24/7 EMERGENCY SERVICE

Dr. Barnes was born and raised in Toronto and completed his BScH in Life Sciences at Queen’s University before obtaining his veterinary degree at the University of Glasgow in Scotland.

Dr. Bernyk completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Guelph and attended veterinary school at Massey University in New Zealand. In her time overseas she has emphasized emergency medicine as her passion through involvement in the Massey University Teaching Hospital. She started her career in rural general practice in 2019 where she provided after hours emergency coverage for large and small animals. She quickly transferred to emergency medicine in 2020 where she fell in love with the fast-paced environment and varied caseload. Since that time she has been involved in emergency medicine in Ontario and various referral hospitals across Canada. Her academic interests include emergency stabilization, critical care and surgery.

Dr. Irene Berkov completed her undergraduate degree in Animal Science at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel. She then obtained her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph in 2022. Following graduation, Dr. Berkov completed a Rotating Internship in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery at the Toronto Veterinary Emergency and Referral Hospital in 2023. During her internship, she discovered her passion towards emergency medicine and has since pursued a career as a full-time emergency clinician. Her special professional interest include surgery, autoimmune and endocrine disorders, as well as neurological diseases. Dr. Berkov considers pet parents to be integral members of the medical care team and strives to build trusting and supportive relationships with her patients’ family. She takes the time to explain complex medical conditions and treatment options in a clear and compassionate manner, ensuring that pet owners feel informed and supported throughout stressful times.

Dr. Danielle Fairfield graduated with her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree at the Ontario Veterinary College in 2022. She remained in Ontario to complete a Small Animal Medicine and Surgery Rotating Internship. Following this, she moved to St. John’s, Newfoundland, to obtain additional training and mentorship in both surgery and emergency. Dr. Fairfield has cherished this enriching education and was excited to return home to Ontario to continue her career in Emergency Medicine and Surgery. Dr. Fairfield receives fulfillment in treating a wide variety of emergency conditions. Her special interests include wound management, surgery, cardiorespiratory conditions, endocrinopathies, locoregional anesthesia and pain management. She has two research publications focused on minimally invasive surgery and has also participated in research projects focused on locoregional anesthesia. Dr. Fairfield understands that bringing a pet through the ER is a highly stressful time for pet owners. She values the importance of a strong veterinarian-patient-client relationship and prioritizes a mutually trusting team-based approach with pet owners in order to provide effective individualized care for each pet.

Dr. Gillis completed her Bachelor of Science at Acadia University in Wolfville, Nova Scotia in 2013 prior to returning to her home province, Prince Edward Island, for the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program at the Atlantic Veterinary College. After finishing her DVM degree in 2018, she moved to Calgary, Alberta to complete a Small Animal Rotating Internship. During her internship, she developed an enthusiasm for emergency medicine and has been working as an emergency veterinarian in Newmarket, Ontario for the past four years. She is very excited to continue building her skill set as she starts her next chapter at King Animal Hospital. Dr. Gillis’ professional interests include surgery, radiology, cytology, toxicology and client communication.

Dr. Nicole Lewis graduated from the Ontario Veterinary College in 2020. She stayed at OVC to complete a small animal medicine and surgery internship. After her internship, she moved with her partner to Philadelphia where she currently practices as an emergency veterinarian. She is looking forward to moving back home and joining the team at King Animal Hospital. Her professional interests include toxicities, soft tissue surgery, and client education. She is fear free certified and is passionate about minimizing stress for her patients. In her spare time she enjoys horseback riding, and spending time with her partner and their 3 cats.

Dr. Cara Loney earned her Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery with commendation from the University of Glasgow School of Veterinary Medicine in 2022. During her studies, she received the Professor Ian McIntyre Prize for outstanding performance and achieving the highest-class rank in clinical skills. Prior to that, Dr. Loney completed her Bachelor of Science in Zoology with honors at Laurentian University in 2015. Born and raised in Northern Ontario, Dr. Loney developed an interest in emergency medicine during her final year of veterinary school, taking extra rotations for overnight emergency experience. From 2022 to 2024, she worked in small animal general practice with a focus on surgery and preventative medicine. During this time, she further developed her love for emergency medicine by providing emergency care in an area with limited access to referral hospitals. Dr. Loney is passionate about emergency care and surgery, continuously striving to deliver the highest standard of care to her patients.

Dr. Courtney Lun is an emergency veterinarian with a passion for providing exceptional care to small animals. Graduating from the University of Guelph with a Bachelors of Science degree in 2015 and a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the Ontario Veterinary College in 2019, Dr. Lun has honed her skills through years of practice in both emergency and general practice clinics. With a keen interest in critical care and surgery, Dr. Lun thrives in high-pressure situations, ensuring that every patient receives the urgent care they need.

Dr. Melissa Prickaerts was born and raised in Aurora, Ontario, and is thrilled to return home to serve her community as an emergency veterinarian. She completed her Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry at the University of Waterloo in 2017, followed by a Master of Science in Medical Biophysics from the University of Toronto in 2019. Dr. Prickaerts earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the Ontario Veterinary College at the University of Guelph in 2023, where she specialized in small animal medicine. Following graduation, Dr. Prickaerts further honed her skills by completing a small animal rotating internship at Tufts Veterinary Emergency Treatment and Specialties in Eastern Massachusetts.

Dr. Arash Salehian (Dr.Sal) is a dedicated veterinary professional with a passion for emergency and critical care medicine. Originally from Iran, Arash embarked on a journey to Canada in 2010, determined to build a new life from the ground up. After completing his veterinary medicine studies in his home country, he pursued his dream of becoming a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) at Ross University with Honor. Further enhancing his skills, Arash completed a rigorous training program at the University of Wisconsin, focusing on emergency care. Since 2019, Dr.Sal has been dedicated to emergency medicine, showcasing his expertise as an ER DVM. With over 300 successful emergency surgeries under his belt, he has demonstrated a remarkable aptitude for handling critical cases with precision and care. His passion lies in emergency surgeries, trauma management, stabilizing critical patients, and internal medicine.