Dr. Valerie Biehl is the founder of East Coast Equine 16 years ago and is building our new small animal clinic with horse surgery center (due to open 2009). Most clients don't know that "Dr. Val" is a certified riding instructor in dressage and combined training with a degree from Morven Park International Equestrian Institute in Leesburg, VA. She graduated from the Pennsylvania State university with a Bachelor of Science in Animal Bioscience. She graduated in 1990 (18 years ago!) from the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Biehl was one of two veterinary students in the country to do a paid fellowship in equine genetics and reproduction at Cornell University in New York. She had additional externships in equine neonatology and equine surgery at Rood and Riddle Equine Clinic in Lexington, KY and in equine surgery at The University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Center.
Dr. Biehl is the very proud mother of her preteen daughter and son, Riley and Robbie. She enjoys riding her horse, Kedo My Heart, which she had had for 22 years. The have competed, won and just plain enjoyed dressage, jumper competition in Wellington, FL, driving, barrel racing and most recently polo. She appreciates her clients and patients of 16 years and looks forward to the new facility.
Dr. Tanya Ciacciarelli is a 1993 graduate of Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine. She did an internship in Equine Medicine & Surgery at Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center in Leesburg, VA and her residency in Equine Surgery at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, OK. She worked at a private practice in Jersey, GA that is a mixed practice, primarily equine, small animals and goats.
She is currently at East Coast Equine where her first interest of equine surgery will be pursued. She has also completed a course in equine acupuncture and is currently incorporating alternative treatments into the practice.
Dr. Meridith Dawson is a native Floridian returning "home" to the South from playing Yankee for a while. At the age of 7 she told her parents she wanted to be a vet, and after years of bringing every species of animal home to doctor up, she has finally realized her dream. Dr. Dawson earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science at Berry College in Rome, Georgia in 2006 and then completed her veterinary degree at The Ohio State University in 2011. She completed several externships at various practices across the country including one with Tennessee Equine Hospital where the country stars have their horses vetted. She also completed an externship with Northwest Equine Performance in Mulino, Oregon where they specialize in lameness evaluation and treatment. Dr. Meridith also has spent time working with and vetting backyard chickens, rabbits, goats and camelids.
Dr. Dawson loves to ride her Quarter Horse mare, Josie, enjoying trails and many other disciplines. She has a Boston terrier named Donovan who thinks he's the best thing since sliced bread. Left behind with her family in Ohio are 7 cats, a goat, a pony, and several chickens that occupied her "free time" during vet school. She is happy to be joining the family at East Coast Animal Medical Center and looks forward to working with the horses and small animal patients alike.
Dr. Margaux Buchanan is the newest associate veterinarian to join ECAMC. Her interests include diagnostic lameness, colic, complimentary medicine, behavior medicine and spay & neuter. Dr. Buchanan earned her bachelor's degree in Biology with a minor in Chemistry from Smith College in Northampton, MA in 2007 and then completed her Veterinary degree at The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2011. During her education, Dr. Buchanan completed equine externships at Steinbeck Country Equine Clinic in Salinas, CA and Peninsula Equine Medical Center in Menlo Park, CA. She also externed at the RASCAL unit in Columbus Ohio, a high volume, low-cost spay, neuter and vaccine clinic.
Dr. Buchanan's menagerie includes her two greyhounds, Luna and Powder (pictured above) along with her two cats, Styx and Sparky, and one very tolerant husband. Dr. Buchanan has been an avid equestrian all her life, and still vividly remembers the first time she cantered on a horse at age six. While she mostly just has fun on horseback these days, Dr. Buchanan is of the hunter/jumper persuasion and is interested in learning to play polo. She is looking forward to sharing her passion for all things equine and all creatures great and small with the clients at East Coast Animal Medical Center.
