Veterinary Surgical Centers

VSC Medical Team

Anke Langenbach, Dr Med Vet, DACVS, DECVS
Chief of Surgery

Dr. Anke Langenbach, owner and Chief Surgeon, is a Diplomate of the American and European Colleges of Veterinary Surgeons. She earned her veterinary degree in 1992 from the University of Munich, College of Veterinary Medicine in Germany. Dr. Langenbach was awarded a scholarship allowing her a combined American and German education. She spent most of her third year of veterinary school at Kansas State University and part of her fourth year at the Ohio State University, Cornell University, and Animal Medical Center of New York. After receiving her veterinary degree, she continued her studies with a 1-year internship followed by a 3-year residency program at the University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine. After completion of her residency, she stayed with the University accepting a lecturing position. Dr. Langenbach achieved Diplomate status as a board certified surgeon in 1998. Following her extensive academic career, Dr. Langenbach moved to Northern Virginia to work in private referral practice. Since her time at the University, Dr. Langenbach has published several articles, authored a book chapter, and has presented at many regional and local meetings, as well as national meetings held by the College of Veterinary Surgeons. She is currently participating in clinical research at the University of Pennsylvania involving neoplasia in feline patients and a clinical trial for Cisplatin Bead efficacy in both canine and feline patients. Dr. Langenbach was also featured in the book “In Their Shoes” by Debbie Reiber. She presented at the 2007 Annual Surgeons Summit and the European Surgeons Summit in Basel, Switzerland in July 2008. Her other areas of research interest relate to bone and joint diseases and injuries of the canine patient. Dr. Langenbach lives with her husband, two sons, two dogs, and three cats in Vienna, VA.

Location: Vienna and Winchester, VA

Julia Hawthorne, DVM, DACVS
VSC Staff Surgeon

A Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons, Dr. Hawthorne received her Bachelor’s degree from Kenyon College and her veterinary degree in 1994 from the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine.  She continued her academic studies completing a 1-year rotating internship at Mississippi State Univeristy and a 1-year surgical internship at Affiliated Veterinary Specialists in Winter Park, Florida.  After finishing a 3-year surgical residency at Purdue University’s School of Veterinary Medicine, she stayed with the University accepting a clinical instructorship position.  Dr. Hawthorne achieved Diplomate status as a board-certified surgeon in 2001.  Following her time with the University, Dr. Hawthorne spent over seven years as an associate surgeon with a veterinary referral practice outside Richmond, Virginia.  A native of Northern Virginia, she returned to this area and joined VSC.  Her areas of interest include soft tissue and emergency surgery.  Dr. Hawthorne lives with her husband, three children, and Bernese Mountain Dog in Falls Church, Virginia.

Location: Vienna, VA

Anne Elizabeth Katherman, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Neurology)
VSC Staff Neurologist/Neurosurgeon

Dr. Anne Elizabeth Katherman is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Medicine- Specialty of Neurology and Neurosurgery. She earned her veterinary degree from Ohio State University and her Master’s degree in Veterinary Medicine from the University of Minnesota. Dr. Katherman held a position of an assistant professor at Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine before establishing a veterinary neurology and neurosurgery referral practice in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Dr. Katherman has lectured on neurology and neurosurgery nationally and internationally. She has a special interest in surgical treatment of spinal cord neoplasia, surgical and medical management of brain tumors, surgical and medical management of hydrocephalus, surgical management of atlanto-axial subluxation, cervical intervertebral disc surgery, emergency and long term management of seizure disorders, and electrodiagnostics (EMG/NCV/F wave/BAER). Dr. Katherman has a son and daughter-in-law who reside in Manchester, Maryland and is happy to be closer to them. In her free time she enjoys fly fishing, gardening, bird watching, reading and impressionist art. .

Location: Vienna, VA

Sebastian Gordon, DVM, DVSc, DACVS
VSC Staff Surgeon

Dr. Sebastian Gordon graduated from the University of Vermont with a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science in 2001.  He then completed four years of veterinary school at Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine in 2005.  Following veterinary school, Dr. Gordon participated in a 1-year small animal rotating internship at the Animal Medical Center in New York City.  Dr. Gordon continued his academic studies with a 3-year small animal surgery residency at the Ontario Veterinary College at the University of Guelph.  Dr. Gordon joined VSC in August 2009.  His research interests include the biomechanical properties of bone plates.  Dr. Gordon lives in Bethesda with his wife, their hound dog, and their cat.

Location(s): Vienna and Woodbridge, VA

Jim Taylor, DVM

VSC Staff Surgeon

Jim Taylor, DVM received his veterinary degree from the Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2004. He began his professional career working for two years in small animal private practice in Oklahoma City. Following his time in private practice, he continued his academic studies by completing a 1-year small animal rotating internship at Garden State Veterinary Specialists in New Jersey. In July of 2007, Dr. Taylor joined VSC and completed a 1-year surgical internship and remained to complete his 3-year surgical residency, becoming VSC's first Resident.  Dr. Taylor became Board Certified in February 2012 and will now be our primary surgeon in our Winchester, VA location.  Dr. Taylor presented at the annual ACVS surgery summit in San Diego, CA in October 2008.  He lives with his wife, two dogs, and three cats in Vienna, VA and his hobbies include various outdoor activities and watching Oklahoma football.

Location(s): Leesburg and Winchester, VA

Matthew Nicholson, DVM, DACVS

VSC Staff Surgeon

Dr. Nicholson received his DVM from VA-MD Regional College of Veterinary Medicine in 1999.  During his internship and surgical residency at the University of Pennsylvania, Matt was honored to receive student teaching awards as an Intern and Resident. He became a surgical associate at a referral practice in New Jersey for two years following completion of his residency.  He received his board certification from the American College of Veterinary Surgery in 2004.  After spending 4 years as a surgical associate at the Veterinary Surgical Centers, Matt joined the faculty at VMRCVM in 2009 as a Clinical Associate Professor.  He was proud to receive the Bayer Faculty Recognition Award for teaching in the Spring 2011.  He is returning as a full time associate at the Veterinary Surgical Centers in November 2011. His interests include teaching, minimally invasive surgery and soft tissue reconstruction surgery.  Matt lives in Haymarket, Virginia with his beautiful wife and family.

Location(s): Leesburg and Winchester, VA

Thomas Monaco, DVM

Resident in Surgery

Dr. Monaco graduated from Georgetown University with a Bachelor of Science in 2004.  He then attended veterinary school at St. George’s University, located on the Caribbean Island of Grenada.  Dr. Monaco completed his clinical year training at the University of Pennsylvania, followed by a one year small animal rotating internship at the Animal Medical Center in New York City.  Dr. Monaco is continuing his academic studies at VSC with a 3 year surgery residency program.  Dr. Monaco is an avid scuba diver, having become an Open Water Instructor while living in the Caribbean.  He also enjoys sailing, triathlons, and skiing.  He currently resides in Arlington, VA with his fiancé and very spoiled cat “Chester.”

Location: Vienna, VA

Gwyneth Watrous, DVM

Surgery/Neurology Intern

Dr. Gwyneth Watrous graduated from Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, FL with a bachelors degree in biochemistry. She then attended Iowa State University where she obtained her veterinary degree in 2010. Following veterinary school she completed a one year rotating internship at Iowa Veterinary Referral Center in Des Moines, IA. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking with her Flat Coated Retriever, Owen.

Location: Vienna, VA

John Kiefer, DVM

Surgery/Neurology Intern

Dr. John Kiefer earned a Bachelors degree in Biology in his hometown of Cleveland Ohio, and then obtained his DVM from the Ohio State University in 2010. After school, he completed a small animal rotating internship at a busy private specialty practice in Memphis, Tennessee. Dr. Kiefer has a strong interest in surgery and is completing a one-year neurology and surgery specialty internship in preparation for more advanced surgical training in a residency program. Outside of work he enjoys traveling, music, art, and spending time with his wife, along with their young whippet and retired racing greyhound.

Location: Vienna, VA

Kasey Kephart, C.C.R.P., L.V.T

Rehabilitation Practitioner

Kasey Kephart graduated from Argosy University of Minnesota in 2002 with an associate of science degree as a Certified Veterinary Technician and certificate of wildlife and marine mammal science. She then continued her education at the University of Tennessee, where she became a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner. She has worked as a C.V.T for 8 years and a Director of Rehabilitation for 2 years. She has a special interest in canine fitness and physiology. She is an outdoor adventurer and spends much of her time hiking, biking and camping. She is originally from Alexandria, MN; she now lives in Sterling, VA with her English setter “Gertie” and her cat “Oliver”.

Location: Vienna, Leesburg and Winchester, VA