Staff
Veterinarians
Susan Mende, DVM, DABVP
Susan Mende, DVM, DABVP graduated from the University of Illinois’ College of Veterinarian Medicine in 1991. She spent two-years working as an intern at Southern Illinois Equine, an exclusively large animal practice...more
Elysia Schaefer, DVM,MS,DACVS
Elysia Schaefer is our ACVS Board Certified Surgeon and lameness specialist. She started at WCEC in January 2011 and has helped get the surgery suite up and running...more
Amy Polkes, DVM, ACVIM
Amy Polkes, DVM, ACVIM graduated from the Purdue University College of Veterinarian Medicine in 1993. She interned at Fox Run Equine in Pennsylvania before completing a residency in Equine Internal Medicine at The University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine...more
Office Support
Maren McMichael
Maren began working at WCEC in February 2008, before the clinic construction was even completed! Maren manages office operations and reception, but...more
Vet Assistants
Katherine Brescia
Veterinary Assistant and Reception
Katherine has a Bachelors Degree in Animal Science from the University of Maryland, and began working at WCEC in February 2009 as a truck assistant. She recently...more
William Escobar - animal caretaker, veterinary assistant
William has been working with us since 2009, helping care for the horses and the farm and assisting with veterinary procedures in the stables. We all love William; he is...more
Sue Holtery
Sue is the newest addition to the WCEC family, having recently jointed us in February 2011. She serves primarily as a veterinary assistant in the trucks and in night emergency work...more
Partners
Mario (Marty) Morani, Trainer, veterinary assistant, farm manager
Talk about qualified to get to the bottom of issues between you and your horse!! Marty has a Bachelor's Degree in Animal Science from the University of Delaware and a Master's Degree in Psychology...more
Mike Bailey, Farrier
Mike has been shoeing horses for 12 years, and recently tested for and passed the Journeyman Certification to became a Certified Jouneyman. This testing involves a written portion about the anatomy of horse's limbs and feet, along with a practical test where the blacksmith crafts ...more
Fernando Martinez, Equine Denistry
Our dental technician is certified by the International Academy of Equine Dentistry through the advanced level, and has served as an examiner for the certification process for over a decade. Your horse’s mouth is...more