Dean Newton, DVM, Medical Director

Dr. Dean Newton has been the Director of Animerge since 1989. He is a 1976 graduate of the College of Veterinary Medicine at Iowa State University. He worked in general practice in upstate NY for several years. He then continued his education with a residency in Theriogenology at Michigan State University, followed by employment with the New York State College of Veterinary Medicine in the department of pathology.

Dr. Newton came to the Garden State as the chief veterinarian of Lana Lobell Farms, a large Standardbred nursery where he was responsible for the care of 1200 animals, comprising the breeding program, reproductive pathology and microbiology, foal and yearling care.

He has participated in many clinical trails, including the use of innovative vaccines and treatments in horses. He brings his wealth of experience in all aspects of veterinary medicine to Animerge where he has been enjoyed being an emergency clinician since 1989.

In 2006 Dr. Newton spearheaded an ambitious expansion and remodeling project, transforming Animerge into a 24/7 facility in May of 2007. With the enhanced technologies and additional medical space available, he helped Animerge add specialty services by bringing on a full time board certified surgeon and two part-time ophthalmologists with others soon to follow.

Dr. Newton is a member of the AVMA, NJVMA, NJ Metropolitan VMA, AAEP, and the Society of Theriogenology.

He has four children, one of whom is preparing for a career in veterinary medicine. His wife, Dr. Karan Oberhansley, has a successful small animal practice. His interests include biking, fishing, and aviation, and is a part-time flight instructor.

Andrea S. Freeman, VMD, MS

A native of Hunterdon County, NJ, Dr. Freeman obtained her bachelor's degree from Washington University in St. Louis. While in college, she worked as a veterinary technician in small animal and equine general practice as well as at a small animal emergency and referral practice. She also raised and assisted in the training of service dogs. Dr. Freeman then completed a master's degree at Columbia University with a focus on wildlife health and parasitology. Following graduate school, she moved to Philadelphia to continue her research in parasitology at the University of Pennsylvania for two years prior to obtaining her veterinary degree also from the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Freeman's veterinary parasitology research conducted at field sites in Africa and Argentina for the Wildlife Conversation Society and Smithsonian Institute, at the Bronx Zoo, and at the University of Pennsylvania have led to a number of publications in peer-reviewed veterinary journals.

After veterinary school Dr. Freeman practiced at a busy small animal practice in Middlesex County, NJ prior to joining the staff at Animerge full time. She shares her home with three dogs and three cats. In her free time, Dr. Freeman enjoys gardening, traveling, playing the piano and spending time with her pets, including visiting hospitals with her certified therapy dog, Annie.

Barbara Guy, DVM

Dr. Guy grew up in Wisconsin on a dairy and beef farm. This early exposure to animals helped her know by the age of twelve, that she wanted to become a veterinarian. Following in her grandfather's footsteps Dr. Guy enrolled at the University of Wisconsin where she received a BS in Animal Science in 1982. She went on to receive her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Minnesota in 1986. To enrich her veterinary education, she pursued an internship in medicine and surgery at the University of Georgia Veterinary School. From there, Dr. Guy had a private practice in New Jersey specializing in equine medicine before gravitating to emergency care. It was then that she joined the team at Animerge in 2007.

Ada Guzman, DVM

Dr. Guzman decided to become a veterinarian at the age of eight. By that age, she had already owned, cared for or played with a menagerie of animal species ranging from digging for earth worms, to feeding birds, raising tadpoles and fish from local ponds, to chasing piglets and sharing a room with several cats and a snake.

She obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Animal Sciences from Cornell University in 1995 and wrote a thesis on farm animal health and nutrition. She then obtained a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from Cornell in 2000. Upon graduation, she went into small animal emergency medicine and critical care. She has work in emergency medicine throughout the mid-Atlantic region and in Puerto Rico. Dr. Guzman has worked at Animerge since 2003 except for a short stint in the Caribbean.

When not in the ER, you might find her out and about in NYC where she lives with her husband and three year old son. They enjoy the arts, traveling and speak four different languages at home.

Peggy Hauck, DVM

Dr. Hauck began work at Animerge in 1993 as an assistant while obtaining her undergraduate degree at Cook College, Rutgers University. She received her veterinary degree from the Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1997 and then completed a small animal rotating internship at the Animal Medical Center in 1998. After her internship, she practiced as an emergency clinician at both Animerge and the Long Island Veterinary Specialists before becoming full-time at Animerge in 1999. Dr. Hauck lives in Pennsylvania with her husband Matt, son Nathan, and three cats, Indy, Benjamin and Oreo. She enjoys the outdoors and getting away to the beautiful 1000 Islands/St. Lawrence River whenever she has the chance.

Monica V. Ilardi, VMD

Although born in the Philippines, Dr. Ilardi spent her childhood in Philadelphia and Cherry Hill, NJ.  Dr. Ilardi earned her BA in Biomathematics from Rutgers University and graduated from The University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine in 2001.  She worked in small animal practice in the Boston area for several years before returning home to New Jersey.  She started working here at animERge in April 2009, with emergency experience, after working at Newton Veterinary Hospital in Newton, NJ for almost 4 years.

 Dr. Ilardi lives in Sussex County with her husband, Jeffrey M. Ilardi, MD, their two young daughters and their pitbull mix Porkchop. 

Sarah Wisely, DVM

Dr. Wiseley did her undergraduate studies at University of Vermont and University of Massachusetts where she majored in Biology and graduated with honors. Before embarking on her veterinary degree, Dr. Wiseley worked as a manager and trainer at a combined training/dressage farm in Massachusetts for five years. She also worked for an equine veterinarian who was skilled in both acupuncture and chiropractic. Dr. Wiseley received her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine degree from Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine. She did an internship at the Veterinary Referral and Emergency center in Norwalk, CT. Dr. Wiseley worked in private practice for a year before joining the staff at Animerge. Her professional interests are surgery and critical care. When not working, she enjoys hiking with her dogs, Bailey and Gus, gardening, and exploring the back roads of the northeast with her husband, Curt.

Roxane Lea Collins, DVM, MS, Diplomate ACVS

Dr. Collins is a native of Colorado. She completed both her undergraduate and veterinary school curricula at Colorado State University. Following graduation, she completed a surgical internship and residency at The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine. While at OSU, she also received a Master's degree working in the laboratory of Dr. Tony Buffington. She is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons.  After completing her residency in 1998, Dr. Collins spent time on the faculty at OSU and in independent surgical practice. In 2000, she joined the staff at Garden State Veterinary Specialists, where she practiced surgery for 6 years.  As a result of a collaborative effort between GSVS and Animerge to provide pet owners in central New Jersey with improved access to specialty surgical care, Dr. Collins now performs both soft tissue and orthopedic surgical procedures on a referral basis at Animerge.

Emily Harison, DVM

Dr. Harison attended Oklahoma State University for undergraduate studies in animal science and competed on the OSU Varsity Women's Equestrian Team. She went on to attend OSU's veterinary school and graduated in 2007. She then completed a one-year rotating internship at Mission MedVet in Kansas City, followed by a residency in internal medicine at the Animal Medical Center in New York City. While at the AMC, she completed research in acute kidney injury in dogs and cats, which was presented at the ACVIM Forum in 2011.

A residentof Madison NJ, Dr. Harison lives with her mixed-breed dog, Boston Terrier, and cat. In her free time, she enjoys outdoor activites including hiking, camping, and running as well as hunter-jumper equestrian sports and yoga.

Bradford J. Holmberg, DVM, MS, PhD, Diplomate ACVO
Dr. Holmberg received his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Missouri. He completed an internship at the University of Florida and then moved on to the University of California for a comparative ophthalmology residency. In addition, he received his MS from Purdue University and his PhD from the University of Missouri. Dr. Holmberg has been awarded several prestigious research grants, has written numerous scientific papers and has contributed chapters to several veterinary textbooks.

Michael H. Brown, DVM, MS, Diplomate ACVO

Dr. Brown received his DVM from Kansas State University and interned at The Animal Medical Center in New York City. After returning to Kansas State University for a comparative ophthalmology residency, he received an MS degree for his biochemical study of animal tears. Dr. Brown’s special interests include diseases of the cornea, corneal surgery, intraocular surgery and diseases of the retina. He is a noted lecturer throughout the country.

Ian B. Spiegel, VMD, MHS, Diplomate ACVD

Dr. Spiegel received his veterinary degree from the University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine in 2002. Previous training included completion of a Masters Degree in Health Sciences from Johns Hopkins School of Public Health and Hygiene. To further his veterinary education, Dr. Spiegel completed a 1-year internship at Cornell University and a three-year residency in dermatology and allergy at the University of California, Davis, in 2005, becoming board certified later that year. A noted author and contributor to many prestigious veterinary publications, Dr. Spiegel also serves as a consultant for the Veterinary Information Network (VIN).

Dr. Glasser

Dr. Glasser was born in Manhattan and raised primarily in Sullivan County, New York. After attending Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, Dr. Glasser conducted pharmaceutical research and development. He attended Tufts University Cumming's School of Veterinary Medicine where his interest in medical oncology developed. Dr. Glasser did an internship at the University of Minnesota and came back to the Northeast for a three-year oncology residency at the Animal Medical Center and Animal Specialty Center in Yonkers.veterinary

Dr. Alsaraff

Dr. Alsaraff has been practicing in New Jersey for fifteen years. Originally from Michigan, she graduated from Michigan State University Veterinary School in 1991. While there, she established MSU's Pet Loss Support Group. Designed to provide support to those who have lost a beloved pet, the group still helps bereaved owners today. Following veterinary school, Dr. Alsaraff completed an internship as well as an oncology residency, research and radiation therapy training at the Animal Medical Center in NYC. She conducted research at Memorial Sloan Kettering and had additional training in radiation at the University of Kansas. Dr. Alsaraff has authored several journal articles and chapters and has most recently participated in clinical cancer studies with Cornell University.