VETERINARY SURGICAL SPECIALISTS - Key Persons

Job Titles:

• Clinical Manager
• Member of the VSS Management Team

Dr. Craig has been a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons since 1991. She specializes in advanced orthopedic procedures such as arthroscopy, tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO), fracture repair, correction of angular limb deformities and small breed TPLO. A leader in her field, she previously served as the President of the Southern California Veterinary Medical Association and as a member of the House of Delegates and Board of Governors to the California Veterinary Medical Association. Currently, she is the Past-President of the California Veterinary Medical Association and the current alternate Delegate to the American Veterinary Medical Association. She has also served on several working groups and committees for the American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS). Dr Craig's daughters, Alison and Annie Pankowski, are currently attending veterinary school at the University of California, Davis and the University of Wisconsin respectively.

Dr. Thomas Keeshen graduated from the University of Minnesota, College of Veterinary Medicine in the top of his class. Following graduation from veterinary school in 2014, he completed a rotating internship and a surgery internship at the University of Florida, College of Veterinary Medicine. He continued to advance his training by completing a three-year surgical residency at Animal Specialty Group in Los Angeles, California. Prior to joining the staff at VSSOC, he was a staff surgeon for 3 years at the largest specialty practice in Australia. Dr. Keeshen was awarded Diplomate status of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons in 2021. Dr. Keeshen has extensive experience in a wide variety of orthopedic and soft tissue surgeries. He is specially trained in managing cranial cruciate disease with arthroscopic joint surgery in combination with TPLO in both large and small breeds. His special interests include complex fracture repairs (especially ones involving joints), skin reconstructive surgery for oncologic surgery and wound management, and thoracic surgery for diseases involving the heart, lungs, and other vital organs that travel through the chest. He is also interested in minimally invasive surgery and has published a paper on minimally invasive abdominal surgery in dogs with underlying coagulopathies. A native Californian with roots in Laguna Beach, Dr Keeshen is an avid surfer.

Job Titles:

• Business Manager
• Member of the VSS Management Team

Dr. Sebestyen became board certified by the American College of Veterinary Surgeons in 2001. He has extensive experience in soft tissue, orthopedic and neurological surgery. He has additional certifications in advanced surgical procedures such as TTA, TPLO, uncemented and cemented total hip replacement (BFX, CFX and Helica Hip) and sliding humeral osteotomy (SLO). He has a special interest in minimally invasive joint surgery such as arthroscopy and arthroscopically assisted joint stabilization. He has been routinely performing arthroscopic TPLO and TTA surgery for treating cranial cruciate ligament tear in dogs of different sizes and breeds. His clinical interest in soft tissue surgery includes oncologic, reconstructive, and endocrine surgery.

Job Titles:

• Hospital Administrator
• Member of the VSS Management Team

Dr. Cambridge was awarded Diplomate status of both the American College (ACVS) and European College of Veterinary Surgeons (ECVS) in 2001. Dr. Cambridge's talents and skills are divided into two areas. In orthopedics he has gained considerable expertise in the fields of joint reconstruction including non-cemented total hip replacement, cruciate ligament injury treatment utilizing TPLO and TTA procedures and orthopedic trauma management. In soft tissue surgery, Dr. Cambridge has developed extensive experience in surgical oncology, including thoracic, abdominal and oral reconstructive procedures. He has a special interest in the surgical management of portosystemic shunts and minimally invasive laparoscopic and thorascopic surgical procedures. His research and publications were based in peri-operative pain management and neurosurgery.