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Archives: Staff

Heather Cardoza, DVM

Veterinarian - Primary Care

Dr. Heather Cardoza is a primary care veterinarian who sees patients from our Marlborough Animal Hospital location. A native to Middletown, CT, she graduated from UCONN in 2017 with a Bachelors of Science in Animal Science, and achieved her degree in veterinary medicine from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine in 2021. She is a member of the AVMA and has a clinical interest in soft tissue surgeries, oncology, and wellness and preventative health care.

Dr. Cardoza has wanted to be a veterinarian for as long as she can remember, and her favorite aspect of her job is being able to work together with her clients to help their pets live out long, happy, healthy lives together. She lives with her two cats, Nala and Violet, and two dogs, Reeses and Gus, and when not working she enjoys spending time outdoors, hiking with her dogs, reading, horseback riding, and spending time relaxing on the beach.

Special Interests:

  • Soft tissue surgery
  • Oncology
  • Wellness and preventative care

Lorena Cambizaca, DVM

Veterinarian - Primary Care

Dr. Lorena Cambizaca is a primary care veterinarian at Pieper Veterinary. Originally from the nearby town of Wallingford, CT, she graduated from Roger Williams University in 2019 with her undergrad, and achieved her veterinary degree from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, with a clinical year completed at the University of Florida. She is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association and has special clinical interests in preventative medicine, internal medicine, emergency medicine, surgery, and the care of “pocket pets” and exotic animals.

Dr. Cambizaca originally worked at Pieper as a veterinary assistant prior to attending veterinary school. She says that while she’s always wanted to be a veterinarian from a young age, her experience working at Pieper really helped to confirm that this was the field she wanted to dedicate her career to. Her favorite aspect of her job is getting to build to know and build relationships with both her patients and their families. When not working, Dr. Cambizaca enjoys hiking, golf, dog training, and spending time with her pets.

Special Interests:

  • Preventative Medicine
  • Internal Medicine
  • Emergency medicine
  • Surgery
  • Pocket pets and exotics

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Victoria Caginalp, BVMS

Veterinarian - Primary Care

Dr. Victoria Caginalp has been a veterinarian at Pieper Veterinary since 2016, received her Bachelor of Veterinary Biosciences at University of Glasgow, and her Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery in 2016. She has an interest in dentistry and emergency critical care, and is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, Connecticut Veterinary Medical Association and member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.

Outside of being a veterinarian, Dr. Caginalp has spent a lot of time volunteering with horses and donkeys at the American Fondouk in Fez, Morocco, and with elephants at WFFT Elephant Refuge Centre in Thailand. Her three loves are her long-haired miniature dachshund, Franklin, (who is an adorable regular fixture at Pieper Veterinary), horseback riding, and running.

Has an Interest In:

  • Dentistry
  • Emergency and critical care

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Cheryl Brienza, DVM

Veterinarian - Primary Care

Dr. Cheryl Brienza has been a veterinarian with the Pieper Family since 2004. She is a graduate of Albertus Magnus College and received her DVM in 2000 from Iowa State University.  She has practiced at both Pieper-Olson Veterinary Hospital in Middletown and Essex Veterinary Hospital.

She is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, Connecticut Veterinary Medical Association and New Haven County Veterinary Medical Association. 

At home in Haddam, CT, Dr. Brienza lives with her husband Chip and daughter Johanna.  She currently has one dog, Tyrion.

Through the years at Pieper Veterinary, she has enjoyed forming bond with many clients and helping with the care of their furry family.

Special Interests:

  • Internal medicine
  • Preventative Care

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Ben Olson, DVM, DACVIM (Neurology)

Veterinarian - Specialist

Dr. Ben Olson is a neurologist and neurosurgeon who joined Pieper Veterinary in 2017. He received his DVM from Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine. He is a member of the ACVIM and AVMA, and completed both a rotating internship and a residency in Neurology/Neurosurgery from The Animal Medical Center in New York, NY. Dr. Olson has special interests in spinal surgery, traumatic brain injury, inflammatory brain disease, and caudal occipital malformation syndrome.

Special Interests:

  • Spinal surgery
  • Traumatic brain injury
  • Inflammatory brain disease
  • Caudal occipital malformation syndrome (also known as Chiari-like malformation)

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James Hammond, DVM, DACVIM (Neurology)

Veterinarian - Specialist

Department Head – Neurology

Dr. James Hammond is a board-certified veterinary neurologist trained extensively in both medical and surgical neurology.

He received his veterinary training at Cornell University and graduated in 2005. Following his education, Dr. Hammond completed a rotating internship in medicine and surgery at Red Bank Veterinary Hospital in New Jersey, staying on to complete an internship in Neurology and Neurosurgery, and then a three-year residency. In 2010, Dr. Hammond received his board certification from the ACVIM.

Dr. Hammond’s areas of interest include intracranial and spinal surgery, as well as diagnosis and treatment of inflammatory disorders of the central nervous system.

Special Interests:

  • Intracranial surgery
  • Spinal surgery
  • Inflammatory disorders of the CNS

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Krystian Dabrowski, MA, DVM

Veterinarian - Primary Care

Dr. Krystian Dabrowski is the Primary Care Medical Director and a veterinarian at Pieper, with special interests in dentistry, dermatology, endocrinology, and ophthalmology. He graduated from UCONN with a Master’s degree in education, and later obtained his doctorate from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine. He is a member of the AVMA, CVMA, and the Foundation for Veterinary Dentistry.

Dr. Dabrowski has dreamed of being a vet ever since he was a child, and his favorite aspect of his job is being able to help clients make informed decisions about their pet’s health care. Client education – helping them understand what ailments may be affecting their pets, and making sure they know all of the available treatment options – allows pets to receive the best care and helps strengthen the human-animal bond.

Originally from Poland and Germany, Dr. Dabrowski has called Connecticut home since the early 90s. He is married with two children and lives with his family, their pet boxer, and a betta fish. He is fluent in Polish, and when not working he enjoys traveling and watching Bundesliga soccer games.

Special Interests:

  • Dentistry
  • Dermatology
  • Endocrinology
  • Opthalmology

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Sean Freer, DVM, DACVR

Veterinarian - Specialist

Department Head – Diagnostic Imaging

Dr. Sean Freer has been a Radiologist at Pieper Veterinary since 2011. He has a special interest in abdominal, cervical, and musculoskeletal ultrasonography, as well as CT angiography.

Dr. Freer received his undergraduate degree from Cornell University in 2001 and his DVM from the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2005. He completed a rotating internship at Red Bank Veterinary Hospital in 2006 and his diagnostic imaging residency at the Cornell University Hospital for Animals in 2009. Dr. Freer received his board-certification from the ACVR in 2009.

Dr. Freer grew up in northeastern Pennsylvania and has always been an avid outdoorsman. He enjoys spending time fishing and kayaking.

Special Interests:

  • Vascular ultrasonographic imaging
  • Musculoskeletal imaging
  • CT imaging
  • Ultrasound-guided biopsy procedures
  • Parathyroid ethanol ablation

Bronwen Childs, DVM, MS, DACVR

Veterinarian - Specialist

Dr. Bronwen Childs is a board-certified specialist in diagnostic imaging at Pieper Veterinary. Dr. Childs graduated from Cornell University in 2007 with a Master’s degree Biomedical Sciences with research in 3D kinematics and biomechanics of joint motion, and she received her DVM from the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University in 2013. After an Equine Internship in California, she completed a Small Animal Rotating Internship at Pieper Memorial from 2014-2015. Dr. Childs then went on to a Diagnostic Imaging Residency at the University of Georgia and worked at Tufts Veterinary Emergency Treatment & Specialties hospital before returning to Pieper as a board-certified radiologist. She is a member of the AVMA and the American College of Veterinary Radiology, and has a particular interest in sports medicine.

Dr. Childs grew up on a hobby farm, surrounded by a variety of pets from small wildlife rescues to her eventing horse. She currently lives in Norfolk with her husband and two daughters, along with her dog, Bandit, and horse, Monty. Dr. Childs’ favorite aspect of her job is is the variety of cases and the intellectual challenge of finding the patient’s diagnosis, and being able to work along passionate, kind people.

Special Interests:

  • Musculoskeletal imaging
  • Sports medicine

Ryan Kalish, DVM, DACVP

Veterinarian - Specialist

Dr. Ryan Kalish is a Clinical Pathologist who works for Antech, a veterinary diagnostics company whose reference laboratory is located inside our Middletown emergency and specialty hospital. Originally from Westchester, New York, Dr. Kalish graduated from SUNY Geneseo and later obtained his doctorate from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine in 2018, finishing his clinical rotations at North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine. He completed his three-year residency at Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine and became a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Pathology in 2021.

Dr. Kalish lives in Connecticut with his wife, their two dogs Bobsy and Zoey, and their cat siblings Appa and Momo. When not working he enjoys playing basketball, watching television, and hiking. Dr. Kalish has always loved animals ever since he was very young, and in addition to his work as a clinical pathologist is also passionate about teaching veterinary students and fellow doctors about pathology concepts.

Special Interests:

  • Teaching veterinary students and DVMs clinical pathology concepts
  • Clinical cytology and hematology
  • Interpreting blood work (including CBC, chemistry, coag, acid-base data)
  • Renal physiology
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