The world’s largest veterinary teaching hospital hosts graduation and award ceremony for its 2025 class of interns, specialty interns, and residents, continuing its decades-long commitment to training future generations of veterinary leaders

Press Release

New York, NY – June 30, 2025 – The Schwarzman Animal Medical Center (AMC) was proud to celebrate its 61^st graduating class of over 40 interns and residents with a ceremony on Thursday, June 26, 2025, at Rockefeller University. Since 1963, AMC has trained thousands of veterinarians through the Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Institute for Postgraduate Education, offering unparalleled hands-on experience under the guidance of leading veterinarians across several specialties.

“Congratulations to our 2025 graduating class. As the largest postgraduate veterinary teaching institution in the world, AMC continues its dedication to providing high-quality training and education to the next generation of veterinary professionals. We are immensely proud of this year’s graduates and all they have accomplished during their time at AMC, and we know that this is just the beginning of great achievements to come,” said Helen M. Irving, RN, MBA, President and Chief Executive Officer of AMC.

“Our heartfelt congratulations to this year’s graduating interns and residents and the outstanding work you have achieved at AMC,” said Katherine Quesenberry, Chief Medical Officer at AMC. “You have all demonstrated a great passion for veterinary medicine as well as a readiness to learn and grow from unexpected challenges. As you continue to advance in your careers, we look forward to your future success and witnessing your impactful contributions to the veterinary field.”

Graduating Interns

AMC’s one-year Internship Program is one of only a handful of programs accredited by the American Animal Hospital Association. Interns rotate through many of AMC’s 20+ specialties and services, working with a large and diverse caseload and a high level of support from AMC’s board-certified veterinary specialists. Of the 26 graduating interns, ten have been accepted into residency directly after their rotating internship, a testament to AMC’s prestigious program.

The graduates of AMC’s 61^st Internship Class and their next steps include:

• Christopher M. Biancaniello, DVM: Veterinary Specialists of San Diego, Specialty Internship in Surgery
• Rebecca F. Brisman, VMD: Schwarzman Animal Medical Center, Residency in Internal Medicine
• Eunice Cho, DVM: Private Practice
• Beatrice DeMarco, VMD, MPH: Schwarzman Animal Medical Center, Specialty Internship in Exotics
• Alyssa N. Gargagliano, VMD: Schwarzman Animal Medical Center, Specialty Internship in Cardiology
• Jordyn Horowitz, VMD, MPH: BluePearl, Specialty Internship in Cardiology
• Melissa Kasai, DVM: Massachusetts Veterinary Referral Center, Specialty Internship in Neurology
• Gabrielle Lammons, DVM: Arizona Veterinary Emergency & Critical Care Center, Residency in Emergency & Critical Care
• Gabriela Landazuri Saltos, VMD: Private Practice
• Alexander A. Levitskiy, DVM: Schwarzman Animal Medical Center, Residency in Diagnostic Imaging
• Xin Ci (Jessy) Ling, DVM: Friendship Hospital for Animals, Specialty Internship in Surgery
• Emmy Y. Luo, DVM: Friendship Hospital for Animals, Specialty Internship in Surgery
• Ambrielle Justine Machuca, DVM: Private Practice
• Katie Mayes, DVM: Advanced Critical Care, Emergency and/or Specialty Services Pasadena, Specialty Internship in Surgery
• Michaela Mitchell, DVM: University of Wisconsin, Specialty Internship in Zoo Medicine
• Kacey Angelina Pandaleon, DVM: University of Florida, Residency in Anesthesia
• Elle E. Ryan, DVM: Cornell University, Residency in Internal Medicine
• Nicole Santacruz, DVM: University of Florida, Residency in Diagnostic Imaging
• Megan Slaughter, DVM: Colorado State University, Residency in Internal Medicine
• Allison Elaine Snopek, DVM: Animal Surgical Center of Michigan, Specialty Internship in Surgery
• Katherine J. Wagner, DVM: VERG Brooklyn, Staff ER Doctor
• Bryce A. Westbrook, DVM: University of California-Davis, Residency in Medical Oncology
• Stephanie Wiles, DVM: Schwarzman Animal Medical Center, Residency in Emergency & Critical Care
• Matthew J. Woodman, DVM: University of Florida, Residency in Diagnostic Imaging
• Amélie Laurelle Ya Deau, VMD: Private Practice

Graduating Specialty Interns

The AMC Specialty Internship Program provides advanced training for veterinarians who, following a general internship year, elect to complete a one-year focused internship under the guidance of board- certified veterinarians in a particular specialty.

The graduates of this year’s AMC Specialty Internship Program are:

• Gabrielle Nicole Acosta, VMD, Avian & Exotic Pet Medicine
• Reanna Cantrall, DVM, Interventional Radiology and Endoscopy
• Ryan Gluck, DVM, Emergency & Critical Care
• Ashley Hadala, DVM, Surgery
• Elizabeth Miller, DVM, Cardiology
• Mary Evelyn Pearsall, DVM, Ophthalmology
• Tess Marie Staley, BVetMed, Oncology

Erynn Sheehan, DVM, also completed an Accelerated Internship in Critical Care & Emergency.

Graduating Residents

AMC’s three-year Residency Program prepares veterinarians for board certification and expertise in their chosen specialty, drawing upon the knowledge of AMC’s specialists and varied caseload that comes with accommodating nearly 60,000 patient visits per year. Residents are given the opportunity to conduct original research and participate at conferences, rounds, and seminars and partnerships with established research institutions, such as Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, NYU Langone Health, Weill Cornell Medicine, and The Rockefeller University.

The graduates of the AMC Residency Program are:

• Kelly Chambers, DVM, Emergency & Critical Care
• Nathan Cherzan, DVM, Surgery
• Lindsay Courtney, DVM, MPH-VPH, Internal Medicine
• Zoe Skylar Daniels, DVM, Neurology
• Richa Dheendsa, BVM&S, Internal Medicine
• Hunter L. Enderle, DVM, Cardiology
• Abby Morgan Goldberg, VMD, Internal Medicine
• Owen Hurst, DVM, Emergency & Critical Care
• Audrey P. King, BVSc (Hons), Radiology
• Rachel Leigh Lordahl, DVM, Oncology
• Ada To, DVM, Dentistry
• Danielle Thanh-Ha Tran, DVM, Diagnostic Imaging
• Isaiah Wardsworth, DVM, Emergency & Critical Care

Award Presentations:

AMC also presented several awards during the 61^st Graduation Ceremony to postgraduate students as well as faculty and staff, including:

• Schwarzman Animal Medical Center Veterinary Assistant of the Year Award: Rosemarie Pineda and Alexandra Portilla
• Schwarzman Animal Medical Center Licensed Veterinary Technician of the Year Award: Joanne Chan, LVT
• Donald J. Bruckmann Award for Outstanding Intern of the Year: Bryce Westbrook, DVM, and Rebecca Brisman, VMD
• Schwarzman Animal Medical Center Outstanding Resident of the Year Award: Richa Dheendsa, BVM&S
• Clendenin J. “Mike” Ryan Memorial Award for Outstanding Teaching: Mary Pfeifer, DVM, DACVECC
• Connie Leifer Resident Research Award: Hunter Enderle, DVM, Rachel Lordahl, DVM, and Danielle Tran, DVM

Earlier this month, on June 16, AMC hosted a white coat ceremony to welcome its 62^nd class of interns and the newest crop of talented veterinary professionals. Graduating from a variety of prestigious veterinary programs across the U.S., these 32 interns add to AMC’s team of 140+ veterinarians who work to provide world-class medical care to pets and their families.

For more information on AMC, visit www.amcny.org.

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About the Schwarzman Animal Medical Center Hospital of New York City

We are the world’s largest veterinary teaching hospital with NYC’s only level 1 trauma center. Our team of 140+ veterinarians work across over 20 specialties to provide world-class medical care, and we are here for pets and their families 24/7. We are proud to have served the people and pets of New York, and beyond, for 115 years. More at: www.amcny.org. Follow on Instagram @amcny, on X @amcny, Facebook at The Schwarzman Animal Medical Center, LinkedIn, and YouTube @TheAnimalMedicalCenter.

AMC Media Contacts:

Shin-Jung Hong, ShinJung@nicholaslence.com | Cell: 617-413-7880
Pia Fischetti, Pia@nicholaslence.com | Cell: 516-287-5815