Meet The Vets
Atlee Douglas, D.V.M
Senior Veterinarian
Dr. Douglas is a graduate from Tuskegee University – “the pride of the swift, growing south.” He joined North Shore Animal League America's medical center team of veterinarians in 1990. Dr. Douglas has a great interest in stray and rescue animal issues, and he has extensive experience in soft tissue surgeries as well as exotic pets.
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Gerard Laheney, D.V.M
Senior Veterinarian
Dr. Laheney has had a long relationship with North Shore Animal League America. A lifetime resident of Port Washington, Dr. Laheney adopted his first of many “North Shore” animals at age five, and later joined NSALA's team at age15. Too young to work in the medical center, he became a kennel associate, and later a rescue team member. He left for the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he received his Bachelor of Science in pre-veterinary animal science in 1996. Dr. Laheney then went on to attend the University of Liverpool in England where he received his BVSc, MRCVS in July 2001. His veterinary travels included months spent lambing on farms in North Wales, externships in Southern Wales, Western England, and Florida, as well as various fundraising endeavors in the Netherlands. After a year in private practice where Dr. Laheney enjoyed a role working with a local municipal shelter, he returned to his roots here at the League in 2003 to pursue his interest in shelter medicine. |
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Kathleen A. Dunn, VMD
Staff Veterinarian
Dr. Dunn earned her Veterinary Medical Doctor’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania following a diverse career that included veterinary experience at a variety of medical centers as well as managerial, financial and negotiation roles. Her career at North Shore Animal League America began in a volunteer role in 1995 leading to a position as a veterinary technician, which ultimately inspired her to pursue a veterinary degree. Prior to obtaining her DVM degree and her career with the Animal League, Dr. Dunn’s job history included being executive director of Lease Analysis, LLC of Medford, NY; senior account administrator, Cushman & Wakefield, Inc.; and administrative analyst, Corporate Real Estate for Saks Fifth Avenue.
Dr. Dunn holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Fairfield University and pursued graduate studies at both University of New Haven and Fordham University, prior to her studies at University of Pennsylvania. |
Dr. Peter Vyorst, D.V.M
Staff Veterinarian
Dr. Vyorst has been a practicing small animal veterinarian for over 28 years, most recently at Lawrence Animal Hospital, in Queens, New York, and prior to that at Academy Animal Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. Dr. Vyorst studied at Ohio State University, and at the University of Parma, Italy. He also served an internship at The Animal Medical Center of New York, and is an accredited US Dept. of Agriculture veterinarian.
Cara Leigh Ahn, VMD
Staff Veterinarian
Dr. Ahn is a Magna Cum Laude graduate of Adelphi University, and earned her Veterinary degree at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine in Philadelphia.
She has volunteered with Rural Area Veterinary Services in Pickett County Tennessee and Seminole County, Georgia, and worked with the Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society. Most recently Dr. Ahn practiced at Cape Fear Animal Hospital in Fayetteville, North Carolina.
Katarina Valen, D.V.M
Staff Veterinarian
Dr. Katarina Valen was raised in Queens, New York. After receiving her Bachelor’s degree from SUNY Binghamton and her Veterinary degree from Ohio State University, she is happy to be back in a state that sells pizza by the slice. Dr. Valen gained shelter experience through an internship at the Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital of the ASPCA in Manhattan.
Jennifer Vourlos, D.V.M
Staff Veterinarian
Dr. Jennifer Vourlos was born and raised in Staten Island, New York. She majored in Animal Science at Cornell University, and graduated with honors. Dr Vourlos earned her Veterinary degree at Tufts University. Her interests are ophthalmology, internal medicine, and feline medicine. She found her passion for shelter medicine during a summer spent at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, and as a result helped to start the Shelter Medicine Club at Tufts.
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Paul Thiergardt, D.V.M
Staff Veterinarian
Dr. Paul Thiergardt is the newly appointed Senior Veterinarian of the Pet Health Center. He was born in Syosset, Long Island, where he still lives. He completed undergraduate studies at the University of Southern California, and earned a BA in Biology from Hofstra University, where he also pursued a Masters Degree.
Dr. Theirgardt worked eight years as a dialysis technician at North Shore University Hospital, and then earned his veterinary degree at Ross University, with clinical training at the University of Tennessee.
Dr. Theirgardt spent eighteen years in private practice as an associate veterinarian at Shirley Veterinary Hospital in Shirley, New York. He started work at North Shore Animal League America in 1988 as a per-diem veterinarian – working nearly every Sunday since then in the Out Patients Clinic. He has been working per-diem at the Animal League’s Pet Health Center on a steady basis since 2007. |
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