Monika Kaelble, DVM, MS, DACVECC
Medical Director
Board Certified Emergency & Critical Care Specialist

Dr. Kaelble (pronounced “cable”) attended veterinary school at U.C. Davis. After graduating from Davis, she was selected for an internship program at Purdue University. Upon completion of her internship program she relocated to San Diego and joined the Pet Emergency & Specialty Center (PESC) in 1993. Monika completed a residency program to become board-certified in emergency and critical care medicine in 2000 and currently serves as medical director of the emergency service.

Ira Feinswog, DVM
Emergency Clinician

Dr. Feinswog grew up in San Diego and attended San Diego State before transferring to U.C. Davis to complete his undergraduate education. After completing veterinary school at U.C. Davis in 1986, Ira worked in several small animal and emergency practices before opening his own small animal practice in Vista. In 1993, he sold this practice and co-founded the PESC. His special interests include emergency medicine, surgery, and practice management.

Trevor Garb, DVM
Emergency Clinician

While attending veterinary school at Texas A&M University, Dr. Garb completed a summer externship program here at the PESC. Upon graduating with his DVM degree he sought advanced training and was selected for a prestigious internship in emergency and critical care medicine at Dove Lewis Emergency Animal Hospital in Oregon. Trevor joined our team at the PESC in 2000. His interests include emergency medicine, critical care, surgery, and management. 

Nirit Rosenberg, VMD
Emergency Clinician

Dr. Rosenberg completed veterinary school at the University of Pennsylvania in 1997. She then relocated to San Diego and worked in general practice for one year before joining the PESC in 1998. Nirit has served as a staff clinician on our emergency service since this time. Her interests include emergency medicine, critical care, and surgery.

Elena Vassilev, DVM, DACVECC
Medical Director
Board Certified Emergency & Critical Care Specialist

Dr. Vassilev earned her DVM degree at the University of Illinois. Upon graduating she sought advanced training through a one-year private practice internship in Ventura, California. She then successfully completed a residency in emergency and critical care medicine at the Animal Medical Center in Texas. Elena joined the PESC in 2002 and became board certified in emergency and critical care medicine in 2005. She is passionate about providing excellence in state-of-the-art patient care.

Solene Moreton, DVM
Emergency Clinician

Dr. Moreton is originally from France but grew up in San Jose, California. She pursued her undergraduate degree at UC Davis in Physiology and completed vet school at Kansas State University. Solene finished a rigorous 1 year internship in emergency and critical care medicine at the PESC in 2004. She decided to join our staff of progressive doctors and remain part of a team providing state-of-the-art medicine. Solene's medical interests include trauma, sepsis and critical care.

Michael Mansfield, DVM
Emergency Clinician

Dr. Mansfield graduated from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine in 2001. After practicing emergency medicine in Pennsylvania for five years, he relocated to San Diego. Michael joined the PESC staff in 2006 as an emergency clinician. Dr. Mansfield is committed to excellence in veterinary medicine — his special interests include emergency medicine and surgery.

Michelle Moyal, DVM
Emergency Clinician

Dr. Michelle Moyal was born and raised in Queens, New York. Upon finishing veterinary school at Cornell University, she elected to pursue a career in emergency medicine and critical care. She completed a post-graduate year of advanced training at the PESC in 2008 in a prestigious rotating internship focusing on emergency medicine and critical care. After her internship Dr Moyal was selected to continue on as a staff emergency clinician. Dr Moyal’s interests include trauma, surgery, exotic animal emergency medicine, and roller derby.

Lisa Seko, DVM
Emergency Clinician

Originally from North Carolina, Dr. Seko received both her undergraduate degree in zoology and her veterinary degree at North Carolina State University. She moved to San Diego and joined the PESC as an emergency clinician after completing a one year rotating internship focusing on emergency and critical care medicine. Dr. Seko is a true animal lover who is dedicated to providing excellent patient care. She also enjoys surfing, running, biking and swimming. Dr. Seko has completed several marathons, triathlons and an ironman triathlon.

Melissa Cody, DVM
Emergency Clinician

Dr. Cody was born and raised in Wisconsin. She attended undergraduate and veterinary school at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Upon graduating, Dr. Cody sought advanced training and relocated to San Diego for a one year rotating medical and surgical internship. After completing her internship, she joined the PESC as an emergency and critical care clinician. Her medical interests include trauma and the treatment of toxicities. As a hobby, she enjoys cake decorating.

Carrie Deaton, DVM
Emergency Clinician

Dr. Carrie Deaton originally grew up in Kentucky before heading to the nicer climate of San Diego in 2000. She worked as a veterinary nurse for many years, including several years at the PESC. In 2009, she graduated from the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of California, Davis. Carrie was then accepted into the PESC’s demanding internship for advanced training in emergency and critical care. After completion of this program, she joined our team as a staff emergency and critical care clinician. Her special interests include pain management, trauma, toxicities and anesthesia.

Mark Kim, BVSc
Emergency Clinician

Dr Kim received his veterinary medical degree from the University of Sydney, Australia in 2005. He then spent 3 years in England and Hong Kong practicing veterinary medicine. After returning to Australia in 2008, Mark spent the next four years working in specialty and emergency animal hospitals in Sydney. He completed further studies and examinations in emergency and critical care medicine. He was accepted as a Member of the Australian College of Veterinary Scientists Chapter of Emergency and Critical Care in 2011. Mark relocated to San Diego and joined the PESC team as an Emergency and Critical Care Clinician in 2012. He enjoys all aspects of emergency medicine and surgery, particularly neurology and cardiology. He also enjoys surfing, mountain biking, snow boarding, and eating good food.

Kari Kato, DVM
Emergency Clinician

Dr. Kato originally grew up in Orange County, CA before attending U.C. Berkeley to complete her undergraduate degree. After college, she worked as a veterinary nurse for several years in both general practice and at an emergency clinic. It was during this time she developed a passion for emergency and critical care. In 2011, she graduated from the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of California, Davis. After completing a one year rotating internship with a focus on emergency and critical care medicine, Dr. Kato joined the PESC team as an emergency clinician. In addition to emergency and critical care, Kari has a special interest in behavior medicine. During her time away from the clinic she enjoys camping and hiking.

Samantha Kent, DVM
Emergency Clinician

Dr. Kent is originally from Pennsylvania. She attended NYU and Villanova University for her undergraduate degree in Biology and completed veterinary school at Tufts University in Massachusetts. She moved to California for further training and completed a one year rotating internship focusing on emergency medicine and critical care. After completing her internship, Dr. Kent joined the PESC as an emergency and critical care clinician. Samantha's medical interests include pain management and managing toxicities, but she enjoys all aspects of emergency medicine.