DESERT VETERINARY MEDICAL - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director
- Practice Manager of Peoria
Amber although originally from Arizona moved around a lot due to being part of a military family. She got her Associates in veterinary technology at Pima Community College in Tucson, and eventually landed back in the phoenix area. In August of 2015 she was hired as a CVT for patient care and has continued to grow and learn alongside DVMS. She was recently promoted to practice manager for our Peoria location that has been opened now for 1 year. She has a beautiful baby girl named Mollie and a 14.5yr old cat named Spaztaztic, (Tazzie cat for short). She spends most of her free time chasing around Mollie as she has learned to walk and is a very busy little girl. When Amber is not running after her baby she enjoys drawing and crocheting.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Practice Manager of Gilbert
Job Titles:
- Co - Director of Veterinary Technicians
Dina grew up in Chicago and moved to Arizona in 2003 to escape the Midwestern winters. She has been working as a veterinary technician since 1997, and originally joined Arizona Veterinary Specialists in Surgery. Two years after Dr. Church joined Arizona Veterinary Internal Medicine, now Desert Veterinary Medical Specialists, we were lucky to have Dina join us to keep Cardiology running smoothly. Dina is such an asset since she is organized, can handle a large workload, and is always positive. She is married to Dave, and they have two wonderful children, Sophia and Jack, and 2 pit bulls, Petunia and Violet.
Meet Dr. Casandra Jacobs, our internist! Dr. Jacobs hails from Wisconsin, where she obtained her undergraduate degree in biology, with a minor in chemistry from the University of Wisconsin-Parkside. She went on to receive her doctorate in veterinary medicine from the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine in 2016.
Dr. Jones originally from the Tempe area had left to further her career in veterinary medicine. She received her doctorate from Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine and holds a bachelor's degree in veterinary science with a minor in chemistry. She did a Small Animal Rotating Internship at Texas A &M, as well as an internship with Memphis Veterinary Specialist Internal Medicine Specialty. She performed her Small Animal Internal Medicine Residency at the University of Florida prior to joining the DVMS team in Oct of 2020. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, kayaking, hiking and game nights. She has acquired two furry roommates throughout her travels, a little Cavalier named Ellie who is most likely Dr. Jones' cooking buddy and not her outdoors buddy and June who is a husky mix. I am sure with these two on Dr. Jones' team those game nights she enjoys, she is sure to win.
Dr. Heffelman special areas of interest include abdominal ultrasound, CT, and nuclear medicine. She lives with her husband Richard, Welsh Corgie named Quinn, and tabby cat, Piccolo, and enjoys traveling, spending time with family, movies, hiking, and enjoying all that Arizona offers!
I was born and raised in Louisville, KY and went to University of Louisville for undergrad, receiving a BA in Biology. After undergrad I went to vet school at Auburn University in Alabama. From there I did a 1 year rotating internship in small animal medicine and surgery at a private practice in Rockville, MD then continued on to the University in Florida in Gainesville, FL to pursue a residency in radiology, finishing in 2021. Radiologic areas of interest include abdominal and musculoskeletal ultrasound, ultrasound guided diagnostics, and computed tomography. After residency, I did a 1-year stint in the pacific northwest before moving down to much sunnier Arizona. I have two dogs, a grumpy old man named Gremlin and an overly happy tripod pittie named Zeppelin. I have also recently acquired a kitten, Sir Isaac Mewton, who of course runs the house. In my spare time I like to explore local food spots and outdoor activities, as well as enjoy game nights with friends.
Dr. Church earned his veterinary degree from Oregon State University in 2002. After graduation he completed a one-year internship at Cornell University followed by a cardiology residency and Master of Science degree at the University of Illinois. He finished the last year of his residency at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Church moved to Arizona with his family in 2006 to provide specialized cardiology services. He enjoys partnering with primary care veterinarians to care for patients and their families throughout the region. His special areas of interest include pericardial diseases, echocardiography, and interventional cardiovascular procedures. Dr. Church received a number of grants and awards which include: the ACVIM Cardiology Resident Research Grant, the University of Illinois Small Animal Departmental Research Grant, and the Salsbury Scholarship. He lectures all over the country at both national and local continuing education conferences. Dr. Church is also a founding member of the Cardiac Education Group.
Job Titles:
- Co - Director of Veterinary Technicians
Megan, one of our die-hard Broncos fans was born and raised in Colorado which is where she received her Associates in veterinary technology. Through growing up in Colorado she has learned to love gardening and plants, which I am pretty sure takes up at least ½ her home here in Arizona. She has been known to use her gardening skills to supply her kitchen with fresh foods, and don't even get her started on her love for sandwiches and Korean BBQ. She is our Senior Lead CVT and joined our Gilbert team back in 2014. She brings her trusty new companion Tony, a young chihuahua mix with her to work, because let's be honest who would want to leave their pets at home if they didn't have too. Don't get her wrong though she has three cats at home and is a sucker for heavier feline patients.