Meet Our Doctors

Dr. Samantha Gans is originally from the East Coast. Dr. Gans first gained an interest in veterinary medicine after spending a week visiting a very special black lab, Squirrel-Fish, who was being treated at the local emergency vet clinic. She left the coast to complete her Bachelors in Animal Science at KSU. From there she moved with her husband and son, Colton, to Arizona and obtained her DVM from Midwestern University. Having great appreciation for the low humidity here, they decided to stay. Dr. Gans is interested in emergency medicine, ophthalmology, and pain management. She has a special place in her heart for furry geriatric companions and keeping the human-animal bond strong through all their years. In her free time she enjoys mountain biking, camping, and swimming with her family. She has a dog named Trixie and a cat named Nash.

Dr. Beth Engelschall was born in Illinois and moved to Arizona with her family in 1998. She graduated from the University of Arizona in 2013 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Veterinary Science. She then attended Colorado State University where she received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree in 2017. During school, she had the opportunity to travel to rural Nicaragua and Costa Rica to volunteer her services and to volunteer at an elephant sanctuary in Thailand. After graduating, she returned home to Arizona to start her career as a veterinarian. Her professional interests include preventative medicine, feline medicine, soft tissue surgery, and dentistry. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with family, traveling, hiking, reading, and cooking. She shares her home with five rescue cats – Marshmallow, Waldo, Baxter, Archie, and Smudge, and her rescue dog named Toby.

Dr. Hailey Magnussen was born in Southern California but grew up in Arizona and attended Arizona State University for her undergrad. She worked as a veterinary technician at The Scottsdale Veterinary Clinic before going to veterinary school at Colorado State University. She worked in the surgery department and critical care unit at CSU throughout vet school, and developed a passion for soft tissue surgery and emergency medicine, as well as preventative care. Although she loved the beautiful hiking and winter activities Colorado had to offer, she is excited to be back in Arizona! She has a dog, Rocco, and a cat, Spunky. In her free time, she enjoys camping, spending time with her family, hiking, and cooking.

Dr. Courtney Blackmon was raised in the Midwest and started her journey to veterinary medicine in Austin, Texas.  While in Texas, she began working at a small animal veterinary clinic, apprenticed as a horse trainer, and learned to start her own horse. She also spent time volunteering at a wildlife rehabilitation center and fostered / rescued dogs and cats. She attended Colorado State University on the beautiful Front Range, where she developed a passion for preventative care, behavior, and nutrition. She developed her interest in emergency medicine and surgery while working at a small animal ER and the surgery department at CSU. Prospects of sunshine and warm weather brought her west to Arizona. She has two cattle dog mixes, two gray cats, and two Arabian horses. In her free time she loves hiking, horseback riding, and exploring Arizona.

Dr. Nikki Bloom is thrilled to be caringly treating animals at The Scottsdale Veterinary Clinic! She graduated from the inaugural class at Midwestern University near the top of her class in 2018. She loves treating dogs and cats with a focus on preventative medicine. It is her goal to work with each client individually to develop the best possible treatment plan for them and their pets. Dr. Bloom is originally from San Diego, CA. Her love of animals and nature started early, and she spent her childhood alternating between the San Diego Zoo, Sea World and the Wild Animal Park. Dr. Bloom studied Animal Sciences at Rutgers University in New Jersey and moved to Phoenix to attend veterinary School at Midwestern University. In her spare time, she enjoys swimming, yoga, rock climbing, watching movies, and spending time with her husband, new baby, 2 dogs, and tortoise!

Dr. Buscema is from Tucson, Arizona. She has always grown up around dogs, horses, and cats and knew early on she wanted to devote her life to them. She graduated from the University of Arizona with a degree in Veterinary Science, minoring in Microbiology and Biochemistry. After graduation, she moved to Glendale, Arizona to acquire her degree in Veterinary Medicine at Midwestern University. Dr. Buscema is very excited to join the team at Scottsdale Veterinary Clinic! Megan has an interest in preventative care, while building strong client relationships to help care for everyone’s four legged friends. When she is not helping other animals, she enjoys cooking, hiking, and spending time with her terrier mix rescue, Poppy or enjoying the company of her horse, Elco.

Dr. D’Monte grew up in India and decided that she wanted to become a Veterinarian as a young child because her family could not afford to pay for the vet bills for all of her pets. She graduated from Washington State University in 1984, and has worked with The Scottsdale Veterinary Clinic since it’s beginning in 2005. She has many pets including 4 dogs, 2 cats, a snake, a rabbit, a tortoise, and an iguana. She has a special interest in alternative medicine and therapies such as cold laser, chiropractic and acupuncture. In her spare time she enjoys hiking, eating out, watching movies and eating cotton candy.

Dr. Je’Pierah Gasper is from Sacramento, CA but was raised in San Tan Valley, AZ. She graduated from Northern Arizona University with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. She then went to complete her veterinary degree at Midwestern University. In her free time she likes cake decorating, playing video games, watching movies, and playing fetch with her two dogs – Leilani and Delilah.

Dr. Shayla Fleming is from Phoenix, Arizona and has wanted to be a veterinarian since she was a kid. She grew up with dogs, birds, reptiles, and fish! She graduated from Aurora University in Illinois with dual bachelor degrees in Biology and health science. She moved back to Arizona to attend Midwestern University for Veterinary School and enjoys being in the sun again. She has a dog named Jack, a bird named Flynn, and a tortoise named Ralph. In her free time she enjoys hiking, going to the lake, and reading.

Dr. Gorham is originally from Colorful Colorado. She attended university in Southern Illinois (go Salukis!) and Veterinary school at the University of Illinois. She came to Arizona to get away from cold weather. She enjoys reading, gaming, and spending time by the pool. Her favorite thing in the entire world is cuddling on the couch with her rescued Great Dane, Dory. She is thrilled to be in Arizona and ready to help all cats and dogs; big or small.

Dr. Gibbs is an Arizona native who graduated from the University of Arizona with a degree in Veterinary Sciences. While pursuing her undergraduate degree, she began her career in the veterinary field working as a kennel attendant and veterinary assistant at a local small animal clinic. After graduating, she worked for 2 years as a veterinary assistant/ technician in Queen Creek before attending the University of Wisconsin – Madison for veterinary school. After enjoying the beer and cheese Wisconsin had to offer, she decided to move back to the desert with her husband and 2 dogs, Brady and Maya. In her spare time, you can find Dr. Gibbs hiking, cooking, or catching up on the latest TV shows.

Dr. Morgan Hawken is originally from L.A. but moved to Arizona for vet school. As a young child, she knew she wanted to be a veterinarian, as any child dreams of, but made her dream a reality. She completed her undergrad at SMU in Dallas, TX with a degree in Business, then proceeded to attend Midwestern University in Glendale, AZ for her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine.  Her favorite aspects of her job are performing surgery, and working through complex cases that challenge her. In her free time, she likes to travel, hike, try new restaurants, and spend time with her two dogs and cat.

Dr. Hertz was born and raised just north of New York City in Westchester County. He always had a love and passion for animals ever since he was little, growing up with many animals in the house. He ventured away from home to get his Bachelors at the University of Michigan (Go Blue)! He continued moving further west to escape the cold winters and came to Arizona for veterinary school at Midwestern University. After falling in love with the Arizona climate and meeting his fiancé in vet school, he decided to call Arizona his new home. Together with his fiancé, he has two dogs, Honey and Chili, and one cat, Kesha. Dr. Hertz has developed interests in soft tissue surgery and preventative medicine and looks forward to building long lasting relationships with his patients and their families. In his spare time, he enjoys hiking, swimming, snowboarding, watching Netflix, and is a huge sports fan.

Dr. Kelcie Kappes grew up in Wisconsin and completed her undergraduate studies in Minnesota. When she came to Arizona for veterinary school she instantly fell in love with the sunshine and does not miss the cold! She enjoys agility training with her bearded collie Buckley, camping, hiking, and going to the lake. When she’s not exploring the outdoors she relaxes by doing puzzles and baking.

Dr. Kerby grew up in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and attended Coe College in Iowa for undergrad before obtaining his DVM at Washington State University in May 2018. After 8 years away, he decided to return to the southwest for some sunshine and warm weather after all the rain and snow. He has been working in a vet clinic since he was in 9th grade, and has done everything from cleaning kennels and reception, all the way to becoming a Veterinarian. Dr. Kerby has special interest in soft tissue surgery, emergency and critical care, dermatology, low stress feline handling, and any Corgi that is seen in our clinic! On his days off Dr. Kerby enjoys hiking, tennis, cooking, golf, and gaming.

Dr. Tanaka is straight out of Honolulu, Hawaii. He has always enjoyed being with animals but did not decide to pursue a career in veterinary medicine until his last semester of undergrad. He received his Bachelors of Science in biology from Pacific University in Oregon. He returned home to work as a veterinary technician until he started veterinary school at Washington State University. He enjoys working with clients and is specifically interested with the relationships and communication surrounding great medicine. In his free time he enjoys getting outside to the nearest body of water and soaking up the sun.

Dr. Tansey is originally from Arizona, but has moved around quite a bit including spending three years in Germany. She graduated from the University of Arizona with a Bachelor’s degree in Veterinary Science and a minor in Biochemistry. After graduation she moved across the country to attend the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine. During veterinary school she had the opportunity to travel and work with World Vets International, providing veterinary care to a variety of animals in far reaching communities in Peru. While she enjoyed experiencing four seasons again, she is excited to return to the Valley of the Sun. Her interests include surgery, emergency medicine and general practice medicine. In her free time Dr. Tansey enjoys going on adventures, reading, painting and snuggling with her goofball pups Max and Roxy.

Dr. Rodrick was born and raised in Scottsdale, Arizona. She attended undergrad at the University of Arizona obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Veterinary Sciences and a minor in Microbiology. She then went on to attend Midwestern University and received her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine. Her interests in veterinary medicine include small animal surgery, dentistry, emergency and equine medicine. Growing up, she rode and showed horses and dreams of owning a horse again someday! She enjoys spending time with her new Golden Retriever puppy Goose, going to the beach and riding horses. She grew up with cattle dogs who will always hold a special place in her heart. Luckily her parents still have two that she gets to see often, Bisbee and Paislee. 

Dr. Courtney Craig was raised in Phoenix and completed her undergraduate at Arizona State University. She Moved to Oregon for vet school for 4 years before returning home. She has two dogs (husky and poodle mix) and two cats (calico and tabby). She had pet birds in the past and absolutely loves them and cannot wait to work with birds in the future. She is most interested in surgery and emergency medicine. In her spare time she loves watching The Office and riding horses.

Dr. Soehn grew up in Casper, Wyoming where she gained a great respect for all animals did for people from pets to agriculture. She stayed local for her undergraduate degree in microbiology at the University of Wyoming. During this time she worked in a research las developing molecular diagnostics for various diseases. She then headed to the pacific northwest to attend Washington State University for her degree in Veterinary Medicine. Her primary interests include emergency and critical care, internal medicine, and surgery. Outside of work she enjoys hiking, hunting, and fishing, playing soccer, reading, and is always up for an outdoor adventure.

Dr. Padilla grew up in Northern Virginia about 10 minutes outside of Washington DC. Before attending Veterinary School at Midwestern University she was a technician for a mobile veterinary practice for 2 years. She loves outdoor activities such as kayaking, hiking, and fishing. She also loves to travel and enjoys music festivals. Her all time favorite activity is cuddling with her cat and 2 dogs; Benji, Finn, and Booker.

Dr. Kayla Jermansky is an East Coast native. She grew up in Brooklyn, New York, and completed her undergraduate degree at SUNY Binghamton, before moving to the Midwest to attend veterinary school at the University of Minnesota. She accrued 4 pets while in vet school – 2 cats and 2 guinea pigs – and has previously had 3 pet rats. Prior to working at The Scottsdale Veterinary Clinic, she had never been to Arizona, and is embracing the much warmer weather! Outside of work, she enjoys hiking, baking, and is an avid watcher of cooking competitions. 

Dr. Ferrari is originally from Ann Arbor, MI. During her undergrad at Oakland University she helped with research on giant clams and intertidal invertebrates in Western Australia. She then went on to attend Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine in St. Kitts. Her special interests are exotic/special species as well as small animal integrative medicine such as acupuncture & ozone therapy. She is also certified in Veterinary Acupuncture! In her free time she enjoys reading, spending time with her cats (of which two traveled back to the states with her from St. Kitts) and trying new breweries.

Dr. Kuldell is originally from Boston, Massachusetts and graduated from Cornell University with a Bachelor’s degree in Animal Science. She spent a year working with search and rescue dogs in training at the PennVet Working Dog Center and then moved west to attend veterinary school at Colorado State University. Her rescue dog, Flynn, is an endless source of energy and joy. In her spare time, she enjoys travel, spending time outside, gardening, and horseback riding.

Dr. Sekiya was born in California but has lived in Nebraska, Texas, Louisiana, and Colorado. She graduated from Tulane University with dual Bachelor degrees in Neuroscience and Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. She then moved to Colorado where she acquired her degree in veterinary medicine from Colorado State University. After 4 years in the snow, she and her leopard tortoise, Kiko, are very excited to move to sunny Arizona! Her professional interests include orthopedic surgery, emergency medicine, and dentistry. In her free time, she loves to travel, cook, and attend live music events.

Dr. Gilpin was born and raised in San Diego, California. She knew she was going to be a veterinarian from a very young age and spent her childhood playing with toy stethoscopes and stuffed animals. She has had a zoo’s worth of pet’s throughout her life including cats, dogs, guinea pigs, rabbits, fish, hermit crabs, snakes, tortoises, and horses. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Animal Science at Cal Poly Pomona in Pomona, CA and her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Midwestern University in Glendale, AZ. Her major passions in veterinary medicine are emergency medicine, soft tissue surgery, and ultrasonography. In her free time she really enjoys getting out into nature – hiking and spending time at the beach being two of her favorite things! She is also an artist and likes to dabble in a bit of everything – painting, drawing, woodburning, sculpting, etc. 

Valley Veterinary Cardiology: The veterinary cardiologist behind our mobile services is Dr. Christopher Paige. Chris has been working in the field for more than 10 years but has had a passion for animals all of his life. Dr. Paige is board-certified in Cardiology by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM). For more than nine years, he has worked in private specialty practices in Mesa, Phoenix, and Flagstaff, Arizona, offering full, interventional cardiology service. In 2012, Dr. Paige was recruited into cardiovascular research at a world-renowned human medical device company. He also served as Chair of the ACVIM Residency Training Committee and is Adjunct Faculty at Midwestern School of Veterinary Medicine. In 2014, he founded Veterinary Specialists of Northern Arizona to provide cardiology services to the Flagstaff, Cottonwood, Campe Verde, Sedona and surrounding areas. He opened Valley Veterinary Cardiology in August 2016 to offer the Valley’s first cardiology specific practice dedicated to patient, client and primary care veterinarian support. In his free time, Dr. Paige enjoys spending time with his wife and two kids, as well as their family pets. He also likes to hike, run, mountain bike and downhill ski.