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Our Team
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Peter Bowie, DVM Dr. Peter Bowie graduated from the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine in 1998, where he won numerous academic awards for emergency and critical care medicine, leadership, and service. He continued his studies at the University of Pennsylvania with an internship in Emergency and Specialty Medicine and Surgery. In 2000 Peter joined PESCM as a staff emergency clinician and in 2006 he became an owner in the practice. Peter has practiced exclusively emergency and critical care medicine for the past six years and been a member of the International Veterinary and Emergency Critical Care Society since 1997. He and his wife Christina (an actress and animal lover) live in Petaluma with their two dogs, several cats, and several horses. Peter’s professional interests are focused on emergency/critical care medicine. In his free time, he enjoys viticulture, cooking, music, and anything outdoors. |
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Elisa Bowyer, DVM Dr. Elisa Bowyer grew up in Santa Cruz, California, and received a B.S. in Zoology from UC Davis in 1998. She then spent several years working as an RVT in both general and emergency medicine. It was during this time that she fell in love with emergency medicine. She returned to UC Davis and completed her veterinary degree in 2007. Elisa then spent a year at Angell Animal Medical Center in Boston, Mass, where she completed a challenging internship with a strong emphasis on emergency medicine. She then escaped the snowy New England winter to return to sunny California, and is proud to have joined the PESCM team in Oct 2008. In her spare time, Elisa enjoys hiking, climbing, swing dancing, reading, cooking, hiking with her Siberian Husky, Sasha, and cuddling with her cat, Portia.
Jim Clark, DVM, MBA Dr. Jim Clark grew up in Marin County before receiving his undergraduate and veterinary degrees from U.C. Davis. After graduating in 1988 he worked in small animal general practice for five years. In 1993 Jim opened an emergency/specialty referral hospital in San Diego. In 1998, Jim and his partner Dr. Steve Dana opened Pet Emergency & Specialty Center of Marin (PESCM). In addition to working as an emergency clinician for more than 15 years, Jim served as an instructor in an RVT program for five years. In 2002 he received an MBA degree from the San Diego State School of Business Administration. Jim relocated his family to Marin County in 2002 and completed a fellowship in emergency and critical care medicine at U.C. Davis in 2003. He currently works as an emergency clinician at PESCM and assists in the management of several emergency practices. His primary professional interests are in emergency and critical care medicine, teaching, and practice management. Jim and his wife live in Novato with their two girls, four dogs, two mice, and one cat. In his free time Jim enjoys hiking with his girls, playing with his dogs, reading, sea kayaking, meditation, volunteer work, and motorcycling. |
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Steve Dana, DVM Dr. Steven Dana has been active in emergency veterinary medicine for over 30 years. Originally from Orange County California, he attended both U.C. Santa Barbara and U.C. Davis, completing an undergraduate degree in Animal Physiology in 1984. Steve graduated from the U.C. Davis School of Veterinary Medicine in 1988 and completed a postgraduate internship in Emergency Medicine and Surgery at the Sacramento Animal Medical Group. He has been a visiting lecturer in Anesthesia and Critical Care at the U.C. Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital. Steve has resided and worked in Marin for over 15 years and is past President of the Marin County Veterinary Medical Association. He opened PESCM with partner Dr. Jim Clark in 1998 and for many years served as the hospital’s Medical Director. Steve and his wife Lori (a skilled RVT) live in Mill Valley with their Jack Russell Terrier "Petey." Steve has special interests in emergency/critical care medicine, anesthesia, and infectious diseases. He is currently enrolled in a masters degree program in epidemiology at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. In his free time he enjoys travel, viticulture, and sailing. |
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Kara Harpham, DVM Dr. Kara Harpham graduated from the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine in 2006. She completed a rotating internship at San Francisco Veterinary Specialists prior to joining the staff of PESCM in 2007. Outside of the emergency clinic, Kara is a medical director of SNIP, a feral cat sterilization program based in Contra Costa County. Additionally, she volunteers for Fix our Ferals in Oakland and for Vet SOS in San Francisco. |
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Susan Ostapak, DVM Dr. Susan Ostapak attended the Western College of Veterinary Medicine, in Saskatchewan Canada. Upon completion of her studies, she moved to San Francisco and has been working in emergency medicine since that time and at PESCM since 2004. During the 2005-2006 academic year Susan completed a fellowship in emergency and critical care medicine at U.C. Davis. |
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Carla Robin, DVM Dr. Carla Robin graduated Summa Cum Laude with a B.S. degree in Animal Biology from U.C. Davis prior to earning her D.V.M. degree from U.C. Davis in 2006. While completing her undergraduate studies she held a paid research position in the U.C. Davis Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Cell Biology. Carla has a strong and diverse background in the veterinary field, having worked with both small and large animals, as well as in a research setting. She is a published author in peer reviewed veterinary journals and the recipient of a number of professional awards and honors. In 2006 Carla was selected for PESCM’s inaugural internship program; her ultimate goal is to pursue a residency in anesthesia. Her special areas of professional interest include emergency and critical care medicine and anesthesia. Carla enjoys spending time with her Half Arab gelding “Sunden” and Sun Conure “Bob.” Her other personal interests include classic VW cars, combustion engines, horseback riding, and music. |
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Chris Rodi, DVM, DABVP Dr. Christopher Rodi attended veterinary school at U.C. Davis, graduating in 1993. In search of advanced training, he then completed a one-year small animal medicine and surgery internship at Cornell University before going into private small animal practice. Over the years Chris has worked in a number of busy multi-doctor day and emergency practices as a staff veterinarian and hospital administrator. In 2000 he became certified by the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners in canine and feline medicine. Since 2000 Chris has practiced exclusively in the emergency and critical care field. He and his wife (also a veterinarian) relocated their family to Marin in 2003. They now live in Novato with their two sons and two Boxers. Chris assists in managing several emergency practices as well as working as an emergency clinician at PESCM. Chris’ primary professional interests are in emergency and critical care medicine, practice management, and staff development. In his free time Chris enjoys running, woodworking, sailing, hiking, home improvement, and playing with his sons. |
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Bill Saxon, DVM, DACVECC, DACVIM Dr. Bill Saxon received his D.V.M. degree from Iowa State University in 1986. He completed a one-year internship in small animal medicine and surgery at the Animal Medical Center in New York City, and went on to complete residency training programs in both internal medicine and emergency and critical care medicine. Bill is one of only a handful of veterinary specialists in the United States to be board certified in both of these specialties. He established an intensive care unit in a Washington D.C. referral practice prior to relocating to the San Francisco Bay Area in 1997. Bill joined PESCM in 1998 as a part-time staff emergency clinician. The majority of his professional time is spent as an expert consultant for Idexx Veterinary Laboratory. Bill lives in the North Bay Area and in his free time enjoys roller skating, tennis, and travel.
Nathan Tong , DVM Nathan Tong grew up in Southern California and attended UC Berkeley before completing his veterinary education at Colorado State University. He was a member of the first graduating DVM/MBA dual-degree program at CSU and hopes to use that education and experience to help grow veterinary medicine in what it offers to pets and the owners who are so committed to them. Before joining PESCM, Nathan completed an internship in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery at the Veterinary Specialty Hospital of San Diego. When away from the hospital, Nathan enjoys feeding his cats bananas, getting in the water on his surfboard, running, swimming and snowboarding (but only when it’s not too cold).
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Specialists
Some say that veterinary specialists are “gluttons for punishment.” After earning an undergraduate college degree and then completing four years of veterinary school, these doctors elect to continue their training, typically attending a one-year internship program under the supervision of experienced veterinarians and then completing a rigorous two or three year advanced training program in a specific area of interest, such as surgery, internal medicine, emergency and critical care medicine, oncology, etc. Finally, these individuals must pass a comprehensive examination ensuring their competency in a given discipline to become “board certified.” Our specialists offer you and your pet the most current and comprehensive care available. Their goal is to improve the quality of life of every patient they treat. For more information on the specialist colleges represented at PESCM, please follow these links: The American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine The American College of Veterinary Surgeons The American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care
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Marcella Harb-Hauser, DVM, DACVIM Dr. Marcella Harb-Hauser was born in Northern California and has spent most of her life in this area. She earned a B.S. in Animal Physiology in 1988 and received her veterinary degree from U.C. Davis in 1992. Dr. Harb-Hauser then completed a one-year internship at the Animal Medical Center in New York and a three-year residency in Internal Medicine at U.C. Davis before successfully completing a rigorous credentialing and examination process to become a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine. In 1996 she left academia and joined a specialty practice in Santa Rosa, where she worked for eight years prior to joining our hospital in 2004. Dr. Harb-Hauser has published a number of articles related to internal medicine and enjoys all aspects of this diverse field. She has a strong compassion for people and pets, as well as a love for science and medicine. Her goal as an internist is to provide the best possible care for each pet while at the same time recognizing the unique needs of each of her clients. Dr. Harb-Hauser and her husband live in San Rafael with their two wonderful children, two elderly dogs, and one crazy cat. In her (limited) spare time you may find her running, embroidering, singing, or volunteering at her children’s school and church. Jennifer Kaae, VMD, DACVIM Dr. Jennifer Kaae completed her veterinary degree at the University of Pennsylvania in 2004. She then pursued a one year small animal medicine and surgery internship at Cornell University and a three year residency in small animal internal medicine at the University of Wisconsin. She completed the requirements for credentialing as a specialist in internal medicine and is certified as a Diplomate in the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine. After finishing her residency program in Madison, Wisconsin, she returned to Northern California with her Weimaraner, and she now lives in Fairfax. Jennifer is a native Californian, previously working in San Francisco as an editor at a legal magazine before pursuing a career in veterinary medicine. When not working as an internist, she enjoys hiking, yoga, and horseback riding.
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Cheri Nielsen, DVM, MS, DACVS Dr. Cheri Nielsen completed a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering and a minor in applied math at Johns Hopkins University in 1996 before being accepted to the prestigious Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Intent on becoming a human surgeon, it wasn’t until her second year of medical school that she learned it was possible to become a veterinary surgical specialist. This led to a life-changing decision; she left Johns Hopkins to pursue a veterinary career. In 2002 Dr. Nielsen received both her DVM degree and an MS degree in Biomedical Engineering at U.C. Davis. She then completed a one-year internship at Colorado State University and a three-year surgical residency at the University of Minnesota before successfully completing a rigorous credentialing and examination process to become a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons in small animal surgery. Dr. Nielsen has published 11 original papers in veterinary journals and received numerous professional awards and honors. Her goal as a surgical specialist is to provide the best possible surgical outcome with the least possible discomfort for each and every patient. She and her husband (also a veterinarian) live in Marin with their Great Dane and tabby cat. In her free time Dr. Nielsen enjoys cycling, running, reading, hiking, gourmet dining, and sea kayaking. |
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Debbie Morey, DVM, DACVECCDr. Debbie Morey has been a life-long rescuer of pets of all sorts, which fostered her interest in becoming an emergency and critical care specialist. After earning her veterinary degree from U.C. Davis in 1992, she completed an internship in Sacramento before moving to Fresno for a year of intensive emergency and critical care training at the Veterinary Emergency Service. Dr. Morey then returned to Sacramento to head up the emergency department of the Sacramento Animal Medical Group for the next four years. In 1998 she embarked on a residency training program at U.C. Davis in emergency and critical care medicine and in 2005 Dr. Morey successfully completed the rigorous requirements and testing to become a board-certified specialist in emergency and critical care medicine. She currently assists in overseeing medical quality, procedures, and training at our hospital. In her free time Dr. Morey enjoys spending time with her family as well as with their two dogs and five cats. Her personal interests include skiing, running, hiking, and wine-tasting. |
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Nursing Care Team
Client Service Team
Our skilled and compassionate client service team understands the challenges of caring for a sick or injured pet. These talented individuals have elected to work in the veterinary field because they, too, are “animal lovers.” Their goal is to help you and your pet through a difficult time by providing consistently friendly and efficient service. |
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Leadership TeamPet Emergency & Specialty Center of Marin was founded in 1998 by Drs. Jim Clark and Steve Dana, both experienced emergency clinicians with a passion for providing top notch patient care and client service. Since that time Drs. Peter Bowie and Chris Rodi, also seasoned emergency clinicians, have joined as fellow-owners. All four doctors are actively involved in the leadership of the practice.
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It takes a special kind of doctor to dedicate her or himself to the veterinary emergency and critical care field – one willing to face long hours, challenging medical and surgical cases, distressed pet owners, and stressful working conditions. Despite these hardships, emergency doctors thrive on the opportunity to help clients and pets at a time of real need. They enjoy the intellectual challenge of managing diverse and complex medical conditions in a constantly changing, fast-paced environment. Succeeding in this field requires highly developed medical skills, strong empathy for clients, and true compassion for patients.
Veterinary nurses (also called “technicians”) play a vital role in the care, safety, and comfort of every hospitalized patient. As in a human hospital, these skilled professionals interface closely with patients and doctors, ensuring that each patient receives expert attention around the clock. Our hospital has a number of “registered” technicians on staff. These nurses have completed a rigorous course of study and passed a lengthy and challenging examination to prove their competency in the field. We are very proud of the team of caring and highly-skilled veterinary nurses on our staff; we believe they provide the finest level of care available. 
Mary Ann Webster serves as our hospital’s Administrative Manager, overseeing day-to-day business operations of the entire practice. Mary Ann is both an experienced business professional as well as an animal lover. 
Monika Pumberger, RVT serves as the Emergency Service Nursing Manager, overseeing a team of skilled nurses providing emergency care. Monika has many years of experience as a veterinary technician and has pursued advanced training in the emergency and critical care field. 
Amy Slutak serves as the Specialty and Client Services Manager, overseeing the people, systems, equipment, and inventory necessary to provide excellent patient care and client service by our specialists. Amy has a strong background in the veterinary field as a highly skilled nurse. Additionally, she has pursued advanced training in veterinary practice management.
Mark is our Hospital Administrator. He has managed several veterinary practices over the last twelve years, both specialty/ emergency and general medicine practices. Mark was born and raised in the Monterey Bay area, and as a teenager raised three dogs (Herbie, Zeke and Nord) for Guide Dogs for the Blind. He also spent a great deal of time volunteering for local wildlife rescue groups.