The core of any veterinary practice is the doctors who work there. The level of medicine, diligence of care and happiness of the clients and staff is ensured by the respect that these individuals have for their craft. Our veterinarians are members of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the American Animal Hospital Association, and the Emergency and Critical Care Association. Extensive continuing education and a comprehensive medical library ensure that all of our staff are up-to-date on the latest in emergency and critical care.

Emergency Doctors

Dr. David Rouse
Chief of Staff

Dr. Rouse received his veterinary degree from Italy's prestigious University of Perugia in 1981. He joined The Hope Center in 1992, after 10 years of primary care practice in Vienna and North Carolina. He concentrates on emergency and critical care medicine, with an emphasis on radiology and surgery.

Dr. Rouse lives in South Riding, Virginia with his wife, son and daughter.

Dr. Michele Angel
Assistant Chief of Staff

Dr. Angel is a 1998 graduate of the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, and joined The Hope Center in February of 2000. Her veterinary interests lie in pain management, diagnostic imaging, trauma management and surgical emergencies. In addition to her clinic duties, she also serves at the Assistant Chief of Staff. Outside of the clinic, Dr. Angel enjoys hiking in the Shenandoah, jogging near her home in Georgetown, reading, and enjoying exotic foods.

Dr. Scott Moore

Dr. Moore graduated with honors from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine in 1992. After spending a year in Kenya studying wildlife management and biology, he completed an internship in small animal medicine and surgery at the Friendship Hospital for animals in Washington, D.C. Dr. Moore joined The Hope Center in March of 1995.

Dr. Laurie Miller

Dr. Laurie Miller grew up in Vienna and received her bachelor's degree at Virginia Tech in the fall of 1997. She then went on to pursue her dream of becoming a veterinarian and graduated from Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine in 2002. Her interest in emergency medicine started while working as an emergency surgery technician during veterinary school. After graduation she returned to Northern Virginia working in a private practice in McLean, Virginia for a year and a half before joining The Hope Center. She and her husband share a home with a dog and two cats.

Dr. Karena Joung

Dr. Karena Joung received her veterinary degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 2003. Her interest in Emergency Veterinary Medicine was cultivated during her internship at Michigan State University where she received recognition as Intern of the Year. Away for five years, Dr. Joung is delighted to be back home in the D.C. area, where she spends spare time with her husband, dog, and three cats.

Dr. Cady Johnston

Dr. Johnston began her education at Virginia Tech and stayed in Blacksburg to graduate from the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine in 2004. After completing vet school, Dr. Johnston participated in a one-year rotating internship of small animal medicine and surgery at Southpaws Veterinary Referral Center. It was during her internship that she developed a strong interest for emergency medicine. Her four legged friends include 2 cats and 3 dogs.

Internal Medicine

Dr. Heidi Allen

Dr. Allen graduated in 1996 from the Virginia Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, and completed her internship and residency at the Animal Medical Center in New York City. Dr Allen practiced internal medicine at Affiliated Veterinary Specialist in Florida before joining the staff of The Hope Center. Dr. Allen is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.

Dr. Angie Gasser

Dr. Gasser joined the Internal Medicine Department in August of 2005. Dr. Gasser comes to us from Garden State Veterinary Specialists in New Jersey. She is a 1999 graduate of North Carolina State University, and she completed her internship and residency at the University of Pennsylvania.

Dr. Vera Maeckelbergh

Dr. Maeckelbergh is a 2004 graduate of Louisiana State University’s School of Veterinary Medicine. She completed her internship at the Animal Medical Center in New York City and her residency training in internal medicine at Louisiana State University. She joined the internal medicine department at the Hope Center in September of 2007.

Ophthalmology

Dr. Brady Beale

Dr. Brady Beale joins The Hope Center after completing a 3-year residency in comparative ophthalmology at North Carolina State University. Prior to that, she received her veterinary degree from the University of Pennsylvania and attended Dartmouth College for her undergraduate studies. Dr Beale has also interned at numerous animal care facilities including the New England Aquarium and Baltimore Zoo.

Oncology

Dr. Elsa Beck

Dr. Beck joined The Hope Center in 2007 after a prestigious career in the field of Veterinary Oncology. Double-Boarded in Veterinary Oncology and Radiation Therapy, Dr. Beck has worked with a number of academic and private institutions providing her expertise and guidance. Dr. Beck’s major focus has been on developing cutting edge cancer treatments in pets that could be rapidly translated into human treatments. She believes in a multidiscipline approach, combining the best combinations of surgery, chemotherapy, radiation and other cancer treatments, to provide the best possible care, while avoiding side effects, and making the process as pleasant as possible for pets and their owners.

Interns

The Hope Center participates in the American Association of Veterinary Clinicians’ Veterinary Internship and Residency Matching Program. The Matching program facilitates a pairing between newly graduated veterinarians and hospitals nationwide. After interviews with The Hope Center and other hospitals, the interns are asked to rank them in order of preference. Likewise, the clinics will rank prospective interns. The data is returned to the matching program, which pairs the doctors with their selected facility.

At The Hope Center, interns rotate though every department in order to receive a year of on-the-job training under the guidance of more-experienced doctors and board-certified specialists.

Dr. Leigh Farrington

Dr. Farrington came to The Hope Center from Cornell University after spending much of her childhood in central Texas. She enjoys small animal soft tissue surgery, and hopes to improve her medical knowledge and gain more confidence during her internship. In her spare time, Dr. Farrington loves outdoor activities such as hiking, kayaking, and camping, as well as martial arts.

Dr. Hayley Morse

Dr. Morse grew up in Atlanta, Georgia and went to school at the University of Georgia. During her internship, she hopes to see a wide variety of cases and gain confidence in her physical exam and problem solving skills. Afterward she plans to stay in Northern Virginia going into general practice. She has two cats and one Golden Retriever mix, all of whom she tries to spend as much time with as she can.

Dr. Rebecca Widmer

Dr. Widmer was born and raised in British Columbia, Canada, but went to vet school at Colorado State University. Dr. Widmer hopes to gain experience with cardiology and managing complex, concurrent disease cases while here. When not at work, Dr. Widmer keeps busy with friends and outdoor activities such as swimming, biking, hiking, and traveling. She shares her home with three rather chubby cats.