NYC’s Animal Medical Center Congratulates 59th Intern Class on their Graduation and Announces Next Steps in Their Veterinary Careers
Elite Postgraduate Education Program Trains Next Generation of Veterinary Leaders
Press Release
(May 23, 2023 – New York, N.Y.) Since 1963, the Stephen & Christine Schwarzman Animal Medical Center (AMC), the world’s largest non-profit animal hospital, has trained generations of veterinary leaders through its Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Institute for Postgraduate Education. This legacy of innovative education has advanced the careers of thousands of specialists and general practice veterinarians who’ve made countless contributions to the veterinary medicine field and to the lives of pet families worldwide. Today, we are proud to celebrate the graduation of our 59th class of veterinary interns and announce the next steps in their distinguished careers.
Of the 30 veterinarians in this class, 22 are pursuing specialty internships or residency programs to prepare for board certification, six will enter private practice, and two have decisions pending. Of the eight specialty interns graduating from AMC this year, seven will go on to pursue board certification through a residency program and one decision is pending.
Next Steps for AMC’s 59th Class of Interns
Dr. Mario Barenas – Specialty Internship in Internal Medicine, Angell Animal Medical Center, Boston, MA
Dr. Remington Chan – Staff Veterinarian, Veterinary Emergency Group, New York City, NY
Dr. Helen Chen – Veterinary Intern, The Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo, Calgary, AB
Dr. Lisa Dourmashkin – Staff Veterinarian, Philadelphia Animal Specialty & Emergency (PASE), Philadelphia, PA
Dr. Hannah Durick – Specialty Internship in Rehabilitation/Sports Medicine, Schwarzman Animal Medical Center, New York City, NY
Dr. Adriana Emiliano – Staff Veterinarian, Veterinary Specialty Center, Bannockburn, IL
Dr. Ali Fuller – Specialty Internship in Surgery, Dallas Veterinary Surgical Center, Dallas, TX
Dr. Jacqueline Fusco – Specialty Internship in Cardiology, Schwarzman Animal Medical Center, New York City, NY
Dr. Tristan Hackney – Staff Veterinarian, Heart of Chelsea Veterinary Group, New York City, NY
Dr. Jeilene Hambly – Residency in Medical Oncology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
Dr. Rachel Hanford – Specialty Internship in Oncology Clinical Trials, University of California Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, Davis, CA
Dr. Sarah Hessen-Schmidt – Staff Veterinarian, West Chelsea Veterinary Hospital, New York City, NY
Dr. Jill Huynh – Specialty Internship in Surgery, Friendship Hospital for Animals, Washington, DC
Dr. Sonya Karchemskiy – Residency in Small Animal Medicine, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, North Grafton, MA
Dr. Meghan Keefe – Residency in Dentistry, Angell Animal Medical Center, Boston, MA
Dr. Robin Lampron – Residency in Neurology/Neurosurgery, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
Dr. Bianca Landfield – Residency in Internal Medicine, Schwarzman Animal Medical Center, New York City, NY
Dr. Brynna Lee – Residency in Emergency & Critical Care, Schwarzman Animal Medical Center, New York City, NY
Dr. Kendall Leet-Otley – Decision Pending
Dr. Daniela Leuthold – Specialty Internship in Oncology, Schwarzman Animal Medical Center, New York City, NY
Dr. Jayden Li – Residency in Emergency & Critical Care, VCA West Los Angeles Animal Hospital, Los Angeles, CA
Dr. Freddy Maza – Specialty Internship in Surgery, Pieper Memorial Veterinary Hospital, Middletown, CT
Dr. Kelly Muller – Residency in Neurology, Schwarzman Animal Medical Center, New York City, NY
Dr. Lauren O’Mara – Residency in Diagnostic Imaging, Schwarzman Animal Medical Center, New York City, NY
Dr. Kwamina Otseidu – General Practice / Part-time Staff at the Aquatic Animal Health Laboratory, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
Dr. Trevor Pereyda – Residency in Diagnostic Imaging/Radiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
Dr. Nicole Reuter – Decision Pending
Dr. Jamie Sebastian – Residency in Internal Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS
Dr. Laura Tran – Specialty Internship in Cardiology, San Diego Veterinary Cardiologists, San Diego, CA
Dr. Elizabeth Waskover – Specialty Internship in Surgery, Wheat Ridge Animal Hospital, Wheat Ridge, CO
Next Steps for Graduating Specialty Interns
Dr. Julie Choi – Residency in Cardiology, Schwarzman Animal Medical Center, New York City, NY
Dr. Shana Coffey – Residency in Surgery, Schwarzman Animal Medical Center, New York City, NY
Dr. Agnes Galej – Residency in Zoological Medicine and Surgery, Wildlife Conservation Society, Bronx, NY
Dr. Rachel Mandelbaum – Residency in Anesthesiology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
Dr. Michelle Nguyen – Residency in Cardiology, CVCA Cardiac Care for Pets, Columbia, MD
Dr. Natalie Swieton – Decision Pending
Dr. Betsy Wong – Residency in Neurology, Schwarzman Animal Medical Center, New York City, NY
Dr. Margaret Wong – Residency in Oncology, Schwarzman Animal Medical Center, New York City, NY
The AMC Internship Program is an intensive one-year program designed to reinforce, extend, and refine clinical skills and enhance diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities. Interns rotate through many of AMC’s 20+ specialties and services, working with a diverse and varied caseload with a high level of hands-on support and training from board-certified specialists.
“The Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Institute for Postgraduate Education provides our interns with the most advanced and the highest quality postgraduate education in clinical veterinary medicine. We are so proud of the incredible talent, ambition, and resiliency of this 59th class of interns, and we can’t wait to see all that they accomplish in their careers,” said Katherine Quesenberry, Chief Medical Officer at AMC.
“AMC interns have the unique advantage of working with not only the largest volume but the most diverse patient caseload in the country, while receiving intensive, quality specialty training from AMC’s specialists and experienced veterinarians. These interns are the best and the brightest, and their contributions will be critical in a field that is changing and evolving rapidly,” said Alexandra van der Woerdt, Service Head of Ophthalmology and Director of The Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Institute for Postgraduate Education at AMC.
“Congratulations to AMC’s 59th Class of Interns. As alumni of AMC, I am sure you will contribute to advancing the field of veterinary medicine. We are proud of your achievements and have no doubt that you will lead our field with passion and dedication for every animal that you care for,” said Helen M. Irving, RN, MBA, President and Chief Executive Officer of AMC.
As one of the leading veterinary teaching hospitals in the country, our graduating class joins 2,500+ veterinarians who have trained at AMC.
About the Stephen & Christine Schwarzman Animal Medical Center
The Schwarzman Animal Medical Center (AMC) is the world’s largest non-profit animal hospital with 130+ veterinarians providing the highest quality medical care across more than 20 specialties and services, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Our mission to provide the best in care, research, and education has been the foundation of our work for over a century. Learn more at www.amcny.org.