MEET Our TEAM
Critical Care
Dr. Christina Whitley
Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Emergency & Critical Care
Dr. Whitley spent her childhood in Wilmington and attended UNC-Charlotte for two years where she played soccer. She finished her undergrad degree at NC State University and then completed veterinary school there. She remains a devoted Wolfpack fan today.
Dr. Whitley completed a year long internship at BluePearl in Atlanta, GA and then moved to Wisconsin where she worked as an emergency doctor at Lakeshore Veterinary Specialists. She returned to Atlanta to complete a residency in emergency and critical care. She is board-certified by the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care.
Dr. Whitley is happy to share the ocean life with her husband and two children. Their family also consists of a Beagle, who is the queen of their house, four cats, a corn snake, and two leopard geckos. When Dr. Whitley is off duty, she enjoys being outdoors as much as she can, especially running, riding bikes, golfing, and being on the water. She and her husband enjoy traveling together and attending concerts. Dr. Whitley enjoys collaborating with a wonderful team and practicing at ECVR.
Internal Medicine
Dr. Ryan Bray
Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Small Animal Internal Medicine)
Dr. Bray joins our team after practicing nearly 5 years at a large specialty and emergency hospital in Atlanta, GA. He earned his veterinary degree at NC State University and completed his residency in small animal internal medicine at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is board-certified by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
While in Atlanta he enjoyed teaching and training fellow doctors. His clinical interests include acute kidney injury and chronic kidney disease, immune-mediated hematological disorders, advanced imaging techniques, and nutritional management of the critically ill patient.
When Dr. Bray is off duty, he enjoys sports, traveling, and a number of outdoor activities. He and his wife, a fellow ECVR clinician, have two children and a number of animals at home.
Surgery
Dr. Ned Williams
Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Surgeons
Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation
Dr. Ned Williams received his D.V.M. degree from Colorado State University in 1993. He completed a medical and surgical internship at the University of Missouri in 1994 and a three-year surgical residency in 1997. He remained as faculty at the University of Missouri until 1998, when he joined Carolina Veterinary Specialists in Greensboro, North Carolina, as the director of surgical services. Dr. Williams has been involved with numerous research projects addressing orthopedic conditions, especially with respect to gait analysis, and was a 1998 recipient of the Mark Bloomberg Memorial Research Award from the Veterinary Orthopedic Society. His professional interests include arthroscopic surgery, sports medicine, rehabilitation and general orthopedics. Dr. Williams is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons and the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation. He is one of a select few individuals board certified in both specialty colleges. His personal interests include spending time with his wife and son, playing sports, and sailing.
Dr. Brett Gulledge
Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Surgeons
Dr. Brett Gulledge is a North Carolina native and grew up enjoying beaches just south of Wilmington. He received his degree in veterinary medicine from the North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2013. Following graduation, he moved to Athens, Georgia where he completed a one year internship in small animal medicine and surgery and a three year residency in small animal surgery at the University of Georgia. His clinical interests include oncologic and reconstructive surgery, although he enjoys a diversity of soft tissue, orthopedic and neurologic surgery.
Dr. Zack Pfeffer
Practice Limited to Surgery
Dr. Zack Pfeffer is an Illinois native and graduated from the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine in 2014. He completed a rotating internship in small animal surgery and medicine at Iowa State University and a surgical internship at Dallas Veterinary Surgical Center before completing a residency in small animal surgery at Summit Veterinary Referral Center in Tacoma, Washington. He has a strong interest in orthopedics but loves all aspects of surgery. In his free time, he enjoys personal fitness, outdoor recreation, and performing music.
Dr. Jose Guevara
Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Surgeons
Dr. Guevara was born and raised outside of Washington, DC, in the Maryland suburbs. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science at Stanford University in California. Before pursuing a career in veterinary medicine, Dr. Guevara gained a love for animals volunteering at a local ASPCA clinic. He then returned back east, where he earned his veterinary degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine in Philadelphia, PA. After earning his doctorate, Dr. Guevara completed a rotating internship at the Animal Medical Center in New York, NY and a surgical internship at the Dallas Veterinary Surgical Center in Dallas, TX. From there he went to the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine in Knoxville, TN, where he stayed for an Orthopedic Fellowship, as well as a residency in small animal surgery.
Special interests of Dr. Guevara include orthopedics, minimally invasive surgery, wound management, 3D printing of surgical models, and physical rehabilitation.
Outside of the hospital, Dr. Guevara enjoys spending time with his wife, boys, and their many dogs and cats. He enjoys traveling, mountain biking, hiking, snowboarding, yoga, and going to the beach.
Anesthesia
Dr. Daniel T. Boruta
Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Anesthesia & Analgesia
Dr. Daniel Boruta received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine where he also earned two undergraduate degrees in zoology and Animal Science. He completed an anesthesia residency at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine and has been a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia since 2013.
Dr. Boruta is a board-certified veterinary anesthesiologist that has spent the last decade working in both academic teaching and private practice settings. His clinical interest include locoregional techniques and neuromuscular blockade. Outside of work he loves fishing and surfing.
Emergency Care
Dr. Alicia Burkett
Dr. Burkett graduated from Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine in 2011. She graduated “With Distinction” Honors and was a member of the Phi Zeta Honors Society of Veterinary Medicine. Following graduation, she completed a one-year internship in small animal medicine and surgery at the Northeast Indiana Veterinary Emergency and Specialty Hospital in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Dr. Burkett enjoys all aspects of veterinary medicine, but her primary interests are emergency and critical care. She is originally from Indiana, where most of her immediate family resides. Dr. Burkett and her husband Christopher, share their home with four dogs and four cats. They are excited to explore the coastal region of North Carolina while learning new skills such as surfing, kayaking and boating. She joined the emergency and critical care team here at Animal Emergency & Trauma Hospital in the summer of 2012.
Dr. Kara Duffy
Dr. Duffy grew up in New Jersey and obtained a bachelors degree in biology from Lafayette College. She studied veterinary medicine at Ross University in St. Kitts, and completed her clinical year at NC State University. Dr. Duffy worked full time in small animal general practice for 12 years and did emergency relief work at ECVR for several years before joining the team full time in September 2022. She lives in Wilmington with her husband, 2 dogs, and 2 cats, and enjoys reading, spending time outdoors, and cooking in her spare time..
Dr. Kimberly Toombs
Dr. Toombs graduated Summa Cum Laude from North Carolina State University in 2000 with a BS in Biological Sciences. She earned her DVM degree from Louisiana State University in 2005. Upon graduation, Dr. Toombs completed a one-year small animal medicine and surgery internship in Charlotte, NC. She found her passion for emergency medicine during her internship. Dr. Toombs has practiced in both general practice and emergency medicine with most of her career spent in emergency medicine. Her clinical interests are emergency medicine and surgery, with special interest in endocrine and metabolic disorders as well as auto-immune blood disorders.
Dr. Toombs joined Animal Emergency and Trauma Hospital in June of 2015. Dr. Toombs is a North Carolina native and has always loved the beach; Wilmington is the perfect place for her. Dr. Toombs has two cats and two dogs and loves spending time with them and her family. She enjoys reading and spending as much time on the beach as possible.
Dr. Emily Garrett
Dr. Garrett graduated from Texas Tech University in 2010 with a BS in Clinical Laboratory Science and then went on to graduate from the Royal Veterinary College in London, England. After school, she returned to Texas for an equine internship in San Antonio. After completing her internship, she was in mixed animal practice for a while before moving to Boone, NC to practice small animal emergency medicine exclusively. In December 2018, she moved to Wilmington and began working at the Animal Emergency and Trauma Hospital. In her spare time she loves to ride motorcycles and her horse Thor, paint, and spend time with her dogs.
Dr. Christina Landers
Dr. Landers graduated cum laude from Georgia Southern University in 2014 with a B.S. in biology. She then studied at St. George’s University School of Veterinary Medicine and graduated in 2018. She completed a rotating internship at VCA VREC/Shoreline in Connecticut where she then stayed on as an emergency veterinarian. Dr. Landers then moved to Wilmington, North Carolina with her dog and cat to continue her passion with emergency medicine. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her friends and family and enjoying the beauty of Wilmington.
Dr. Eliza Ruffner
Dr. Ruffner grew up in Wilmington and graduated with a B.A. In Communications and a B.S. in Biology from N.C. State University before receiving her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Tennessee in 2013. She spent 7 wonderful years in small animal general practice in Surf City, N.C. before pursing a full-time career in small animal emergency. Dr. Ruffner has also been the district representative for the North Carolina Veterinary Medical Association for 6 years and was awarded Young Veterinarian of the Year in 2019 by the organization. In her spare time, Dr. Ruffner enjoys traveling, relaxing by the water, and spending time with her husband, Stephen, and their pets.
Dr. Gina Scarzella
Dr. Scarzella is a graduate of Randolph-Macon Woman’s College in Lynchburg, VA and completed veterinary school at St. Matthew’s University on Grand Cayman in 2011. She started her veterinary career in equine medicine and transitioned to small animal medicine in 2014. After enjoying her time in small animal general practice, she decided to take on the challenge of emergency medicine and supporting clients during difficult times.
Her passion for supporting the veterinary team and their wellness along with the human-animal bond, led her to complete The Veterinary Human Support Certificate Program at the University of Tennessee.
She and her husband David love the outdoors and spending time with friends, family, and their herd of animals, which keep them laughing.
Dr. Marisa Altieri
Bio coming soon
Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation
Hospital Administrator
Gary W. Walker, Hospital Administrator
Gary spent most of his healthcare operations career in human medicine. His experience includes overseeing operations in Post Acute Long Term Care, Subacute Rehab and Nursing, Assisted Living, as well as Hospice and Home Health. Gary has worked at a facility level in Long Term Care and during his time with Hospice and Home Health, he worked as the Vice President of Operations for 3 of the largest providers in the United States. During that time, he led the operations of healthcare portfolios of up to 4400 hospice patients, and during his hospice career, he oversaw operations within 33 different states of the US. Gary moved to Wilmington back in June of 2013 from Denver, CO, and due to his career as a VP in hospice, found himself traveling much of the time out of state and being away from home. Gary joined the team at Eastern Carolina Veterinary Referral in July 2022, as he wanted to focus on spending more time in Wilmington while continuing to work in healthcare operations.
Gary is a Veteran and served as a combat flight medic in the Nebraska National Guard with the 24th Medical Air Ambulance Company. His Unit was the first National Guard Air Ambulance Company activated during Desert Shield/Desert Storm as they provided medivac services to the Coalition forces during the initial preparations to liberate Kuwait. Once the offensive forces began their air campaign, his Unit Supported General Schwarzkopf’s flanking maneuver from the west which was described as the “Hail Mary Pass”. During this time Gary provided emergency medical assistance to our soldiers as well as to enemy soldiers in Iraq and Saudi Arabia.
On his time away from work, Gary enjoys the outdoors. Much of his time is spent on the water, boating and fishing, or out in the woods working on food plots and hunting big game. He and his wife, Jenny, have two dogs, who keep them busy at home. Gary has two sons and four grandchildren who live in Minnesota who are his pride and joy.
Client Care Service
DeAnna Whitley, RVT
Clinical Supervisor,
Specialty Services
Summer Strong
Clinical Supervisor,
Emergency Services
Dawn McKelvey, RVT
Inventory Manager
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Hours
Emergency Services
Open 24/7, 365 days/year
Specialty Services
M-F 8 am - 5 pm
Closed Sat/Sun
Carolina Canine Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation Group
M-F 8 am - 5 pm
Closed Sat/Sun
Contact Us
Phone | (910) 790-1070
Fax | (910) 790-9669
Our Location
50 Greenville Ave
Wilmington, NC 28403
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