A veterinary surgeon is a surgical specialist, having undergone additional training after graduating from veterinary school. The training includes a minimum of a one-year internship and a three-year residency. The residency program must meet the rigorous guidelines established by the American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS). All boarded surgeons have been published in scientific journals. Our surgeons serve as a consultation resource on unusual or difficult cases and work closely with you and your primary veterinarian before and after surgery, in a team approach, to ensure continuity of care for your loved one. At VRSP, specialized training and experience in addition to our access to equipment, support staff, diagnostic tools and monitoring offer care that may not be available through your family veterinarian.
Kayla Born
DVM, DACVS
Dr. Kayla Born was born in Birmingham, Alabama but spent most of her time growing up in the Cleveland, Ohio area. She was a member of Phi Kappa Phi and graduated Summa Cum Laude from Ohio State university in 2000 with a BS in Animal Science. In 2003 she graduated from OSU with a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine. After a one- year rotating internship in small animal medicine and surgery at the Animal Medical Center in NYC she returned to Ohio as a general practitioner. Completion of a small animal surgery internship and residency with Chesapeake Veterinary Surgical Specialist in Maryland occurred in 2010. Dr. Born has interest in orthopedic, soft tissue and some neurologic surgery. She has experience with arthroscopy, laparoscopy, fluoroscopy and minimally invasive fracture repair. Currently she is a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons - Small Animal (2011) and member of the American Veterinary Medical Association. Additionally, she is a member of the Veterinary Society of Surgical Oncology.
Thomas J. Noone
DVM, DACVS
Board-certified small-animal surgeon Dr. Thomas J. Noone has been a part of the Veterinary Referral Surgery Practice since 2001. Dr. Noone attended the University of Vermont and received his Bachelor's degree in animal science in 1988. He continued his education at the Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine. During his time in veterinary school, Dr. Noone was a member of the Phi Zeta Honor Society. He was awarded his doctorate of veterinary medicine in 1997. Dr. Noone completed an internship at Rowley Memorial Animal Hospital in Springfield, Massachusetts in 1998 and completed a residency at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine in 2001. In 2001, he was named a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons. A member of the Veterinary Orthopedic Society, the American Veterinary Medical Association and the Georgia Veterinary Medical Association, Dr. Noone has also been published in the Journal of Veterinary Research.
Kahrma Wagner
DVM, MS, DACVS
Board-certified, veterinary surgeon Dr. Kahrma Wagner joined the veterinary team at the Veterinary Referral Surgery Practice in 2007. Dr. Wagner attended the University of Florida and received her bachelor's degree in zoology in 1998. While at the University of Florida, Dr. Wagner was a member of Beta Eta Sigma honor society. She continued her education at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Wagner was vice president of the Student Chapter of the American Veterinary Medical Association from 2000 to 2001 and class president from 2000 to 2001. She was awarded her doctorate of veterinary medicine in 2002. Dr. Wagner completed an internship in small animal medicine and surgery at VCA Franklin Park Animal Hospital and VCA Berwyn Animal Hospital in Chicago in 2003; she received the Intern of the Year Award in 2003. She went on to complete a residency in small animal surgery at the University of Illinois in 2007 and was awarded her master's degree in veterinary clinical medicine in 2007. In 2008, she was named a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons. Dr. Wagner is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association and the Veterinary Orthopedic Society.
David V. Filer
DVM, MS
Dr. David Filer joined the Veterinary Referral Surgical Practice in 1992. He earned his undergraduate degree from Auburn University, where he was a member of Phi Eta Sigma honor society. He was accepted into the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1983. He was awarded his doctorate of veterinary medicine in 1987 and graduated cum laude. After completion of an internship at Hollywood Animal Hospital in 1989, Dr. Filer continued his education at the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine, completing a surgical residency and earning his master's degree in veterinary clinical sciences. Dr. Filer is a member of the Veterinary Orthopedic Society, the Georgia Veterinary Medical Association and the Cobb County Veterinary Medical Association. He is the founder of Atlanta Animal Rehabilitation and Fitness. Dr. Filer also served on the board of the Greater Atlanta Veterinary Medical Association and is a past president of the Cobb County Veterinary Medical Association and the North Fulton Veterinary Medical Association.
Jeffrey Little
DVM, DACVS
Board-certified, veterinary surgeon Dr. Jeff Little joined the Veterinary Referral Surgery Practice in 2013. Dr. Little received his bachelor's degree in molecular biology in 2002 from Vanderbilt University. While attending Vanderbilt, Dr. Little pitched for the Commodore baseball team and was a finalist for the Southeastern Conference scholar-athlete of the year in 2002. Following a minor league pitching career with the Chicago White Sox, Dr. Little completed veterinary school at Purdue University. While attending Purdue, Dr. Little was a member of the Phi Zeta honor society and received the Gamma Sigma Delta Top Senior Veterinary Student Award. Graduating first in his class, he received his doctorate of veterinary medicine in 2009. After completing an internship in small animal medicine and surgery at North Carolina State University in 2010, Dr. Little continued his education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine, where he completed a surgical residency in 2013. In 2014, he was named a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons. Dr. Little is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association. Dr. Little has also been published in the American Journal of Veterinary Research, Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, Rapid Prototyping Journal and authored a textbook chapter on the bladder in Feline Soft Tissue and General Surgery.
