I was born in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania while my father was an assistant professor at Carnegie Mellon University. I was raised with most of my primary through college education in India and travelled extensively as a child / young adult.I completed my Veterinary Degree at the Madras Veterinary College in Madras India and I completed my ECFVG in 1989. I then worked at a small animal practice in Antioch, California while applying for a residency.In late 1990, I moved to Southern California to start an alternate-pathway residency in Emergency and Critical Care. I was exposed to amazing clinicians and was able to significantly improve my skill set and knowledge base. Since that time I have remained active in both academic and private practice Critical Care settings contributing to the advancement of medicine and education of students, interns, and residents.I enjoy both Emergency and Critical Care. I am comfortable with surgical case management and soft tissue surgery. I am trained in abdominal ultrasound and echocardiography. I am proficient at minimally invasive procedures and enjoy placing stents etc. I particularly enjoy pacemaker implantation in the emergent patient.I am happy to be in Southern Oregon and look forward to contributing positively to the medical care of the animals of this region.
Dr. Rory Applegate is a new member of the Internal Medicine Team at Southern Oregon Veterinary Specialty Center. In her work she uses a multi-faceted approach to internal medicine, and genuinely connects with her clients and patients.
Dr. Applegate graduated from the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2011 and went on to a small animal rotating internship at the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine. She then completed an internal medicine residency at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Applegate has also worked on different research projects, been published in several publications and given many professional presentations.
Dr. Applegate also has spent much of her time volunteering. She has volunteered her time to trap-neuter-release feral cat programs, assisted with veterinary care of animal shelter pets, and dedicated time to performance of international veterinary healthcare. Her professionalism, dedication and love for animals make her a perfect addition to the team at Southern Oregon Veterinary Specialty Center.
Dr. Dana Hoyt joined the Emergency Team. She worked as a certified veterinary technician in Klamath Falls for 7 years after she obtained her Bachelor of Science in Animal Science/Agricultural Business and Management at Oregon State University. Upon finishing her DVM, Dr. Hoyt moved to Northern California where she enrolled in a rotating small animal internship at VCA Sacramento Animal Medical Group.
Dr. Hoyt returned to Southern Oregon after completing her internship in June 2007, and joined the VCA Jackson Animal Hospital, where she provided quality care to her patients for 10 years.
Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Surgeons
Dr. Fugazzi has had an interest in veterinary medicine since a very young age. Volunteering early on at the Houston zoo, multiple veterinary clinics, marine science centers and rescue organizations helped to solidify a lifelong quest to provide the most in depth and comprehensive help possible to animals in need.
His formal education began at Texas A&M University studying Biomechanical Engineering and the development of artificial heart valves. Veterinary school followed soon thereafter, and he was propelled into one of the best professions on earth. After graduating in 1999 with a mixed animal and exotic DVM degree, he practiced general medicine and surgery at different small animal practices in Southern Oregon and Colorado. After ten years of general practice, he was fortunate enough to gain a surgical internship at a private specialty hospital in Loveland, Colorado then a surgical residency at Washington State University. Studying both small animal orthopedics and soft tissue surgery he found a particular interest in orthopedics, oncologic surgery and minimally invasive surgery such as arthroscopy and laparoscopy. He has spent the past 3 years developing his skills in Calgary, Alberta (Canada) while growing a small family and spending as much time in the Canadian Rockies as possible. He has decided to finally return to the Rogue Valley as a board-certified surgeon and work with the team at Southern Oregon Veterinary Specialty Center.
Department of Emergency and Critical Care
Dr. Arvizo is a Colorado native. She pursued her undergraduate and graduate studies at Colorado State University. She received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree in 2003. She worked in a busy emergency and specialty hospital in Colorado Springs for five years prior to joining Southern Oregon Veterinary Specialty Center in 2008. In her free time, Dr. Arvizo enjoys training for triathlons with her three dogs Pablo Bean Burrito, Biss Biss and Izzi. She also has two cats, Kobi and Hobbes.
Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine
Kimberly Winters received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Tufts University in 2002 and then completed a one-year rotating internship at Angell Memorial West in Springfield, MA. She completed a residency in small animal internal medicine at Tufts University and achieved board certification in 2006. Once board certified, Dr. Winters worked at Tufts VETS in Walpole, MA as an assistant clinical professor and staff clinician and then worked at Animal Specialty Group in Los Angeles as a clinician and as an assistant clinical professor for Western University’s veterinary school. She has published an article and chapters in a journal and several text books and is especially interested in the management of endocrine, immune-mediated and infectious diseases.
Dr. Winters is thrilled to have joined the team at Southern Oregon Veterinary Specialty Center and now resides in Medford with her husband and their 2 children, lovable dogs, Darby, Bogart, Maisy and sweet old cats, Maddie and Rigley. When not working, she enjoys family time, practicing yoga and hiking.
Department of Emergency and Critical Care
Dr. Chmelir joined the staff at Southern Oregon Veterinary Specialty Center the year after its opening in 2004. She has dedicated her career to the human-animal bond and providing compassionate care for her patients. Dr. Chmelir is proud to be a member of the SOVSC team.
Dr. Chmelir is originally from Ottawa, Canada. She completed her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from the University of Western Ontario, Canada. After immigrating to the U.S., she graduated from Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2002. Her interest in emergency medicine was cultivated during a small animal internship in 2003 which focused on critical care.
Dr. Chmelir and her husband Bill, live in Medford with their 3 young children and German Shepherd, Chopper. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, hiking, exercising and spending quality time with her family.
