Background and Education

Veterinary School: Oregon State University
Anesthesia Residency: North Carolina State University
Board Certification: American College of Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia (1989)
Postdoctoral NIH Fellowship: North Carolina State University
Certification: PhD – Pulmonary Physiology (1992)

Dr. Kris Kruse-Elliott is SAGE’s anesthesiologist. Dr. Kruse-Elliott is a board-certified veterinarian specializing in anesthesia (delivery of drugs to keep patients immobilized, pain-free and comfortable during procedures and surgery) and analgesia (management of acute and chronic pain). An Oregon native, Dr. Kruse-Elliott earned her B.S. in General Science and her Veterinary Medicine degree at Oregon State University. She started her career as a veterinary practitioner, but was always interested in heart and lung physiology and how anesthesia could be used safely in patients with cardiopulmonary disease. She pursued her passion, completed a residency and became board certified in anesthesia, and followed with a postdoctoral fellowship and Ph.D. in Pulmonary Physiology from North Carolina State University.

Before moving to the Bay Area, Dr. Kruse-Elliott was on faculty at the University of Wisconsin where she taught anesthesia and ran the anesthesia service, providing clinical anesthesia to a wide variety of species. She has run her own active federally funded research program and served on research teams that have received federal and private support to study animal disease and treatments, including management of post-surgical pain in cats and dogs. Her published work is vast and includes co-authorship of a 2015 manuscript in Science about how algae toxins can impair sea lion memory and hippocampal connectivity and lead to the animals being stranded. Dr. Kruse-Elliott has also been involved with The Marine Mammal Center of California and their work to study the effects of algae toxicity—the project has been documented by National Geographic.

Background and Education

Veterinary School: University of Guelph (2004)
Anesthesia Residency: University of Wisconsin (2013)
Board Certification: American College of Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia (2013)

Dr. Odette O graduated from the University of Guelph (2001) with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. She earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Guelph, Ontario Veterinary College (2004). After a number of years spent in small animal general practice, Dr. O completed her residency in Anesthesia and Pain Management at the University of Wisconsin – Madison and became board-certified in anesthesia and analgesia (2013).

Dr. O believes Anesthesiology is as much as it is an art, as it is a science. Being able to assess each patient individually and formulate a plan that best suits their specific needs is both the challenge and the beauty of Anesthesiology. The chance to be an integral part of the care team to support both the needs of the patient as well as fellow specialists is truly rewarding to her.

Her anesthesia-related interests include the practical aspects of clinical anesthesia and pain management, as well as anesthesia of unusual species and acupuncture. She prides herself in optimizing patient care and also enjoys teaching anesthesia-related topics to students, technicians, and fellow veterinarians. Dr. O is also an active member of the American College of Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia (ACVAA) including serving as a member of the Board of Directors, Abstract Coordinator, and numerous other committees over the years.

Awards

Bayer Small Animal Resident of the Year, University of Wisconsin - Madison (2013)

Smiths Medical American College of Veterinary Anesthesiologists Resident Abstract Award (2012)

American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists Student Award (2004)

Background and Education:
Veterinary School: University of California, Davis
Internship Training: Washington State University
Residency Training: University of Tennessee
Certification: Diplomate ACVIM (Cardiology) (2015)

Dr. Sara Johns graduated from the University of Puget Sound with a Bachelor of Arts in history. She earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from UC Davis in 2010. Following veterinary school, Dr. Johns completed both a small animal rotating medicine and surgery internship and a cardiology specialty internship at Washington State University. She then completed a three-year residency in cardiology at the University of Tennessee. Dr. Johns joined SAGE in 2015 and became board-certified the same year.

Dr. Johns has a strong professional interest in the medical aspects of cardiology, in particular treatment of congestive heart failure and arrhythmias. Outside of work, Dr. Johns enjoys hiking and going to the beach with her dog, a miniature schnauzer.

Background & Education:

Veterinary School: Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine 

Dr. Ryan Beverly graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with a BA in Integrative Biology and went on to receive his DVM from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine. He completed his clinical year at the University of Florida and then completed his rotating internship at Advanced Veterinary Specialists in Santa Barbara, CA. Dr. Beverly became a veterinarian because he finds dogs and cats to be a bottomless source of love and fun. They have contributed so much to his life and he wanted to contribute to theirs.

As an emergency veterinarian, Dr. Beverly enjoys the wide variety of cases he gets to see. It keeps him engaged and pushes him to constantly update and refine his medicine. He takes interest in utilizing the newest ultrasound and other diagnostic imaging techniques to most rapidly and accurately assess his patients. He also finds that, while challenging, helping animals and their people in difficult and unexpected situations is extremely rewarding.

When Dr. Beverly is not treating patients, he enjoys spending time with his wife, son (to be), and dogs and cats, as well as doing anything fitness oriented. He has two 70lb mutts, Goose and Levi, and two cats, Mona and Kevin. Dr. Beverly looks forward to meeting you.

Background and Education:
Veterinary School: University of California, Davis
Internship Training: Veterinary Specialty Hospital; San Diego, CA

Dr. Gerardo Martin del Campo received a B.S. in Animal Science from UC Davis in 1996, and continued at Davis for veterinary school, receiving his DVM in 2000. After finishing vet school, Dr. Martin del Campo completed a rotating small animal internship in medicine, surgery, neurology, and emergency at Veterinary Specialty Hospital of San Diego. He has worked as an emergency clinician in the Bay Area since 2001. Dr. Martin del Campo enjoys the unpredictability and variety of emergency medicine, and the challenges those things provide.

When he’s not in the hospital, his interests include spending time with my wife and son, fishing, and golfing. He’s the proud owner of: Fenway, an 8-year-old Boston terrier, Wolfie, a 2-year-old miniature schnauzer mix, and Cherry, a 5-month-old Chihuahua. All three dogs were rescues he encountered while working.

Dr. Stephanie Diao attended UCLA for undergrad and went to veterinary school at UC Davis. She completed her small animal rotating internship at the University of Minnesota. In her free time she loves to read and bake new desserts! A lover of hampsters, she is currently looking to adopt one!

"I am very excited to join the SAGE Concord team!"

Background and Education:
Veterinary School: University College Dublin School of Veterinary Medicine
Internship Training: Southern California Veterinary Referral Group; Red Bank Veterinary Hospital, New Jersey

Dr. Tracy Hardin is originally from Seattle and graduated from Oberlin College in Ohio with a BA in Biology. She graduated from the University College Dublin School of Veterinary Medicine in Ireland in 2003. She then completed a rotating internship in Southern California and a neurology internship at Red Bank Veterinary Hospital in New Jersey. Beginning in 2005, Dr. Hardin worked as an emergency clinician along the east coast of the United States and finally made her way back to the west coast when she joined SAGE in 2014.

Tracy enjoys music – whether its opera, rock, or a string quartet – and even studied voice and music history while at Oberlin College. She has rowed competitively on and off since high school and grew up hiking and camping in the Cascade and Olympic mountains.

Dr. Anthony LaBarbera is a native of the East Bay. He received his DVM from Cornell University and completed an Emergency/Critical Care-focused rotating internship at Arizona Veterinary Emergency & Critical Care Center. Dr. LaBarbera was happy to return to the Bay Area to practice emergency medicine at SAGE. His interests include focused ultrasound, intoxications, and endocrine emergencies. In his free time, Dr. LaBarbera enjoys hanging out with his wife and dog (Mars) who is a cross between a pit bull and a couch potato.

Background and Education:

Veterinary School: Ohio State University

Internship Training:

Oregon State University- Small animal rotating internship

Washington State University- Small animal emergency and critical care specialty internship

Dr. Jiayin Liu was born and raised in Guangdong, China. She came to the U.S in 2012 to attend UC Davis undergraduate studies. She finished her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree at the Ohio State University in 2020. Dr. Liu completed a small animal rotating internship at Oregon State University and then went to Washington State University to finish her second internship in Emergency and Critical Care. She enjoys the variety of emergency medicine and the comprehensive thinking associated with emergency case management.

Outside of her work, she enjoyed outfitting her cat (Helios for his English name and “Lai Fu” for his Chinese name) for special occasions. She also enjoys hiking, tea tasting and watching movies with her friends and families

Background and Education:
Veterinary School: Washington State University
Internship Training: Seattle Veterinary Specialists
 
Dr. Kiera Steele graduated summa cum laude with her BA in psychology from UC Santa Barbara. She graduated magna cum laude from Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2011. After completing a small animal rotating internship in medicine and surgery at Seattle Veterinary Specialists in 2012, she stayed on as an emergency clinician. She later moved to California, where she worked at emergency hospitals that included SAGE Centers for Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Care. She returned to Washington state where she worked as a general practitioner for a little over a year.
 
Kiera was happy to return to California in 2017 and resume her role as an emergency veterinarian with SAGE Centers for Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Care. She has an affinity for critical care including shock management, wound repair and toxicology related emergencies.
 
In her free time, Kiera enjoys spending time with family and friends, playing the piano, reading, traveling and horse back riding.

Background and Education

Veterinary School: Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine 

Dr. Lindsay Swirble graduated from Temple University in Philadelphia, PA, with a BS in Biology. She went on to receive her DVM from Ross University – St. Kitts and completed her clinical rotations at Cornell University. Dr. Swirble wanted to be a veterinarian ever since she was a little girl and never wanted to do anything else!

Dr. Swirble loves the thrill of emergency medicine and the unknown of what will walk through the door! She enjoys how fast-paced and the variety of cases she can see. It always keeps her on her toes. With emergency and critical care services open 24/7,  Dr. Swirble is happy she can provide comfort and availability to pets and their families when an emergency arises.

When Dr. Swirble is not treating patients, she enjoys anything outdoors, hiking, camping, and fishing. She enjoys playing with her dogs' Puck (Chihuahua Mix) and Scruff (Terrier Mix) and relaxing watching tv.

Background and Education:

Veterinary School: University of California, Davis 

Dr. Jeremy Wong was born and raised in San Francisco. He attended UC Davis for his undergraduate studies, and he went on to attend veterinary school there, graduating with his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree in 2009. Dr. Wong completed a small animal rotating internship at Veterinary Medical and Surgical Group (VMSG) in Ventura, CA. He went on to complete two more internships: Neurology and Neurosurgery at Animal Specialty Group in Glendale, CA and Emergency and Critical Care at UC Davis. 

In his spare time, Dr. Wong loves to cook, eat, and he's hoping to get into gardening. He enjoys watching or reading science fiction and fantasy (ex: Star Trek, Lord of the Rings, and Marvel comics). He also enjoys spending time with friends traveling, watching movies, playing board games, listening to music, and going out dancing.

Dr. Wendy Wallace graduated from UC Davis in 1987.  She developed a passion for Integrative Medicine after seeing great results with her personal dogs and many canine sports dog patients.  In 1999 she became certified in veterinary chiropractic by the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association and then in veterinary acupuncture by the American Veterinary Acupuncture Society in 2004.  She has traveled to Europe with the AKC International agility teams and even competed and made the finals in Italy at the European Open Agility Competition.   She is certified in veterinary food therapy from The Chi Institute and  completed the Advanced Certification in Veterinary Chinese Herbal Medicine from The International Veterinary Acupuncture Society and The College of Integrative Veterinary Therapies.  Wendy lives in Clayton with her 4 shetland sheepdogs, ducks and White Dorper sheep.  They enjoy competing in herding, agility, conformation, obedience and rally.

Background and Education:
Veterinary School: University of Wisconsin
Internship Training: University of Saskatchewan
Residency Training: University of California, Davis
Certification: Diplomate ACVIM (1997)

Dr. Bruskiewicz (also affectionately called Dr. B) attended the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and received her DVM from the University of Wisconsin (1993). She completed an internship at the University of Saskatchewan, and her internal medicine residency at UC Davis. Dr. B became a board certified internist in 1997. Dr. B particularly enjoys the challenges of gastrointestinal, hepatic, renal, immune-mediated, and endocrine diseases.

When not at the hospital, Dr. Bruskiewicz is an avid cyclist, completing many centuries (100-mile rides) each year. Dr. B is a repeat 5-pass finisher of the Death Ride, a 129-mile event through the California Alps, and has completed double-century rides, attaining the California Triple Crown. Her racing team raises money to support the continued protection and beautification of Mt. Diablo. Dr. B was drawn to veterinary medicine as a 6th grader when, as part of her school’s Career Week, she spent time shadowing a local veterinarian. At home, she is the loving caregiver to a Chihuahua named Oliver, two golden retrievers, Kona and Echelle, and four cats: Lance, Luke, Finnegan, and Burney.

**As of April 2022, Dr. B's practice will be limited to Ultrasound.**

Background and Education:
Veterinary School: Colorado State University
Internship Training: All-Care Animal Referral Center, Fountain Valley, CA; North Carolina State University
Residency Training: University of California, Davis
Certification: Diplomate ACVIM (2006)

Dr. Jennifer Strasser is a graduate of the University of New Mexico, where she earned a BS in Biology. She received her DVM from Colorado State University (2001). Dr. Strasser completed an internship in small animal medicine and surgery at All-Care Animal Referral Center in Fountain Valley, CA (2002), as well as an internship in small animal medicine and surgery at North Carolina State University’s School of Veterinary Medicine (2003). Dr. Strasser also completed an internal medicine residency at the University of California, Davis (2005). She became board certified in internal medicine in 2006. Just recently, Dr. Strasser became certified in veterinary acupuncture (2020) which brings an added advantage to her treatment planning by enhancing recovery and managing pain of her patients.

Before joining SAGE, Dr. Strasser spent several years in private practice in Albuquerque, Seattle, and the SF Bay Area.

Dr. Strasser particularly enjoys the challenges of gastrointestinal, endocrine, and urinary tract diseases, and the diagnostic capabilities of endoscopy and ultrasound. When not practicing, Jennifer enjoys yoga, sailing, camping, skiing, and spending quality time with her family. She is the proud owner of one chocolate lab and one yellow lab, who also happen to be her favorite hiking companions.

Background & Education:

Veterinary School: University of Georgia 

Veterinary medicine is a second career for Dr. Ruth Dunning, but perhaps her first love. Although she has volunteered for animals shelters her entire life, a chance meeting, as she was graduating from college, left a lasting impression. She did not immediately go into veterinary medicine, instead finding a career in advertising sales with Conde Nast Magazines, She eventually returned to school at the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine and earned her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in 2011. She has a special interest in neurology, immune-mediated diseases, infectious diseases, and surgery.

Dr. Dunning is a shelter advocate and her pets come to her through rescue organizations. She currently has a mixed breed dog named Dylan, and 2 cats: Fannie who was found as a kitten under the fan belt of a truck, and Momo, an epileptic kitty she inherited from a client who could no longer care for her.

Background & Education: 

Veterinary Education: University of California, Davis

Dr. Emanuelson graduated with a degree of Bachelor of Science in Physiology, University of California Davis, with highest honors, a Departmental Citation of Outstanding Academic Accomplishment in Physiology and a membership in the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society. She received her veterinary degree from the University of California Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, Zoological Medicine Track.

Dr. Emanuelson completed an internship at The Zoological Society of London, Whipsnade Park and London Zoo, England; she became a temporary member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. 

Dr. Emanuelson (Dr. E) became a partner/owner in Cottage Veterinary Hospital with Steven Sanders DVM. Dr E worked at Cottage as a small animal/exotic and wildlife veterinarian and owner for 7 years. She then became interum Chief of Service, Zoological Medicine at UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine for a year, and continued for 2 years as a clinical veterinarian and teacher for the program.

 Dr E started as a volunteer veterinarian at Oakland Zoo when she first returned from the United Kingdom, then after UC Davis Zoo Med, became the full time Veterinarian at the Zoo. She was named Director of Veterinary Services, Oakland Zoo in 2000. Dr E feels it was a privilege working with the incredible zoo animals, large and small! A lifetime achievement was building the veterinary program, and being instrumental in the design and utilization of the world class Oakland Zoo Veterinary Hospital, as the Zoo expanded to include many new species of large native California animals.

Dr Emanuelson was inspired by her mother, a small animal/exotic/wildlife veterinarian who built Cottage Veterinary Hospital in Walnut Creek with her father. The family bred and showed German Shepard Dogs, and Arabian Horses; did wildlife rehabilitation at home and at the SPCA; were founders of the Suisun Marsh Natural History Association in Fairfield; and rescued many beloved cats! Recently Dr E has had the pleasure of doing veterinary relief work at Northpointe Veterinary Hospital, a 24-hour emergency and general small animal practice.

Dr E is excited to join the new Urgent Care Service at SAGE, and return to some of her very first loves: dogs, cats, and their medicine!

Backgrounds and Education

Veterinary School: Royal Veterinary College, University of London

 Dr. Cassidy Hui-Jung Yang is excited to be joining SAGE! She was born in Taiwan and moved to California when she was a teenager. She graduated from University of California in Los Angeles (UCLA) with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics. She then spent in the next five years working at City of Hope National Medical Center as a Cancer Research Associate. Having always loved medicine and animals, and after years of volunteering at a wildlife rehabilitation center, Dr. Yang decided to combine her passions and pursue a career in veterinary medicine. She earned her veterinary degree from Royal Veterinary College at University of London, UK before returning to California. She then completed a Small Animal Rotating Internship at VCA Sacramento Veterinary Referral Center. Prior to joining SAGE, she worked in general practice and preventative medicine in San Pablo and San Jose. Her special interests include feline medicine, geriatric medicine,  trauma/wound care, emergency medicine, and soft tissue surgery.

 Dr. Yang lives in the East Bay with her husband and a rescue Yorkie mix named Archie. She recently adopted two orphan kittens named Maverick and Goose. When Dr. Yang is not treating patients, she enjoys spending time with her family, hiking, yoga, traveling, and baking. She looks forward to meeting you and your furry little ones!

Background and Education:
Veterinary School: Colorado State University
Internship Training: Private practice veterinary specialists, San Diego
Residency Training: Animal Medical Center, New York
Certification: Diplomate ACVS (2001)

Dr. Martin Aitken attended both Metropolitan State College in Denver, CO and Colorado State University. He received his DVM from Colorado State (1994). From there, he completed a private practice internship in San Diego, followed by a year-long surgical internship at the same practice. He then completed a residency in small animal surgery at the Animal Medical Center in NYC, staying on to serve two years as a clinical instructor and service head in the practice’s surgical department. Dr. Aitken particularly enjoys performing soft tissue surgery with specific interest in oncologic, thoracic and hepatic surgery. He became a board certified surgeon in 2001.

When not practicing, Martin enjoys cycling, scuba diving, and baseball. A little-known fact about Martin is that he was a rodeo bull rider in his youth. Dr. Aitken also serves as the medical consultant and volunteers for his wife’s guinea pig rescue organization, CAVY World Guinea Pig Rescue.

Background and Education:
Veterinary School: University of California, Davis
Internship Training: Pet Emergency & Specialty Center (La Mesa, CA); Chesapeake Veterinary Surgical Specialists (Annapolis, MD)
Residency Training: Chesapeake Veterinary Surgical Specialists
Certification: Diplomate ACVS (2014)

Dr. Mark Dosch grew up in Pasadena, California and moved to northern California to attend UC Davis. After graduating in 2004 with a degree in animal science, he attended the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. Following veterinary school, Dr. Dosch moved to San Diego for a 1-year rotating internship at the Pet Emergency and Specialty Center. He then moved to Maryland for a surgical internship at Chesapeake Veterinary Surgical Specialists, and continued his surgical training with a 3-year small animal surgery residency at that practice. He moved back to northern California in 2013 and successfully passed the American College of Veterinary Surgery board exam in 2014. Dr. Dosch’s professional interests include soft tissue, orthopedic and neurologic surgery and the ability to implement minimally invasive techniques in both the investigation and treatment of orthopedic and soft tissue disease processes.

Outside of work, Mark enjoys spending time with his wife Amanda (also a veterinarian), family (including his dogs, Harper and Maddie, and cat, Sprite), and friends. He enjoys fly fishing, deep sea fishing, photography (particularly nature and landscape), SCUBA diving, and hiking in beautiful California. He is also an avid sports fan, rooting hard for Dodgers baseball fan and USC and Packers football.

Background and Education:
Veterinary School: Colorado State University
Internship Training: Animal Medical Center, New York
Residency Training: Animal Medical Center, New York
Certification: Diplomate ACVS (1996)

Dr. Lissa Richardson graduated from Colorado State University, College of Veterinary Medicine in 1986. She completed her internship at the Animal Medical Center in New York City. Following two years of private practice, Dr. Richardson returned to the Animal Medical Center to complete her residency in surgery. Lissa was a clinical instructor of small animal surgery at UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine for two years before joining SAGE Centers in 1994. Lissa has been a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons since 1996. Dr. Richardson enjoys all aspects of surgery; soft tissue, orthopedics, and neurosurgery. Her special interests include reconstructive and paw surgery.

Lissa, along with other SAGE veterinarians, regularly gives presentations as part of Cover Your K9’s day-long first aid class for police dog handlers. She also gives fun presentations to school groups and has been to several Career Day events in local schools. Dr. Richardson is married and has two children and a black lab (adopted from a rescue group). She enjoys mountain bike riding, hiking, skiing, and really anything outdoors.