CAPITAL DISTRICT VETERINARY REFERRAL HOSPITAL - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Emergency Veterinarian
- Emergency Veterinarian View Bio
Dr. Abbie Gascho Landis graduated from Ohio State, College of Veterinary Medicine, then completed an internship in small animal medicine and surgery at Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine. She practiced emergency medicine in Georgia and Alabama for six years before moving north to join the emergency team at Capital District. She enjoys working with people to provide the best care for their pets.
Dr. Gascho Landis lives with her husband, two children, and various animals on a small farm. She loves writing, gardening, and outdoor adventures.
Education
Ohio State University Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine Small Animal Medicine and Surgery Internship
Dr. Looney graduated from Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine in 1989. She spent a year in private practice, then returned to Cornell's small animal hospital for an instructorship in Community Medicine and Anesthesiology. In 1997, she completed a Residency in Anesthesiology and became boarded in Anesthesiology in 2001. Post residency, Dr. Looney held positions with Angell/MSPCA Animal Medical Center in Boston and Springfield, MA in Intensive Care, Anesthesiology, and General Medicine, Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine and Tufts Veterinary Emergency Treatment and Specialties as Hospital Director and Assistant Clinical Professor, and most recently Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine where she spearheaded the Pain Management and Rehabilitation Service for both large and small animals.
Dr. Looney joined the us in 2014 to develop and expand anesthesia services at all of the hospitals in our network. Her special interests include interventional pain management, rehabilitation, palliative care, postoperative care, and anesthesiology.
Job Titles:
- Hospital Director
- Hospital Director View Bio
Butch Bastiani joined Capital District Veterinary Referral Hospital as Hospital Director in January 2018. Prior to joining Capital District, Butch had nearly 20 years of management experience; most of which has been in financial services, and healthcare.
As Hospital Director at Capital District Veterinary Referral Hospital, Butch is responsible for all the day-to-day activities of the 24/7 emergency hospital with numerous specialty departments. He ensures that all our clients receive exceptional service and care.
Butch grew up in the Guilderland area and obtained his bachelor's degree from SUNY Empire State College.
Job Titles:
- Emergency Veterinarian
- Emergency Veterinarian View Bio
Dr. George Shichen is an Albany native who graduated from Siena College in 2015 where he majored in Biology and minored in economics. Prior to vet school, he worked as a veterinary assistant. He graduated in 2021 from Midwestern University's College of Veterinary Medicine in Glendale, Arizona.
Dr. Jen Rogers joined Capital District as an Emergency Veterinarian in 1999 back when the hospital was Capital District Animal Emergency Clinic. Since then, she has been a key member of the hospital team. She accepted the role of Senior Veterinarian Associate in 2015. She was promoted to Associate Medical Director in March of 2019. Dr. Rogers has been instrumental in representing the hospital team at Capital District in recruiting initiatives, construction projects, and medical initiatives. In 2022, Dr. Rogers was promoted to Medical Director.
Job Titles:
- Regional Medical Director - Northeast
Dr. Kristen Frank is originally from Fort Lauderdale, FL. She received her undergraduate degree in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation with honors from the University of Florida in 2000. Dr. Frank continued her education at the University of Florida, receiving her Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine in 2004. Following graduation, she completed a one year rotating small animal medicine and surgery internship at the Animal Medical Center in New York, NY. She then completed a three-year internal medicine residency at Gulf Coast Veterinary Specialists and was accepted as a Diplomate into the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine in 2008.
Dr. Frank worked as an internist at Fifth Avenue Veterinary Specialists and City Veterinary Care from 2008-2012 in New York City. In 2012, she joined the ASPCA Animal Hospital in NYC as a staff internist and was promoted to Intern Program Director in 2012 and Medical Director in 2015. She joined Ethos in August of 2018 as the Regional Medical Director for the East Region overseeing medical operations at 7 hospitals.
Education
University of Florida Undergraduate with Honors in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
University of Florida Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine
Animal Medical Center Rotating Small Animal Medicine and Surgery Internship
Job Titles:
- DACVD Veterinary Dermatologist ( Dermatology for Animals )
Dr. Lara Tomich grew up surrounded by horses, dogs, cats, chickens, pigeons, lizards, and fish in Warwick, NY and obtained her Bachelor of Science in Biology from Cornell University in 2011. She completed her veterinary degree at Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine in 2015 where she originally aimed to become an equine veterinarian before falling in love with dermatology during her dermatology course her third year. Following graduation, she completed a small animal rotating internship at Tufts VETS.
Dr. Shelley Smith received her degree in veterinary medicine from Tufts University in 2007. After graduation, she completed a one-year rotating internship at Angell Animal Medical Center in Boston, MA, followed by a one-year emergency and critical care specialty internship and a three-year emergency and critical care residency at VCA Veterinary Referral Associates in Gaithersburg, MD. During her residency, she published one article on spontaneous pneumothorax and a second on intra-abdominal hypertension, she received the resident teaching award in 2011.
Dr. Smith is board certified by the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care. Following her residency, Dr. Smith worked as a criticalist at the VCA Shoreline Veterinary Referral and Emergency Center in Shelton, CT until 2015 and The Center of Veterinary Expertise in Suffolk, VA. She joined Capital District Veterinary Referral Hospital in June 2017.
Dr. Smith's interests include metabolic emergencies, sepsis, and polytrauma. She has become proficient in the utilization of thoracic and abdominal ultrasound in triage and monitoring of these patients.
In her free time, she enjoys spending time with husband, daughter, and collection of pets. She also enjoys relaxing with a good book and outdoor activities such as trail running.
Education
Tufts University Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
Angell Animal Medical Center Rotating Internship
Job Titles:
- Hospital Service Manager
- Hospital Service Manager View Bio
Heather graduated from SUNY Delhi and has been an LVT since 2000. Her career began in emergency and she was a surgery technician for 10 years. She returned to Emergency and Critical Care in 2010. Heather enjoys the fast pace, helping animals when they need it the most, and being there for owners when they need us.
She lives with her husband and pets which include 3 dogs, 2 cats, and a hedgehog.
Education
State University of New York Delhi Licensed Veterinary Technician
Job Titles:
- Medical Director, Emergency Veterinarian
- Medical Director, Emergency Veterinarian View Bio
Originally from Westchester County, NY, Dr. Rogers earned a Bachelor of Science degree at Binghamton University. She then attended the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine in 1998. Dr. Rogers went on to an Internship at the Animal Medical Center in New York City in 1999.
Job Titles:
- CM Senior Referral Relations Specialist
Marissa is the former Hospital Director at our Boston West Veterinary Emergency and Specialty hospital. In August 2020, she moved to the Marketing team as the Sr. Referral Relations Specialist for the East Region hospitals. Her lifelong passion for exceptional client service and commitment to fostering relationships with our referral community has lead her career path into her current position.
Job Titles:
- Vice President of Operations - East Region
- Vice President of Operations - East Region View Bio
Matthew Pearson is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day functioning of the Ethos Veterinary hospitals on the east coast.
Matthew was hired in 2001 as Practice Manager of Bulger Animal Hospital. He quickly put into place systems and controls that produced bottom line results. In 2003, he took on an expanded role of instilling these same disciplines at Massachusetts Veterinary Referral Hospital. Matthew's high-accountability, management-style has helped build a strong operational foundation that will allow the hospitals of IVG to continue to grow well into the future. In 2012 Matthew was promoted to Chief Operating Officer.
Prior to joining IVG Matthew was Operations Manager for Levitz Furniture. He brought with him 13 years of operations management experience to the organization. Matthew earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from Gordon College. Matthew balances his work life with many personal interests. He is an accomplished trumpet player and performs regularly at various church and civic functions. Matthew applies the same discipline he uses at work to his training as a runner and competes in road races throughout Southern New England, most recently completing marathons in 2009 and 2010.M
Dr. Berge has worked as a veterinary ER doctor since she graduated in 2003. She was a Veterinary Technician prior to veterinary school and has always loved the intensity and the ability to save lives that being an ER doctor means. She has a wonderful older horse (27) who helps disabled children and adults learn life skills, love, and comfort. She lives with two wonderful dogs and a human.
Education
Northwestern State University Bachelor of Science
Kansas State University Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
Job Titles:
- Emergency Veterinarian
- Emergency Veterinarian View Bio
Dr. Pence joined CDVRH in 2020, after 14 years in small animal general practice. She graduated from Washington State University in 2006 with her Bachelor of Veterinary Science and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degrees as well as Clark University with her Bachelor of Arts degree and has worked in Fairbanks, AK, Bennington, VT and Boston, MA. She is a proponent of Fear Free practices within veterinary medicine and finds fulfillment in helping people and their pets in times of need.
Dr. Pence lives in VT with her husband, 2 felines and a canine. She is a yoga teacher, avid traveler, hiker and snowshoer.
Education
Washington State University Bachelor of Veterinary Science
Washington State University Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine
Clark University Bachelor of Arts
Job Titles:
- Emergency Veterinarian
- Emergency Veterinarian View Bio
Dr. Tori Kocsis grew up in the capital region and graduated from Texas A&M University in 2019. She has worked in both mixed animal and small animal general practice prior to moving into emergency at Capital District. She loves helping and treating animals in the fast-paced emergency environment.
Outside of the hospital, Dr. Kocsis enjoys hiking, riding horses, and training her new puppy. She lives with her fiance, 2 dogs, 5 cats and guinea pig.
Education
Texas A&M University Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine
Clarkson University Bachelor of Science