BluePearl Pet Hospital
Spring, TX
Our Vets

Dr. Yashar Alami Alamdari is a small animal medicine & surgery intern. His clinical interests include surgery, dentistry and radiology.

• Master of Science, Molecular Physiology, Montreal University, Quebec, Canada
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, West Azerbaijan, Iran

In his free time, Dr. Alamdari enjoys swimming and hiking.In his free time, Dr. Alamdari enjoys swimming and hiking.

• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station
• Bachelor of Science, Animal Science, Berry College, Mount Berry, GA

Dr. Nathan Bodnar’s special interests include toxicology and endocrine emergencies.

• Internship, Emergency & Critical Care, DoveLewis Animal Hospital, Portland, OR
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada
• Bachelor of Science, Biology, University of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

Dr. Bodnar enjoys spending time with his wife and kids along with his dogs and cats. He also enjoys spending time outdoors hiking and exploring new areas.

Dr. Emma Brawn is dedicated to helping families navigate the emotions and decisions needed when it comes to end of life care. She takes the time to listen and understand the needs of both the two-legged and four-legged members of the family and develop a plan to support all of them through a difficult time.

• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana
• Bachelor of Science, University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana

Dr. Brawn lives with her husband, four kids, two dogs, two cats and two snakes. When she isn’t running a scout meeting, driving kids to their various sports and music practices she enjoys reading, baking and puzzles.

Dr. Daragh Clifford is a small animal medicine & surgery intern. His interests include soft tissue surgery, wound management and emergency surgery.

• Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Ireland

Dr. Clifford enjoys rock climbing, hiking, chess and video games. He has a rescue cat named Mose.

Dr. Jennifer Cordova’s special interests include emergency medicine and critical care because every case is different and provides the opportunity to collaborate and learn something new. She finds emergency surgery gratifying, especially hemoabdomen splenectomies and repairing soft tissue lacerations and wounds.

• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Sugar Land Veterinary Specialists, TX
• Clinical Rotation, Texas A&M University, College Station 
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Ross University, St. Kitts & Nevis, West Indies
• Bachelor of Science, Animal Science, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater

Dr. Cordova enjoys traveling to national parks, trying new restaurants, and laying out by the pool. Her favorite state that she’s visited is Alaska. She has two Siberian huskies (Kaci and June Bug), three cats (Loki, Leela, and Logan), and a Sulcata tortoise (Appa).

Dr. Mike Ficklin enjoys all aspects of orthopedic and soft tissue surgery. He has a special interest in cruciate repair and minimally invasive procedures such as arthroscopy and laparoscopy.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Surgeons (Small Animal)
• Residency, Small Animal Surgery, BluePearl Pet Hospital, Philadelphia, PA
• Internship, Surgery, VCA Animal Specialty Center of South Carolina, Columbia
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Carolina Veterinary Specialists, Charlotte, NC
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
• Bachelor of Science, University of Texas, Austin

An outdoor enthusiast, Dr. Ficklin likes rock climbing, mountain biking, hiking, running and skiing. He and his wife have a son, and the family shares their home with two German shorthaired pointers and a golden retriever.

Publications & Articles

Dr. Sarah Frankel’s special interests include dentistry, ultrasound, anesthesia & analgesia, emergency medicine and soft tissue surgery. She strives to provide compassionate, high-level care to all patients, as well as providing a thorough education on their pet’s condition.

• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, BluePearl Pet Hospital, Langhorne, PA
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
• Bachelor of Science, Biology, Spanish, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

Outside of work, Dr. Frankel enjoys athletic activities such as rock climbing, skiing and hiking, as well as cooking, live music and traveling with her family. She is an avid Chicago and University of Michigan sports fan. She lives with her husband, their two young sons and two rescue Australian Shepherds, Hermes and Persephone.

Dr. Courtney Gardner enjoys all aspects of emergency & critical care and is especially interested in sepsis/SIRS, transfusion medicine for coagulopathies and/or anemia, traumatic injuries and toxicities.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Emergency & Critical Care
• Residency, Small Animal Emergency & Critical Care, Texas A&M University, College Station
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Ontario Veterinary College, Guelph, Canada
• Bachelor of Science, Animal Biology, University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada

Outside of work, Dr. Gardner enjoys horseback riding, reading, cooking and crafting. Her family includes her husband, son and miniature schnauzer Ruby.

Dr. Daniel Gomez is a small animal medicine & surgery intern. His clinical interests include exotic animal medicine, soft tissue surgery and orthopedic surgery.

• Clinical Rotation, Kansas State University, Manhattan
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Ross University, St. Kitts & Nevis, West Indies
• Master of Science, Infectious Diseases and Global Health, Tufts University, North Grafton, MA
• Bachelor of Science, Biology, Montclair State University, NJ

Outside of the hospital, Dr. Gomez enjoys running, driving, hiking and traveling with his family. He has an eight-year-old crested gecko named Canela.

Dr. Beatriz Gutiérrez is a small animal medicine & surgery intern. Her clinical interests include polytrauma patients with neurologic and/or orthopedic conditions, wound repair, fracture repair and monitoring and managing of critical care patients. She is also interested in complex internal medicine cases.

• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico City

With a deep passion for visual arts and musical theatre, Dr. Gutiérrez enjoys drawing and painting.

Dr. Megan Harris’ particular clinical interests include sepsis (a potentially life-threatening condition caused by a body’s response to infection), respiratory diseases and mechanical ventilation.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Emergency & Critical Care
• Residency, Emergency & Critical Care, Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care, Las Vegas, NV
• Internship, Emergency & Critical Care, Pittsburgh Veterinary Specialty & Emergency Center, PA
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, VCA Veterinary Care Animal Hospital and Referral Center, Albuquerque, NM
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Tuskegee University, AL
• Bachelor of Science, Biology, Montclair State University, Upper Montclair, NJ

Lucy Gweniveire is Dr. Harris’ feline fur baby.

Dr. Laura Hinton is particularly interested in surgical oncology, wound management, reconstruction and orthopedic conditions such as fractures, stifle disease, hip dysplasia and total hip replacements.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Surgeons
• Residency, Small Animal Surgery, Ohio State University, Columbus
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Auburn University, AL
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station
• Bachelor of Science, Texas A&M University, College Station

Dr. Hinton is a frequent volunteer at her church. She enjoys sports, both playing and watching, gardening, running, cycling and good barbecues. Reading fiction is a secret luxury for her as well as family time with her husband, son and daughter. Family pets include a cat and two dogs.

Dr. Bradford Holman enjoys the unpredictable and collaborative nature of emergency medicine. Every shift and case present a new challenge, and he finds it incredibly rewarding to be there for pets during their most critical moments.

• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, St. George’s University, Grenada, West Indies
• Bachelor of Science, Biomedical Sciences, Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, TX

• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, North Houston Veterinary Specialist
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station
• Bachelor of Science, Biomedical Science, Texas A&M University, College Station

Dr. Kadden Kothmann is a small animal medicine & surgery intern. He is passionate about radiology, neurology and internal medicine, with a research background in reproductive and metabolic endocrinology.

• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station
• Bachelor of Science, Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station

Outside of the clinic, Dr. Kothmann is an avid music enthusiast, with a particular love for classical music and occasional indulgence in musical theater. He enjoys hiking and camping adventures with his dog, Draco, and often unwinds at home by baking treats for friends and family.

Publications and articles

Dr. Christian Latimer finds emergency surgeries the most gratifying to perform.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Surgeons (Small Animal)
• Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
• Residency, Small Animal Surgery, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA
• Bachelor of Science, Natural Resources, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY

Dr. Latimer enjoys running, lifting weights and bass fishing. He and his wife have three rescue dogs.

Dr. Courtney Meason-Smith has a strong interest in dermatology research, such as skin microbiomes in healthy and allergic dogs and cats and fungal infectious diseases of small animals. She finds laceration repairs and abscess or wound management the most gratifying to treat.

• Residency, Dermatology, Texas A&M University, College Station
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, BluePearl Pet Hospital, Spring, TX
• Doctor of Philosophy, Veterinary Pathobiology, Texas A&M University, College Station
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station
• Bachelor of Science, Biochemistry, University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, MN

Outside of work, Dr. Meason-Smith spends most of her time with her family. Her hobbies include brewing beer, boating on the lake, traveling on camper trips, cooking and gardening.

Publications & Articles

Dr. Janet is honored to help families through some of the most difficult times regarding end of life and hospice care. She feels it is a true calling to be able to provide comfort, peace and understanding to families and their beloved pets.

• Internship, Food Animal and Ambulatory Medicine, Mississippi State College of Veterinary Medicine, Starkville, MS
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine, Baton Rouge, LA
• Bachelor of Science, Biology Pre-Med and Chemistry, Loyola University, New Orleans, LA

Dr. Janet enjoys spending time with her partner, Russell, and their three dogs, Gator, Bilbo Waggins and Saint. Originally from Louisiana, she is excited to explore Houston and all it has to offer culturally and gastronomically.

• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge
• Bachelor of Science, Marine Biology, Texas A&M University, Galveston

Dr. Christina Noto’s clinical interests include emergency medicine, critical care and exotic medicine. She is Fear Free Certified.

• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, BluePearl Pet Hospital, Spring, TX
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Long Island University, Brooklyn, NY

Dr. Noto has turtles, geckos and a cat named Zuko. She loves mini-golfing and spending time outside.

Dr. Alissa Pike is a resident in our surgery service. Her special interests include hemilaminectomies, fracture repairs and thoracotomies.

• Internship, Small Animal Surgery, VCA Animal Specialty & Emergency Center, Los Angeles, CA
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Ocean State Veterinary Specialists, East Greenwich, RI
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Melbourne, Australia
• Bachelor of Science, Pre-Veterinary Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst

Dr. Pike grew up in Hong Kong, is a big foodie, and loves traveling. She has two pugs, a Frenchie, and a cat who she adopted during her time in Australia.

Dr. Lindsey Ramirez is a resident in our surgery service. She enjoys all aspects of soft tissue and orthopedic surgery. She finds wound management particularly gratifying and thinks of wounds as a labor of love, much like growing a garden.

• Internship, Small Animal Surgery, BluePearl Pet Hospital, Spring, TX
• Internship, Small Animal Surgery, BluePearl Pet Hospital, Tampa, FL
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, BluePearl Pet Hospital, Clearwater, FL
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Lincoln Memorial University, Harrogate, TN
• Master of Science, Marine Biology, Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi
• Bachelor of Science, Agriculture, Texas State University, San Marcos

Dr. Ramirez enjoys outdoor jeep adventures, gardening, crafty DIY projects, and spending time with her partner, their Weimaraner named Emmett, and two cats, Moose and Ducky.

Publications & Articles

Dr. Aklimiyya Rushing is a small animal medicine & surgery intern. Her clinical interests include orthopedic surgery, soft tissue surgery and acupuncture.

• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Tuskegee University, AL
• Bachelor of Science, Veterinary Technology, Fort Valley State University, GA

In her free time, Dr. Rushing enjoys spending time with family, vacationing, running, going to the movies and shopping.

Dr. Erica Sandberg’s medical interests include pain management, palliative care and hospice care. She enjoys collaborating with other veterinarians to provide exceptional care for geriatric and ill pets and their families.

• Certified Hospice and Palliative Care Veterinarian
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station
• Bachelor of Arts, Biological Sciences, Marine Sciences, Smith College, Northampton, MA

Dr. Sandberg enjoys exercise, music, art, reading and spending time with her family and friends. She lives with her husband, two children, a Dachshund mix named Millie, and a Guinea Pig named Brownie.

Dr. Brian Saunders is an American College of Veterinary Surgeons founding fellow in minimally invasive surgery. He focuses on orthopedic surgery, and his interests include arthroscopy, fracture repair and total joint replacement. He has been performing total hip replacements since 2009, is an instructor for THR training courses and advises surgical implant manufacturers on THR implant and instrumentation development.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Surgeons (Small Animal)
• Residency, Small Animal Surgery, Texas A&M University, College Station
• Doctor of Philosophy, Vascular Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station

Dr. Matthew Schmidt’s particular clinical interests include diagnostic imaging, endoscopy, endocrinology and cardiology.

• Diplomate, American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (Canine and Feline Practice)
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station

Dr. Schmidt has been an active volunteer with a wildlife refuge and enjoys golf, fishing, church and family activities. His family includes his wife, four children and three dogs.

Dr. Elizabeth Snyder is specifically interested in the use of novel chemotherapeutics, combination chemotherapy and innovative treatments such as immunotherapy and targeted therapy. She finds designing treatment plans for pets and their families especially rewarding.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Oncology)
• Residency, Medical Oncology, University of Wisconsin, Madison
• Internship, Oncology Clinical Trials, University of Wisconsin, Madison
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, University of Wisconsin, Madison
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station
• Bachelor of Arts, Chemistry, Molecular and Cellular Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN

Dr. Snyder enjoys traveling and spending time with friends and family. She has a husband, son, daughter and two dogs.

Publications & Articles

Dr. Laurie Stephens’ particular clinical interests include sepsis, anaphylaxis, polytrauma, and severe gastrointestinal disease.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Emergency & Critical Care
• Residency, Veterinary Emergency & Critical Care, Texas A&M University, College Station
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, University of Missouri, Columbia
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station
• Bachelor of Science, Animal Science, Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, TX

Dr. Stephens enjoys working out, cooking and spending time with her husband and daughter. The family has a standard poodle named Frederic and a Rhodesian ridgeback/black mouth cur mix named Dutch.