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Archives: Staff

Jessi Taylor, DVM

Veterinarian - ER

Dr. Jessi Taylor is an emergency veterinarian at Pieper Veterinary, and has been with the company since 2022. Born in a small farming town in Kentucky, she attended the University of Louisville and graduated from the Lincoln Memorial University College of Veterinary Medicine where she was recognized and awarded for her proficiency in emergency medicine, critical care, anesthesia, and analgesia. Dr. Taylor completed a rotating internship at Pieper before beginning her career in emergency medicine. She is a member of the AVMA and VECCS and is certified in RECOVER CPR basic and advanced life support.

Dr. Taylor is Fear Free certified and previously used to train service dogs for a non-profit organization in Louisville. She has a clinical interest in animal behavior, in addition to emergency medicine, anesthesia, and analgesia. In addition to veterinary medicine, she also studied Japanese, German, and Veterinary Disaster Medicine, and is FEMA certified in disaster preparedness for veterinary medicine.

Dr. Taylor was inspired to pursue a career in veterinary medicine after caring for a very sick puppy as a young child, so that she can be able to help pets and their families who find themselves in tough situations. She lives with her partner, her two dogs, Rocket the German shepherd and Honeybee the Cavalier King Charles spaniel, and two fancy rats named Giuseppe and Lorenzo. When not working, Dr. Taylor enjoys cold process soap making, watercolor painting, photography, and hand embroidery.

Special Interests:

  • Anesthesia and analgesia
  • Emergency medicine
  • Behavior

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Matthew Turner, DVM, MSc, DACVECC

Boarded Criticalist

Dr. Matthew Turner is a board-certified specialist in Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care at Pieper Veterinary. He joined the hospital in 2017 and founded the Resuscitation and Critical Care Service. Originally from New York’s Hudson Valley, Dr. Turner brings a comprehensive and collaborative approach to patient care. He works closely with his patients’ primary care veterinarian to promote continuity of care while supporting families throughout their pet’s hospitalization.

Dr. Turner earned his veterinary degree from North Carolina State University and completed a rotating internship at VCA Veterinary Referral and Emergency Center in Connecticut. He then spent two years practicing emergency medicine at a high-volume, multidisciplinary specialty hospital outside Philadelphia before completing a residency in Emergency and Critical Care at Cape Cod Veterinary Specialists. During his residency, he served as Chief Resident and subsequently became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care.

He also holds a Master of Science from the University of Edinburgh and a Bachelor of Science from Cornell University. His clinical interests include shock, sepsis, mechanical ventilation, cardiac emergencies, and the advancement and clinical application of emerging medical technologies. Dr. Turner is actively involved in veterinary education, teaching and presenting to veterinarians both locally and at the International Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Symposium. His research has also been published in the Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care. He is a member of the Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society and the American Veterinary Medical Association.

Special Interests

  • Resuscitation
  • Echocardiography/cardiac emergencies

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Jessica Urbonas, DVM

Veterinarian - ER

Department Head – Emergency

Originally from Connecticut, Dr. Jessica Urbonas competed in track and field at the University of Delaware before receiving her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Cornell University in 2008. She is the head of emergency medicine and intern director at Pieper.

Dr. Urbonas has special interests in education and mentorship as well as trauma and endocrine emergencies.  She enjoys working in emergency medicine because she is able to be there for animals and their people when they truly need help.

She lives with her husband and son, their dogs, Dwight, and Beasley, and their cat, Halen.  When not working, she loves traveling, cooking, and hiking.​

Special Interests:

  • Trauma
  • Endocrine emergencies

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David Vafek, VMD

Veterinarian - ER

Dr. David Vafek is an Emergency Veterinarian at Pieper Veterinary who graduated from the College of the Holy Cross. and obtained his doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. He completed his internships at the VCA Veterinary Referral and Emergency Centers in Norwalk and Shelton, CT.

Dr. Vafek is a member of the VECCS and the AVMA, and in addition to veterinary medicine, also has a degree in biology.

Special Interests:

  • Emergency care

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