Board certified surgeon Samantha Nelson joins premier advanced-care referral and emergency hospital on April 1

CHARLESTON, SC – The Charleston Veterinary Referral Center (CVRC) – a premier advanced-care veterinary hospital in the region – is pleased to announce the expansion of its highly acclaimed surgery department with the appointment of Samantha Nelson, DVM, DACVS.

Dr. Nelson has extensive experience with cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) injury in dogs and determining the optimal surgical treatment for this common ailment.  Her definitive study comparing two surgical methods for CCL tears in dogs (ACL in humans) was awarded the American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS) “Outstanding Surgical Resident Award for a Veterinary Surgery Publication in Clinical Research” in 2013.  Highly skilled in all facets of small animal surgery, Dr. Nelson also specializes in trauma, oncology and minimally invasive procedures.

“Dr. Nelson demonstrates immense passion for small animal surgery and is renowned for her work in the field,” said David Sachs, DVM, Medical Director of CVRC. “Our hospital is dedicated to providing outstanding and compassionate patient care and an integrated team approach.  Dr. Nelson – along with our specialists and emergency doctors – is committed to communicating and working with each patient’s primary veterinarian as they formulate diagnostic, treatment, and follow-up care plans,” adds Sachs.

In 2009, Dr. Nelson received her DVM from Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine and completed her internship at the University of Georgia’s College of Veterinary Medicine the following year.  Her residency in small animal surgery was obtained at Cornell in 2013 and she became a Diplomate with the American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS) in 2014.  From 2013-2015, she was a staff surgeon at the Veterinary Specialists of Western New York in Buffalo.

CVRC’s Surgery Department is helmed by Jennifer Au, DVM, DACVS, DACVSMR, CCRT, and specializes in soft tissue (abdominal, thoracic, reconstructive, and oncologic), neurological, and orthopedic surgery.  The surgery team works collaboratively with CVRC’s other departments, staff, and referring veterinarians.  In addition, CVRC has a full physical rehabilitation facility onsite in order for pets to obtain the best possible outcome and return to function, post-surgery.  The recently expanded Animal Rehabilitation & Fitness department (ARF) is also led by Dr. Au, who has a unique board certification Sports Medicine.

Modeling itself after leading human hospitals, CVRC attributes it success to its collaborative approach to diagnosing and treating patients. In emergency and urgent care situations, CVRC’s emergency clinicians work hand-in-hand with the hospital’s specialists, ensuring that patients receive the highest quality, multidisciplinary medical care.  After a rigorous review, CVRC earned the Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society’s (VECCS) highest certification for emergency and critical care, Level I, making it one of 14 veterinary hospitals in the nation to attain this recognition.

About Charleston Veterinary Referral Center

Founded in 2011 by Alan Green, DVM and David Sachs, DVM, the Charleston Veterinary Referral Center (CVRC) is a leading small animal referral and emergency hospital located in West Ashley, SC, just outside of Charleston.  Specialties include emergency medicine, critical care, internal medicine, cardiology, neurology, oncology, physical rehabilitation, sports medicine, dentistry, and surgery – including orthopedic, soft tissue, and minimally invasive.  CVRC’s board certified veterinary specialists see animals by referral from the patient’s primary veterinarian.  Its cohesive team of veterinary professionals and staff are dedicated to practicing the highest caliber of medicine and surgery.  The facility is open and staffed for emergencies 24 hours a day/365 days a year.  For additional information, emergency resources and recently added features for referring primary care veterinarians and pet owners, please visit http://charlestonvrc.com. Regular updates are also provided via CVRC’s Facebook page.