On the Job:

Stephen Birchard, DVM, MS, DACVS joined BluePearl Veterinary Partners in 2011. After his residency, he spent two years as an Associate Staff Surgeon at the Animal Medical Center in New York City and then joined the faculty at Ohio State College of Veterinary Medicine. He was head of Small Animal Surgery at Ohio State for six years and while there earned several teaching awards including the Norden Distinguished Teacher Award. Dr. Birchard has also written numerous articles for refereed journals and book chapters.  Additionally, he is the chief editor of the Saunders Manual of Small Animal Practice. Dr. Birchard’s clinical specialty is small animal soft tissue surgery.  His research interests are in oncologic surgery, general thoracic surgery, portosystemic shunts, and chylothorax.

Education:

Residency, Small Animal Surgical, Purdue University
Masters Degree, Purdue University
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri

Off Duty:

In his free time, Dr. Bichard enjoys fly fishing, canoeing, bicycling, and spending time with my wife Becky, and their two dogs and cat.

On the Job:

Alyssa Mourning, DVM, joined BluePearl Veterinary Partners in 2011. Prior to joining BluePearl, she worked for All Care Animal Referral Center in Orange County, Calif.

Education:

Residency, Internal Medicine, University of Minnesota
Internship, University of Minnesota
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota
Bachelor of Arts, Luther College

Off Duty:

When not at work, Dr. Mourning spends most of her time with family and friends including her husband, baby boy, five cats and a briard. Dr. Mourning’s other hobbies include reading, spending time outdoors, and watching professional Minnesota sports.

On the Job:

Christina Wolf, DVM, DACVIM-Neurology, joined BluePearl in 2011. Prior to joining our team, she worked at Louisville Veterinary Specialty & Emergency Services in Kentucky as the neurologist/neurosurgeon. Dr. Wolf’s professional interests are wide-ranging and include spinal surgery (hemilaminectomies, ventral slots, and spinal tumor resection) and epilepsy.

Education:

Residency, Veterinary Neurology/Neurosurgery, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Internship, Rotating Small Animal Internship, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Alabama
Bachelor of Science in Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington

Off Duty:

Dr. Wolf and her husband are avid hikers and have extensively explored the trails of  the Smokey Mountains. She also enjoys time with family and friends, cycling, running, reading, and curling up with her beagle-mix, Gerty, who may very well be “the best dog in the world,” according to Dr. Wolf.

On the Job:

Richard Skalos, DVM, joined BluePearl Veterinary Partners in 2011.

Education:

Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Ross University
Bachelor of Science, Slippery Rock University, Penn.

Off Duty:

Dr. Skalos enjoys spending with his wife and their two dogs, Ellie Mae and Jet. As an avid Pittsburgh sports fan, he can often be found watching the Steelers, Pens, and Pirates or enjoying the great outdoors.

On the Job:

Louis Anderson, DVM, joined BluePearl Veterinary Partners in 2011.

Education:

Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University
Bachelor of Science, Jamestown College, North Dakota

Off Duty:

Dr. Anderson enjoys reading, traveling and spending time with his fiancé and their cat Leeloo and their dachshund mix named Pepper.

On the Job:

Jennifer Wilder, DVM, joined BluePearl Veterinary Partners in 2011. Her professional interests include dentistry and dermatology.

Education:

Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota
Bachelor of Arts, College of Saint Benedict

Off Duty:

Dr. Wilder loves coming home to a three-legged rottweiler named Riddick and watching movies next to him on the couch. She also enjoys spending time outdoor, camping and canoeing in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area or taking scenic drives to see the fall colors. With family and friends, she likes to play board games and check out new restaurants in the Twin Cities.

On the Job:

Rebecca Ball, DVM, MS, DACVS, joined Blue Pearl Veterinary Partners in 2011. Upon completing veterinary school, she spent four years in the United States Army Veterinary Corps. After her residency, Dr. Ball served as a clinical instructor of veterinary surgery at The Ohio State University and later as an associate surgeon at Indianapolis Veterinary Referrals.

Education:

2009    Residency, Surgery and Master’s Program, The Ohio State University
2006    Internship, The University of Minnesota
2001    Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University

Off Duty:

Dr. Ball’s hobbies include cooking, hiking and spending time with her pets Sidney, Bob and Wally.

Alan Lipowitz, DVM, MS, ACVS, joined the BluePearl family after BluePearl acquired Midwest Veterinary Specialists in September, 2010. An accomplished surgeon, he worked at Midwest for seven years. Following graduation from veterinary school, at The Ohio State University, Dr. Lipowitz served two years in the U.S. Army Veterinary Corps. He went on to spend three years in a private, small animal practice, before beginning his residency.

Dr. Lipowitz taught small animal surgery at the College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, for 26 years before joining Midwest. Prior to coming to Minnesota, Dr. Lipowitz taught small animal surgery at the veterinary schools of the University of Pennsylvania and The Ohio State University. Dr. Lipowitz is a Past President and former Executive Secretary of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons.

Education:

1974    Master of Science, Veterinary Clinical Sciences, The Ohio State University
1974    Residency, Small Animal Surgery, The Ohio State University
1966    Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University

Off Duty:

Dr. Lipowitz lives on a 40- acre farm in south-east Minnesota with his wife, four horses, two dogs and five barn cats. He spends time with family and friends, enjoys working on the farm, reading and visiting the grandkids in California.

Brian Husbands, DVM, ACVIM (oncology), CVA, joined BluePearl Veterinary Partners in 2010. In addition to his work in the hospital, he is also an adjunct faculty member in the Veterinary Clinical Sciences dept at the University of Minnesota. His professional interests within internal medicine include hematologic and endocrine disorders and within oncology include hematopoietic cancers (including lymphoma, mast cell tumors, and histiocytic cancer) and novel approaches to systemic cancer and chemotherapy. Dr. Husbands is accredited in stem cell therapy and is also an active member in the International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management.

Education:

Certificate of Veterinary Acupuncture,  International Veterinary Acupuncture Society
Residency, Comparative Oncology, University of Minnesota
Residency, Small Animal Internal Medicine, University of Minnesota
Internship, Metropolitan Veterinary Hospital
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Ross University
Bachelor of Science, Ross University

Off Duty:

Dr. Husbands loves to relax with his family, which includes one dog rescued from the Caribbean and a blue heeler-border collie-mix rescued after being hit by a car.  He also is an excellent cook and baker, and can often be found training for his next marathon.

On the Job:

Autumn Dutelle, DVM, CVA, joined BluePearl Veterinary Partners in 2010. Upon completing her internship, Dr. Dutelle worked as a family veterinarian near Seattle from 2004 until 2005. Prior to joining BluePearl Veterinary Partners, Dr. Dutelle worked as a staff veterinarian at Veterinary Cancer Group from 2008 until 2010.

Education:

2010    Medical Acupuncture for Veterinarians, Colorado State University
2008    Oncology Residency, Veterinary Cancer Group, Tustin, California
2004    Internship, Florida Veterinary Specialists
2003    Doctor Veterinary Medicine, Colorado State University
1999    Bachelor of Science, Colorado State University

Off Duty:

Dr. Dutelle enjoys spending time with her family, which includes two dogs and two cats. She loves hiking with her dogs. Some of Dr. Dutelle’s favorite activities include kickboxing, traveling and outdoor activities.