Bruce Welch, DVM, CCRT, Partner
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Dr. Welch was born and raised on a small farm in Stephens City, Virginia. In 1998 Dr. Welch, and business partner Dr. Brian Cather, opened Animal Medical Center of Frederick County in Stephens City, Virginia.
Education: DVM, Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, 1992; BS Animal Science (minors: Biology & Chemistry), Virginia Tech, 1988 Certifications & special training: Various, not limited to: TPLO, TTA, Fracture Management (Basic and Advanced), and BioMetrics. Canine Rehabilitation Therapy course at Canine Rehabilitation Institute. Professional interests: Surgery (laser, endoscopic, soft-tissue and orthopedics), dentistry, pet rehabilitation therapy, and wellness care. Leisure interests: Dr. Welch enjoys farming, biking, woodworking, collecting antique vehicles, and scuba diving, all with the company of his wife and three children. Of course, he enjoys time with his 3 furry companions (1 dog, 2 cats). |
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Brian Cather, DVM, Partner
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Dr. Cather was born and raised in Frederick County, Virginia. In July of 1998 Dr. Cather, and business partner Dr. Bruce Welch, opened Animal Medical Center of Frederick County in Stephens City, Virginia.
Education: DVM, Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, 1992; BS Animal Science, Virginia Tech, 1989 Certifications & special training: Various, not limited to: TPLO, TTA, and Fracture Management (Basic and Advanced) Professional interests: Internal medicine, ultrasound, and general orthopedic surgery. Leisure interests: Dr. Cather enjoys the outdoors and spending time with his wife, three children, and menagerie of pets. |
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Susanne (Sue) Hirsch, DVM
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Dr. Sue was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana. After graduation, along with her twin sister Dr. Roe Hirsch, she practiced small animal medicine in Louisiana for 17 years. Dr. Sue moved to Northern Virginia in 1998 and joined the Animal Medical Center team in 2005.
Education: DVM, Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine, 1980 Professional interests: Dr. Sue limits her patients to dogs and cats only, and enjoys both canine and feline internal medicine, as well as shelter medicine. Dr. Sue is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association and serves as the supervising veterinarian at the Humane Society of Warren County. Leisure interests: Over the years, Dr. Sue has engaged in backpacking, hiking, rock climbing, canoeing and bicycling, and holds a second degree black belt in Taekwondo. These days she enjoys hikes in the Shenandoah National Park, vegetable gardening, reading, and is an avid football fan. Dr. Sue is known to root for the LSU Tigers and the New Orleans Saints. Dr. Sue is a member of the St. John the Baptist Catholic Church and shares her home with her seven cats. She holds certificates in Outdoor Education and Mountaineering for the National Outdoor Leadership School in Lander, Wyoming. She is a third order Secular Discalced Carmelite at the Discalced Carmelite Monastery in Washington, DC. |
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Shelley Hoffman, DVM
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Dr. Hoffman joined the Animal Medical Center team in 2006. Before she obtained her DVM degree in 1997 she spent several years in restaurant and retail management.
Education: DVM, Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, 1997; BS Biology, University of Mary Washington, 1985 Special training: Dr. Hoffman has trained in veterinary acupuncture with the International Veterinary Acupuncture society as well as distance learning studies in Chinese Herbal Medicine with the College of Integrative Veterinary Therapies in Australia. Professional interests: Dr. Hoffman is a member of both the Virginia Veterinary Medical Association and the American Veterinary Medical Association. Leisure interests: Dr. Hoffman enjoys practicing yoga, playing competitive backgammon, learning to play the violin, and enjoying family. She shares her home with a pack of dachshunds, a few cats, and several guinea pigs. |
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Rachael Nuzzo, DVM
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Dr. Nuzzo joined the Animal Medical Center team in late 2013. She has previously worked at Franklin County Animal Hospital in Rock Mount, Virginia, and at Valley Veterinary Emergency and Referral Center in Winchester, Virginia.
Education: DVM, Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, 2011; BS Animal and Poultry Science & BS Dairy Science, Virginia Tech, 2007 Professional interests: Internal medicine, ultrasound and pain management. Leisure interests: She enjoys spending her free time with her furry companions, and sometimes her husband too. |
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Kim Arthur, DVM
Dr. Arthur grew up locally in Clarke County, active in 4-H and Pony Club, showing ponies, and livestock. After a brief stint with the USDA, Dr. Kim worked in a horse practice for several years. She joined the Animal Medical Center team in late 2015.
Education: DVM, Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine; MS Animal and Poultry Genetics Leisure interests: Dr. Arthur stays active with her family, her church, and her community. |
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Patricia Munizza, DVM
Dr. Munizza is originally from New Jersey but has been living in Virginia for
the past sixteen years. She and her family currently reside in Front Royal with an old lady cat, Shirley, and two dogs: Ritter, a Beagle mix and Pluto, a Doberman. Education: DVM, Ohio State University; BS, Rutgers University Professional interests: Feline medicine and geriatric care Leisure interests: Dr. Munizza enjoys cooking, baking, exercising, and reading. |
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Ashley Pacheco, DVM
Dr. Pacheco grew up in the smallest town in the smallest state of Rhode Island. Her parents were born in Portugal, and she is 100% Portuguese. She grew up with many cats and dogs and knew she wanted to be a veterinarian when she was 12 years old. After veterinary school she completed a small animal specialty rotating internship at VCA Southpaws Veterinary Specialists and Emergency Center in Fairfax, Virginia. Dr. Pacheco moved to California to practice at Conejo Valley Veterinary Hospital last year where she worked on dogs, cats, and exotics including an anaconda. She is very excited to be back in the rolling green hills of Virginia. Dr. Pacheco has two dogs Odin, an Australian shepherd, and Carochinha, a chihuahua/yorkshire terrier mix.
Education: DVM, Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine; Bachelors in biology with a minor in natural history from the University of Minnesota-Duluth
Professional interests: Wildlife and conservation medicine, Exotics
Leisure interests: Dr. Pacheco enjoys soccer, hiking, singing, dancing, traveling, and any outdoor activities.
Education: DVM, Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine; Bachelors in biology with a minor in natural history from the University of Minnesota-Duluth
Professional interests: Wildlife and conservation medicine, Exotics
Leisure interests: Dr. Pacheco enjoys soccer, hiking, singing, dancing, traveling, and any outdoor activities.
