Jay Barton VMD

Hospital Administrator/Owner

Dr. Jay Barton received his VMD from the University of Pennsylvania in 1985. He spent two years working as an equine racetrack practitioner in Cincinnati before purchasing a small animal practice in northern Kentucky. After 16 years as owner of Park Hills Animal Hospital, Jay went back to academia to pursue an MBA from Thomas Moore College. After graduating in November 2002, he joined Veterinary Specialty Center, LLC where he currently serves as Hospital Administrator. Jay has two children, Trip and Elizabeth.

A.D. Elkins DVM, MS

Diplomate ACVS

Dr. A.D. Elkins received his DVM from Auburn University in 1970, and began his practice in Madisonville, Kentucky, where he cared for the medical and surgical needs of both small and large animals for 10 years. In 1982, he completed a surgery residency and received a Masters degree at Texas A&M University. Until 1986, he owned a referral practice in Kentucky. He then became Chief of Small Animal Orthopedics and Assistant Professor at Louisiana State University of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Elkins is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons and has been certified in the tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO) procedure and PennHIP procedures.

Kent Stauffer DVM

Diplomate ACVS Diplomate ABVP (companion animal)

Dr. Stauffer is a 1983 graduate of Kansas State College of Veterinary Medicine. He practiced in Grand Island, Nebraska for 12 years in a small animal practice he opened and owned in 1984. Dr. Stauffer completed a one-year rotating small animal internship in 1994 at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Mississippi State University, after which he completed a one-year surgical internship working with Dr. Elkins in Indianapolis. Dr. Stauffer returned to Mississippi State in 1996 to enter a three-year surgical residency. Upon completion of his residency program, Dr. Stauffer joined Dr. Elkins in Indianapolis for three years. He then relocated to Des Moines, Iowa to join the Animal Emergency & Referral Center for 2 years before rejoining the Veterinary Specialty Center. He and his wife Linda have two children, Dillon and Sydney.

Mary Palmer DVM, MS

Diplomate ACVS

Dr. Mary Palmer received her DVM from Louisiana State University in 1988. She continued her education with an internship at The Animal Medical Center in New York City followed by a residency at Colorado State from 1990 to 1993. She also received her Masters degree in Clinical Science while attending Colorado State University. She has lived in Indianapolis for 14 years with her husband John Graber and son Will. Dr. Palmer previously worked with Dr. Elkins for 2 years when she first moved to Indianapolis. She left temporarily to work as a referral surgeon for 5 years with a multi-clinic general practice before returning to the Veterinary Specialty Center. She currently is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons and has been certified in the tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO) procedure.

Gary Lantz DVM

Diplomate ACVS, Diplomate AVDC

Dr. Gary Lantz completed his DVM at the Ohio State University in 1974. Following 3 years in general practice, he completed a residency in Small Animal Surgery at the University of Missouri. He has been extensively involved in academic veterinary medicine in the Midwest. He is a diplomate of both the American College of Veterinary Surgeons (1983) and the American Veterinary Dental College (2002). His special interest areas include soft tissue surgery and oral and maxillofacial surgery. He currently lives in West Lafayette. We are proud to have Dr. Lantz join us on a part-time basis. Please call the clinic for his schedule.

Ann Johnson DVM, MS

Diplomate ACVS

Dr. Ann Johnson received her DVM from Purdue University in 1975. After graduating, she worked in private practices in Akron and Cincinnati, Ohio for two and a half years. Dr. Johnson then went on to complete a residency and Masters degree from Ohio State University in 1981. She became a faculty member at the University of Illinois and has been there since 1981. Dr. Johnson is an internationally recognized veterinary orthopedic surgeon and educator, having presented several hundred invited lectures throughout the United States, Europe and South America. She is joining the Veterinary Specialty Center on a part-time basis, while continuing as Chief of Surgery at the University of Illinois. Dr. Johnson is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons and certified in the TPLO procedure.

Aaron Wehrenberg DVM

Dr. Aaron Wehrenberg graduated from Oklahoma State College of Veterinary Medicine. He then completed a one-year surgical internship at the Veterinary Specialty Center. He is currently in his three-year surgical residency training program with Veterinary Specialty Center. His interests include orthopedics, wound management, and pain management. Dr. Wehrenberg is also certified in the Penn Hip procedure.

Kristi Graham DVM, MS - Internal Medicine

Diplomate ACVIM (Internal Medicine)

Dr. Graham graduated from Purdue University in 1995 and traveled to Pullman, WA to complete a rotating small animal internship. Since completing her residency in internal medicine and MasterÕs degree (internal medicine; focus on diabetes mellitus) at the Atlantic Veterinary College (AVC) on Prince Edward Island, Dr. Graham practiced internal medicine for several years in private practice. She then returned to AVC to run their small animal medicine service, seeing patients and teaching senior veterinary students, interns, and residents. Since joining VSC in 2004, Dr. Graham has enjoyed returning to private practice while still occasionally returning to academia for teaching purposes. She lives in Carmel with her husband, daughter, and two cats.

Jeff Smith, DVM - Critical Care

Diplomate ACVECC

Dr. Smith graduated from Mississippi State University School of Veterinary Medicine in 1996 and went on to complete a one year internship at Purdue University in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery. After completing one year of an Emergency and Critical Care residency at the Animal Emergency Center in Milwaukee, WI, Dr. Smith moved to Indianapolis to start his family. He worked in town for several years, including nearly three years at the Animal Emergency Center in Northeast Indianapolis. He completed the final two years of his Emergency and Critical Care residency at Louisville Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Services in January 2005. Since joining VSC in January 2005, Dr. Smith has been very effectively creating an outstanding Intensive Care Unit of which we are very proud. He lives in Lapel with his wife, two sons, and numerous 4-legged family members.

Michael Lucroy DVM, MS - Oncology

Diplomate ACVIM (Oncology)

Dr. Lucroy received his DVM from Purdue University in 1993. He continued his education with an internship at the University of Saskatchewan followed by a residency at the University of California-Davis. Dr. Lucroy earned a MS in Comparative Pathology from UC Davis while a research fellow at the Center of Companion Animal Health. Dr. Lucroy has been in referral practice in California, Nevada, and Florida and has been a faculty member at Oklahoma State University. Most recently, he has been involved in academic veterinary medicine in the Midwest. He is author of over 100 cancer-related articles, abstracts, proceedings, and book chapters and gives lectures throughout the country and abroad. Dr. Lucroy joins Veterinary Specialty Center on a part-time basis while continuing to teach in a university setting. He lives near West Lafayette with his wife, two children, and a host of pets.

R.A. Sanders DVM, MS - Cardiology

Diplomate ACVIM (Cardiology)

Dr. Sanders graduated with his DVM from Michigan State University in 2000. He entered a private practice for one year but then continued his education by completing a two-year Cardiology Fellowship at Michigan State University. Dr Sanders has recently completed his residency in cardiology at Purdue University Veterinary Teaching Hospital and has earned board certification in the specialty of cardiology. He lives near West Lafayette with his wife, two children, dog and cat.

Jean Stiles DVM, MS - Ophthalmology

Diplomate ACVO

Dr. Stiles received her DVM from University of California, Davis in 1989. She then proceeded to the University of Minnesota where she completed both a small animal internship and a residency in Ophthalmology. She received her Board-Certification from the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists in 1992. Dr. Stiles was on the faculty of the University of Georgia from 1993 through 1998. In 1998, she worked one year in private practice in California. Dr. Stiles has extensive private and academic experience in the Midwest.

William Blevins DVM, MS - Radiology

Diplomate ACVR

Dr. Blevins received his DVM degree from Purdue University in 1968. He earned an MS degree in radiology from Iowa State University in 1970. He has been a Board-Certified Radiologist since 1973. Dr. Blevins has extensive experience in academia in the Midwest. He has operated a consulting practice along with his university duties since 1973. He is a past president of the American College of Radiology. He is a consultant/editor for the Veterinary Information Network, an on-line information service. We are pleased to have Dr. Blevins join us every Tuesday.