Staff

Meet The Team Dedicated to Helping Your Furry Family Members

Dr. Curtis W. Dewey

DVM, MS, CTCVMP, CCRP Diplomate ACVIM (Neurology), Diplomate ACVS

As a New York Native, Dr. Dewey has lived in the Ithaca area for more than two decades. He received his BS and DVM from Cornell University and his Masters in Anatomy from the University of Georgia. He has worked as a faculty neurologist at Cornell University and Texas A&M.

Janette Dewey

Business Manager

Janette has been a resident of Ithaca for over ten years. Along with some amazing help, she rebuilt this historic barn that had been a favorite bookstore in the Ithaca N for decades. Janette Loves family and all animals. Hobbies include weight lifting and fixing old buildings.

Kasie Sakovitch, LVT

Licensed Veterinary Technician, Assistant Manager

Born and raised in upstate NY, Kasie has always had a passion for animals. Having left her first career as an exotic animal trainer, Kasie became a licensed veterinary technician after graduating from Johnson College. She also holds degrees in wildlife management and education, animal behavior, and exotic animal training and husbandry. Kasie also completed her Bachelor’s in Psychology at Binghamton University.

Spending most of her veterinary career in the small animal intensive care unit at Cornell University Hospital for Animals in Ithaca NY, she started at Elemental Pet Vets in 2020. At EPV, Kasie focuses on rehabilitation and other modalities of therapy. She is currently working towards becoming a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner (CCRP). Kasie also serves as the assistant manager at Elemental Pet Vets.

In her free time, Kasie enjoys spending time with her husband, two children, and five pets. She also enjoys playing softball, adding to her never ending collection of succulents, and playing video games. Kasie loves sports, and is a huge Yankees fan.

Jordan Hollenbeck, LVT

Licensed Veterinary Technician, Assistant Manager

Jordan is an LVT here at EPV. As an LVT her main focus with us is performing anesthesia for our patients during MRI procedures. Jordan has also been appointed Assistant Manager here at EPV and helps makes sure daily workings of the clinic run smoothly.
Before working at EPV she was an LVT in Cornell University Ithaca NY, small animal intensive care unit from 2017-2021. From 2015-2017 she was a herd health manager at Cornell’s Teaching and Research dairy farm located in Ithaca NY.
Jordan received her degree from the University of Delhi, graduating in 2015. She grew up on her family’s dairy farm and has a passion for dairy cows and production management. She also loves the outdoors and spends a lot of time hunting, fishing, and playing sports.

Dr. Daniel E. Hoffmann

DVM, MS, Diplomate ACVS - Small Animal

Elemental Pet Vets is pleased to announce the addition of Dr. Daniel E. Hoffmann DVM, MS, Diplomate ACVS (Small Animal) to the Elemental Pet Vets team! Dr. Hoffmann will be leading our new orthopedic surgery initiative starting next month.

Dr. Hoffmann is originally from Latrobe, Pennsylvania. Since youth, he has always been compassionate and caring towards animals so a career in veterinary medicine was no surprise. His veterinary training began in 2004 at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine where he graduated Summa Cum Laude. Dr. Hoffmann then completed 2 internships at the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine and the Dallas Veterinary Surgical Center, respectively, before completing a small animal surgical residency at The Ohio State University in 2009. He became board certified in Small Animal Surgery in 2010.

Dr. Hoffmann spent 4 years working as a staff surgeon at the Akron Veterinary Referral Center in Copley, Ohio. After that, he spent nearly 10 years with the Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Services in Rochester, NY where he served as Surgery Department Head and assisted in training residents and interns. Dr. Hoffmann has also published numerous scientific articles in peer-reviewed journals involving surgical techniques and outcomes.

Dr. Hoffmann lives in Webster, NY with his wife and 3 children along with a myriad of furry friends. In his free time, he enjoys camping, hiking, canoeing, birding, traveling, and spending time with his family.

Dr. Sophie Trowbridge

DVM, CVA, CCRP

Dr. Trowbridge grew up in the Finger Lakes and has a deep love of her hometown of Ithaca, NY. Acupuncture can provide hope, in a previously hopeless situation and Sophie has direct experience with that fact for her own pet. Her first experience with acupuncture was with her own greater Swiss mountain dog, Diva. After only a few treatments Diva’s quality of life vastly improved. Since then Dr. Trowbridge has been dedicated to becoming a veterinary acupuncturist to provide that same level of care that she witnessed with dogs, cats and horses. Dr. Trowbridge received her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine degree from Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine located in Ithaca NY and is a Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist from The Chi Institute in Gainesville, Florida. She is also a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner from the University of Tennessee.

Outside of her veterinary practice you will find her at CrossFit, stand-up paddle boarding, practicing yoga, and hiking the gorges with her partner Ryan and their black lab Lila.

Dr. Eva Oxford

DVM, PhD, Diplomate ACVIM (Cardiology)

Dr. Eva Oxford graduated from Walsh University (North Canton, Ohio) with a Bachelor of Science in biology before moving to Upstate New York in 2002. There, she earned a PhD from SUNY Upstate Medical University in 2007, studying inherited arrhythmias in the boxer (dog). She attended Cornell University School of Veterinary Medicine from 2008-2012, followed by a small animal rotating internship at the Veterinary Medical Center of Central New York, before returning to Cornell University in Ithaca NY to complete a residency in cardiology in 2017.

Dr. Oxford is a Board-Certified veterinary cardiologist, with a passion for client education and support during the management of cardiac disease in their pets. In addition to clinical practice, Dr. Oxford has been active in the research of inherited cardiovascular diseases of the dog for many years. She has led research projects funded through the NIH, American Heart Association, the Morris Animal Foundation, and the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine. She was an adjunct assistant professor in Molecular Medicine at Cornell from 2017-2020, where she studied the embryologic origins of sinus node dysfunction and atrial fibrillation in a mouse model. Currently, she lives outside of Ithaca, NY with her family and ever-growing collection of rescued pets.

Dr. Sarah Ericksen

DVM, MA

Dr. Sarah Ericksen received her B.A. in Political Science and minor in Forensics from the University of West Florida and her M.A. in Asia Pacific Studies from the University of San Francisco. Dr. Ericksen previously worked for the University of San Francisco as the Assistant Director of Graduate Admissions prior to going back to school to study veterinary medicine. Dr. Ericksen received her Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from Cornell University in 2019 and completed a one-year shelter medicine internship at Cornell Ithaca NY. Her veterinary areas of interest include community outreach, emergency medicine, disaster preparedness, policy and legislative issues surrounding animal welfare. Dr. Ericksen lives with her husband, young son and daughter, 3 Great Pyrenees, and 5 cats including a troublemaking Bengal. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, reading, traveling, and spending time with her family.

Dr. Michael Koch

VMD, Diplomate ACVM

Dr. Koch graduated from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. He completed his internal medicine residency at the Matthew J. Ryan Veterinary Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, where he received the Jules and Lucy Silver Animal Bedside Manner Award. Dr. Koch is a board-certified member of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.

Dr. Matt Brunke

DVM, CCRP,CVPP,CVA,DACVSMR

Dr. Brunke will be joining the EPV team part-time for Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine consultation. Matthew W. Brunke , DVM, CCRP,CVPP,CVA is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation . Dr. Brunke is a native New Yorker , growing up in New York City. He graduated from Cornell ( Animal Science ) in 2000 and received his DVM from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine in St. Kitts in 2004 . He received his certification in canine rehabilitation in 2008 from the University of Tennessee CCRP program and now teaches for that program. He is also certified in pain management ( IVAPM) and acupuncture ( Chi Institute ). He completed his practice experience pathway for the American College of Veterinary Spots Medicine and Rehabilitation in 2017 and passed ACVSMR boards in January 2018. As a diplomate of the VSMR degree , Dr. Brunke believes in a big picture and practical approach to his patients and enjoys both orthopedic and neurological cases. When he’s not working, Dr. Brunke enjoys running with his dog Penny , and hiking with both Penny and his Husky mix , Aurora.

Dr. Shannon Palermo

VMD, Diplomate ACVIM

Dr. Shannon Palermo, graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Palermo completed her initial medicine residency at the Matthew J. Ryan Veterinary Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. While is school, she was the Penn Vet Shelter Medicine Club president and was a recipient of the SVAVMA Community Outreach Excellence Award. Her volunteer work didn’t end there; she also worked with the Hand2Paw, working with at-risk youth and shelter animals to help them see a better future. Dr. Palermo has been in the veterinary field for ten years, active both professionally and academically with several published articles to her name. Dr. Palermo also works with Mission Rabies, a non-profit organization committed to helping vaccinate dogs in parts of the world where Rabies is pervasive.

Jensen Hobbs, LVT

Licensed Veterinary Technician, Anesthesia

Jensen received her Veterinary Technology degree from Alfred State College, graduating in 2014. Since the beginning of her career as an LVT, Jensen has remained a passionate advocate for the high-standard care and well-being of patients, with a special interest and career focus in Anesthesiology. Prior to becoming a member of the EPV team in December of 2022, Jensen has had several years of experience working as a veterinary anesthetist in both general practice & specialty anesthesia/surgical settings, with a focus on providing optimal anesthetic and analgesic care for canine & feline patients undergoing both elective, and emergent/critical procedures. Since joining our team she remains diligent in her efforts towards achieving her personal career goal, to enhance her licensure to that of a Veterinary Technician Specialist in Anesthesia/Analgesia.
 
When not at work, Jensen enjoys spending time both outdoors and at home with her own fur-babies; including a trio of long haired Dachshunds named Calvin, Leonard, & Phillip.
 

Kaylee Pandish, LVT

Licensed Veterinary Technician, Certified in Veterinary Massage & Rehabilitation Therapy

Kaylee is a licensed veterinary technician and Certified in Veterinary Massage and Rehabilitation Therapy. A SUNY Delhi graduate, Kaylee quickly discovered an interest in physical rehabilitation and integrative therapies, and pursued an education at Healing Oasis Wellness Center in Sturtevant, Wisconsin. Now certified, she follows her love for a more hands-on approach of care for all animals big and small, young and old, athletic and disabled. As a child, she found therapeutic comfort in the many animals that surrounded her growing up. Now, she wishes to return the favor.

With an interest in integrative medicine, Kaylee believes in helping clients offer the best quality of care for their furry friends in order to achieve a long, comfortable, and fulfilling life.

She currently only has two cats, Shadow, her gray medium hair, and Frozen Ivy, her paraplegic tuxedo.

Felicia McJury, LVT

Licensed Veterinary Technician, Urgent Care

Felicia spent several years in the small animal ICU at Cornell University Hospital for Animals where she had a large role in training staff and students. Excelling in emergency and critical care, Felicia spends most of her time at EPV in our Urgent Care department.

Felicia enjoys football, motorcycling, baking, and hiking. She lives with her dog, Quill and her cat, Daya.
 

Erika Moat

Assistant

Erika Moat is an assistant at EVP. She has an associates degree in Biology and Fine Arts. She is currently enrolled in the Penn Foster program for LVT’s and is also working on Fear Free Certification. Erika’s past work experiences include Ithaca Pet Supply, private boarding kennels, the Humane Society of Montour Falls, and VSES Rochester. She has one dog, one cat, and one parrot.

Brandi Santos

Receptionist

Brandi is a receptionist at EPV, her passion has always been with animals. It was a childhood dream to be able to care and provide for them. Brandi grew up locally to the area and has been in customer service for over 10 years providing astounding administrative assistant skills. Outside of EPV she is a mother to a vigorous toddler and their presumptuous calico cat.

Austin Candea

Veterinary Assistant

My name is Austin Candea, I joined Elemental Pet Vets in January 2022 as a Veterinary Assistant. I am a licensed pharmacy technician and I am also working on becoming a Veterinary Technician. I enjoy spending my time with my wife taking my two dogs on camping and hiking trips.

Austin Overly

Receptionist

Austin works as a receptionist at EPV. He has a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies. His hobbies include hiking, camping, fishing and hanging out with his three cats.

Jordan Rhodes

Veterinary Assistant

Jordan is an Assistant at EPV. He graduated from Ithaca College with a degree in sport and exercise science. Has past experience in several areas of health care, including exercise physiology, personal training, massage therapy, and chiropractic medicine. He has always had a passion for healthcare, human and animal. He currently has one cat named Biggie and enjoys exercising, outdoors, and retro arcades.

We’d love to hear from you! Call us today at 607-291-4021.

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