Dr. Berent graduated from Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2002. She completed a one year rotating small animal internship at the University of Minnesota. She then completed her internal medicine residency at the Matthew J. Ryan Veterinary Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Following her residency she did a fellowship in interventional radiology and interventional endoscopy. Her research interests are in minimally invasive diagnostics and therapeutics including: endourology, laser lithotripsy, hepatic and biliary interventions, and intrahepatic portosystemic shunting.

Joan Coates specializes in neurology and neurosurgery and is Section Head of the Neurology & Neurosurgery Section/Service. 

As a researcher, Joan is a member of the Comparative Neurology Program, which explores inherited developmental and degenerative diseases of the nervous system, and is involved with translational research for treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Her research focus involves the study of canine degenerative myelopathy as a disease model for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, Lou Gehrig’s disease). 

In addition, Joan co-directs the Neurology & Neurosurgery Service, and is a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine. 

Joan received a bachelor’s degree and a doctor of veterinary medicine from the University of Missouri. She completed a small animal rotating internship at Texas A&M University and a three-year residency in neurology and neurosurgery at Auburn University. She also received a master of science degree in neuroscience from Auburn University. 

When she’s not working, Joan enjoys spending time with her family and their four dogs, one cat, two miniature Sicilian donkeys and two quarter horses. Her hobbies include long-distance cycling, hiking and trekking and playing flute.

Dr. Joe Bartges received his BS in zoology in 1983 from Marshall University in Huntington, WV, and his DVM from The University of Georgia in 1987.  He completed an internship and residencies in small animal internal medicine and nutrition in addition to a PhD at the University of Minnesota in 1993.

After a post-doctoral position at the University of Minnesota, he joined the faculty at The University of Georgia in 1994 where he remained until 1997.  In 1997, he joined the faculty at The University of Tennessee where he remained until 2015.  During this time he achieved Professor of Medicine and Nutrition, held the Acree Endowed Chair of Small Animal Research, and served as interim department head for approximately 2 years.  He then joined the staff at Cornell University Veterinary Specialists in Stamford, CT, as an internist and nutritionist and was Adjunct Clinical Professor of Medicine and Nutrition at Cornell University.

Currently, Dr. Bartges is Professor of Medicine and Nutrition in the Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery at the University of Georgia.  He is board-certified by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (small animal internal medicine) and the American College of Veterinary Nutrition.

Laura graduated from the University of Bristol in 2001. After a three year period in first opinion practice, she completed a rotating Internship at the Royal Veterinary College, London, followed by a Small Animal Surgical Residency at the University of Bristol. She moved to Cambridge in 2009 and obtained the ECVS Diploma in Small Animal Surgery in 2010. She has continued to enjoy working at the University of Cambridge since then, dividing her time between clinical work and teaching and currently holds the position of Associate Professor in Small Animal Surgery. She enjoys all aspects of soft tissue surgery, with particular interests in urology, oncology, BOAS, wound management & reconstructive surgery and minimally invasive techniques.