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Tufts Equine Center > For Referring Veterinarians

For Referring Veterinarians

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We welcome your referral in two ways, call our main reception at 508-839-7926 or contact the individual service directly from our directory below.

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Our Specialists

  • Dr. Daniela Bedenice

    Daniela Bedenice

    Dr. Med Vet, DACVIM, DACVECC

  • Dr. Kirstin Bubeck

    Kirstin Bubeck

    DVM, DACVS, DACVSMR

  • Dr. Kate Chope

    Kate Chope

    VMD, DACVSMR

  • Dr. Nicholas Frank

    Nicholas Frank

    DVM, PhD, DACVIM

  • Dr. José M. García-López

    José M. García-López

    VMD, DACVS, DACVSMR

  • Dr. Carlos M Gradil

    Carlos Gradil

    LMV, MS, PhD, DACT

  • Dr. Alisha Gruntman

    Alisha Gruntman

    DVM, PhD, DACVIM, Section Chief

  • Dr. Thomas Jenei

    Thomas Jenei

    DVM, DACVS, Interim Medical Director

  • Dr. Carl Kirker-Head

    Carl Kirker-Head

    VetMB, MA, DACVS, DECVS

  • Dr. Melissa Mazan

    Melissa Mazan

    DVM, DACVIM

  • Stefano Pizzirani

    Stefano Pizzirani

    DVM, PhD, DECVS, DACVO

  • Dr. Stephanie A Pumphrey

    Stephanie Pumphrey

    DVM, DACVO

  • Dr. Wade Tenney

    Wade Tenney

    DVM

Dr. Daniela Bedenice

Daniela Bedenice

Dr. Med Vet, DACVIM, DACVECC

Dr. Daniela Bedenice is a veterinary internist and one of the few large animal veterinary specialists in the country who is dual board-certified in both Large Animal Internal Medicine and Emergency and Critical Care. Dr. Bedenice co-leads the Tufts Equine Respiratory Lab and is at the forefront of understanding, diagnosing and treating horses with respiratory conditions. She also provides intensive care for both newborn and adult horses, llamas, alpacas and small ruminant species. Dr. Bedenice grew up in rural Germany where she trained and cared for many horses. After earning her veterinary degree from the Free University of Berlin, Dr. Bedenice initially worked in private practice followed by specialty training in large animal internal medicine, critical care and respiratory medicine after moving to the United States. As an Associate Professor in the Department of Clinical Sciences at Cummings School, Dr. Bedenice has published extensively in the field of comparative respiratory medicine and evidence-based therapy, as well as newborn and adult intensive care. She is Course Director of Clinical Pharmacology and leads or contributes to multiple veterinary courses focused on respiratory topics, gastrointestinal disease and neurology, and to clinical services specializing in large animal internal medicine. At home, Dr. Bedenice operates a small farm with thirteen alpacas and three German Shepherds.

Internal Medicine Service
Dr. Kirstin Bubeck

Kirstin Bubeck

DVM, DACVS, DACVSMR

Dr. Kirstin Bubeck specializes in lameness evaluation and treatment, advanced diagnostic imaging, and orthopedic and respiratory surgery. She became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons in 2011, and a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation in 2013. Dr. Bubeck earned her veterinary degree from the University of Hannover, Germany in 1997, and then worked at the university’s equine hospital as a staff veterinarian where she completed a postgraduate degree with her thesis titled “Pulmonary Wedge Pressure During Treadmill Exercise in Healthy Horses and Horses with Mitral Valve Insufficiency” in 2001. She came to Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine for her Large Animal Surgery internship and residency with emphasis in equine sports medicine. After completion of her residency in 2009, Dr. Bubeck worked as a Large Animal Emergency Clinician and Surgeon at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, as a Clinical Instructor for Equine Surgery and Lameness at the University of Montreal, and as a Staff Surgeon at the Equine Clinic in Kaufungen, Germany.  She returned to Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine as a Clinical Assistant Professor for Equine Sports Medicine and Surgery in June 2014. In 2016, Dr. Bubeck became certified in Veterinary Spinal Manipulation through the Healing Oasis Wellness Center in Sturtevant, Wisconsin and is a member of the College of Animal Chiropractors. Currently, she is pursuing her certification in Equine Acupuncture at the Chi Institute in Reddick, Florida.

Sports Medicine & Surgery Service
Dr. Kate Chope

Kate Chope

VMD, DACVSMR

Dr. Kate Chope is a lifelong horse owner and competitor, having successfully shown through Grand Prix in show jumping. She is also one of the few academically trained veterinary ultrasonographers specializing exclusively in equine ultrasound. Dr. Chope became board-certified by the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation and brings strong expertise in clinical ultrasound in her work as a Clinical Assistant Professor at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University. Before joining the faculty at Tufts, Dr. Chope earned her VMD from the University of Pennsylvania, where she also undertook a fellowship in equine cardiology and served as an academic lecturer. She has lectured and taught wet labs on equine ultrasound extensively at national and international conferences and has contributed to several clinical articles in peer-reviewed veterinary journals.

Ultrasound Service
Dr. José M. García-López

José M. García-López

VMD, DACVS, DACVSMR

Dr. García-López specializes in equine orthopedic surgery, which includes arthroscopy and fracture repair, upper respiratory surgery, lameness diagnosis and treatment, and advanced imaging. Dr. Garcia obtained his VMD from the University of Pennsylvania in 1996 and went on to complete a one-year equine internship at Mid-Atlantic Equine Medical Center, followed by a three-year large animal surgical residency with a special focus on Equine Sports Medicine at Tufts University. He became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons in 2001. Following his residency, José obtained a lecturer position in the Section of Equine Sports Medicine and Imaging at the University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania where he remained for two years. In 2002, he returned to Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University as an Assistant Professor in Large Animal Surgery and in 2010, he was promoted to Associate Professor. Since returning to Cummings School, he has continued to concentrate his work in the diagnosis and management of musculoskeletal disorders as well as the use of advanced imaging in the equine athlete. In 2010, he also became a faculty member of AO VET North America. He became board-certified by the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation in 2013.  Dr. José M. García-López regularly provides lectures and consultations at both the national and international level.

Sports Medicine & Surgery Service
Dr. Carlos M Gradil

Carlos Gradil

LMV, MS, PhD, DACT

Dr. Gradil’s areas of clinical expertise and interests are comparative reproduction in large and small animals including wildlife. His area of research expertise includes determination of PLC zeta concentration in the sperm of horses and how it relates to fertility. He finds satisfaction in his fieldwork because it creates the opportunity to produce desirable offspring, relieve infertility and resolve difficult parturition. Dr Gradil earned his PhD in theriogenology and his MSc in theriogenology from University of Minnesota, and his LMV from University of Lisbon, Portugal. He became a Diplomate of the American College of Theriogenology in 1998. Dr. Gradil’s honors include awards from US-AID, NATO and the Veterinary Honor Society. He has been a Fulbright Fellow and a Rockefeller Fellow.

Reproduction Service
Dr. Alisha Gruntman

Alisha Gruntman

DVM, PhD, DACVIM, Section Chief

Dr. Alisha Gruntman is a veterinary internist and Section Chief for the Internal Medicine team at Tufts Equine Center. Dr. Gruntman commonly treats colic, colitis, enteritis, gastric ulcers, pneumonia, equine asthma, neurologic diseases and many other common and vague illnesses.  She was drawn to medicine at Tufts because of the complex challenges treating cases at a high-level university referral practice.  Her research focuses on gene therapies for rare genetic diseases in both human and veterinary patients.  After completing her veterinary training at Purdue University, Dr. Gruntman completed her internship, medicine residency, and a year of post-doctoral research at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University. She holds a Ph.D. in Biomedical Science, specializing in Gene Therapy, from the University of Massachusetts Medical School. She is an Assistant Professor with both Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine  and the University of Massachusetts Medical School.

Internal Medicine Service
Dr. Thomas Jenei

Thomas Jenei

DVM, DACVS, Interim Medical Director

Dr Thomas Jenei is a board-certified veterinary surgeon with a clinical focus in soft tissue surgery including gastrointestinal disease, surgical oncology and traumatic injuries. Dr. Jenei obtained his DVM from Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts and became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons in 2009. Dr. Jenei was drawn to Tufts for its diverse expertise and the opportunity to treat horses for a wide variety of conditions, ranging from acute traumatic injuries, such as lacerations and fractures to gastrointestinal diseases. Dr. Jenei is the Associate Medical Director and Assistant Clinical Professor in Large Animal Surgery at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine and has a strong research and clinical interest in the surgical and post-operative care of colic patients. Dr. Jenei grew up riding horses as a 4-H member, and his experiences competing and working with horses led him to pursue a veterinary career.

General Surgery Service
Dr. Carl Kirker-Head

Carl Kirker-Head

VetMB, MA, DACVS, DECVS

Dr. Carl Kirker-Head is an orthopedic surgeon, equine sports medicine expert and Professor of Large Animal Surgery at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University. As the Marilyn M. Simpson Chair in Equine Medicine, his research and clinical interests range from internal fixation and corrective farrier to the use of pharmaceuticals. As Director of the Orthopedic Research Laboratory, Dr. Kirker-Head’s research interests include bone, tendon, ligament, and cartilage growth, grafting and remodeling. He is also involved in research on equine skeletal tissue engineering and orthopedic device development, as well as less invasive (catheter-based) interventions. Dr. Kirker-Head is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons as well as the European College of Veterinary Surgeons.

General Surgery Service
Dr. Melissa Mazan

Melissa Mazan

DVM, DACVIM

Dr. Melissa Mazan co-leads the Tufts Equine Respiratory Lab and is a world-recognized expert in the field of equine asthma. Dr Mazan’s work led to the creation of the first clinical lung function laboratory in North America where lung function testing is regularly used to help improve equine performance. Dr. Mazan earned her B.A. at Yale University and her DVM from Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University.  She is board-certified in the America College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Large Animal). Dr. Mazan teaches courses on respiratory medicine and pathophysiology, as well as exercise physiology at Cummings School where she was drawn by the opportunity to combine research, clinical work and teaching.  She also developed the first veterinary telemedicine teaching service in the United States for working equids in Fez, Morocco. Dr. Mazan’s interest in equine health and performance began when she was a member of the Varsity Polo Team at Yale University and the Captain of the Polo Team at the University of Oxford, and when she was managing her own barn and competing as a junior in equitation and Pony Club.

Internal Medicine Service
Stefano Pizzirani

Stefano Pizzirani

DVM, PhD, DECVS, DACVO

Dr. Stefano Pizzirani is a veterinarian board-certified in both ophthalmology and surgery. He is particularly interested in ocular immunology and the pathophysiology of glaucoma, as well as surgical treatments for cataracts and other corneal diseases. He also teaches ophthalmology to Cummings School’s third-year students and mentors fourth-year students, interns and residents in their clinical rotations. The son of a veterinarian father, Dr. Pizzirani found a natural interest in veterinary medicine.  While pursuing his DVM degree at Pisa University, he began to develop a particular interest in ocular diseases, which led him to obtain board certification in ophthalmology. Dr Pizzirani also has his PhD from Sicily Messina University.

Ophthalmology Service
Dr. Stephanie A Pumphrey

Stephanie Pumphrey

DVM, DACVO

Dr. Stephanie Pumphrey treats a wide range of equine ocular diseases. Her primary interest is in nonsurgical alternatives for the treatment of corneal ulcers and abscesses. She regularly performs a variety of ocular surgeries in horses, including tumor removals, grafts for corneal ulcers and cyclosporine implants for equine recurrent uveitis. Dr. Pumphrey earned her DVM from Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts. She went on to complete her ophthalmology residency at Cummings School in 2012 and became board-certified the same year. Dr. Pumphrey took a less traditional route to her DVM, completing a PhD in American literature prior to applying to veterinary school. While a PhD student, she got her first dog, and in spending time with her local veterinarian she realized that veterinary medicine was a better fit for her skills and interests than the humanities. During veterinary school, she completed several rotations on the ophthalmology service and was attracted to the discipline for its combination of medicine and surgery, and for its obvious impact on the quality of life of its patients.

Ophthalmology Service
Dr. Wade Tenney

Wade Tenney

DVM

Dr. Tenney earned his veterinary degree from Colorado State University and completed the large animal ultrasound fellowship at the University of California, Davis with Dr. Mary Beth Whitcomb. Following his fellowship, Dr. Tenney worked at Steinbeck Country Equine Clinic, a large referral hospital on California’s central coast, where he focused on sport horses, medicine—including pre-purchase exams—lameness exams and ultrasound. He worked at the HITS horse show series in Thermal, California for several years, providing sports medicine services to clients attending the shows. In April of 2013, Dr. Tenney joined Cummings Veterinary Medical Center to provide Diagnostic Ultrasound Services. Dr. Tenney has FEI certification in show jumping, dressage and eventing and has worked at Wellington and the Winter Equestrian Festival. Dr. Tenney continues to give lectures and instruction at wet labs at many national and international equine conferences.

Ultrasound Service

Clinical Case Challenge

Can you crack the case? Read the case history and presentation and make your differential diagnoses.

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Equine Clinical Case Challenge: A Case of Hoof Abscesses and Limb Lameness

History A 21 year- old Thoroughbred mare presented to Tufts Equine Center at Cummings Veterinary Medical Center with a history of lameness and repeated hoof abscessation of her left front foot. The recurrent abscesses were… Read More

Equine Clinical Challenge Case- Clinical Signs of EOTRH

Equine Clinical Challenge Case- Clinical Signs of EOTRH

History: A 22-year old Thoroughbred gelding was evaluated for gradual weight loss and decreased appetite that had slowly gotten worse over a two-month duration. The owner reports that the gelding has otherwise been acting normal,… Read More

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Equine Clinical Case Challenge: More than Just a Corneal Lesion?

A 17-year-old Quarterhorse gelding was presented for a corneal lesion of approximately five months duration.

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Equine Clinical Case Challenge: Intermittent Hematuria

History A 16-year-old pony gelding presented for evaluation of intermittent hematuria.  The pony was reported to be previously healthy and exhibited a normal appetite and water consumption at home.  The hematuria was first noted several… Read More

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Clinical Case Challenge: More than Blepharospasm OS

HISTORY: A 21-year-old Standardbred mare presented for a three- week history of discharge and blepharospasm OS. Previous treatment included topical triple antibiotic ointment and systemic minocycline with no improvement. The mare was previously healthy with… Read More

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Equine Clinical Case Challenge: Arrhythmia in a Show Jumper

A 17 year- old warmblood show jumper was evaluated on the farm for mild exercise intolerance and prolonged recovery after exercise, which was present despite a decrease in active competition level from upper level to lower level jumper. An irregular rhythm was detected, and the warmblood was referred to Tufts Equine Center at Cummings Veterinary Medical Center for cardiac evaluation.

Veterinary Teaching Hospitals Update: Emergency & Essential Cases Only. Call Ahead. Read More