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Archives: Staff

Alexie Baja, DVM, DACVIM (Oncology) 

Veterinarian - Specialist

Dr. Alexie Baja is a board-certified oncology specialist at Pieper Veterinary. Dr. Baja attended Florida Atlantic University with an undergraduate degree in biology, and achieved her doctorate of veterinary medicine from St. George’s University in Grenada, where she graduated summa cum laude. She completed her clinical year, rotating internship, and residency in medical oncology at North Carolina State University, and is a member of the ACVIM, VCS, and AVMA.

Dr. Baja is passionate about client communication and veterinary ethics in daily practice, and is enrolled in a clinical trial focusing on the use of nutritional supplements to decrease chemotherapy-related side effects as she explores the evidence-based integration of alternative medicine in veterinary oncology.

Jennifer Perkins, VMD, DACVIM (Neurology)

Veterinarian - Specialist

Dr. Jennifer Perkins has been a neurologist at Pieper Veterinary since 2016, and has special interests in seizure management, as well as spinal and intracranial surgery.

She received her veterinary degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 2011, and completed a rotating small animal internship at Red Bank Veterinary Hospital in Tinton Falls, New Jersey. Dr. Perkins then completed a specialty internship and a residency in neurology/neurosurgery at Pieper Veterinary before becoming one of our staff neurologists.

At home, Dr. Perkins lives with her two dogs Sebastian, a standard poodle, and Kirby, a miniature dachshund. She also loves her thoroughbred horse, Connor, who goes hand-in-hand with her secondary passion, horseback riding. When she isn’t riding, Dr. Perkins enjoys hiking with her dog pack; even the dachshund keeps up! At the end of the day, Dr. Perkin’s love for animals and the ability to meet and care for all different types of dogs and cats, while meeting the challenges of their neurologic disorders, are what make her a passionate veterinarian and a valued member of the Pieper family.

Special Interests:

  • Intervertebral disc surgery
  • Seizure management

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Sarah Winzelberg, VMD, DACVIM (SAIM)

Veterinarian - Specialist

Dr. Sarah Winzelberg is a Board-Certified Small Animal Internal Medicine Specialist who has worked at Pieper Veterinary since 2017. Originally from Pittsburgh and Manhattan, Dr. Winzelberg received her VMD from the University of Pennsylvania and completed her residency at the Animal Medical Center in New York, NY, where she took special interest in the study of infectious diseases.

Her other medical interests include renal disease, hematology, and gastroenterology. When not working, she enjoys biking, yoga, gardening, cooking, and spending time with her two cats.

Special Interests:

  • Renal disease
  • Hematology
  • Gastroenterology
  • Infectious diseases

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Colleen Bourque, MVB, Practice Limited to Internal Medicine

Veterinarian - Specialist

Dr. Colleen Bourque is happy to return to Pieper to join the Internal Medicine service after completing her Small Animal Internal Medicine residency at Tufts University. Dr. Bourque is originally from Massachusetts, and after graduating from UMass Amherst, she went on to veterinary school at the University College of Dublin where she graduated in 2017. Following graduation, she completed several one-year internships – a rotating small animal internship in southern Massachusetts, an internal medicine specialty internship here at Pieper, and an interventional radiology specialty internship at the Animal Medical Center in New York.  Dr. Bourque has special interests in urology and nephrology and minimally invasive procedures.

Dr. Bourque has wanted to be a veterinarian for as long as she can remember, and her favorite part of her job is being able to help pets who come in not feeling well and send them home happy to their families.

When not in hospital, Dr. Bourque enjoys spending time with her two cats Luna and Phoebe, along with hiking, skiing, reading, and traveling.

Special Interests:

  • Urology
  • Nephrology
  • Minimally invasive procedures

Nicole Belward, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM)

Veterinarian - Specialist

Dr. Nicole Belward is a Board-Certified Small Animal Internal Medicine Specialist at Pieper Veterinary. Born and raised in Stamford, she graduated from Gettysburg College and received her doctorate from the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine. She completed her residency at the Veterinary Medical Center of Long Island. Dr. Belward has wanted to be a veterinarian for as long as she can remember, and has special interests in immune-mediated diseases, hematologic diseases, and infectious diseases.

A member of the ACVIM and AVMA, she lives in Connecticut with her husband and their two children. When not working, she enjoys CrossFit, DIY projects, knitting, sewing, and gardening. Dr. Belward enjoys the challenging cases that come in to internal medicine that require detective work and putting together puzzle pieces, and her favorite part of her job is seeing patients leave the hospital feeling better than when they arrived.

Special Interests:

  • Immune-mediated diseases
  • Hematologic diseases
  • Infectious diseases

Allison Wallace, DVM

Veterinarian - ER

Dr. Allison Wallace is an associate veterinarian at Pieper Veterinary and part of our rotating small animal medicine and surgery intern class of 2024-2025. Originally from the Midwest, she grew up in Mundelein, Illinois, northwest of Chicago. She graduated from Iowa State University with a Bachelors’ in Animal Science, and later graduated from the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Wallace was able to do externships at three different zoos during her schooling where she had the opportunity to work with a variety of animal species from elephants and big cats to armadillos. She has a special clinical interest in emergency and critical care medicine, and in exotic animal medicine.

Dr. Wallace has wanted to be a veterinarian for as long as she can remember, and her favorite parts of her job are not just helping animals but also being able to work with their families and help communicate with and educate them in their times of need. She lives with her dog River, a 6-year old Catahoula mix, and when not working she enjoys running, hiking, skiing, kayaking, and spending time outdoors.

Special Interests:

  • Emergency & Critical Care medicine
  • Exotic animal medicine

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Meagan Vail, DVM

Veterinarian- Primary Care/ER

Dr. Meagan Vail is an associate veterinarian at Pieper Veterinary and part of our rotating small animal medicine and surgery intern class of 2024-2025. Born in Lompoc, California, she attended California Polytechnic State University and graduated with a B.S. in Animal Science, and graduated with her degree in veterinary medicine from Iowa State University. Dr. Vail enjoys working with cats and dogs and has a special clinical interest in internal medicine and emergency and critical care medicine.

Dr. Vail lives with two cats, her five-year old bob-tailed Ragdoll mix Bunny, and a four-month old kitten named Atlas. She played water polo throughout her years at school and enjoys swimming, hiking, reading, and playing sports in her free time. Her favorite part of being a veterinarian is having the opportunity to connect with the local community while providing care for their animals.

Special Interests:

  • Internal medicine
  • Emergency and critical care medicine

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Andrew Scarano, DVM

Veterinarian - ER

Dr. Andrew Scarano is an associate veterinarian at Pieper Veterinary and part of our rotating small animal medicine and surgery intern class of 2024-2025. Originally from Houston, Texas, he attended Texas A&M University (Gig ’em!) and graduated with an undergraduate degree in Biomedical science, and obtained his degree in veterinary medicine from Oklahoma State University (Go Pokes!). He has a special clinical interest in companion exotic animal medicine, especially reptiles and amphibians. He is a member of ARAV (Association of Reptile and Amphibian Veterinarians) AEMV (Association of Exotic Mammal Veterinarians), AAV (Association of Avian Veterinarians), the AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association), and Pride VMC.

Dr. Scarano has an 8-year old corn snake named Gerald, and his favorite aspect of his job is being able to provide education to pet owners to help improve their pet’s welfare and strengthen the human-animal bond. He believes that knowledge helps build our appreciation for the animals we share our lives with. When not at work, he enjoys fencing, video games, board games, hiking, herping (looking for reptiles in the wild), and birdwatching.

Special Interests:

  • Exotic animal medicine
  • Reptile and amphibian medicine

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Danielle Money, DVM

Veterinarian - ER

Dr. Danielle Money is an associate veterinarian at Pieper Veterinary and part of our rotating small animal medicine and surgery intern class of 2024-2025. Originally from the northwest suburbs of Chicago, she attended the University of Kentucky where she graduated with a B. S. in Biology and later obtained her degree in veterinary medicine from the University of Illinois. Before attending veterinary school she lived in the Florida Keys for a year where she worked with bottlenose dolphins at an animal assisted therapy facility, and today she has a clinical interest in zoological and aquatic animal medicine.

Dr. Money has loved working with animals for as long as she can remember, but was especially motivated to pursue a career with zoo and aquatic animals after her time spent working with dolphins.  She appreciates how unique every individual animal is, regardless of species, and enjoys being able to learn about each pet’s individual character and history while treating her patients. She lives with her two dogs (Stevie and Harley), three cats (Boogie, Chance, and Chester), two guinea pigs (Beans and Toast), and a fish (Queso).

Special Interests:

  • Aquatic animal medicine
  • Exotic animal medicine

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Lindsey King, DVM

Veterinarian

Dr. Lindsey King is an associate veterinarian at Pieper Veterinary and part of our rotating small animal medicine and surgery intern class of 2024-2025. Originally hailing from Colorado Springs, she graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 2016 with a Bachelors of Science degree in neuroscience and behavior, with a particular interest in cognitive neuroscience. In 2024 she graduated from Oklahoma State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, where she was awarded the OKState Gentle Doctor Award and the ACVIM Certificate of Clinical Excellence. She has a special clinical interest in neurology and cardiology.

Dr. King is excited to join the Pieper Veterinary family as she works on furthering her education, and her favorite aspect of the job is being able to work together with both her clients and her colleagues. Prior to veterinary school she also worked as a train conductor and engineer, and when not working she enjoys hiking, reading, and cross stitch and embroidery.

Special Interests:

  • Neurology
  • Cardiology

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