Departments & Doctors Overview

We invite you to explore the biographies of our doctors and staff and learn more about them. Our doctors and staff have a wide variety of backgrounds and interests.

Dr. Phil Padrid - Interim Director of Specialty Services

Dr. Padrid graduated from the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1985. Prior to his DVM. he received a degree in nursing from the State University of New York at Binghamton and worked as a nurse, specializing in cardiopulmonary and critical care nursing in California for 5 years. Dr. Padrid completed an internship at the Santa Cruz Veterinary Hospital in 1986, followed by a residency in internal medicine at UC Davis in 1988. From 1998 - 2000 Dr. Padrid was a postdoctoral fellow in the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at the UC Davis School of Medicine. Concurrently, from 1990 - 2000 he served as first an assistant and then associate professor of molecular medicine, pulmonary and critical care medicine at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, where he also served as section chief of the Animal Resources Center.

In 2000 he joined VCA as a full-time regional medical director in the Midwest, for VCA hospitals in Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Missouri. In 2003 he became a managing partner in Family Pet Animal Hospital, a 10-doctor private practice in Chicago. In 2008 Dr. Padrid sold his partnership in Chicago and rejoined VCA as the regional medical director for the Southwest, including New Mexico, Nevada, Arizona, Nebraska and Utah. Dr. Padrid is currently the interim Director of Specialty Services at VCA Veterinary Care Animal Hospital and Referral Center in New Mexico.

Dr. Padrid is a world-renowned authority on pulmonary disease in dogs and cats and is credited with introducing into the veterinary profession the use of inhaled medications to treat pulmonary disease in dogs and cats. Dr. Padrid is a frequent speaker both nationally and internationally and has been a featured speaker at ACVIM, ACVS, Western States, NAVC and the Veterinary Congresses in Argentina, Japan, Mexico, Denmark, Chile, Switzerland, Sweden, Germany, Israel and Australia. Dr. Padrid has also been a featured speaker for the British Small Animal Medical Association, and has given grand rounds at Angell Memorial Hospital in Boston and the Animal Medical Center in NYC. He retains Associate Professor status (retired) in Molecular Medicine at the University of Chicago and is adjunct Professor of Small Animal Medicine at the Ohio State University School of Veterinary Medicine.

Dr. Carol Breslin - Dentistry Department

Dr. Carol Breslin earned her veterinary degree from Colorado State University in 2000 after receiving a bachelor's degree in biology from the University of New Mexico. She spent six years in private practice in Denver, Colorado, as a general practice vet with a special interest in dentistry before completing one year of residency in dental and oral surgery at the Animal Dental Center in Baltimore, Maryland.

Dr. Breslin joined the staff at VCA Veterinary Care Animal Hospital and Referral Center in 2008 and has a practice limited to dentistry and oral surgery. Her interests include maxilla/facial surgery, orthodontics (braces), root canals, crowns, bridges and implants.

Dr. Thomas Hribernik - Internal Medicine Department

Dr. Hribernik graduated from the Missouri University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1973.  He completed an internship in small animal medicine and surgery followed by an internal medicine residency at Purdue University.  Dr. Hribernik became certified as a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine in 1981.  His professional interests and expertise span the breadth of internal medicine including critical care, endocrinology, gastroenterology, hematology, infectious diseases, immune diseases, respiratory disorders and urology.

He was a member of the Internal Medicine department at Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine from 1977 - 1994, achieving the rank of Section Chief of Internal Medicine.  He has lectured to other vets on a variety of internal medicine topics at the local, state, national and international levels during his career.  Dr. Hribernik is accomplished in diagnostic ultrasound procedures of the abdomen and thorax plus he is highly proficient in a variety of rigid and flexible endoscopic procedures.  He joined the staff at VCA Veterinary Care Animal Hospital and Referral Center, Albuquerque, NM in 2008.  Along with his colleague Dr. Phil Ries, he is one of only three board certified vet internists currently practicing in New Mexico.  Drs. Hribernik and Ries team up to provide seamless internal medicine service for patients in need seven days per week.  His current work schedule is Wednesday - Saturday.

On the personal front, Dr. Hribernik is a native of St. Louis, Missouri but his career pursuits have carried him to Indiana, Louisiana, Florida, Texas and New Mexico.  He is an avid reader, loves watching movies of all kinds, enjoys hiking in the foothills and mountains of New Mexico and has recently re-kindled an interest in fly-fishing.  Dr. Hribernik is married to his wife Teresa and their family includes two very special dogs, Archie and Emily.

Dr. Nancy McLean - Ophthalmolgy Department

Dr. McLean obtained her bachelor's degree from Brown University and her veterinary degree from Purdue University. She completed a one-year internship at the University of Tennessee and spent two years in private practice before pursuing a comparative ophthalmology residency in 2005. Dr. McLean was certified as a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists in 2008.

She joined the staff of VCA Veterinary Care Animal Hospital and Referral Center in October of 2008. Dr. McLean's areas of interest include cataract surgery, anterior chamber inflammation, glaucoma and ocular manifestations of systemic disease. Her interests have led to several publications in peer-reviewed journals, including the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association and Veterinary Ophthalmology, and presentations at national meetings. Dr. McLean welcomes referrals of exotic and large animals as well as small animals.  In addition to treating dogs, cats, horses and pocket pets, she has operated on a variety of zoo animals including bald eagles, tigers, and tree kangaroos.  She is eager to work in conjunction with her patients' primary care veterinarian to provide optimal care.

Specific Services
Ophthalmic exams including tonometry, slit lamp biomicroscopy, indirect ophthalmoscopy and retinoscopy
Gonioimplants for glaucoma
Diode laser retinopexy
Diode laser cycloablation
Phacoemulsification (cataract surgery) and intraocular lens implantation
Electroretinograms
Ocular ultrasound
Reconstructive eyelid procedures
Grid Keratotomy
Evisceration with intrascleral prosthesis
Intralesional chemotherapy or cryotherapy for eyelid, adnexal, or corneal tumors
CT Scans for diagnosis of retrobulbar or periocular disease

Dr. McLean has presented at several national meetings and has taught an ocular surgery course to other veterinarians.  She is a member of several medical groups including the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists (www.acvo.org) and the American Veterinary Medical Association.  She also peer-reviews submitted articles for the Journal of Veterinary Ophthalmology.

Dr. McLean and her husband moved to new Mexico in 2002 and fell in love with the state.  She enjoys rock climbing, biking, skiing and spending time with her husband, dog, daughter and son.

Dr. Phil Ries - Internal Medicine Department

Dr. Ries grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio the last of six children. He attended college at nearby Miami University (Ohio), earning undergraduate degrees in Biology and Chemistry (B.S.). Not yet committed to a specific career path, he joined the Peace Corps following graduation to pursue an interest in aquatic ecology. As a volunteer, he worked for two years promoting fresh water aquaculture, i.e. fish farming, on the island of Jamaica. During that time, a long held interest in veterinary medicine was rekindled, as he spent time working with a local vet from the Ministry of Agriculture. Thus, following discharge from the Peace Corps, he decided to pursue a career in veterinary health care. 

As an internal medicine specialist (internist), Dr.Ries deals primarily with an older patient population. Whether suffering from heart disease, kidney failure, cancer, a hormonal imbalance, or chronic pain from severe arthritis, it is all about providing a good quality of life for your pet. As an advocate for his patient, Dr. Ries' job is to recommend the best diagnostic and therapeutic options in order to accomplish this goal. At VCA Veterinary Care Animal Hospital and Referral Center, he has the resources to make it happen. With a special interest in the care of critical patients, Dr. Ries has developed guidelines for nutritional support for the hospitalized patient, e.g. implementation of a total parenteral nutrition (TPN) program along with aggressive pain management protocols. 

On a more personal note, his family consists of Carolyn Kincade, his wife (also a veterinarian), Lance, their rambunctious son, two dogs (Rudy & Lilly), two cats (Lois & Jerry) and two Quarter horses (Tula & Knickers). After family and work needs are met, Dr. Ries enjoys mountain biking, landscaping, reading, and relaxing. This unwavering commitment to his family and work will be reflected in the care your pet receives. He will treat them as if they are his own!

Dr. Brian Rose - Surgery Department

After receiving his DVM from the University of Minnesota in 2005 at the top of his class, Dr. Brian Rose completed a one-year internship in small animal medicine and surgery at the University of Pennsylvania. While at Penn, he had the opportunity to train under some of the nation's top emergency and critical care specialists. This experience increased Dr. Rose's passion for emergency surgery, critical care, and post-operative pain management. Upon completion of his training at the University of Pennsylvania in 2006, Dr. Rose returned to the University of Minnesota for 3 years of advanced training in veterinary orthopedics, soft tissue and neurologic surgery. The University of Minnesota's surgical residency program exposed Dr. Rose to a wide range and large numbers of orthopedic, neurologic and soft tissue procedures.

Dr. Rose was certified as a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons in 2010. Dr. Rose has a strong interest in research and is currently completing a Masters degree in fracture biomechanics at the University of Minnesota. He has lectured on both orthopedic and soft tissue surgery topics at both the local and national level.

As one of the few board certified surgeons in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Dr. Rose is excited about consulting with you about your pet's needs. He is available for consultation Wednesday-Saturday and on an emergency basis. The surgery service (Dr. Don Waldron and Dr. Brian Rose) is pleased to offer a wide range of advanced orthopedic, neurologic and soft tissue surgical techniques including minimally invasive surgery with arthroscopy, laparoscopy, thoracoscopy, and fluoroscopy.

Dr. Brian Rose moved to Albuquerque with his wife Dr. Michelle Rose, who is a veterinary cardiologist, in August 2009. Their three dogs and two cats are enjoying the warmer weather, and are in competition with one another to see who can sleep the most in 24 hours.

Dr. Michelle Rose - Cardiology Department

Dr. Michelle Rose's educational pursuits have led her all over the country. A Fairfax, Virginia native, she lived in the Washington, D.C. suburbs for 17 years and was only a young child when she discovered her passion to become a veterinarian. After graduating as her high school's valedictorian, she obtained her B.S. degree in animal science summa cum laude at the University of Florida. Dr. Rose received early acceptance into veterinary school at the age of 20, and developed an enthusiasm for cardiovascular medicine during her second year of veterinary training. She obtained her veterinary degree cum laude in 2004 from the University of Florida, and then completed an internship in small animal medicine & surgery at Texas A&M University.

Dr. Rose returned to Virginia for one year and worked as a general practitioner at VCA Barcroft Cat Hospital and VCA Beacon Hill Cat Hospital. In 2006, she was accepted into University of Minnesota's comparative cardiology residency and achieved board certification as a Diplomate of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Cardiology) in 2009, scoring the highest in her class on her board exam. 

She joined the staff at VCA Veterinary Care Animal Hospital and Referral Center in 2009 and is excited to be New Mexico's first board-certified cardiologist. Her professional interests include minimally invasive catheter-based procedures for the treatment of congenital heart disease, advanced echocardiographic Doppler imaging, electrophysiology and cardiac pacing, and medical treatment strategies for congestive heart failure that optimize the patient's quality of life. Dr. Rose's experience as a cardiologist, general practitioner, and fellow pet-owner enable her to customize treatments for heart disease that benefit both the animal and its human guardian whom is administering the medication. 

She and her husband (Dr. Brian Rose), a veterinary surgeon, moved to New Mexico in August 2009 with their two Pembroke Welsh Corgis and two cats. In 2010 they added a chihuahua named Wally to the family!

Dr. Diane Schrempp - Oncology Department

Dr. Diane Schrempp graduated from Kansas State University in 2007 with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree. She then went on to complete a small animal rotating internship at Cornell University in 2008. In 2008 - 2009, Dr. Schrempp completed a one year oncology clinical trials internship at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Following that, she headed to Purdue University where she completed a three year comparative oncology residency.

Dr. Schrempp became board certified through the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Oncology) in 2012 and joined the team at VCA Veterinary Care Animal Hospital and Referral Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico in August 2012.
Her professional interests include diagnosing and treating a variety of canine and feline cancers, using new and cutting edge treatments for cancer (Palladia and metronomic chemotherapy) as well as applying a thorough knowledge of standard of care options (surgery and chemotherapy). She approaches cancer in a way that focuses on the patient's overall well-being and quality of life. Dr. Schrempp also has an interest in treating cats diagnosed with squamous cell carcinomia with localized radiation therapy (strontium).

When she's not taking care of cancer patients, Dr. Schrempp enjoys exploring her new home state with her West Highland White Terrier, Sam.

 Dr. Ryan Taggart - Surgery Department

Dr. Ryan Taggart completed his undergraduate training with a degree in biology from Haverford College (PA) in 2000. After living in Australia for a year, he returned to the U.S. to pursue a career in veterinary medicine. Dr. Taggart received his DVM degree from Cornell University in 2005. Following graduation, he spent three years in the U.S. Army Veterinary Corps including an overseas tour in Saudi Arabia.

Dr. Taggart completed an internship in small animal medicine and surgery at Mississippi State University. He then undertook a residency in veterinary orthopedic, soft tissue and neurologic surgery at Purdue University, in conjunction with a Masters degree in veterinary science. He has authored publications for Veterinary Surgery, the Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care, and NAVC Clinician’s Brief. During the final year of his residency, Dr. Taggart was presented with the Katie McAllister Compassion Award and the Dr. Ann L. Johnson and Dr. Walter E. Hoffman Resident Teaching Award, the first time both awards were given to a single resident.

Dr. Taggart joined VCA Veterinary Care Animal Hospital and Referral Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico in 2012. His professional interests include orthopedics and fracture repair, minimally invasive and reconstructive surgery.

On a personal note, Dr. Taggart, his wife and young son are excited to get to know New Mexico. His pursuits outside of work and family include mountain biking, skiing, and, in particular, lacrosse. Dr. Taggart has been fortunate to play lacrosse in both the U.S. and Australia and has coached at Mississippi State University and Purdue University.