The Charleston Veterinary Referral Center (CVRC) – a premier advanced-care veterinary hospital in the region – announced that due to growing demand for both internal medicine and critical/emergency care consultations, Gavin Olsen, DVM, DACVIM has joined the Internal Medicine Department, while Lisa Olsen, DVM, DACVECC has joined the Critical Care Department. The doctors, who are married and reside in West Ashley, are available for consultations beginning this month.

Among their specialties, Dr. Gavin Olsen is concerned with all aspects of internal medicine, but takes a heightened interest in endocrinology, neurology, and infectious diseases. Dr. Lisa Olsen’s concentration lies in trauma, sepsis, and advanced life support (dialysis, ventilation).

“The addition of Dr. Gavin Olsen will allow us to offer internal medicine appointments seven days a week, which we know is important to our client base and the referring veterinary community,” said David Sachs, DVM, Medical Director of CVRC. “Since our inception in 2011, we have been the only hospital in South Carolina to have a critical care specialist on staff, and with the addition of a second one in Dr. Lisa Olsen, we will be able to offer the most comprehensive emergency and critical care services in the Lowcountry.”

CVRC’s Internal Medicine Department specializes in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of diseases and conditions of the gastrointestinal, respiratory, endocrine, circulatory, nervous and urogenital systems. Internal medicine specialists also have expertise in infectious disease diagnosis and treatment. The Critical Care Department consists of highly trained and experienced doctors who diagnose and treat sick, injured, or ill pets – often in emergency situations. Criticalists provide support to the other specialists in the hospital as well, and frequently consult on critical pre- and post-operative, and hospitalized patients. At CVRC, both internal medicine and critical care doctors are trained in the use of ultrasound, echocardiography, and endoscopy.

Dr. Gavin Olsen obtained board certification with the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine in 2011. Until joining CVRC, he worked as a Small Animal Internist at Iowa Veterinary Specialties. He fulfilled his Small Animal Internal Medicine Residency at Iowa State University, College of Veterinary Medicine (2008-2011) and worked as an intern at Mississippi State University, College of Veterinary Medicine from 2007-2008. Dr. Olsen also received his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Mississippi State University in 2007.

Boarded by the American College of Veterinary Emergency & Critical Care in October 2014, Dr. Lisa Olsen has worked in both academia and private practice. Before joining CVRC, she was a Clinician in Emergency & Critical Care at Iowa State University Lloyd Veterinary Medical Center and prior to that, a Clinician in Emergency & Critical Care at Iowa Veterinary Specialties (2013-2015). Dr. Olsen completed her residency in Small Animal Emergency & Critical Care at Eastern Iowa Veterinary Specialty Center in Cedar Rapids, where she also worked as an intern from 2009-2010. Additionally, she has served as an Adjunct Instructor at Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine (2008-2009) and obtained her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine at Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2008.

Modeling itself after leading human hospitals, CVRC attributes its success to its collaborative approach to diagnosing and treating patients. In emergency and urgent care situations, CVRC’s 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 19 veterinary hospitals in the nation to attain this recognition.