Meet the Veterinarians

JEREMY DIROFF, DVM, DACVIM

Dr. Diroff earned his undergraduate degree and his DVM from The Ohio State University, achieving his DVM in 2003. He spent a year as a rotating intern at the Oradell Animal Hospital in northeastern New Jersey before completing a small animal internal medicine residency at the University of Pennsylvania in 2006. He then worked as a veterinary internist at the Veterinary Specialty Center of Delaware until 2019.

In 2019, Dr. Diroff happily moved to Maine with his wife and son, Elliott. He has had dogs his whole life and currently lives with an old Beagle-Basset mix named Stewart and a young mixed-breed dog named Henry. Dr. Diroff and his family also adopted a sweet orange kitten named Dorothy.

Dr. Diroff’s interests include immune-mediated disease, gastroenterology, nephrology, and infectious disease. He believes that offering cutting-edge care in a judgment-free environment with effective communication to the client and referring partner is the best approach to the most complex internal medicine problem.

DANI RONDEAU, DVM, DACVIM

Dr. Rondeau is a native of California who grew up in northern Virginia with birds, reptiles, rodents, and a cherished rabbit named Snowball. She studied fine arts as an undergraduate and earned a BFA from Virginia Commonwealth University. While there, she discovered her love of science and veterinary medicine, and she graduated from the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine in 2008. After completing a rotating internship in small animal medicine and surgery at Garden State Veterinary Specialists in Tinton Falls, NJ, she completed a three-year residency in small animal internal medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and received board certification from the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine in 2012. She has been practicing at Maine Veterinary Medical Center since 2015.

Dr. Rondeau is passionate about abdominal ultrasound, gastrointestinal endoscopy, infectious diseases, endocrinology, and complex medical cases. While she enjoys working with both cats and dogs, she especially loves entitled, sassy, geriatric cats. When not working, she enjoys spending time at home with her two cats, Count Olaf and The Frumious Bandersnatch. Her hobbies include various art and craft projects, hunting for mushrooms, gardening, cooking, and listening to audiobooks.

KIMBERLY OPARIL, DVM, DACVIM

Dr. Oparil obtained her undergraduate degree in biopsychology and child development from Tufts University in 2010 and a DVM from Tufts in 2014. Following veterinary school, Dr. Oparil completed a one-year rotating internship in small animal medicine and surgery at Angell Memorial in Boston. Dr. Oparil then completed a three-year residency in emergency and critical care medicine and earned board certification the same year as a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care. Prior to joining MVMC in 2020 she worked as a critical care specialist in California.

Dr. Oparil’s clinical and research interests include sepsis, trauma, and mechanical ventilation. She also has a strong interest in shelter medicine. She loves the fast-paced nature and holistic approach to the patient that emergency and critical care medicine entails. Dr. Oparil prides herself in providing patients with the highest quality of care and medicine.

In her free time, she Oparil likes to read, cook, and hike with her wife and two dogs, a Great Dane and an island mixed breed. She also enjoys snuggling her diabetic cat.

LISA BOURAZAK, DVM, MPT, DACVAA

Dr. Bourazak received her Master in Physical Therapy from Northwestern University prior to becoming interested in canine rehabilitation. After practicing physical therapy for 15 years, she left physical therapy behind attending the University of Illinois School of Veterinary Medicine graduating in 2012. After graduation, she completed a rotating internship at the University of Georgia and her residency in Anesthesia and Analgesia at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University. After completing her residency, Dr. Bourazak became a boarded anesthesiologist and has worked in private practice elevating anesthesia techniques for patients and hospital teams alike. She has a special interest in locoregional techniques, critical anesthesia, and adjunctive pain management.

Outside of work, Dr. Bourazak enjoys spending time with her partner, Jess, dogs Charles Darwin and Ruth Beagle Ginsburg, and cats Vinny, Aurora and Eclipse and exploring the beauty of Maine especially through hiking, kayaking, and cycling.

KARIN WAGNER, DVM, DACVIM

Dr. Wagner grew up in Lewiston, Maine and earned her undergraduate degree in comparative religion at Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania. Through dairy goat farming in Massachusetts and working as a veterinary technician in San Francisco, she discovered her love for veterinary medicine. She attended Cornell’s College of Veterinary Medicine followed by an internship at South Shore Animal Hospital in Massachusetts. She spent the next two years in general practice before moving to Madison, Wisconsin to complete a three-year residency in Internal Medicine at the University of Wisconsin. She received her board certification in Internal Medicine in 2006 and returned to New England to establish the Internal Medicine service at the Capital Area Veterinary Emergency and Specialty hospital in Concord, New Hampshire.  

In 2008, Dr. Wagner realized her dream of returning to Maine to join the newly opened Maine Veterinary Medical Center. Dr. Wagner has special interests in diagnostic ultrasound, diseases of the liver and gall bladder, endocrinology and immunology. She believes that veterinary medical care must be tailored to each patient and their family through compassionate conversation. 

In her free time, Dr. Wagner enjoys travelling, gardening, hiking, cooking, and tending to her entitled chickens. She lives in Portland with her husband and an evolving collection of dogs, cats and chickens.

ERIKA DE PAPP, DVM, DACVIM

Dr. de Papp grew up in western New York but considers New England home after spending many summers here horseback riding before attending Dartmouth College in New Hampshire. She earned her DVM from Cornell University and completed an internship and internal medicine residency at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. de Papp received board certification from the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine in 1999 and spent two years as a clinical instructor at the University of Pennsylvania before moving to Boston, where she was on staff as an internist at the Angell Animal Medical Center for 20 years. Her professional interests include gastroenterology, endoscopy, immune-mediated disease, nephrology, hepatology, and laparoscopy.

As a lover of nature, she was eager to move to the Portland area to continue her career while being closer to the great outdoors and all the opportunities this region has to offer. In her spare time, she enjoys biking, skiing, and hiking with her husband and two dogs. She has also spent many years studying enology and would be happy to “talk wine” with anyone who’s interested!

MAGGIE GREEN, DVM, DACVIM

Dr. Green grew up in Mid Coast Maine. She attended the University of Maine at Orono, where she earned a degree in Animal Science. She ran on both Division I cross country and track teams while earning a degree in Animal Science. After graduation, she worked at Harvard Medical School in a neurobiology and cellular biology laboratory. In 2002, she was accepted into the Atlantic Veterinary College on Prince Edward Island. After graduation in 2006, she went on to complete a one-year small animal medicine and surgery internship at Red Bank Veterinary Hospital in New Jersey. It was during her internship year that she became interested in veterinary neurology. Her neurology residency was performed at Affiliated Veterinary Specialists in Maitland, Florida.

Dr. Green practiced Neurology in both New Hampshire and Colorado prior to returning to Maine in 2019 to join the MVMC team. In her down time, Dr. Green can be found outside either hiking with her family or running along Maine’s beautiful coast.

DANIELLE EIFLER, DVM, DACVIM

Dr. Eifler’s love for animals began at an early age and while she always knew she wanted to become a veterinarian, it was when her family dog, a German Shepherd named Max, became afflicted with a devastating neurologic condition called degenerative myelopathy, that she realized her desire to specialize in veterinary neurology. During her neurology residency at the University of Missouri, she was very fortunate to work with the researchers who discovered the gene associated with this disease, which now aids in the diagnosis of degenerative myelopathy.

Dr. Eifler is highly credentialed, earning her Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of New Brunswick in Saint John, Canada, in 1997 with early admission into veterinary program at the Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island from 1997-2001 due outstanding academic excellence. She completed an internship in Saskatchewan, Canada in 2002 followed by an Emergency Fellowship at Michigan State University. Dr. Eifler completed her neurology residency specializing in both medical and surgical neurology from the University of Missouri and became board certified in veterinary neurology in 2008. She is also a certified veterinary neurosurgeon which is requires which involves a rigorous peer reviewed process, completion of advanced neurosurgical training course, and demonstration of extensive neurosurgical experience.

Dr. Eifler is very proud to have been with the Maine Veterinary Medical Center since 2008. She is very happy to be a resident of Maine and enjoys sailing the Maine Coast, competing with her horse Giselle, and beach walks with her husband Nathan and German Shepherd Cindy Lou Who. Most of all, she takes pleasure in curling up with her 3 cats and a good book while watching the Maine wildlife from her home in Bath.

AMY HODSHON, DVM, DACVIM

Dr. Hodshon grew up in East Tennessee and graduated from Dartmouth College with a BA in mathematics. In 2008, she graduated from the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine and then completed a rotating small animal internship and a neurology internship at the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine. She returned to the University of Tennessee for a 3-year residency in neurology and neurosurgery and became board certified in veterinary neurology and veterinary neurosurgery in 2013. She served as a clinical instructor for a year, then joined the faculty at the University of Tennessee as an assistant professor of neurology and neurosurgery. In 2017, she moved to Maine with her husband, three young children, two dogs, and a cat to join MVMC’s neurology team.

SCOTT PETESCH, VMD, DACVIM

Dr. Petesch grew up outside Washington, D.C., with love and curiosity for all animals. He attended Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota, where he majored in biochemistry and met his wife, Kelsey. After college, he worked for a year as an assistant to a veterinary neurologist, and it became clear that helping animals with neurological disorders was his calling. Dr. Petesch went on to veterinary school at the University of Pennsylvania, where he graduated summa cum laude. He continued his specialty training at UPenn, first with a rotating internship in medicine and surgery and then a residency program in neurology and neurosurgery.

After his residency, Dr. Petesch remained with UPenn’s Neurology Department for a few years as a clinical assistant professor, totaling more than a decade developing his skills in Philadelphia. Dr. Petesch loves all aspects of neurology, particularly the process of developing creative solutions to complex problems that work for both the patient and their family. He has a particular interest in the medical and surgical treatment of cancer of the nervous system. Outside of work, Dr. Petesch is an avid soccer fan. He loves cooking and, even more, eating delicious food with his wife and daughter.

MIRANDO GALLO, DVM, DACVIM (Neurology)

Dr. Gallo grew up in New England, with family ties to Portland, Maine. She studied Neuroscience at Bates College, then working at a Harvard neuropsychiatry research lab before attending veterinary school at Tufts University. After a year of practicing in New York City, Dr. Gallo returned to Tufts for first a rotating internship and then a three-year residency in Neurology and Neurosurgery. After residency, Dr. Gallo worked as a solo neurologist in Brooklyn, New York. In 2022, Dr. Gallo eagerly jumped at the opportunity to join the neurology team at MVMC, and together with her family, made the move back to Maine.

Dr. Gallo’s clinical interests include refractory seizure management, optimizing recovery following disc herniation and spinal surgery, as well as long-term management of chronic conditions of the brain. Outside of work, Dr. Gallo enjoys exploring the Maine outdoors, indulging in the amazing local food offerings, as well as delighting in all the adventures that come with raising a wild toddler in Maine. Dr. Gallo’s retired racing greyhound, Juniper, is thrilled with her beach proximity and chipmunk round-up responsibilities.

VIRGINIA GILL, DVM, DACVIM

Dr. Gill grew up all over the United States and landed at the University of Wyoming for undergraduate studies. She earned her DVM from Colorado State University in 2004, where she graduated summa cum laude and was inducted into the Phi Zeta Veterinary Honor Society. Following her graduation, Dr. Gill completed a one-year internship in small animal medicine and surgery at the prestigious Animal Medical Center in New York City, where she received AMC’s Intern of the Year award. Dr. Gill remained at the Animal Medical Center for a three-year residency in oncology, which she finished in 2008. She is board certified in oncology by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.

Dr. Gill has published articles in a variety of journals, including the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association and the Journal of Veterinary Comparative Oncology, and authored book chapters on several oncology topics. Dr. Gill is a member of the Veterinary Cancer Society and the Veterinary Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group. Dr. Gill remains involved in collaborative research and clinical trials. She is interested in all aspects of oncology, always striving for patients to live a normal life while being treated for cancer. She recently completed acupuncture training at the Chi Institute in Reddick, Florida, and she enjoys incorporating acupuncture as a mode of healing for her patients.

Before moving to Portland, Dr. Gill practiced in Bedford Hills, New York, and New York City, where she was named Top Westchester Veterinarian from 2012-2015. She was also named Rarebreed’s director of wellness and sustainability, following her passion for fostering the well-being of those in veterinary medicine and helping veterinarians and veterinary staff thrive in their profession.

She adores living in Maine, and despite being “from away,” she considers Maine her home. She loves exploring the state with her partner, Dr. Jason Kriskey, an ER clinician at MVMC, and their daughter, Cassidy. She shares her home with two rescue dogs, Fish and Reggie, a rescue kitty named McCarren, a few guppies, and two backyard chickens, Red and Wanda.

JEFFREY C. PHILIBERT, DVM, DACVIM

Medical Director
Dr. Philibert earned his DVM from the University of Minnesota in 1995, graduating cum laude. After an internship in small animal medicine and surgery at the Veterinary Specialists of Rochester, New York, he completed a three-year residency in comparative oncology at Purdue University. He has been board certified in oncology by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine since 2001.

Dr. Philibert joined the staff at Angell Memorial Animal Hospital in Boston, Mass., in 1999 and then became a founding partner and staff oncologist at the New England Veterinary Oncology Group in Waltham, Mass., until 2016. While there, Dr. Philibert was directly involved in training numerous oncology residents, assisting them in becoming board-certified members.
Since 2012 Dr. Philibert has been practicing in the Greater Portland, Maine area, establishing himself as a resource for the veterinary hospitals of the region both in client oncology referrals and through continuing education to the veterinary professionals of Maine. When not working, Dr. Philibert enjoys exploring Maine with his family and participating in outdoor sports such as hunting, fishing, boating, and skiing.

EZRA J STEINBERG, VMD, DACVS

Dr. Steinberg grew up in Goshen, New York. He completed his undergraduate education with a BA from Wesleyan University in neuroscience and behavior before graduating from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine in 2006. After completing a rotating internship in medicine and surgery at the Oradell Animal Hospital in Paramus, New Jersey, he returned to Penn to complete a residency in small animal surgery and received his board certification in 2011.

Dr. Steinberg taught small animal surgery at Penn and served as an instructor at the Penn Annual Conference and the New England Veterinary Conference. He has lectured internationally on Tibial Tuberosity Advancement for the stabilization of cruciate ligament injuries in dogs. His peer-reviewed journal articles have been published in the Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association, the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, and the Journal of Small Animal Practice.

His clinical interests include the treatment of cranial cruciate ligament injury, minimally invasive surgery, and interventional procedures such as tracheal and urethral stenting. Dr. Steinberg understands that the best treatment option will vary among patients, and all factors must be considered prior to formulating a plan.

As a child, Dr. Steinberg visited Rangeley, Maine, and Long Island, New York, and settled here in Maine in 2014. He now enjoys exploring the state with his wife, Jaime, who is also a board-certified veterinary surgeon, children, Owen, Izzy, and Emma, and yellow lab, Sawyer.

JACOB RUBIN, DVM, DACVS

Dr. Rubin grew up in Highland Park, New Jersey. He completed his undergraduate education with a BS from Muhlenberg College in biochemistry, then graduated from The Ohio State College of Veterinary Medicine in 2011. He completed a small animal rotating internship in medicine and surgery at the University of Florida, then completed a residency in small animal surgery at the University of Pennsylvania.

From 2015 to 2017, Dr. Rubin was an assistant professor of soft tissue surgery at Michigan State University. He received his board certification in small animal surgery in 2016 and is an active member of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons, AVMA, and MVMA. He has authored over 15 peer-reviewed articles and ten book chapters and is an active reviewer for a number of journals. In 2018, Dr. Rubin moved back to the east coast to be closer to his family and the ocean.

Dr. Rubin is particularly interested in complex maxillofacial and oncological surgery. He strives to ensure that owners are part of the decision-making process for their pet family members.

Away from the hospital, Dr. Rubin enjoys cycling, cooking, and hiking with his partner, Nicole, and two dogs, Eloise and Whiskey. He also has a geriatric Persian named Rupert, who is a budding social media star. He is an avid woodworker and can often be found in his shop during the winter months.

TODD HAMILTON, VMD, DACVS

Dr. Hamilton graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point and, after serving six years in the U.S. Army, attended the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. He completed a rotating small animal medicine and surgery internship at Red Bank Veterinary Hospital in New Jersey and began a three-year surgical residency at the University of Pennsylvania the following year. Upon completion of his residency, he worked at a referral practice in Richmond, Virginia, for almost seven years. Dr. Hamilton became a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons in 2015.

Dr. Hamilton’s professional interests include minimally invasive surgery (laparoscopy/thoracoscopy), fracture repair, wound management, and oncologic surgery. When not working, Dr. Hamilton enjoys cycling, kayaking, running, and spending time with his wife, Alison, and their dogs hiking the coast of Maine.

BETH ELLEN MCNAMARA, DVM, CCRT, CVMA

Dr. McNamara earned her undergraduate degree in biology from the University of Illinois, where she also earned her DVM. She has been practicing medicine for about 20 years, starting in general practice before moving on to shelter medicine while pursuing her rehabilitation and acupuncture certifications. Her rehabilitation and sports medicine journey began with MedVet Chicago, where she was the department head before making her way to MVMC.

Dr. McNamara prides herself on taking the time to listen to her patients and clients. She loves to see her patients grow and adapt while helping her team focus on the goal – of improving the quality of life for each pet. Dr. McNamara is driven by the positive feedback she receives from her clients about her patients’ improvements, such as playing with toys for the first time in years and confidently climbing stairs after major surgery. She loves the team she works with and is very proud of the steps they take each day with their patients, even the baby steps.

In her free time, you can find Dr. McNamara reading, fiber crafting (knit, felt, weave), and gardening. She also enjoys trying new recipes. However, exploring vacationland (Maine, of course) with her husband of 25+ years is her favorite thing to do!

MEGHAN E. VAUGHT DVM, DACVECC

Medical Director

Dr. Vaught obtained her doctorate from St. George University in May 2013 after completing her clinical rotations at the University of Pennsylvania. In June 2014, she completed a small animal rotating internship at Tufts Veterinary Emergency Treatment and Specialties Hospital. Dr. Vaught completed a three-year emergency and critical care residency at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University in 2017. Later that year, she earned board certification as a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care.

Dr. Vaught’s clinical and research interests include but are not limited to, respiratory disease/mechanical ventilation, sepsis, polytrauma, and severe acid/base or electrolyte disorders. Dr. Vaught’s priority is to provide the highest quality of care and medicine to each patient and their family. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband, their young daughter, and their two cats.

AMY BELL, DVM, DACVECC

Dr. Bell obtained her undergraduate degree in biology from Arizona State University in 2011 and earned a DVM from the Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences in 2015. She went on to complete a one-year rotating internship in small animal medicine and surgery at the Veterinary Specialty Hospital of San Diego, Calif., followed by a three-year emergency and critical care residency at Tufts University in Massachusetts. She completed a residency in 2019 and earned board certification the same year as a diplomate from the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care.

Prior to joining MVMC in October 2020, Dr. Bell worked as a critical care specialist in the San Francisco Bay Area. Dr. Bell’s clinical and research interests include transfusion medicine, coagulation, acute kidney injury, and sepsis. Dr. Bell believes in a team approach and does her best to help families understand and manage their beloved pets’ conditions.

In her free time, she enjoys hiking, reading, traveling, cooking, and wine tasting. She also enjoys spending time with her family and their pets, including 9-year-old Shepherd mix Molly Jane, 3-year-old Great Dane, Oberon, and 17-year-old kitty, Cannoli.

KATHRYN BENAVIDES, DVM, DACVECC

Dr. Benavides obtained her undergraduate degree from the Ohio State University before pursuing her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine at Michigan State University, where she first developed her interest in emergency medicine following her ER rotations. Her desire to pursue a specialty in emergency and critical care (ECC) was solidified under her mentorship during her small animal rotating internship at Veterinary Specialists and Emergency Services (VSES) in Rochester, New York. The following year she began a three-year residency in ECC at Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine. She became a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care in the latter part of 2018.

Dr. Benavides returned to VSES in Rochester after her residency and before joining the team at MVMC in the summer of 2021. At MVMC, she enjoys the collaborative work of all specialty teams in the hospital to help provide the best possible care to our patients. Her areas of interest include sepsis and acute abdominal disease, heart failure, cardiac arrhythmias, and acute kidney injury.

Outside of work, Dr. Benavides is an avid crafter, primarily spinning wool into yarn, knitting, and quilting, which she pursued during her residency. She is excited to explore the hiking that Maine has to offer and to spend more quality time with her zoo of animals, which includes four cats, Olive, Oscar, Odessa, and Olaf, and three dogs, Osa, Ophelia Rose, and Ollivander.

MARY D’AMBROSIO, DVM, DACVECC

Dr. Mary D’Ambrosio graduated from the University of Missouri, where she obtained both her bachelor’s degree in animal science and her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. After graduation from veterinary school, she moved to South Florida to complete a small animal medicine and surgery rotating Internship at Coral Springs Animal Hospital. She worked at Coral Springs Animal Hospital for three years in both general practice and emergency services before deciding to pursue a career as an emergency and critical care specialist.

Dr. D’Ambrosio moved back to Missouri and completed a residency in emergency and critical care at the University of Missouri, achieving diplomate status in the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care.

Dr. D’Ambrosio enjoys all aspects of critical care, especially polytrauma, neonatal care, transfusion medicine, and sepsis. She completed ultrasound training at the Sound Academy of Veterinary Imaging and enjoyed incorporating ultrasound into her critical care skill set. Her goal is to ensure that clients can rest easy knowing that their pets are being treated like her own family, especially during the most crucial times.

Outside of work, Dr. D’Ambrosio enjoys spending time with her husband, Joe, daughter, Olivia, dog, Newton, cats, Tiger Chip, Cheddar Chip, and Smokey, on their farm in Maine. Her favorite activities include hiking, crafting, reading, and baking.

KATHERINE LOPEZ, DVM DACVIM (CARDIOLOGY)

Dr. Lopez completed her undergraduate education in Virginia, where she received a BS in biology from James Madison University. She went on to receive her DVM from Tufts University in 2018. Dr. Lopez stayed on at Tufts, where she completed an internship in small animal medicine and surgery, followed by a cardiology residency. Upon completion of her residency, Dr. Lopez received board certification in cardiology from the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.

While she finds every aspect of cardiology fascinating, Dr. Lopez particularly enjoys managing patients with valvular heart disease and cardiomyopathy and long-term management of congestive heart failure and arrhythmias. She strongly believes that building a relationship with both the patient and their owners is an important part of long-term cardiac management, and she is excited to be building a service where that is the cornerstone of care.

Dr. Lopez grew up in southern Maine and is thrilled to be back practicing in the area. Outside of work, she enjoys all the outdoor activities that Maine offers, as well as spending time with her partner, Nick, and their two rambunctious cats, Tiny and Smalls.