Meet the Team at Blue Ridge Equine Clinic
Blue Ridge Equine Clinic in Earlysville, VA, houses a veterinary team dedicated to providing a profound love for animals combined with expertise in various specialties to ensure the well-being of your equine companions.
Get to Know Our Earlysville Veterinary Team
Veterinarians
Donovan Dagner, DVM
DVM
Donovan Dagner, DVM, managing partner of Blue Ridge Equine Clinic, grew up on a training farm in New Jersey, where he gained an appreciation for horses and the people who worked with them. He graduated from the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine in 1995 and completed an internship at Apex Veterinary Hospital in North Carolina before joining Blue Ridge Equine Clinic in 1996.
His current interests include dentistry and reproductive services, such as embryo transfer. He provides these services as well as all routine health care to the clients of Blue Ridge Equine Clinic at their farms and the clinic. His wife Anne is also a veterinarian. They live in Crozet with their daughters, Cecelia and Calla. They enjoy hiking, camping, and any excuse to go to the beach.
Steve Trostle, DVM
DVM, ACVS, ACVSMR
Steve Trostle, DVM, ACVS, ACVSMR, was born and raised on a dairy and livestock farm in York, Pennsylvania. He received his DVM from the University of Tennessee in 1990. He completed a surgical residency at the University of Wisconsin, achieving his board certification in surgery in 1996 and Diplomate status in the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation (Equine) in 2013. After a year as a Clinical Instructor in surgery and nuclear medicine at the Marion DuPont Scott Equine Medical Center, Steve returned to Wisconsin to assume a faculty position at the veterinary teaching hospital in 1995.
In 2001, he decided to leave academia and joined the San Diego-based referral practice, San Luis Rey Equine Hospital. In 2004, he returned to the East Coast to join the staff at Blue Ridge Equine Clinic. Steve served on the Board of Directors for the AAEP from 2012 – 2014 and currently sits on various committees and sub-committees. For ACVSMR, Dr. Trostle has served on the Examination Committee (2013-2018) and also sits on the Board of Directors (2018-2022). He and his wife Cheryl, a small animal veterinarian, live in Earlysville with their son, Justin, and their daughter, Kelsey. He enjoys sports, and the family likes all forms of outdoor activities.
Kelly Giunta, VMD
VMD, DACVSMR
Kelly Giunta, VMD, DACVSMR, is originally from southern New Jersey, where she grew up riding hunters and jumpers. Prior to attending veterinary school, she obtained a Master’s degree in Genetics and performed biomedical research. Her passion for horses led her to pursue a veterinary degree at the University of Pennsylvania. Following graduation, she completed an internship at Southwest Equine Medical and Surgical Center in Scottsdale, AZ. Next, Dr. Giunta joined Equine Sports Medicine in Texas, where she focused on sports medicine and lameness and followed the AQHA and NRHA circuits as a horse show veterinarian. She joined Blue Ridge Equine Clinic in 2010. In 2021, Dr. Kelly Giunta received her Diplomate in Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation (equine) from the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation.
Dr. Giunta’s professional interests include lameness, sports medicine, and diagnostic imaging. She also practices acupuncture and completed her training at the Chi Institute in Florida. Her personal interests include travel, hiking, foxhunting, and eventing.
Susanna Charland, DVM
DVM, CVMMP
Susanna Charland, DVM, CVMMP, was raised in Sunshine, Louisiana, immersed in an animal-rich environment. She earned her undergraduate degree at UVA and actively participated in riding and competing with her horse, Hank, during her time there.
Dr. Charland obtained her veterinary degree from Ross University, completing her clinical year at UC Davis. Following her education, she pursued an equine internship at Ocean State Equine Associates in Rhode Island, eventually joining Blue Ridge Equine Clinic.
Charland’s professional focus spans emergency care, preventative medicine, and reproduction. Outside work, she cherishes moments with her husband Lucien and her dog Beast, engaging in outdoor activities and cooking.
Julia Hecking, DVM
DVM, CVA
Julia Hecking, DVM, CVA, is originally from Richmond, VA, but has lived and worked in the Valley for many years at a busy breeding farm. She completed her undergraduate studies at Virginia Tech and then received her DVM from the University of Minnesota. After graduation, she completed an equine internship at Blue Ridge Equine Clinic. After finishing her internship, she was thrilled to come work in the Valley and is currently working part-time. She enjoys working on a variety of breeds and disciplines of all different levels.
Her special interests include reproductive work, lameness/sports medicine, dentistry, and preventative medicine. She is a certified veterinary acupuncturist and completed her training at the Chi Institute in Florida. She is a member of the AVMA and AAEP and an FEI veterinary delegate in three-day eventing.
Dr. Hecking lives in Lexington, VA, with her partner Drew and his two daughters, along with their fur family: three dogs, two cats, one horse, and a multitude of sheep, goats, and cows. In her free time, Dr. Hecking enjoys eventing her horse Ranon, gardening, traveling, and creating mosaic glass art.
Nikki Roe, DVM
DVM
Dr. Roe is one of our two interns for the year. She received her DVM from Midwestern University in sunny Arizona. She is interested in pursuing equine and companion animal general practice medicine. Her hope is to be able to provide her ambulatory services to horses, dogs and cats alike. She is super excited to be in Virginia where she can hike and explore in her free time.
Molly Goldberg, DVM
DVM
Dr. Molly Goldberg has been a horse girl her whole life, originally growing up on a small standardbred breeding farm. She completed her veterinary education at the University of Georgia. She has a special interest in sports medicine and lameness, as well as geriatric and end of life care for those special older equines.
In her free time, Dr. Goldberg enjoys trail riding with her horses Kid and Hero, as well as baking or knitting under the close supervision of her cat Smudge.
Kamille Cormier, DVM
DVM
Leadership
Stephanie Hicks
Practice Manager
Stephanie has been the Practice Manager at Blue Ridge Equine Clinic since June of 2024. She received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Management from Longwood University. Before joining BREC, Stephanie excelled as the General Manager for a Pet Boarding company. Now she gets to channel her expertise and enthusiasm into managing the dynamic world of equine care, driven by her lifelong love for horses. When Stephanie is not at the clinic, she is caring for her beloved rescue Golden Retriever, Beetle, and adopted Aussie mix, Serbie. She also enjoys spending time with her horse, Kitt Carson, who she used to ride competitively in dressage, but now just rides for fun and relaxation.
Katie Sears, Pharmacy Manager
Pharmacy Technician
Katie is the Pharmacy Manager here at BREC, who started her role in April 2024. She holds a degree in Environmental Science from Mary Washington College and has always been a horse enthusiast. Now, she channels this passion through her position here at BREC and seeing medicine help so many animals. Outside of work, Katie enjoys gardening and spending time with her husband, two children, three horses, and two dogs.
Sabino De Dios Garcia
Facilities Manager
Sabino has been with BREC since 2005, serving as the Facilities Manager. He takes great pleasure in working outdoors, fixing anything that needs repair, and being around the horses. Outside of work, Sabino enjoys fishing and cherishes spending time with his family.
Technicians
Anne Merritt, LVT
Licensed Veterinary Technician
Anne Merritt, LVT, an Indiana native, developed a passion for animals early on. Pursuing Animal Sciences at Purdue University, she joined the equestrian team and Polo club, discovering a love for eventing. Post-graduation, she worked with Ossabaw Swine, later deciding to pursue a veterinary technology degree.
Blue Ridge Equine Clinic caught her attention, leading to an externship and a move to Virginia. After a year in northern Virginia, she joined BREC’s Valley division, balancing work with riding in the scenic Shenandoah Valley. Currently based at the Earlysville Hospital, she enjoys hiking with her dog.
Oli Billcheck, LVT
Licensed Veterinary Technician
Bio Coming Soon!
Veterinary Assistants
Shay Lynn Paddie
Veterinary Assistant
Bio Coming Soon!
Brooke Sigrist
Veterinary Assistant & Customer Service Representative
Brooke grew up in the Valley and started her career in small animal clinics. She joined Blue Ridge Equine Clinic in 2019 as a customer service representative. As her knowledge of equine medicine increased, Brooke expanded her role and started working as an assistant.
Kat Perry
Veterinary Assistant
Kat grew up in Earlysville and started riding at a summer camp when she was 8. This quickly spiraled into spending seven days a week at the barn and competing with the local hunters whenever possible. She went on to ride on the IHSA team at the College of Charleston and has since worked for hunter/jumper and Eventing trainers of all levels and, most recently, on a guest ranch in Wyoming.
Her interest in Equine Medicine increased as she experienced more of the industry. She loves sharing her passion for equine welfare with her hometown. Kat loves to hike, be outside, and spend time with her Thoroughbred, Flynn, and dog, Tucker.
Sarah Mills
Veterinary Assistant
Sarah grew up in Earlysville and was the type to become obsessed with every animal she met. She rode sporadically in her childhood and fell in love with horses for their intelligence and the sense of calm she felt around them. She’s always felt passionately about animal welfare and conservation, which led her to pursue a degree in Marine Biology and Ecology from the University of Miami.
In her time in the veterinary field, she has worked in several different places, such as Miami, Seattle, and the Galápagos Islands, treating animals of all sizes, and her passion for animal medicine has only continued to grow. Her favorite part of working at BREC is the knowledge she learns from her coworkers’ vast array of expertise and getting to help treat such powerful animals. Outside of work, she enjoys painting, hiking, and spending time with her pets, Timmy and Bella.
Julie Cook
Veterinary Assistant
Client Service Representatives
Dana Kline
Customer Service Representative
Dana grew up in the Valley on a small family farm in Folks Run, Virginia. In 1995, Dana purchased her first horse, Cimmie, which she still has today, along with her other older horse, Hoop Shooter. She spent many years trail riding and pleasure riding both horses.
Dana started working at Blue Ridge Equine in 2001 as a hospital barn assistant. Throughout her years at BREC, Dana has been a veterinary assistant and pharmacy technician and is currently a front desk receptionist. She lives in Crozet with her husband, three-legged dog Joe Bird, Moluccan Cockatoo Louie, and cat Koonie.
Consultants
Lameness and Sports Medicine
Reynolds Cowles, DVM
DVM
Dr. Reynolds Cowles, a 1967 graduate of Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine, founded Blue Ridge Equine Clinic and has been in Albemarle County since graduation. He specializes in lameness in performance and racing horses and actively engages in clinic activities.
With 25 years of deep involvement in the Virginia horse industry, Reynolds serves as Vice President of the American Association of Equine Practitioners and has held various roles, including Treasurer.
His extensive contributions include positions on the advisory boards of the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation and Marion Dupont Scott Equine Center.
Recognized for his achievements, the Virginia Veterinary Medical Association awarded Reynolds the Distinguished Veterinarian Award in 2009. Reynolds, along with his wife Evelyn, resides at Yadkin Farm in Albemarle County, where they share their home with horses and dogs.
Ophthalmology
Catherine Nunnery, DVM
DVM, DACVO
Catherine Nunnery DVM, DACVO, owner of Equine Veterinary Vision, is a board-certified veterinary ophthalmologist available for consultations at BREC and other Maryland and Virginia practices.
Specializing in diagnosing and treating complex eye diseases, Dr. Nunnery offers advanced equipment and expertise. Appointments must be scheduled directly with her at Blue Ridge Equine Clinic.
Dentistry
Jack Easley, DVM
DVM, MS, DABVP, DAVDC
Dr. Jack Easley, DVM, MS, DABVP, DAVDC, founder of Easley Equine Dentistry, is a dual-boarded specialist in Equine Practice and Dentistry. Offering remote support through telemedicine, he interprets clinical signs, x-rays, and intra-oral pictures for complex dental issues.
While based in Lexington, Kentucky, he also travels to Virginia for direct case involvement and manages referred cases at his clinic.
Equine Internal Medicine
Amy Polkes
DVM, DACVIM
Dr. Amy Polkes is a board-certified Equine Internal Medicine specialist who has been consulting with Antech Diagnostics for over 15 years. Dr. Polkes received her Bachelor of Science from Cornell University and her degree in Veterinary Medicine from Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine. She was in private equine practice for several years before continuing her training at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine with a residency in Large Animal Internal Medicine. In 2002, after completing her residency program, she established an Equine internal medicine mobile consulting practice, Equine Internal Medicine and Diagnostic Services, in Maryland and Virginia, as well as providing consultation for Antech Diagnostics on equine medicine cases.
Dr. Polkes has now grown her referral practice to provide mobile equine internal medicine services in Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, and Connecticut. For a list of services provided, please refer to her website, www.equineimed.com.
Dr. Polkes resides in Maryland with her husband (who specializes in small animal internal medicine), her two teenage children, and her three dogs. She enjoys hiking, biking, skiing, and spending time with her family at all of the various sports activities!
Advanced Diagnostic Imaging
Myra Barrett and Kurt Sellberg
DVM, MS DACVR
Myra Barrett, DVM, MS DACVR, and Kurt Sellberg, DVM, MS, DACVR, are both boarded radiologists and the owners of Inside Information Radiology. Inside Information Radiology provides diagnostic imaging telemedicine support (remote reading or interpretation) of various diagnostic imaging modalities for all types, including but not limited to MRI, CT, nuclear medicine, radiology, and ultrasound.
Both Drs. Selberg and Barrett have a vested interest in horses and have published numerous papers on horses and imaging.
Join Our Team
This isn’t just a job for us; it’s our way of life! We’re always looking for outstanding people to join our team. If you’re passionate about equines, people, and fun, we welcome you to browse our current openings and apply.