Dr. W. Todd Allen
Surgery

Dr. Allen is a 1989 graduate of the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine. He completed a combined medical/surgical internship at Texas A&M University in 1990 and finished an extensive residency training program in Small Animal Surgery at the University of Minnesota from 1990 to 1993. While at the University of Minnesota, he received several distinguished teaching awards and presented research nationally. After his residency, Dr. Allen was in private practice in Minneapolis, Minnesota before joining AVS in 1994. In addition to surgery, Dr. Allen had advanced training in radiology and anesthesiology, as well as certification in Total Hip Replacement, Arthroscopy, ASIF boneplating techniques, and Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy (TPLO). He is the inventor of an orthopedic stifle retractor used for anterior cruciate ligament repair which is distributed worldwide. Dr. Allen is a long-standing member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, Missouri Veterinary Medical Association, Greater St. Louis Veterinary Medical Association and the Veterinary Orthopedic Society. Dr. Allen is a native of Houston, TX and southwest Missouri.

Dr. David C. Burgener
Internal Medicine

Dr. Burgener is board-certified in Small Animal Internal Medicine. He is a 1981 graduate of Colorado State University. He completed an internship at Angell Memorial Animal Hospital in Boston and his residency training at Michigan State University. He was an Associate Professor at MSU and practiced Veterinary Internal Medicine in Phoenix, Arizona from 1987 through 2001, prior to coming to St. Louis.

Dr. Donna S. Vicini
Internal Medicine

Dr. Vicini is board certified in Small Animal Internal Medicine. She is a 1983 graduate of the University of Illinois. After one year in private practice, she performed a residency at the University of Illinois from 1984 through 1987 and obtained a Master of Science degree in Veterinary Medicine. She has been in private referral practice since that time both in St. Louis, MO and Syracuse, NY.

Dr. Robert D. Ulbricht
Veterinary Dentistry

Dr. Ulbricht received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree in 1999 from the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine. Following graduation he was a general practitioner in a multi-doctor, progressive small animal hospital in the Chicago area. In 2002, he completed a full-time residency in dentistry at the University of Illinois and joined the Associated Veterinary Specialists. Currently there are approximately 54 board-certified Veterinary Dentists in the United States and Dr. Ulbricht is the only one in the state of Missouri. He is active in education through lectures given to a variety of organizations and labs given to veterinarians and their staff to improve dental care provided to companion animals. Within the American Veterinary Dental College, Dr. Ulbricht is also involved with a committee to assist candidates for board-certification in Veterinary Dentistry.

Dr. Headrick has practiced veterinary medicine in the St. Louis area and is now devoting her time exclusively to small animal rehabilitation.

Dr. Headrick first became interested in the rehabilitation field after her own experience with physical therapy. She joined as an assistant in a human physical therapy office and accumulated 400 hours experience using different modalities of therapy including, but not limited to, therapeutic ultrasound, neuromuscular electrical stimulation, Alpha-Stim therapy and therapeutic exercise.

In July, 2004 she completed the only university based veterinary rehabilitation program at the University of Tennessee. Her family includes her husband, son, daughter, two dogs, a cat and a bunny. Her future plans include becoming certified in canine/feline massage therapy.

Helen Porter
MS, MPH, RD, LD

Helen Porter has been a Registered Clinical Dietitian for over thirty years, in a human hospital setting. She has always been interested in animal nutrition and has pursued independent research on the nutritional needs of animals. She holds a Masters degree in Animal Science from the University of Missouri at Columbia and a Masters degree in Public Health Administration from St. Louis University. Most recently her focus is cats and dogs but represented subjects include primates, otters, lions, tigers as well as ten years as a volunteer staff nutritionist at the World Bird Sanctuary in Eureka, Missouri. Currently she is working in private practice as an Animal Nutrition Specialist, her company is Porter Pet Pals Animal Nutrition Services. Helen consults with veterinarians and pet owners that have pets with special diet needs due to chronic and/or acute nutrition related problems. The major focus of Porter Pet Pals is to maximize health utilizing a plan that is practical, affordable, easy to follow and helps pets live a happier more comfortable life. Porter Pet Pals has a link on this website that will allow you to contact her directly with any nutritional concerns.

Dr. John Sagartz
Veterinary Pathologist

Dr. Sagartz received his B.S. and D.V.M. degrees from Kansas State University in 1988 and 1990, respectively. He then received additional training in anatomic pathology at The Ohio State University, culminating in board certification by the A.C.V.P. and awarding of his Ph.D. in 1996. Dr. Sagartz has 20 publications in peer-reviewed journals spanning both natural and experimental disease and frequently serves as a reviewer for several scientific journals. He is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the American College of Veterinary Pathologists and the Society of Toxicologic Pathology, and is a frequent invited lecturer for the C.L. Davis Foundation. After a successful 7 years with Monsanto/ Pharmacia/Pfizer in St. Louis during which he was honored with the W.E. Upjohn Award and membership in the Pharmacia Fellows Program, John founded Seventh Wave Laboratories, LLC. He currently applies his diagnostic efforts to interpretation of case material from both the University of Illinois and University of Missouri Diagnostic Laboratories as well as Associated Veterinary Specialists.

Dr. Jim Hartke
Veterinary Pathologist

Dr. Hartke received his undergraduate degree from Cornell University in 1982 and his D.V.M. degree from The Ohio State University in 1986. He went on to complete graduate research and pathology training at The Ohio State University with a Ph.D. in 1992 and specialty certification by the American College of Veterinary Pathologists in 1993. Current research interests include degenerative joint disease and bone pathology. He is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the American College of Veterinary Pathologists and the Society of Toxicologic Pathology.