, Medical Director

Dr. Harnett is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM). He earned his doctor of veterinary medicine degree from Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Following graduation, he completed both his internship and internal medicine residency at the Animal Medical Center in New York City. From 2000 to 2007, Dr. Harnett was a staff internist at Mission MedVet in Kansas City.

In 2007, he moved to Vermont and joined BEVS as medical director and its first veterinary specialist. Dr. Harnett lives in Jericho with his family and their dog and two cats. Outside of work, he enjoys mountain biking, skiing, mowing the grass, and plowing the driveway.

Elisabeth Zenger

DVM, PhD, DACVIM (SAIM)

DVM: Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine, 1987

Internship: Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, Sacramento Animal Medical Group, 1988

Residency: Small Animal Internal Medicine, Texas Veterinary Medical Center, 1991

Board Certified: Internal Medicine, 1992

Following Dr. Zenger’s clinical and academic training and achieving board certification by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine in 1992, she completed a formal Ph.D. in Molecular Biology examining cellular mechanisms of feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV)-associated neuropathogenesis. In 1998 Dr. Zenger co-founded Bay Area Veterinary Specialists (BAVS), where she also served as medical director and staff internist. While wearing multiple hats at BAVS, she completed a Postdoctoral Fellowship in the AIDS Oncology Program at the University of California, San Francisco, and maintained a research appointment in the AIDS Immunobiology Lab at San Francisco General Hospital studying pathogenesis of AIDS-associated diseases such as dementia and lymphoma. She joined the BEVS team in July 2018.

Dr. Zenger’s professional interests include feline infectious disease, oncology, endocrinology, and gastroenterology. In addition to her love for clinical medicine, she regularly participates in and lectures at scientific meetings and veterinary schools around the world. She currently shares her home with Chester, a 4-year-old Shollie (Border Collie/Shepherd).

Rebecca J. Stevens

VMD, DACVIM (SAIM)

VMD: University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine

Internship: Foster Hospital for Small Animals at Tufts University

Residency: Small Animal Internal Medicine, Matthew J. Ryan Hospital, University of Pennsylvania

Dr. Stevens joined the BEVS family and became a Vermont resident in August 2020. She grew up in Maryland outside of Washington, DC, and attended Bowdoin College where she majored in Biology and minored in Art History. She then attended University of Pennsylvania for veterinary school, where she developed a special interest in internal medicine. She made the Dean’s List for four consecutive years and graduated Magna Cum Laude. Dr. Stevens went on to complete her rotating internship at Tufts University and her internal medicine residency at the University of Pennsylvania. While Dr. Stevens enjoys all aspects of internal medicine, she is particularly interested in hepatobiliary diseases, endocrine diseases, hematology, and immune-mediated diseases.

When she’s not at work, Dr. Stevens enjoys biking, running, and soccer, as well as spending time with her pitbull mix (Poppy) and two cats (Jean Raphio and Mona Lisa). Fun facts: She is also proficient in Spanish and was a Division II Women’s Rugby All-American.

Surgery

Jacob Helmick

DVM, DACVS-SA

DVM: Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine

Internship: Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine

Residency: Small Animal Surgery, The University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine

Board Certified: American College of Veterinary Surgeons (2020)

Dr. Helmick joined the BEVS family and became a Vermont resident in June 2020. Prior to joining us, he enjoyed an eclectic background in veterinary surgical opportunities including as a clinical instructor at The University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, working at large and small general practices in West Virginia and Maryland, and volunteering at People United for Rescue and Rehabilitation (P.U.R.R.), a nonprofit cat rescue organization, as a veterinarian and a board member.

He has a special interest in orthopedic surgery, including Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy (TPLO) and long bone fractures.

When he’s not at work, Dr. Helmick enjoys mountain biking and hiking. He and his wife share their home with two mixed breed dogs they rescued, Millie and Bernie, and two cats, Karma and Hubert. Everyone has adjusted well to their new home in Vermont.

Neurology/Neurosurgery

Allison Cowan

DVM, DACVIM (Neurology)

DVM: Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine

Internships: General Rotation & Neurology/Neurosurgery, Metropolitan Veterinary Hospital

Residency: Neurology/Neurosurgery, Metropolitan Veterinary Hospital

Board Certified: American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine

Dr. Allison Cowan grew up in southwestern Vermont. She graduated from Dickinson College with a bachelor’s degree in economics. Following graduation, she worked in New York City for a year before deciding to study veterinary medicine. Dr. Cowan enjoys all aspects of neurology but find the treatment of inflammatory brain disease especially rewarding.

She shares her home with two cats (Flynn and Duncan) and a mixed-breed dog named Linus. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, kayaking, yoga, fantasy football, spending time with friends, and cheering on the New England Patriots.

Dentistry

Bill Kellner

DVM

Dr. Kellner is a graduate of the University of Vermont and Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine, where he earned his DVM with honors.

He began his career at a mixed-animal hospital in New Mexico before moving back to Vermont to focus on companion animal care. He joined the BEVS team full-time in June 2019. He has trained under several leading veterinary dental experts and has over 25 years of experience practicing advanced veterinary dentistry. He also has completed advanced anesthesia and pain management training.

Dr. Kellner enjoys spending time with his wife, two children, dog, and cat, and his hobbies include skiing and running, particularly road marathons and ultra-distance trail races.

Rehabilitation & Acupuncture

Pamela Levin

DVM, CVA, CCRT, CVPP

A member of the BEVS team since June 2016, Dr. Levin is originally from New Hampshire, earning her bachelor of science degree in animal science from the University of New Hampshire in 1992. She graduated from the Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine in 1998 after completing senior clinical rotations at Oklahoma State University, and went on to practice as a small animal general practitioner and emergency and critical care veterinarian in New York, New Jersey, California and Massachusetts.

In 2009, she earned certification in veterinary acupuncture through the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society, and certification in canine rehabilitation therapy in 2011 through the Canine Rehabilitation Institute, subsequently serving as staff acupuncturist and rehabilitation therapist at a large emergency and referral hospital in New Jersey.

Notably, Dr. Levin is a certified veterinary pain practitioner (CVPP), the only veterinarian with this credential in the entire state. It means she has undergone comprehensive training in animal pain management and is uniquely qualified in such areas as pain medication, physical rehabilitation, therapeutic laser and acupuncture.

Lyn Garson

CVT, CCRP

Lyn joined the BEVS team in December 2018. After working as a Certified Veterinary Technician in general practice her entire career, Lyn decided to pursue her passion for helping physically challenged animals. In 2014 she began working toward a veterinary specialty in rehabilitation. She completed an extensive program through the University of Tennessee School of Veterinary Medicine and earned certification as a Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner (CCRP) the following year. Although not limited to canines, she has a special interest in physical rehabilitation for felines as well. Lyn also recently completed a program in medical massage for animals and is a certified small animal massage therapist. She is currently pursuing additional certification in manual therapy techniques.

Lyn is also a founding member and Administrative Officer of the National Veterinary Response Team (NVRT), where she manages a team of over 100 veterinarians and technicians nationwide. NVRT is the primary federal resource for veterinary medical support during disaster response and special security events.

Administration

Whitney Durivage, MBA, CVPM

Hospital Administrator

Whitney graduated from the University of New Hampshire with a degree in Animal Science and a few years later joined BEVS in July 2009. In 2017, she became a Certified Veterinary Practice Manager (CVPM) and later that year earned her Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Champlain College. She is actively involved with the local humane society (Chittenden County Humane Society), serving as a member of the Board of Directors since 2013.

Gabriella Kaes

Human Resources Manager

Gabriella graduated from Loyola University of Chicago with a degree in Business Administration and then St. Olaf College, where she studied International/Global Studies. She subsequently lived abroad for more than 13 years, working for international organizations including the UN, the European Commission and Coca-Cola before returning to the United States in 2014. She joined the BEVS team in August 2020.

With more than 18 years of experience in various HR functions, she enjoys supporting all aspects of human engagement in the workplace – creating positive employee experiences and delivering sound administrative guidance. She has loved living in Vermont for the past 6 years and locally serves on the Board of Directors for the Vermont Council on World Affairs. She is pictured with her new Shih Tzu/Maltese puppy.

Brenna Mousaw, VTS (SAIM), CVT

Hospital Manager

Brenna graduated from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania with a degree in Psychology. She also has an Associates degree in Veterinary Technology from Harcum College. Brenna spent six years as a certified veterinary technician in large and small animal medicine prior to joining BEVS’ Internal Medicine department in September 2007. In 2013, she became a Veterinary Technician Specialist (VTS) in Small Animal Medicine. Brenna transitioned into the Hospital Manager role in 2018.

Lorin Holmes

Client Services Manager

Lorin graduated from Boston University with a degree in Business Administration and Management with a concentration in Finance. Lorin has a diverse set of skills with the common thread of building lasting client relationships through effective communication in operations, project, and account management. She also has experience in training and curriculum development within digital marketing, retail, and hospitality sectors. Lorin also created, built, ran, and sold VermontWeddings.com, a lifestyle blog to promote Vermont as a wedding destination where her love of all things Vermont flourished.

Lorin is a natural client advocate, lifelong learner, and animal lover who joined BEVS in 2021 to manage our Client Care team. She has two dogs and two cats. Her latest addition to the pack is a rescued handicapped kitten named Frankie Peanut.

Carol Roberts, CVT

ER/ICU Supervisor

Carol joined the BEVS team in June 2019 and supervises our emergency and ICU departments with a deep understanding and appreciation of what the team needs. She has worked in both the clinical care and management realms of veterinary health, serving as a veterinary technician and manager in referral and emergency hospitals across the United States since 1984. She received her Business Management Certificate from Manchester Community College and has collected several awards for her management skills over the years.

Sarah Pollock

RVT ER/ICU Supervisor

Corey Florucci

Purchasing, Inventory and Equipment Coordinator

Susan Svarczkopf

Bookkeeper

Susan graduated from Marist College with a degree is Finance and Accounting. Prior to joining BEVS in January 2018, she gained 15 years’ experience in varying levels of finance, accounting, and bookkeeping. Pictured with Susan is her lab mix Maddy.