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Archives: Staff

Adam Kane, DVM, DACVIM

Veterinarian - Specialist

Dr. Adam Kane is a board-certified veterinary Cardiologist at Pieper Veterinary. Originally from Syracuse, New York, he graduated from the University of Rochester in 2003 and obtained his doctorate from Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine in 2008. He completed a residency at Angell Animal Medical Center and received his board certification in Cardiology in 2014. Dr. Kane has special clinical interests in electrophysiology and canine myocardial disease, and in addition to veterinary medicine he has also studied molecular genetics and Spanish. He is a member of the AVMA, ACVIM, and RIVMA, and his accomplishments include providing continuing education to veterinarians in China, research on the canine model for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, and a chair on the maintenance of credentials committee for the ACVIM.

Dr. Kane grew up in a house with many pets and has always been interested in biological sciences. His favorite aspect of being a veterinarian is being able to see unique and interesting cases every day, in addition to helping care for his patients and their families. He lives with his wife and their mixed-breed rescue dog, Rowdy Roddy Pupper. When not working he enjoys cheering for Syracuse Orange basketball, watching movies, martial arts (Jeet Kune Do, Muay Thai), and exercising and outdoor activities such as hiking, kayaking, and scuba diving.

Special Interests:

  • Electrophysiology
  • Canine myocardial disease

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Peter A. Sojka, DVM, DABVP (Avian Practice)

Veterinarian - Specialist

Dr. Peter A. Sojka is an Exotic Animal Veterinarian specializing in Avian practice at Pieper Veterinary. Originally from Omaha, Nebraska, he graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2013 and the Iowa State University Professional Program in Veterinary Medicine in 2017. He has completed courses in microsurgery and endoscopy for avians, reptiles, and exotic mammals, and was a co-instructor for an externship at the Belize Zoo. Dr. Sojka completed an American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (ABVP) Avian and Exotic Companion Mammal Dual Residency at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine in 2021. This residency allowed Dr. Sojka the opportunity to work with both privately-owned animals as well various zoos, aquariums, and animal sanctuaries.

Dr. Sojka is a member of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners, the Association of Avian Veterinarians, and the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians. He has published multiple scientific journal articles and has presented at the American Association of Fish Veterinarians Annual Conference and the Association of Avian Veterinarians Annual Conference.

After volunteering at the Omaha Zoo during high school and witnessing the complex veterinary care that they provided to their animals, Dr. Sojka has always been fascinated by working with amazing exotic animals. His favorite part of his job is the variety of patients that he gets to work with – whether it’s an invertebrate, fish, amphibian, bird, reptile, or mammal, getting to diagnosis and treat the problem and improve the quality of life for both the patient and the owner is always the most important thing. When not working he enjoys hiking, biking, traveling, planning his wedding with his fiancée, and visiting theme parks. He and his fiancée (along with their dog Elsa and their fish) are new to Connecticut but excited to explore the area and see all that there is to offer.

Special Interests:

  • Endoscopy
  • Microsurgery
  • Cancer diagnosis and treatments

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Chelsea Churchill, DVM

Veterinarian - Primary Care/ER

Dr. Chelsea Churchill, DVM, is an Associate Veterinarian at Pieper Veterinary, providing care in both Primary Care and the Emergency Department. With nearly three years of clinical experience, she is dedicated to delivering thoughtful, collaborative care—working closely with pet owners to create treatment plans that meet the needs of both the patient and their family. Dr. Churchill is Fear Free and RECOVER certified, supporting her commitment to reducing stress and providing safe, high-quality care in every setting.

Dr. Churchill completed her first year of veterinary school at St. George’s University prior to transferring and earning her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. She enjoys practicing a wide range of medicine, with a special love for welcoming new puppies and guiding families through the early stages of pet ownership.

Originally from Southern California, Dr. Churchill grew up with a love for both science and animals. She initially pursued a path toward human medicine before realizing veterinary medicine offered the perfect way to combine her passions while helping both pets and their people every day. She finds the greatest fulfillment in seeing her patients improve and knowing she played a role in their care—no matter how big or small.

Outside of the hospital, Dr. Churchill enjoys spending time with her two dachshunds, Joey and Rigatoni. A former Division I soccer player at Boston University, she still appreciates staying active and, true to her roots, loves any opportunity to be near the beach.

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Stephanie Boisvert, DVM

Veterinarian - ER

Dr. Stephanie Boisvert is an emergency veterinarian at Pieper Veterinary in Middletown. Originally from South Windsor, CT, she graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Biology from Tufts University and obtained her veterinary degree from Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University. In addition to veterinary medicine, she also studied and is certified in Fear Free handling and  RECOVER CPR Basic and Advanced Life support, and is a member of Phi Zeta Veterinary Honor Society. She has a clinical interest in emergency medicine and diagnostic imaging, and completed a one-year rotating internship at Pieper Veterinary from 2023-2024.

Dr. Boisvert lives with her cattle dog mix, Freo, and when not working she enjoys baking bread, hiking with her dog, gardening, and doing a jigsaw puzzle with a cup of tea. She finds motivation for her work in veterinary medicine every day by witnessing the strong bonds formed between people and their pets, and her favorite aspect of her job is being able to help support the wellbeing of her patients, their families, and her colleagues.

Special Interests:

  • Diagnostic Imaging
  • Emergency medicine

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Christopher Blanch, DVM

Veterinarian - ER

Dr. Christopher Blanch is an emergency veterinarian at Pieper Veterinary. His interests include emergency surgery, oncology, and low-cost spay/neuter surgery. As a long-time resident of Connecticut, Dr. Blanch left the state to obtain his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Rhode Island. He went on to complete his doctorate degree at Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine in 2004 followed by a rotating internship at Ocean State Veterinary Specialists in RI.

As a former medical director at a high-volume, low-cost spay/neuter clinic, Dr. Blanch has a special interest in animal population control and shelter medicine. The most important part of veterinary medicine for him is being able to give a voice to those that don’t have one.

Dr. Blanch resides in southeastern CT with his dogs, Navah and Stewie, and cats, Vinny, Chewy, and Bing Clawsby. In his spare time he loves anything to do with being on the ocean, including kayaking and kayak fishing.

Special Interests:

  • Surgery
  • Oncology

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Ashley M. Boucek, VMD

Veterinarian - ER

Dr. Ashley Boucek has been an Emergency Veterinarian with Pieper Veterinary since the summer of 2016 and specializes in trauma management, infectious disease, and transfusion medicine.

Originally from Pittsburgh, PA, Dr. Boucek received her undergraduate degree from Westminster College in 2008, where she studied molecular biology, and her DVM from University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine in 2012. She is a member of the VECCS, AVMA, and CMA.

In her spare time, Dr. Boucek enjoys traveling, drawing, and reading. She lives at home with her Yorkshire Terrier.

Special Interests:

  • Trauma management
  • Infectious diseases
  • Transfusion medicine

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Samantha Guida, DVM, DACVECC

Veterinarian - Specialist

Dr. Samantha Guida is a board-certified critical care specialist with Pieper Veterinary’s Resuscitation & Critical Care department. Born and raised in Rhode Island, Dr. Guida obtained her undergraduate degree in biology from Bridgewater College in Virginia in 2014, and obtained her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in 2019 from St. George’s University in Grenada, where she was inducted into Phi Zeta Honor Society of Veterinary Medicine and graduated summa cum laude. Following a Small Animal Rotating Internship at Angell Animal Medical Center in Boston, MA, she completed a 3-year Emergency and Critical Care residency at University of Georgia in Athens, GA. Dr. Guida became board-certified by the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care in 2023.

During her residency, Dr. Guida prioritized teaching students, interns, and residents in both the clinical and didactic setting, and has provided numerous lectures on topics including diabetic ketoacidosis, upper airway obstructions, transfusion medicine, snake envenomation, I-PASS rounds, CPR, ureteral obstructions, and heat stroke. She was selected for an oral presentation at the International Veterinary Emergency Critical Care Symposium on a case report that was accepted for publication in the Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care, titled “Rebound hyperkalemia in a dog with albuterol toxicosis after cessation of potassium supplementation”. In 2023, Dr. Guida also published a research project in a human journal, Applied Microbiology, titled “Comparison of Multiplex Real-Time PCR with Standard Urine Culture for Identification of Pathogens Associated with Canine Urinary Tract Infections”.

Dr. Guida’s critical care interests include sepsis, severe metabolic derangements, fluid resuscitation in critical post-operative patients, and polytraumas. She is a member of the AVMA, VECCS, and ACVECC.

Dr. Guida lives with her pitbull/boxer mix Bentley and when not working enjoys traveling, spending time outdoors and at the beach, paddle boarding, and caring for her many houseplants. While at work, Dr. Guida most enjoys working with the most critical patients to give them the best chance at recovery, while also working together with their families to keep communications clear and educational. She is excited to join Pieper’s collaborative team, where she is committed to providing high-quality, individualized patient care.

Special Interests:

  • Sepsis, SIRS (systemic inflammatory response syndrome), and MODS (multiorgan dysfunction syndrome)
  • Post-operative management
  • Fluid therapy
  • Severe metabolic derangements
  • Intoxications
  • Polytraumas

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Kathleen M. Kimball, DVM

Veterinarian- ER/Urgent Care

Dr. Kathleen Kimball is an Emergency Veterinarian at Pieper Veterinary since 2021, as well as one of our Internship Program Directors. Although originally from the San Francisco Bay area, she graduated from The American University in Washington, DC, and later earned her doctorate from Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine. She completed a rotating internship at Hope Advanced Veterinary Center and a specialty internship in emergency and critical care at the Veterinary Specialty Center, in addition to being certified in Iditarod Trail Medicine. Dr. Kimball is a remote lecturer and lab facilitator at Lincoln Memorial University College of Veterinary Medicine and is a member of the Veterinary Emergency & Critical Care Society. In addition to veterinary medicine, she also studied Spanish language and literature.

Dr. Kimball lives in Connecticut with Elsa, her Pekingese/Chihuahua mix, and when not working she enjoys hiking and running, in addition to working with veterinary and medical students with their applications to professional school. She is a visual artist/illustrator and has contributed her art to books, periodicals, and city events. She loves pub trivia, Disneyland, horror movies, Korean BBQ, Jackie Chan, cooking, and puns (the highest form of humor). She is passionate about teaching and mentoring up-and-coming veterinary students and staff to pass on the wisdom and education she’s been able to learn.

Special Interests:

  • Teaching and mentorship of veterinary students and new graduates
  • Medical mathematics
  • Sedation and anesthesia
  • Neonatal critical care
  • Avian and exotic animal medicine

Melissa McDaniel, DVM, MPH

Veterinarian - ER

Dr. Melissa McDaniel is an emergency veterinarian at Pieper Veterinary, and works primarily out of our Middletown emergency and specialty hospital. Originally from New York, she graduated from Dartmouth College, and later received her doctorate from the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University. Dr. McDaniel has special interests in stabilizing critical patients, diabetic ketoacidosis, and wound repair.

Dr. McDaniel has wanted to become a veterinarian for as long as she can remember. She is married, has two children, and lives with her dog, Grizwald, and her cats, Ellen and Potter. In addition to practicing medicine, she also enjoys singing, baking, and traveling.

Special Interests:

  • Stabilizing critical patients
  • Diabetic ketoacidosis
  • Wound repair

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Daniel Niemczyk, DVM

Veterinarian - ER

Dr. Dan Niemczyk has been an Emergency Veterinarian at Pieper Veterinary since 2013 and has special interests in both emergency and transfusion medicine. He is a Connecticut native from Enfield, and attended Becker College for undergrad, followed by the University of Tennessee, where he received his DVM. Dr. Niemcyzk is a member of the AVMA, CVMA, and VECCS.

At home, Dr. Niemczyk spends time with a house full of critters, including two cats, Logan and Storm, a dog, Dahlia, and two red-eared sliders, which are turtles, named Godzilla and Tim Tim Timilton; a big name for a little animal. He enjoys cooking and hiking, and feels the most rewarding part of his job is to see happy owners take home a pet knowing they are feeling better and on the road to recovery.

Special Interests:

  • Emergency care
  • Transfusion medicine
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