VSC

Veterinary Surgical Centers Staff

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.

Tibor Lazar, DVM, DACVS
VSC Staff Surgeon

Dr. Lazar, Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons, graduated from the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine in 1996. He continued his academic career with a 1-year internship at the Animal Medical Center in New York City and followed with a 3-year surgical residency at Affiliated Veterinary Specialists, a large specialty referral practice in Maitland, Florida. Originally from Northern Virginia, Dr. Lazar decided to move back to the area following his academic studies. He joined our team of surgeons in 2002 and was awarded Diplomate status as a board certified surgeon by the College of Veterinary Surgeons in 2003. During Dr. Lazar’s tenure with Veterinary Surgical Center, he has actively pursued his interests in orthopedic surgery, learning new techniques such as Cementless Total Hip Replacements and TTA (tibial tuberosity advancement) for the repair of cranial cruciate tears. He was the first surgeon in Northern Virginia to offer the TTA procedure. Dr. Lazar’s other area of interest is laparoscopy and thoracoscopy. These procedures improve our ability to diagnose and treat certain conditions with minimally invasive surgery. Dr. Lazar resides in Reston, Virginia with his wife and two sons along with two dogs and 3 cats.

Rebecca Windsor, DVM, DACVIM (Neurology/Neurosurgery)
VSC Staff Surgeon

Dr. Rebecca Windsor obtained her Bachelors degree from the University of Southern California in 2001 and DVM from the University of California at Davis in 2005.  Following veterinary school, she did a small animal rotating internship at North Carolina State University.  She completed a 3-year residency in Neurology/Neurosurgery at the University of California at Davis in July 2009.  Dr. Windsor has a particular passion for neurosurgery including craniotomies for brain tumor removal and spinal surgery for treatment of cervical spondylomyelopathy (Wobbler’s syndrome), lumbosacral disease, spinal cord/vertebral tumor removal, and spinal fracture stabilization.  Her hobbies include running, travel, skiing, and scuba diving.

Raviv Balfour, DVM, DACVS
VSC Staff Surgeon

Raviv Balfour, Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons, graduated from the University of Illinois Veterinary School in 1995. He continued his studies completing a 1-year internship with California Animal Hosptial, Dept. of Surgery, followed by a 3-year residency program at Tufts University/ Angell Memorial Animal Hospital. After completion of his academic studies, Dr. Balfour successfully passed his board certification in 2000, achieving Diplomate status with the American College of Veterinary Surgeons. Since his time at the University, Dr. Balfour has been working with Animal Surgical and Emergency Center (ASEC) in Los Angeles, CA. During Dr. Balfour’s career, he has published and presented on angular limb deformities in dogs, as well as co-authoring chapters in the Veterinary Clinical Advisor textbook and the Ettinger’s Textbook of Internal Medicine. Additional publications include articles for Pulse Magazine Journal of Southern California Veterinary Medical Association (VMA). He has also presented numerous continuing education lectures for the California VMA. Dr. Balfour currently resides in Marina Del Rey, CA. He joins VSC part-time while continuing to practice with ASEC. His professional interests are orthopedic surgery, neurosurgery and minimally invasive procedures. While on the East Coast, he lives in Leesburg, VA. Dr. Balfour has two dogs and five cats and in his spare time enjoys golfing, scuba diving, and hiking.

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.

Adam Prink, DVM, Practice Limited to Surgery
VSC Staff Surgeon

Dr. Prink received his veterinary degree from the University of Minnesota in 2005. Following veterinary school, he completed a one-year rotating internship in small animal medicine and surgery at the University of Georgia. Dr. Prink recently completed a small animal surgery residency at the University of California-Davis. During his residency, he completed supplemental training in arthroscopic surgery and cementless total hip replacement. His primary area of research interest was in the identification of biomarkers of osteoarthritis. His professional interests include: fracture repair, arthroscopic surgery and surgical correction of liver shunts.

Sebastian Gordon, DVM, Practice Limited to Surgery
VSC Staff Surgeon

Dr. Sebastian Gordon graduated from the University of Vermont with a Bacehlor 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.

Jim Taylor, DVM,

Resident in Surgery

Jim Taylor, DVM received his veterinary degree from the Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2004. Dr. Taylor 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 has remained to complete his 3-year surgical residency.  Dr. Taylor presented at the annual ACVS surgery summit in San Diego, CA in October 2008. Dr. Taylor lives with his wife, three dogs, and four cats in Vienna, VA and his hobbies include various outdoor activities and watching Oklahoma football.

Michael P Conley, PhD, MBA
Practice Manager

Michael Conley came to VSC from the aerospace industry where, during his 25-year career within small businesses, he has filled roles ranging from research engineer to engineering manager to head of operations.  Michael likes to point out “as head of operations for a small aerospace company one is responsible for the functions one finds in every company; these include Finance, Contracts, Personnel and Business Development.”  VSC’s veterinary practice, he adds, “is a refreshing change from aerospace and government contracting.  I find  working here to be very exciting.”

Michael has an MBA from Old Dominion University (2007) and a Ph.D. in Physics from The Pennsylvania State University (1980).  He lives in Sterling, VA with his wife Margaret, two bearcats (Sugarbear and Honeybear) and an African Grey Parrot (Grendel).