Meet The Vets

Kathleen A. Dunn, VMD

Veterinary Chief of Staff and Vice President of Medical Services

Dr. Dunn, who had previously served as a staff veterinarian at the Animal League, earned her Veterinary Medical Doctor’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania following a diverse career that included veterinary experience at a variety of medical centers as well as managerial, financial and negotiation roles. Her career at North Shore Animal League America began in a volunteer role in 1995 leading to a position as a veterinary technician, which ultimately inspired her to pursue a veterinary degree. Prior to obtaining her DVM degree and her career with the Animal League, Dr. Dunn’s job history included being executive director of Lease Analysis, LLC of Medford, NY; senior account administrator, Cushman & Wakefield, Inc.; and administrative analyst, Corporate Real Estate for Saks Fifth Avenue.

Dr. Dunn holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Fairfield University and pursued graduate studies at both University of New Haven and Fordham University, prior to her studies at University of Pennsylvania.

Jessica Palmeri, D.V.M

Dr. Palmeri joined North Shore Animal League America in 2006, as a veterinarian intern. This internship offered first year graduates of veterinary school an education and appreciation for shelter medicine through a course of study at the Alex Lewyt Veterinary Hospital, on the NSALA campus facility. Dr. Palmeri achieved a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine at Ross University, School of Veterinary Medicine, St. Kitts, West Indies.

Atlee Douglas, D.V.M

Dr. Douglas is a graduate from Tuskegee University – “the pride of the swift, growing south.” He joined North Shore Animal League America's medical center team of veterinarians in 1990. Dr. Douglas has a great interest in stray and rescue animal issues, and he has extensive experience in soft tissue surgeries as well as exotic pets.

Gerard Laheney, D.V.M

Dr. Laheney has had a long relationship with North Shore Animal League America. A lifetime resident of Port Washington, Dr. Laheney adopted his first of many “North Shore” animals at age five, and later joined NSALA's team at age15. Too young to work in the medical center, he became a kennel associate, and later a rescue team member. He left for the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he received his Bachelor of Science in pre-veterinary animal science in 1996. Dr. Laheney then went on to attend the University of Liverpool in England where he received his BVSc, MRCVS in July 2001. His veterinary travels included months spent lambing on farms in North Wales, externships in Southern Wales, Western England, and Florida, as well as various fundraising endeavors in the Netherlands. After a year in private practice where Dr. Laheney enjoyed a role working with a local municipal shelter, he returned to his roots here at the League in 2003 to pursue his interest in shelter medicine.

Kristie Souders, D.V.M

Dr. Kristie L. Souders is a graduate of the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine. She has served as associate veterinarian at Sequatchie Valley Animal Hospital in Jasper, Tennessee, and with the US Army Veterinary Service at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and with Operation Iraqi Freedom in Kirkuk, Iraq. She managed limited resources to provide medical care to over 40 working dogs in a hostile wartime environment, and persuaded leadership to support several projects to directly improve pet and community health. Dr. Souders came to North Shore Animal League America in 2008, and still serves in the US Army Reserve.

Felicia Haberfield, D.V.M

Dr. Haberfield graduated as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota. She gained shelter experience through the New York ASPCA externship program, and also worked at Fifth Avenue Veterinary Specialists in Manhattan as an associate veterinarian with a small animal medicine and surgery internship. More recently, Dr. Haberfield has served in various practices in the metropolitan area as a relief Veterinarian.

Laura Kennedy, D.V.M

Dr. Kennedy comes to us as a strong advocate for animal welfare, with a degree from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine in Edison, New Jersey, and an advanced degree in Clinical Medicine from the College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota in St. Paul. Dr. Kennedy has worked with shelter animals at Richmond SPCA, and has had experience at Park East Animal Hospital, New York Veterinary Hospital, and most recently at Banfield, The Pet Hospital in Nanuet NY, where she served as associate veterinarian.

Dr. Peter Vyorst, D.V.M

Dr. Vyorst has been a practicing small animal veterinarian for over 28 years, most recently at Lawrence Animal Hospital, in Queens, New York, and prior to that at Academy Animal Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. Dr. Vyorst studied at Ohio State University, and at the University of Parma, Italy. He also served an internship at The Animal Medical Center of New York, and is an accredited US Dept. of Agriculture veterinarian.

Kimberly Sarter, D.V.M.

Dr. Kimberly Sarter was born and raised in Queens, New York. She earned her Masters degree from Hunter College and graduated as a Doctor of Veterinarian Medicine from Ross University in St. Kitts in the Caribbean. A true animal lover, Dr. Sarter spends time with her Chihuahuas Olive and Angel, her parrot Stan and three cats – Porka, Scarface and Nim. She enjoys time with family and friends, roller blading, bike riding, martial arts and dancing.

Cara Leigh Ahn, VMD

Dr. Ahn is a Magna Cum Laude graduate of Adelphi University, and earned her Veterinary degree at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine in Philadelphia.

She has volunteered with Rural Area Veterinary Services in Pickett County Tennessee and Seminole County, Georgia, and worked with the Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society. Most recently Dr. Ahn practiced at Cape Fear Animal Hospital in Fayetteville, North Carolina.

Katerina Valen, D.V.M

Dr. Katerina Valen was raised in Queens, New York. After receiving her Bachelor’s degree from SUNY Binghamton and her Veterinary degree from Ohio State University, she is happy to be back in a state that sells pizza by the slice. Dr. Valen gained shelter experience through an internship at the Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital of the ASPCA in Manhattan.

Jennifer Vourlos, D.V.M

Dr. Jennifer Vourlos was born and raised in Staten Island, New York. She majored in Animal Science at Cornell University, and graduated with honors. Dr Vourlos earned her Veterinary degree at Tufts University. Her interests are ophthalmology, internal medicine, and feline medicine. She found her passion for shelter medicine during a summer spent at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, and as a result helped to start the Shelter Medicine Club at Tufts.