Peter Hecht, DVM

Dr. Peter Hecht was born and raised in Buffalo, NY. He pursued his education at North Carolina State University, coupling it with real life experience milking cows on the weekend and working as a kennel boy/stall hand at a large veterinary practice.  Completion of vet school in 1987 brought him back to Western NY, where he had found inspiration during his formative years to work with people and animals by shadowing veterinarians at Perry Vet Clinic. Dr. Hecht enjoys the challenge that veterinary medicine presents, especially in small animals and South American camelids. He is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association and New York State Veterinary Medical Society.  In his free time, Dr. Hecht is passionate about a variety of outdoor activities ranging from camping and fishing to hiking, biking, and skiing. On or off the trail, Dr. Hecht values spending time with his wife and three children. They also share their home with three dogs, one cat, and two horses.

Craig C. Lamb, DVM

Dr. Craig C. Lamb grew up on a dairy farm in Oakfield, NY. It was this childhood experience that laid the foundation for his desire to work with dairy farmers and their herds. He graduated from Cornell University with his B.S. in Animal Science, and he went on to the University of Wisconsin for vet school. Upon graduation in 1996, he started working with us. His chief professional interest is in bovine embryo transfer. Dr. Lamb is a member of the American Association of Bovine Practitioners and the American Embryo Transfer Association. He is a whitetail deer hunting enthusiast, and he also enjoys vegetable gardening. Spending time with family is important to him (wife-Janet, daughters-Anna and Emily, son-Nick), and he also shares his home with two cats (Isa and Butter).

 

Ted R. Wolf, DVM

Dr. Ted Wolf hails from the Buckeye State.  Born in Canton, he grew up in Louisville and attended The Ohio State University.  Prior to graduating and joining our practice in 1997, he was a herdsman for the dairy on OSU’s campus.  Another interesting job he had involved the treatment of primates used in AIDS research.  While his work today primarily involves the bovine species, he still strives to stay up-to-date with the latest research, especially in bovine reproduction.  Dr. Wolf has had additional training in bovine ultrasound.  Some of his other professional interests include general practice, facility design, and calf management.  He enjoys practicing general companion animal medicine and surgery.  Today he is happily married to Dr. Liz Wolf, who is also a veterinarian with our team.  He thoroughly enjoys family time and keeping up with his children, Claire, Grace, and Sam.  Four dogs in the household (Jett, Basil, Zinger, and Sophie) also keep him busy.  Hunting, sports, and raising heifers are some of his other passions.

 

L. Scott DeGroff, DVM

 

Michael Capel, DVM

Growing up as the son of a commercial river boat pilot on the Hudson River, Dr. Capel did not originate from a dairy background.  Through years of working on hobby swine and beef farms during his youth, he developed a love for the blend of mental and physical work that agriculture brings and quickly set his sights on a veterinary career.  Dr. Capel’s undergraduate (Animal Science and Dairy Fellows) and veterinary degrees are from Cornell University where he developed a strong interest in production medicine.  Upon graduation, Dr. Capel and his wife joined the Perry Veterinary Clinic.  Since graduation he completed a 3 year certificate program in Production Medicine at the Ontario Veterinary College in Guelph, is a NYS certified milking equipment technician, has developed a keen interest in dairy nutrition and is a co-author on several peer reviewed articles.  He is an active member of the AABP and a member of the NYSVMS, the NMC, and the AVMA.  He currently chairs the advisory board for Quality Milk Production Services.  When not working Dr. Capel can be found singing or acting, snow skiing, attending Boy Scout campouts or water skiing with his family (wife Kate and four children, Matthew, Adeline, Caroline and Natalie).

Tom Wakefield, DVM

 

Leo Vranich, DVM

Dr. Leo Vranich was born and raised in Somerset County, Pennsylvania. He continued his higher educational pursuits in the Keystone State (Penn State University). His undergraduate degree was completed in animal science and animal bioscience. Dr. Vranich’s decision to enter into the veterinary field was primarily based on how much he enjoyed working with cows. In 2008, he graduated from Virginia Tech’s vet school program. An interesting job he had along the way was training at a Veterinary Medical Office for the Food Safety Inspection Service, USDA. He is still committed to giving the public a wholesome product, especially when it comes to milk. Milk quality, transition cow management, and ultrasonography are his main professional interests. He is a member of the American Association of Bovine Practitioners, American Dairy Science Association, National Mastitis Council, and the American Veterinary Medical Association. Dr. Vranich’s hobbies include hunting, fishing, and hiking. He thoroughly enjoys playing with his children (daughter Amelia, son Stephen and son Eli) and family time in general with wife Ashley (also a veterinarian with our practice). The Vranichs share their home with Bailey the bassett hound and one cow named Super (Dr. Vranich states that there will be more cows in the future!).

 

Alexander Navarro, DVM

Dr. Alexander Navarro grew up in Fort Ann, New York. Dr. Navarro had a lifelong passion of helping people by helping with their livestock which led him to becoming a veterinarian. Dr. Navarro graduated from Cornell University with a degree in Animal Science and then continued at Cornell University for vet school. Dr. Navarro received specialized training at a Summer Dairy Institute at Cornell University and he attended Swine Management and Consulting at Iowa State University. Prior to vet school Dr. Navarro milked cows on a Jersey dairy farm in Vermont. His professional interest is in milk quality and dairy nutrition. Dr. Navarro is a member of American Association of Bovine Practitioners, the American Association of Swine Veterinarians, National Mastitis Council, and Dairy Calf and Heifer Association. He enjoys gardening, hiking, cooking, and participating in church activities. Dr. Navarro resides in Perry, NY with his wife, Hannah.

 

Jenna Smith, DVM

Dr. Jenna Smith is the youngest of five kids and was raised on a dairy farm in Clyde, New York where her passion for animals grew.  During her years in school Dr. Smith worked as the student chief of the teaching dairy barn and as a member of the repo team.  After graduating from Houghton College with a BS in biology she pursued vet school at Cornell University and graduated in 2019. Dr. Smith always enjoyed science and working with animals and wanted to incorporate the two.  Dr. Hill likes to spend her spare time outside hiking and cross country skiing.  Dr. Smith is engaged to her fiancé, Zach and has a cat named Bo

 

Dr. Matt Chuff, DVM

Dr. Chuff  was born and raised in Ilion, NY. He enjoyed working with cows which led him to pursue veterinary medicine. Dr. Chuff received a bachelor’s degree in Biology from Hamilton College and earned his DVM from Cornell in  2012. In 2019 he completed the Certificate Program in Dairy Health Management at the University of Guelph. He is a member of the AABP, ADSA and AVMA. Dr. Chuff lives in Houghton, NY with his wife Kari, daughter Maddie and two dogs Walker and Johnny. In his free time, he enjoys golf and downhill skiing.

 

 

Tracy Potter, DVM

Dr. Potter was born and raised in Central NY.  As a teenager in a rural town, feeding calves and milking cows on local dairy farms proved to be a good way to make some spending cash.  However, it wasn’t until she moved away to college in Rhode Island that she discovered her passion for food animal agriculture and decided to transfer to Cornell and pursue a career as a dairy veterinarian.  Dr. Potter participated in specialized training at the Summer Dairy Institute at Cornell University and has a professional interest in employee training, milk quality and parlor efficiency, and youngstock management.  She is a member of the American Association of Bovine Practitioners, the American Veterinary Medical Association, the National Mastitis Council, and the Dairy Calf and Heifer Association.  Dr. Potter enjoys hiking, running, downhill skiing, and playing Ultimate Frisbee.  She lives in Avon with her husband Travis and cat, Frida.

 

Leslie E. DeGroff, DVM

Dr. DeGroff was born and raised in Perry, NY, and was one of the five founding members of our veterinary practice (1971).  Dr. DeGroff completed his undergraduate work at Michigan State.  Upon graduation from their pre-vet program (’63), he attended Cornell (‘69).  Dr. DeGroff’s internship took place at Ohio State, and in 1970 he joined forces with Drs. Skinner, Chamberlain, and Kreutter.  He has an interest in traveling (especially to warmer climates during the winter months!) and farming.  The family’s roadside produce stands can be found throughout Livingston/Wyoming counties during the summer/fall months.  Dr. DeGroff has three sons (one a vet with our practice, one a bovine hoof trimmer, and one a nutritionist).  He is also the proud grandfather of eight grandchildren.

 

David Hale, DVM

Dr. David Hale’s childhood was spent in Lakeview, NY, where some of his fondest memories include working with cattle on his grandfather’s dairy farm.  Dr. Hale thoroughly enjoyed working with dairy cattle and wanted nothing more than to pursue a “cow” career.  In between this decision and graduating from Cornell University with his degree in veterinary medicine (1986-he joined our practice shortly thereafter), Dr. Hale held a very interesting job as a binding mechanic in Teton Village (Jackson Hole, Wyoming).  Dr. Hale received his undergraduate degree in Biology from Westminster College, and he is a proud member of the American Association of Bovine Practitioners.  His interests are in dairy nutrition and embryo transfer.  When he is not focusing on his “cow” career or practicing companion animal medicine at our Yorkshire location, he enjoys boating, fishing, hunting, and taking vacations with his family (wife Alice, two sons Andrew and Brian, two daughters Laura and Maggie).  Dr. Hale also shares his home with beloved pets Sampson (Cur mix), Juno (Black Lab), Max and Libby (cats).

 

Rob Wilson, DVM

Dr. Rob Wilson grew up on a dairy and sheep farm near Canaseraga, NY.  This childhood experience proved to be the building block for his lifelong commitment to working with livestock.  Dr. Wilson enjoys helping farmers by combining his interest in science with veterinary medicine.  His undergraduate work was completed in animal science at the University of Illinois, during which he worked in the dairy nutrition lab.  In 2001, he graduated from Cornell and worked at Ridge Animal Hospital (Middleport, NY).  He practiced there for just over four years prior to joining our team.  Dr. Wilson’s professional interests include bovine, equine, and small ruminant medicine.  Wife Kim and sons Collin and Brendon keep Dr. Wilson busy when he isn’t out on the road working, or farming with his family heifer boarding/commercial sheep operation.  Dr. Wilson also operates his own small custom combining business.

 

Ashley Vranich, DVM

Dr. Ashley Vranich grew up on a beef cattle farm in Natural Bridge, VA, treating sick calves by age 5 with a balling gun, pills, and stick of butter (provided by her grandfather to coat the pills and help them go down easier). This way of life and practical approach to helping animals transcended during her undergraduate work at Hollins University, where one of her most interesting jobs consisted of research on songbirds. Upon completion of her degree in biology, Dr. Vranich attended VA-MD Regional College of Veterinary Medicine. She is a member of the American Association of Bovine Practitioners, American Veterinary Medical Association, and New York State Veterinary Medical Society. She graduated with her degree in veterinary medicine in 2010, and joined our team alongside her husband, Dr. Leo Vranich. Together they welcomed a daughter (Amelia) and sons (Stephen & Eli) into their family, which also consists of several four-legged members: Bailey the basset hound, Seeker & Merlin the horses, and Salt, Pepper, Hazel and Maple the cats.

 

 

Becky Silvanic, DVM

Dr. Becky Silvanic was born and grew up in Whitney Point, NY on a 50 tie stall and maple syrup farm.  Dr. Silvanic graduated from Cornell University with a degree in Animal Science.  She then went to vet school at Iowa State University where she graduated in 2004.  She always had an interest and plan to work on cows throughout her childhood (much to her grandmother’s chagrin).  Dr. Silvanic’s professional interests are transition cows, barn design and ventilation, milk quality and beef.  Her personal interests are hunting, quilting, baking and gardening.

 

Paige Haenig, DVM

Dr. Haenig was born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA.  She attended Ohio Wesleyan University and  earned a Bachelor of Arts in Pre-professional Zoology with minors in chemistry and psychology all while starting four years of varsity field hockey. Dr. Haenig received her DVM in 2022 from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She knew she wanted to be a veterinarian from an early age and her decision was confirmed over time as she worked at various clinics and farms. While earning her degree Dr. Haenig performed research on swine influenza and PRRS and has presented research at the AASV conference. She is a member of AABP. Dr. Haenig lives in LeRoy, NY and in her free time enjoys staying active by running, lifting and all sorts of things outdoors. She also enjoys spending time with family and her two cats.

 

Gabrielle Merry, DVM

Dr. Merry grew up in Arkport, NY on her family’s dairy farm, which sparked her love of animals. In school she showed an interest in and aptitude for science and that combined with her love of animals led her to pursue a degree in veterinary medicine. Dr. Merry attended Nazareth University where she earned a BS in Biomedical Sciences and from there, she went to Cornell University where she earned her DVM in 2024. Dr. Merry has had some diverse jobs along the way including ski instructor, animal care assistant and as an assistant on various dairy research trials.  Dr Merry will be at home in Mumford, NY with her fiancé Gabe and her chocolate lab Walter. When she has free time, she enjoys reading, embroidery, boating, downhill skiing and exploring trails with Walter.

 

 

Molly Border, BVMS

Dr. Border grew up in South Wales, NY, where her love of goats, sheep and horses as well as summer jobs at goat and cow dairies led her to pursue a career in veterinary medicine. She earned her undergraduate degree in Biology at the Rochester Institute of Technology. While there she researched migratory bird nutrition and physiology focusing on the effects of invasive plants on breeding bird populations. In 2024 Dr. Border received her doctoral degree from the University of Glasgow in Scotland. She recently moved to Warsaw, NY which keeps her close to both her family and her career. In her free time Dr. Border loves to stay active with hiking, running, and cycling, but also enjoys quiet time to read.

 

Breanna Kjoll, DVM

Dr. Kjoll was born and raised in Reno Nevada.  She decided to become a veterinarian because of her lifelong love for science, combined with a desire to collaborate with the people who care for animals, whether they are pets or production animals.  She received her undergrad degree in Veterinary Science at the University of Nevada-Reno.  Then went on to finishing her degree at Washington State, graduating in 2025.  During her education, Dr. Kjoll attended the University of Minnesota receiving specialized training in their Advanced Dairy Production Medicine program with additional hoof trimming and lameness training.  She spent a summer interning at a dairy goat farm in New Zealand and also did a summer internship at Oakland Zoo.  At work she has interest in most species, fear free handling, and is a member of AABP and AASRP.  Her personal interests include camping, reading, yoga, cooking, and trying new restaurants.  She resides in Geneseo with her black cat Finch.

 

 

 

Carley Gringer, DVM

Dr. Gringer was born in Rochester New York and grew up in Pittsford.  She did her undergrad years at the University of Delaware, earning a degree in Wildlife Conservation and Ecology.  She always knew she wanted to be a vet, which was solidified by her time working as kennel staff.  She is Passionate about the human-animal bond and getting to know pets and their owners.  Dr. Gringer spent her pre-vet time as a wildlife technician and involved in Chytrid (frog disease) research.  Her interests are in performing soft tissue surgery, wildlife rescue, pocket pet and hobby farm animal care.  Dr. Gringer’s hobbies include reading, hiking, birding, baking, and really anything outdoors.  She currently resides in Pittsford with her fiancé Jon, an Axolotl named Max, and a French Bulldog named Gunner.