MEET THE STAFF AT VET AT THE BARN

While living in Italy, Beverly studied homeopathy and herbal medicine. She worked at Citta' della Domenica Zoo as a zoo veterinarian for two years. Bev lived on a small farm raising dairy goats. Other pets and visitors in the house included: baboons, pigs, dogs, cats, ducks, chickens, turkeys, and geese. After living in Italy for twelve years Beverly returned home to New York. For 3 1/2 years Bev worked for a holistic vet in Westchester County, NY. During this period she studied acupuncture through the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society. In 1993 she opened the Vet at the Barn, Rockland County's first holistic Vet Center. Dr. Cappel is a frequent lecturer in the

New York/Tri-State and has also written the forward to the book: "The Encyclopedia of Natural Pet Care", by C.J. Puotinen. She has also worked as a consultant for Earl Mindell's: "Nutrition & Health for Dogs" (Visit our Barn Bookstore for more information about the books.)

2002 has been a very exciting year at The Vet at the Barn!

On May 6th we opened a brand new, state-of-the-art veterinary hospital that has to be seen to be believed!

Perhaps the biggest news of the year occured on February 24, when Beverly became a mother to a beautiful baby boy named Ben. Bev's pets at home include:
DOGS: Blaze (Australian Shepherd), Jackie (Terrier mix) AND Nugget (Pit Bull)
CATS: Itten, Partly, Swishie, Bandit and Weeble
GOATS: 5 Nubians and 3 Dwarfs
5 TURKEYS
BIRDS: Four Parakeets, Two Conures, Two Love Birds
FISH: Tropical Fish
CHICKENS: 6 Chickens

Dr. Gloria Binkowski has been on the staff at Vet at the Barn since 2000. Gloria’s special interests include acupuncture, nutrition, and cats. Gloria came to the Vet at the Barn with several years’ experience in a feline only practice and she also was chief veterinarian in a large urban pound/hospital in NJ. In veterinary school, at the University of Pennsylvania, by taking legal action against the school, Gloria was instrumental in effecting precedent-setting changes in the school’s curriculum so that students would no longer be forced to harm or kill

animals in the course of their veterinary training. Because of the example set at the University of Pennsylvania, other veterinary schools in the United States were compelled to honor student requests for nonviolent alternatives.

Gloria shares her time and home in NJ with some of the many once homeless animals who have crossed her path over the years

BEATRICE EHRSAM, DVM (aka Dr. Bea)
Cornell University, NY state college of veterinary medicine, 1990
International Veterinary Acupunture Society (IVAS), 1992
Veterinary Orthopedic Manipulation, (VOM), 2002

Dr. Ehrsam has extensive knowledge in veterinary acupunture, veterinary orthopedic manipulation, chinese and western herbs, nutraceuticals and nutritional supplements, glandular therapy, and alternative cancer therapies. She practices holistic veterinary medicine with compassion and loving kindness, integrating Eastern and Western modalities to bring forth the best of both worlds. She worked for Dr. Allen Schoen for 8 years, and has worked with Dr. Cappel since 1995.

At home in New Paltz, NY. Dr. Bea resides with 2 fantastic felines (Abyssinians) one soulgazing canine (a mixed breed in matching color), and one human soulmate (her loving husband.)

Dr. Bea's interests include dancing, hiking, biking and cross-country skiing. She also practices QiGong, yoga and meditation.

Intention:
"It is my hope always to enhance optimum health and loving relationships between people and animals and the earth, and to inspire more love, light and peace in the world." Dr. Bea Ehrsam

Dr. Sheila Lounsberry graduated Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1989. She brings to Vet at The Barn 18 years of experience practicing veterinary medicine. In addition to conventional veterinary medicine, she has a strong interest in complementary medicine. She has completed the Options for Animals Veterinary Chiropractic Course and is a certified veterinary acupuncturist by I.V.A.S. Dr. Lounsberry has also expanded her knowledge to include Chinese medicine, herbology, ozone therapy and food therapy. She offers herbal evaluations, consultations relating to acupuncture, chiropractic, nutrition and degenerative diseases, in addition to, conventional veterinary medicine.

Dr. Lounsberry lives is NJ with her husband, two cats, one dog and two horses.

Dr. Ruskin graduated from the Cornell University School of Veterinary Medicine in 1998 and has been practicing in New York Stare since that time. After having gained seven years experience at practices which focused on conventional veterinary medicine, Dr. Ruskin felt it was important to gain experience in complimentary medicine modalities. So in April 2005 she joined the Vet at The Barn Family. By learning complimentary medicine Dr. Ruskin seeks to be able to offer more treatment options and hence better quality of life for her patients.

In her spare time Dr. Ruskin enjoys dancing and flower gardening. she is blessed with a wonderful husband, two delightful kitties named Princess and Daddy's Girl, as well as, a sweet little dog named Suha.

Dr. Levin-Gichon owns two clinics in Israel in the city of Holon. The clinics specialize in general practice and surgery of small animals. Dr. Levin-Gichon's clinic devotes much effort to rescuing stray cats and homeless dogs.

Dr. Levin-Gichon has extensive experience with internal medicine, dermatology and general surgery. She enjoys the combination between traditional medicine and the holistic alternative approach.

Dr. Levin-Gichon is the mother of 4 wonderful kids, ages 14, 11, and 8 year old twins. While not working, she enjoys the companionship of a beautiful Golden Retriever and an adorable siamese cat, which came along with the family from Israel.

In 2002, Galit completed a course in veterinary orthopedic manipulation. She became a certified veterinary acupuncturist through I.V.A.S. in 2003.
Whenever she has free time, Dr. Levin-Gichon enjoys hiking, skiing, traveling around the world, reading and scuba diving.

"My childhood's dream was always to become a Veterinarian, and I am grateful for having my dream come true by combining work with my love for animals." –Dr. Galit Levin-Gichon

Danielle has had a love for animals her entire life– after all she was horseback riding before she was able to walk! Though she has worked in other fields Danielle's love for animals led her to the Vet at the Barn.
She currently lives with her lad/pit Kory, pionus parrot Mackey, parakeet Buddy and her other half Jim.

Danielle has completed her certification in canine rehabilitation through the University of Tennessee.

Terry has been involved with animals her entire life. If not working with animals at the fairs while growing up, she was tending to her turkey, rabbits and racoons. Now Terry has dedicated herself to working the last six years for your pets.

What began as a part time job soon became a full time receptionist position. I've always been an animal lover and really enjoy working at The Vet at The Barn. The Staff, Clients and patients are all a pleasure.

When not working, I try to relax at home with my husband Tom, kids Kevin and Nicolette, dog Bear and cats, Felix and newest addition Duncan, who was of course acquired from The Vet at The Barn!

WHY SHE'S HERE:
The Vet at the Barn just seemed like the right place for me, and I've been here since 1996.

WHEN I'M NOT AT THE BARN:
I am a "Suzuki method" violin teacher and a member of a synchro swim team.

HOME:
I have children, dogs and cats...three of each!

Sossa Starshine has been parlaying her lifelong love for all animals into a career as a veterinary technician for over 3 years. In addition to working with them, she maintains a small menagerie of domestic and exotic creatures at home and participates in wildlife related charitable and extracurricular activities. She is joined at home by her marmalade main coon, Gavin, berwhynn, the Russian blue, Zell, the Bearded Dragon, Sparx, the water dragon, Hyde, the argentianian ornate pac man frog, Hendryx, the king crab and his hermit underlings and her three baby emperor scorpions.

Hi, my name is Annie, one of the receptionists at Vet at The Barn. Previously, I have worked at another veterinarypractice and ended upbeing adopted by 3 adorable cats, Mimi, Shy and Sneaky. Over the years I've learned to work with animals and have enjoyed their company. Working at Vet at The Barn has given me the opportunity to learn more about animals and I've had the pleasure of seeing and working with exotic animals as well.

I have worked in veterinary practices for 10 years now. I had thought I had learned everything there was to know until I joined The Vet at The Barn. I have learned and continue to learn alternative ways to treat what I once thought were hopeless ailments that animals endure; especially in areas where conventional medicine doesn’t offer treatment options. I love my new family at The Vet at The Barn. I also have 17 years of experience with pet ferrets. I have been involved with rescue, adoption and fostering of ferrets. I have assisted many ferrets and their new owners acclimate to one another. It is a rewarding experience to help animals and their owners

Tara is a recent graduate of the North Jersey Consortium for Veterinary Technology and has passed the national examination for veterinary technician. She decided to switch careers from a human ultrasound technician because of her lifelong love for animals. She enjoys spending time with her husband, family and 2 Basset Hounds, Arthur and Homer, 4 cats, Snow, Simon, Delilah and Trina, and 2 mice, Dora and Brain. “My favorite part of my new career is the nursing care that I can provide to my patients. I feel like I’m doing something that counts.” Future plans may eventually include veterinary school. “I am looking forward to a lifelong adventure in the field of veterinary medicine. Let’s just see where this takes me.”

After graduating from Montclair State University with a B.A. in English Rebecca spent time in the corporate world for several years. Her dissatisfaction with that lifestyle led her to reconsider her career goals and follow her love for animals instead. Rebecca’s goal of becoming a zoo keeper led her to join the VATB family while she goes back to school for a degree in zoology. She has had animals her entire life, but right now she only has a two year old ferret, Dina. As soon as she is able to move to a place that is more pet friendly, she plans to increase her animal family. She loves all the friends she has made here at VATB, both human and animal, and can’t wait to become friends with everyone else!

After working at the Hi-Tor Animal Care Center for many years, I decided to take Dr. Cappel's offer to come work at The Vet at the Barn. I love working with the clients and being part of offering them the best quality of pet care possible for their pets. The Doctors here are great and so is the rest of the staff. I especially love working with the different animals and learning as much as I can. I am looking foward to many more years of fun, here at The Vet at the Barn.