Dr. Brian Collins has worked at Colonial Veterinary Hospital since 1997. He grew up on a farm and managed a humane society before pursuing a degree in veterinary medicine from the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Collins' professional interests lie in general life stage medicine. Dr. Collins is a past board member of the Tompkins County SPCA and has worked with the animal shelter to develop a pediatric spay and neuter program as well as providing sterilization services to adult cats and dogs awaiting adoption. In 2004 he performed 286 spays and neuters for the SPCA.

Alain Giroux, DVM
Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Radiologists

Dr. Giroux graduated from the College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Montreal in 1995. Since completion of his residency at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine in 2000, Dr. Giroux has served as a Board-Certified Radiologist performing radiology, ultrasounds, and MRI consultations. Also, he led and participated in numerous ultrasound labs and lectures for veterinarians, in upstate New York and in major veterinary conferences. Dr. Giroux lives in Ithaca, NY with his two children.

Leni Kaplan, DVM

Dr. Leni Kaplan recently joined our emergency services team. She was raised in the New York City area and earned her veterinary degree from Colorado State University in 2000. After graduating from veterinary school, she practiced in Rochester, New York where she was an active member of the regional veterinary association, including being President from 2003-2004. Her professional passion and experience is in emergency medicine/critical care and pain management.

Kelly Lyboldt, DVM

Dr. Lyboldt received her DVM degree from Cornell University in May 2005. She joined the Colonial Veterinary Hospital team as an associate veterinarian in July 2005. With professional interests in small animal soft tissue and orthopedic surgery, Dr. Lyboldt will be practicing general veterinary medicine and surgery. Outside the veterinary hospital, she enjoys cycling, mountain biking, running, skiing, drawing and spending time with her German Shorthaired Pointer, Finnegan.

Lin McGonagle, MSPT, LVT

Lin McGonagle, MSPT, LVT holds a master's degree in physical therapy and is also a licensed veterinary technician. She has extensive experience in the human field of physical therapy but is also one of the precious few people in the veterinary community to have studied physical therapy specifically in animals in the clinical setting. Your primary care veterinarian can also evaluate your pet's current pain management plan and determine if any testing might be necessary prior to starting physical therapy.

Heather Murley, DVM Veterinary Acupuncture

Dr. Heather Murley is a recent and welcome addition to our practice. Dr. Murley, a 1999 graduate of Michigan State University practices veterinary acupuncture. She completed the course in Veterinary Medical Acupuncture given at Colorado State University in 2002 and was a teaching assistant in the course in 2003. She also enjoys working with humane shelters and is a member of the Shelter Outreach Service (SOS) spay/neuter team. She is also a current Board Member of the Schuyler County Humane Society.

J. Thomas Ross, DVM
Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Surgeons

Dr. J. Thomas Ross, the owner of Colonial Veterinary Hospital, joined the practice in August 1990 after serving as an intern and surgical resident at the Animal Medical Center in New York City. During his four years there, he developed special interests in orthopedic, reconstructive, oncologic, and neurosurgery. He obtained his veterinary degree from the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1986, and became board certified in veterinary surgery in February 1993. Dr. Ross limits his practice to the diagnosis and treatment of surgical diseases. He also offers minimally invasive arthroscopic joint surgery and other endoscopic procedures.

Catherine Hegarty Ross, DVM

Dr. Catherine Hegarty joined Colonial Veterinary Hospital after graduating from the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1997. In addition to providing primary care to our general practice patients, she is also passionate about improving the level of care we offer in her role as the Director of the General Practice. She has special interests in general practice preventative medicine, feline medicine, dentistry, and oncology.

Dr. George Ross, DVM
Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Surgeons

Dr. George Ross received his DVM and Masters degrees from Kansas State University. He was an Associate Professor of Small Animal Surgery at Cornell until he founded our practice. Dr. Ross has retired from surgical practice but provides continues to provide consultant services to our veterinarians.

Susan R. Yanoff, DVM
Diplomate, American Board of Veterinary Surgeons
Diplomate, American Board of Veterinary Practitioners

Dr. Yanoff graduated from Cornell University in 1980. After three years in private practice, she joined the U.S. Army Veterinary Corps. While in the Army Dr. Yanoff completed a small animal surgery residency and became board certified by the American College of Veterinary Surgeons and the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners. In June 2004, Dr. Yanoff retired from the Army, at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, after almost 21 years of service. She spent a year working on a horse farm in Idaho before joining Colonial Veterinary Hospital.
Dr. Yanoff's family includes a 9-year-old golden retriever named Dusty, a new beagle puppy named Charm and an Arabian horse named Jack.