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Veterinary Specialists
What is a specialist?
A board certified veterinary specialist is a doctor of veterinary medicine who has completed at least 3 additional years of supervised training after becoming a doctor. After a residency in their field of specialization, a specialist must sit and pass a rigourous examination to become board certified. This is in addition to the other requirements that they must meet during the residency itself such as procedure quotas!
Meet our specialists
Animal Hospital Specialty Center has carefully selected a varied and excellent team of board certified veterinary specialists. As you can see below, each brings a unique perspective to patient care. Not sure which one may be best equiped to meet your pet's needs? Just visit our services pages and read about the amazing procedures that our specialists have been trainned to do.
Dr. Edward Eisner, DVM, DAVDC
An internationally recognized leader in veterinary dentistry, Dr. Eisner is past president of the American Veterinary Dental College, Academy of Veterinary Dentistry and Colorado State Board of Veterinary Medicine. He has been practicing advanced dentistry since 1976 and was among the first group of veterinarians to become board certified as specialists in veterinary dentistry in 1989.
Dr. Eisner, who graduated from Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, is co-author of the textbook, Veterinary Dental Techniques, which has been published in English, Italian, Japanese and Spanish. He also has published more than 70 professional articles and book chapters. Dr. Eisner is the 2001 recipient of the American Veterinary Dental Society Education and Research Award and the 2004 American Veterinary Dental College Service Award. He is currently president of the Peter Emily International Veterinary Dental Foundation.
Dr. Stephanie Engel, DVM
Practice limited to neurologyDr. Stephanie Engel earned her BA in Latin American Studies from Columbia University in 1998 and her DVM from Michigan State University in 2006. She completed a small animal medicine and surgery internship at Red Bank Veterinary Hospital, a large private practice in New Jersey, in 2007. Dr. Engel participated in a neurology internship at VCA Alameda East Veterinary Hospital in Denver from 2007-2008 and received her neurology and neurosurgery residency training at Colorado State University from 2008-2011. She joined the staff at Animal Hospital Specialty Center in 2011.
Dr. Engel is excited to offer extensive diagnostic and treatment options for a wide variety of medical and surgical neurologic cases. She is particularly interested in managing seizure patients, inflammatory brain diseases and degenerative spinal cord diseases. She is also available for spinal surgeries, including intervertebral disc disease, lumbosacral disease and Wobbler's Syndrome, and brain surgeries, including tumors, infections and head trauma. Originally a native of New York City, Dr. Engel now enjoys spending time exploring Colorado. Her hobbies include skiing, biking, trail running, rock climbing and golf.
Dr. Geoff Heffner, DVM, DACVECC
Dr. Geoff Heffner is our specialist in emergency and critical care medicine who oversees our emergency department and manages the dedicated ICU. He has a strong interest in respiratory cases, blood disorders, kidney support and advanced monitoring. Dr. Heffner also offers cutting edge services not available at many other hospitals including peritoneal dialysis for animals in kidney failure, tracheal stenting for airway collapse, urinary stenting for obstructive urinary tract disorders, and non-invasive ultrasound-guided biopsies.
Dr. Heffner earned his doctorate in veterinary medicine from Michigan State University in 2003. He completed an internship at Garden State Veterinary Specialists in New Jersey followed by a four-year residency at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University in Massachusetts. Dr. Heffner was board certified by the American College of Veterinary Emergency Medicine and Critical Care in 2009.
Before joining Animal Hospital Specialty Center, Dr. Heffner was medical director of emergency and critical care services at Greenbriar Veterinary Referral and Emergency Hospital in Urbana, Maryland. He has authored textbook chapters, published articles in leading critical care journals and lectured at international conferences and continuing education seminars on a variety of emergency and critical care topics.
Dr. Karen Hilling, DVM, DACVIM
A Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, Dr. Karen Hilling has clinical interests that include: all things to do with the kidneys and urinary system (urology), intestinal disease and endoscopy, hepatic diseases, endocrinology, immune-mediated diseases, blood disorders (hematology), interventional radiology, and critical care.
She earned her doctorate in veterinary medicine from Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine in Starkville, Mississippi in 2005 and became board-certified in internal medicine in 2009 after a residency at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University in North Grafton, Massachusetts and an internship at Florida Veterinary Specialists & Cancer Treatment Center in Tampa, Florida.
Dr. Hilling studied veterinary medicine at St. Georges University College of Veterinary Medicine in Grenada, West Indies for two years before transferring to Mississippi State University where she earned her doctorate degree. She also has a bachelors of science degree in biology from the University of South Florida in Tampa.
Dr. Hilling has an 8-year-old tri-colored Caribbean mix named Miss Bailey, and misses her little red guy, Guinness very much.
Dr. Marie Janson, DVM, DACVIM (oncology)
Dr. Marie Janson joined our team in September of 2008. She is originally from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. She received her Bachelor of Science degree from Moravian College and graduated with honors from Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine. She then went on to complete an internship at Red Bank Veterinary Hospital and Referral Center in New Jersey. Dr. Marie finished her schooling with a three year medical oncology residency and Master's degree at Colorado State University, and became boarded in the specialty of oncology in 2005.
Dr. Marie has a special interest in an integrative approach to cancer treatment, focused on stimulating the immune system, alleviating pain, and providing the best quality of life. She takes the time to explain all treatment options and will help you decide what is the best option for you best friend.
In her free time, Dr. Marie enjoys spending time with her two four-legged kids, Indy and Bodhi. She also enjoys exploring the beauty of Colorado with her husband, running, hiking, yoga, photography and skiing.
Dr. W. Preston Stubbs, DVM, DACVS
Dr. Stubbs is a native of Western New York. He earned his BS in Biology in 1985 from George Mason University and his DVM from the Virginia Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine (Virginia Tech) in 1990. He completed a rotating internship in small animal medicine and surgery at Cornell University in 1991 and received his surgical residency training at the University of Florida from 1991-1994. Since that time he has been on the faculty of two veterinary colleges and worked as a staff surgeon in large specialty hospitals in Florida and Denver.
Dr. Stubbs has published numerous articles in refereed journals, has authored several book chapters, and has presented many scientific lectures and continuing education seminars both nationally and abroad. He has also been regularly featured on the Animal Planet network's Emergency Vets and E-Vets: Interns programs.
Dr. Stubbs came to Animal Hospital Center with significant experience in specialty referral practice and is eager to assist you with the management of soft tissue, orthopedic (including TPLO, TTA, and total hip replacement), and neurosurgical cases. Dr. Stubbs is board certified by the American College of Veterinary Surgeons and his professional interests include arthroscopy, complex joint injury repair, cementless total hip replacement, tibial tuberosity advancement, fracture repair with interlocking nails, portosystemic shunts, and neurosurgery.
He enjoys spending time with his five children and wife Laura, a veterinarian. He also enjoys fly fishing, sports, playing drums, and riding his motorcycle.