Our Team
A Team Approach to Care
At CRVS we work in small dedicated teams. A doctor and their team of technicians, assistants and receptionists are a cohesive and dedicated group of trained professionals who have spent many hours training and practicing medicine together. Working in this manner allows us to provide the best care for your pet and your family. You will feel the comfort of coming to a place where ‘we get it’ - your pet is your companion and that relationship is priceless.
CRVS Emergency Clinicians
Our Staff Veterinarians are committed to the study of emergency medicine and keep current on the latest emerging treatments within this specialty. They enjoy the intellectual challenge of managing diverse and complex medical conditions in a constantly changing, fast paced environment. These compassionate and skilled doctors we are able to provide top quality care at a moment’s notice—regardless of the emergency.
Mike Corcoran, DVM
Dr. Corcoran is a graduate of the veterinary school at Washington State University. He has worked in emergency medicine since graduation, a passion he discovered working as an assistant at a specialty practice for several years prior to veterinary school. Mike has had special training in ventilator therapy and plans to remain in emergency medicine where he enjoys the challenges and intensity of the ER.
When not at work, Mike takes his veterinary skills on the road several times a year volunteering at free clinics in developing countries with World Vets, a non-profit organization. In the local area he is an active member of veterinary organizations in Portland and Southwest Washington. Time off is usually spent in a kayak or on a road bike.
Lili Kawaminami, DVM
Dr. Kawaminami received her BS from the University of Georgia in 1991 and completed her veterinary training at the UGA College of Veterinary Medicine in 1994. After working in general practice in the Portland area, she joined the Clark County Emergency Veterinary Service (now CRVS) in 1997. She enjoys all aspects of emergency medicine, especially finding the challenge and variety of cases to be rewarding. Her areas of special interest include GI disease, infectious disease, traumas, and toxicities. She lives in north Portland with her cat and two dogs. She enjoys bicycling and has completed 13 Cycle Oregon rides to date. She is also an avid traveler and is working on re-learning Japanese.
Kevin Paskowski, DVM
Dr. Paskowski graduated from Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary
Medicine in 2000. He was drawn to veterinary medicine because of his love for animals. After graduation, he moved to the Pacific Northwest and practiced general medicine for 1 year. He found it was the diagnostic challenge that comes with working with patients that can't speak for themselves and the fast and dynamic pace of emergency medicine that he enjoyed. He was grateful for the abilitiy to educate and comfort owners, especially when dealing with critical cases and end of life care. Now he's hooked on critical care and has been practicing emergency medicine ever since. He has been working for CRVS since June of 2004.
Louis Sutton, DVM
Dr. Sutton has been at CRVS since May of 2008. After three years of general practice, he realized that he wanted to focus on helping pets and their people during times of their most urgent need, and so, he decided to enter into emergency medicine. While Dr. Sutton enjoys all aspects of emergency medicine, he is particularly interested in emergency surgery, toxicities, respiratory emergencies, and trauma. What he likes most about being a veterinarian is his constant ability to share in the human-animal bond.
Sharon Young, DVM
Dr. Young completed her undergraduate work and doctorate degree at Purdue University, receiving her DVM in 1987. She completed a rotating internship in small animal medicine and surgery at Kansas State University in 1988. Dr. Young has worked in emergency medicine at Columbia River Veterinary Specialists since 1988. What she likes best about being a veterinarian is the deep satisfaction from making a difference in the lives of her patients. In her free time, Dr. Young enjoys gardening, yoga, tai chi, and hiking.
Specialists
Michelle Savigny, DVM, MS
Diplomate American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care
Michelle graduated with her DVM from Texas A&M University in 2004. From there, she entered a small animal rotating internship at Auburn University. She stayed on at Auburn to complete her residency in small animal emergency and critical care as well as to earn her Master's degree in biomedical science. Michelle became a member of the CRVS team in August 2008. Her areas of interest include canine parvoviral enteritis, acute kidney injury, coagulopathic disorders and hemodynamic monitoring.
She is the devoted parent of many canine and feline kids, and a diehard fan of the Buffalo Sabres.
Joshua Elliott, DVM, MA
Practice Limited to Internal Medicine
Josh graduated with a degree in Marine Biology from University of California at Santa Cruz and completed his Master’s in biology in January of 1999. His experience in research led him to veterinary medicine. He found that he enjoys the fact that he can be proactive in problem solving and not just observing changes in an animal’s well being. Josh graduated from University of California at Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine in 2004. He completed a small animal rotating internship at Veterinary Medical and Surgical Group in Ventura California in 2005. His small animal Internal Medicine Residency was done at California Animal Hospital Veterinary Specialty Group in Los Angeles which was completed in July of 2008. Josh left California and settled in southern Washington shortly thereafter. Josh has a full house, including his wife, 2 kids, 2 dogs and 3 cats. He enjoys spending time with his family, going to his children’s dance lessons and hockey practices. In his occasional free time he enjoys hiking with his family.
Roberto E. Novo, DVM, MS
Diplomate American College of Veterinary Surgeons
Dr. Novo received his veterinary degree from the University of Florida and completed his surgical residency at the University of Minnesota. He was board certified by the American College of Veterinary Surgeons in 2001. Dr. Novo is particularly skilled in cardiothoracic and respiratory surgery, neurosurgery, orthopedics, and soft tissue surgeries. His special interests include maxillofacial and reconstructive surgery, cardiothoracic, and genitourinary surgery. Dr. Novo is a huge believer in the importance of nutrition in the critical and postoperative patient. He has authored a chapter in Kirk’s Current Veterinary Therapy XIV and has published articles on various topics, including stack plating for fracture repair, limited approach feeding tube placement, laryngeal paralysis, and GDV. He is also a reviewer for articles submitted to Veterinary Surgery. Outside of work, his interests include kayaking, hiking, photography, and collecting veterinary antiques.
Before joining Columbia River Veterinary Specialists, Dr. Novo was a member of the faculty of the University of Minnesota and the Division Head of the small animal surgery department.
Steve Ferreira, DVM
Diplomate American College of Veterinary Surgeons
Dr. Ferreira is originally from Arizona, but was raised in Houston, Texas. He received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine in 1994 and then worked in private practice in both Seattle and Houston for three years prior to completing a small-animal surgical residency at Denver Veterinary Specialists. During his residency, Dr. Ferreira completed and published orthopedic research focused on the effect of gas plasma sterilization on demineralized bone matrix grafts at Colorado State University and became board certified by the American College of Veterinary Surgeons in 2002. After three years as staff surgeon in a large veterinary referral practice in Denver, Dr. Ferreira moved to Medford to help establish the Southern Oregon Veterinary Specialty Center. His desire to expand emergency and specialty services in the northwest encouraged him, along with Dr. Rich Mills and Dr. Adam Reiss, to open Columbia River Veterinary Specialists in 2008.
Dr. Ferreira's special interests include general orthopedics, trauma and fracture management, TPLO stabilization for cranial cruciate ligament injury, spinal surgery for disc herniation and surgical management of abdominal disorders.
Dr. Ferreira lives in the Medford area with his wife, daughters and his black Labrador Retriever. In his spare time, he enjoys family life, golf, reading, hiking, snowboarding, music and fly fishing.
Eric Hoots, DVM, MS
Diplomate American College of Veterinary Surgeons
A native of Aztec, New Mexico, Dr. Hoots graduated magna cum laude from the Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biological Sciences in 2002. Following graduation, he completed an internship in San Diego, and a one-year surgical internship in Denver, CO. He then completed a three-year combined surgical residency and masters’ degree program at Kansas State University. During his residency, Dr. Hoots was awarded the Pet Trust House Officer Award for two consecutive years as recognition for excellence in teaching and clinical service. He has authored scientific articles on tissue-material interactions and treatment of cranial cruciate ligament rupture. Dr. Hoots became board certified in 2008. He served as a clinical instructor at the University of Pennsylvania prior to rejoining Southern Oregon Veterinary Specialty Center in 2009.
Dr. Hoots has broad training in orthopedic, neurologic and soft tissue surgery. His specific areas of surgical interest include fracture management, treatment of cranial cruciate ligament rupture via Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy (TPLO), and angular limb deformity correction. His soft tissue surgery interests include thoracic surgery, wound management and reconstruction and surgery of the head and neck such as total ear canal ablation - bulla osteotomy (TECA-BO).
In his free time, Dr. Hoots spends time with his wife, Emily, who is also a veterinarian, their dog Breezy and two cats, Rebel and Oscar. They enjoy outdoor recreation including fishing, hiking and camping.
William Rausch, DVM
Diplomate American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Cardiology)
After receiving a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida, Dr. Rausch graduated from veterinary school at the University of Wisconsin. He then spent a year in a surgery and medicine internship at the Animal Medical Center in New York City. He became board-certified in cardiology by spending three more years of post-graduate specialized training in cardiology at the North Carolina State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital under the tutelage of three cardiologists. He has published clinical research in several national journals and practiced cardiology since 2000. In his free time he enjoys
cycling, playing music, cooking, eating and playing fetch.
For more information on Cardiology services and Dr. Rausch, please visit his website at www.portlandcardio.com
Veterinary Technicians (Nurses):
Our Veterinary Technicians play a vital roll in the care of your pet while they are hospitalized. Licensed Veterinary Technicians have completed training and education to prepare them to take and pass a National Board Exam. As in a human hospital, these skilled professionals interface closely with patients and doctors, ensuring that each patient receives expert attention around the clock. They are dedicated to patient care and comfort and spend a good deal of time working one on one with their patients.Hospital Administration
Marie Xavier, LVT, Hospital Administrator
Marie completed her undergraduate work at BYU in 1990. She has worked in many different capacities throughout her many years in the field of veterinary medicine. She has managed small and large groups of people and found a real connection with the people who surround her in this field. She loves the fact that they have a certain affinity for understanding life from the unique perspective of our four-legged companions.
Later in life she returned to Concordia University to obtain her MBA. Most recently, prior to coming to CRVS, she designed and managed the building of the new DoveLewis hospital in NW Portland. The new owners of a small ER practice (EVS) recruited her at the end of 2007 to develop their practice into new Specialty Center on the North side of the Columbia River (CRVS). She feels fortunate to have recruited so many wonderfully talented people to work with her at CRVS. She is proud to say that her staff cares deeply about the work they do and the service they provide.
When not working, you would most likely find her playing with her dogs or remodeling her home with her partner.
Roz Campbell, LVT, Hospital Manager
Roz earned her BS in Animal Science from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in 2001. While in college she began working in veterinary medicine. She worked at the Central Coast Pet Emergency Clinic from 2000 – 2004, starting as a technician and eventually working her way up to Nursing Supervisor. She absolutely loves emergency medicine. In 2004 she relocated to Portland, OR, and began working at DoveLewis Emergency Animal Hospital. At DoveLewis she functioned in several capacities including ER technician, ICU technician, Medical Administration Assistant and finally the SE Hospital Manager. She left DoveLewis to begin building Columbia River Veterinary Specialists in 2008. As a typical member of the veterinary community she keeps a large herd of pets including three dogs (shepherd mix, lab mix and a collie mix), two rabbits (both were strays), a tortoise and chickens who provide her family with fresh eggs. She and her husband also have two human children ages 4 and 2.