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Renee Self grew up on a ranch just over the California border in Siskiyou County and being around so many animals she learned at a young age that she had a love for both large and small animals. She spent a lot of time in Jackson County and surrounding areas with her family growing up and is familiar with the area and culture.
With over twenty years of customer service experience, Renee brings a unique insight to the SOVSC management team as she joins the Marketing team as the new Communications Manager. She ran her own business for over fifteen years and has been event planning and working reception at SOVSC. She is excited to put her years of experience into her new position at the clinic.
During her free time, Renee enjoys spending time with family and friends, her dog Roxy, and volunteers in the community for Pear Blossom and City of Medford fundraisers for children’s programs.
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. Cheryl Croley joined Southern Oregon Veterinary Specialty Center in 2006. She contributes years of experience as both a general practitioner and emergency/critical care doctor. Dr. Croley is a graduate of the College of Veterinary Medicine at Colorado State University. Dr. Croley began her career at a busy small animal clinic in Southern California where she practiced general medicine for five years. She was then introduced to emergency medicine at an after-hours emergency clinic in the area and found it to be exciting and rewarding. To gain more hands-on experience, Dr. Croley accepted a position in Northern California at a 24-hour specialty and critical care hospital. She became well versed at managing critical patients beyond the first 24 hours of their trauma or illness.
Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care
Dr. Reiss was born and raised in the suburbs of New York City. He graduated from New York State College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell in 1993. Following graduation, he completed a small-animal internship at Alameda East Veterinary Hospital and residency in emergency and critical care at Denver Veterinary Specialists. Dr. Reiss obtained board certification in emergency and critical care in October 2002. Dr. Reiss has been involved in the growth and development of two large 24-hour emergency and referral centers in Denver, Seattle, Medford and Portland. He has published a paper on traumatic cardiac injuries, as well as book chapters on subjects such as dystocia and pneumonia. Dr. Reiss has special interests in trauma, transfusion medicine, critical care nutrition and pulmonary diseases.
Dr. Reiss moved to Medford from Seattle with his wife, Dawn, their daughters, Alexys and Makayla, son Deryk and a multitude of pets. His interests outside of veterinary medicine include woodworking, snowboarding and classic cars. Dr. Reiss moved to Southern Oregon to provide veterinary services not previously available in the area, as well as to enjoy the wide variety of activities the region has to offer.
Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Surgeons
Dr. Ferreira is originally from Arizona, but was raised in Houston, Texas. He received his DVM from the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine in 1994. He worked in private practice in both Seattle and Houston for three years prior to completing a small-animal surgical residency at Denver Veterinary Specialists. During his residency, Dr. Ferreira completed and published orthopedic research focused on the effect of gas plasma sterilization on demineralized bone matrix grafts at Colorado State University. In February of 2002, he became board certified into the American College of Veterinary Surgeons. After three years as staff surgeon in a large veterinary referral practice in Denver, Dr. Ferreira moved to Medford to help establish the Southern Oregon Veterinary Specialty Center. Dr. Ferreira’s special interests include general orthopedics, trauma and fracture management, TPLO stabilization for cranial cruciate ligament injury, spinal surgery for disc herniation and surgical management of abdominal disorders.
Dr. Ferreira lives in the Medford area with his wife, daughters and their Chihuahua. In his spare time, he enjoys family life, golf, reading, hiking, snowboarding, music and fly fishing.
John Davies, DVM, DACVS-SA has joined Southern Oregon Veterinary Specialty Center as our newest surgeon. John’s educational background and pervious employment experiences will greatly benefit our team, as well as the people and pets of Southern Oregon.
For two years, John was the lead staff surgeon at Silicon Valley Veterinary Specialists in San Jose, where he was responsible for setting up the surgical service in a startup practice environment. From there, he was employed as a staff surgeon at Santa Cruz Veterinary Hospital.
John has been surrounded by animals his entire life. John was raised on his family farm near Toronto, Canada, where his parents had a large sheep operation that supplied timed pregnant ewes and lambs to research hospitals. Johns upbringing greatly influenced his future endeavors. In 2001, he graduated from McMaster University in Ontario, Canada, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology. Three years later, he attended Ontario Veterinary College and graduated with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. Afterward, John finished an internship and surgical residency. In 2015, he became board certified in veterinary surgery.
In addition to academic and career achievements, John has had his work published and is a member of several notable veterinary associations.
John loves the outdoors. In his free time, he enjoys camping, rock climbing, sailing and kite surfing, among other outdoor activities. John also likes to work with his hands. He has built boats, furniture, made pottery and restored motorcycles.
Renee White, DVM is the newest addition to the Southern Oregon Veterinary Specialty Center team. She graduated from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine in St. Kitts & Nevis, West Indies where she received her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine. She has strong rooted interests in several veterinary specialties including emergency and critical care, soft tissue and orthopedic surgery. While attending Ross University, she was the Student Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society (SVECCS) Vice President. Dr. White spent the last year as a Companion Animal Medicine and Surgery Intern at Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine. In her free time, you will find Dr. White outside. She enjoys SCUBA diving, snorkeling, kayaking, hiking and horseback riding. She also hopes to travel the world in the future.
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 Emergency and Critical Care
Dr. Schropp joined the Southern Oregon Veterinary Specialty Center upon its opening in November 2004 after years of emergency practice in Sacramento and San Francisco Bay area. Dr. Schropp is a 1990 graduate of the University of California Davis College of Veterinary Medicine. She served as practice manager and full-time veterinarian for eight years at the Sacramento Emergency Veterinary Clinic. She received the UC Davis –CVMA Don Low Fellowship in Emergency and Critical Care for 2000 and elected to pursue a residency in emergency and critical care in 2002. Dr. Schropp is now a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care. Dr. Schropp’s professional interests include toxicology, electrolyte abnormalities and colloid support therapy.
Dr. Schropp and her husband Robert share their home with their yellow Labrador, Magoo. In her free time, Dr. Schropp enjoys gardening, yoga and reading.
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.
Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Dermatology
Dr. Allison Foster was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana and received her Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from the University of New Orleans. She then attended Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine and received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 2004. Following graduation, Dr. Foster moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico where she worked as a general practitioner for several years prior to applying for residencies in dermatology. She completed a small animal medicine and surgery rotating internship at VCA Veterinary Care Animal Hospital and Referral Center and then completed a three year dermatology residency at both Iowa State University and the University of Tennessee. She became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Dermatologists in 2014.
Dr. Foster enjoys all aspects of dermatology and the variety of conditions she sees daily. One of the most rewarding and positive aspects of her job is the strong relationships she is able to form with clients, their pets and their family veterinarians as they work together to find the best treatment options. Dr. Foster personally understands the challenges that can be involved in dealing with chronic dermatological conditions as her dog Abe was born with a severe congenital skin disorder. In addition to Abe, she has another dog, Elliot. She joined Southern Oregon Veterinary Specialty Center in 2017 and is excited to call Oregon home now!
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.
Department of Emergency and Critical Care and Veterinary Acupuncturist
Dr. Meintel is an Ohio native. She attended Wright State University for her undergraduate degree in Anthropology, and received her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Ross University in 2008. She completed her clinical year rotations at Auburn University then went on to complete a small animal internship in Los Angeles. Dr. Meintel worked in busy emergency and specialty hospitals for 6 years in Los Angeles prior to joining Southern Oregon Veterinary Specialty Center in 2014. Her professional interests include pain management, toxicology, surgery, trauma, and a holistic approach to nutrition and general animal well-being. She is also a veterinary acupuncturist certified through Colorado State University. In her free time she enjoys snuggles with her cat Ernesto, cooking, slack-lining, and motorcycles.
