Veterinarians
Ronald Lyman, DVM, Diplomate ACVIM
Dr. Ronald Lyman is the founder and president of the Animal Emergency and Referral Center located in Fort Pierce, Florida. He is also the specialist for internal medicine, neurology and neurosurgery at the Center.
A graduate of Ohio State University's College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Lyman completed an internship at the Animal Medical Center in New York City. Subsequently, he completed residencies in Internal Medicine, Neurology, and Neurosurgery at the Animal Medical Center in New York City, Ohio State University, and the University of Florida. He also played an active role at the University of Florida's College of Veterinary Medicine in the instruction of veterinary students. Dr. Lyman is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
At the Animal Emergency and Referral Center, Dr. Lyman leads daily hospital rounds. During rounds, all hospitalized patients are examined, their cases discussed, and treatment planned by multiple veterinary specialists as well as the hospital's technical staff.
Dr. Lyman's veterinary pursuits also extend outside of the Center. He coordinates the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine's (ACVIM) research abstracts review articles for DVM Magazine. He is also the author or co-author of several book chapters and scientific journal articles on subjects related to clinical veterinary medicine. These include two articles describing intraoperative ultrasonographic techniques and their contributions toward decision making during spinal surgery.
Additionally, Dr. Lyman is a regular speaker and presenter at the ACVIM Forum, the yearly scientific meeting for international specialists in veterinary internal medicine and neurology. He also presented the keynote address at the 2007 Alumni Continuing Education Conference at Ohio State University's College of Veterinary Medicine. That same year, he received the College's Alumni Recognition Award.
Lesley Phillips, DVM
Dr. Lesley Phillips graduated from Ohio State University's College of Veterinary Medicine. This was followed by what she describes as a valuable one-year internship in animal medicine and surgery at the prestigious Animal Medical Center in New York City. In 1986, following her internship, she joined the Animal Emergency and Referral Center team and was selected for a three-year surgical residency at the University of Florida.
An experienced soft tissue and orthopedic surgeon, one of Dr. Phillips' areas of professional interest and specialization includes hepatic microvascular dysplasia (HMD). Her interest in this disease led her to co-author a chapter on HMD in the 2000 Edition of Current Veterinary Therapy XIII. Her expertise has enabled the Animal Emergency and Referral Center to use intraoperative video fluoroscopy when treating cases of HMD or macroscopic portosystemic shunts.
Dr. Phillips also specializes in laser surgery, laparoscopy, and thoracoscopy. Laser surgery procedures minimize bleeding, swelling and pain and are ideal for feline declawing, ear masses/ablation, skin masses, lick granulomas and a variety of other surgical procedures. Laparoscopy and thoracoscopy enable doctors to obtain biopsies of the liver and lung (respectively) with minimally invasive techniques.
In all, Dr. Phillips finds her work at AERC to be challenging and rewarding. She is also one of the reasons why AERC has become a major resource for veterinary referrals from practices all over the United States.
Aside from her professional duties at the Animal Emergency and Referral Center, Dr. Phillips enjoys hiking, crafts and spending time with her two yellow Labradors named Carmen and Julie, her parrot named Pippin and her macaw named Gator.
Pierre Bichsel, DVM, Diplomate ECVN/ACVIM (Neurology)
Dr. Pierre Bichsel is a graduate of the veterinary program at the University of Berne in Berne, Switzerland.
After earning his veterinary degree, Dr. Bichsel completed a one year assistantship in a small animal private practice followed by six years working within a variety of departments at the University of Berne. This included an internship in the University's small animal clinic, diagnostic and research work in the rabies control center, and clinical work and research at the Institute for Animal Neurology.
Dr. Bichsel then moved to the United States where he completed a three year residency in Neurology with Dr. John E. Oliver, DVM MS Ph.D., in Athens, Georgia. He then returned to Switzerland as an assistant professor in clinical neurology at the University of Berne. A few years later, he opened his own private veterinary practice in Geneva, Switzerland.
Subsequently, Dr. Bichsel was lured back to the United States to join Dr. Ronald Lyman's team here at the Animal Emergency and Referral Center.
Among his many credentials, Dr. Bichsel is a Diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Neurology and a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Neurology). His fields of expertise involve neurological diagnosis, electrodiagnostic testing, neuroradiology, and neurosurgery in dogs and cats.
Dr. Bichsel is the author of more than 30 publications and regularly presents at conferences in the United States and around the world.
Robert Runde, DVM
Dr. Robert Runde attended Boston University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Biology in 1996. Following his undergraduate studies, Dr. Runde was admitted to the University of Pennsylvania's School of Veterinary Medicine and was awarded his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in 2001.
Dr. Runde has been an associate veterinarian at Animal Emergency and Referral Center since 2004. Prior to his arrival at the Animal Emergency and Referral Center, he completed a medicine and surgery internship at Hollywood Animal Hospital in Hollywood, Florida.
Dr. Runde is the author of several articles published in DVM Magazine. He completed his Internal Medicine Residency training in August of 2010.
Davin Borde, DVM, Diplomate ACVIM (Cardiology)
Dr. Borde is a graduate of the University of Florida, College of Veterinary Medicine, and completed a small animal medicine and surgery internship at the University of Tennessee's College of Veterinary Medicine. He completed a three year cardiology residency at the Veterinary Heart Institute and has written several book chapters and lectured across the United States and the Caribbean.
Dr. Borde leads a Cardiac Clinic Service at AERC where is available to treat companion animals by referral from the primary care veterinarian.
Michael Canfield, DVM
A southern Mississippi native, Dr. Michael Canfield spent a number of years working as an electrician at the Ingalls Shipyard in Pascagoula, Mississippi, and is proud to have played a role in the building of several ships for the U.S. Navy.
While employed as an electrician, Dr. Canfield began his undergraduate studies at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College and subsequently transferred to Mississippi State University to complete his undergraduate studies. After graduation, he entered Mississippi State University's College of Veterinary Medicine where he graduated with a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine and an eagerness to practice small animal medicine.
During his veterinary school years, Dr. Canfield developed a special interest in veterinary dermatology, which flourished during his years as a small animal clinician. Ultimately, he accepted an American College of Veterinary Dermatology approved dermatology residency with an Animal Dermatology Clinic in Tustin, California. After three years of intense training, Dr. Canfield completed his residency.
In addition to his work with us, he treats dermatology cases at a practice in Marietta, Georgia, and practices as a small animal clinician at the Animal Hospital of Regency Park in New Port Richey, Florida.
Dr. Canfield's dermatological specialization includes the diagnosis and treatment of allergic skin diseases, ear diseases, and endocrinopathies (hormone-related diseases). Additionally, he enjoys traditional surgery, cryosurgery, laser surgery, and internal medicine.
Dr. Canfield is a proud husband and father of three children.
Burchell Clemons, DVM
Dr. Burchell Clemons is a graduate of Auburn University's College of Veterinary Medicine. He is a native of Fort Pierce, Florida, and has worked with Animal Emergency and Referral Center since 1988.
Dr. Clemons is involved with the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Treasure Coast Veterinary Medical Association, and is a member of the Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society.
Cindy Wasserman, DVM, JD
Dr. Cindy Wasserman is an Emergency Veterinarian that has been with Animal Emergency and Referral Center since January of 2010.
A native of Whitestone, New York, Dr. Wasserman says that at a very young age she first started reading James Herriot, the author of a series of books commonly referred to as All Creatures Great and Small. “I read his stories and was captivated by the life of a veterinarian,” she says. “Then one morning while waiting for the school bus someone asked if I would hold their kitten for a minute while they ran back to get something. They never returned! I missed school that day and I had to hide the kitten in my bedroom for a couple of weeks while I gave him medications a veterinarian had prescribed. It all was going great until my allergic mom started sneezing like crazy. We ended up bringing the kitten to Bide-A-Wee, but that was the moment when I knew I had to become a veterinarian.”
In 1982, Dr. Wasserman earned her Bachelor of Science in Microbiology from the University of Florida and subsequently entered the University of Florida's College of Veterinary Medicine. She received her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in 1986 and lists veterinary law, veterinary emergency medicine, and general practice as areas of particular professional focus. She is also a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association and the American Veterinary Medical Law Association. Beyond her medical training, she also holds a Juris Doctorate (law degree).
Dr. Wasserman's animal family includes a Schnauzer named Lulu rescued from a puppy mill in Pennsylvania, a Bully breed named Tinkerbell saved from being euthanized, a Rat Terrier named Gracie that has a passion for swimming, two black cats named Ernie and Joe, a rather shy cat named Lemmy, and a Cockatiel named Screech that was left in her care when the original owner didn't want it back.
Dr. Wasserman is also mom to two kids, Justin, an avid skateboarder born in 1994, and Michael, born in 1991 who is a drummer and guitarist with an interest in horticulture. Her interests include reading, bike riding, and spending time at the beach.
Eric Wilkening, DVM
Dr. Eric Wilkening is an Emergency Veterinarian that has been with the Animal Emergency and Referral Center since January of 2011.
A native of Port St. Lucie, Florida, Dr. Wilkening attended Indian River Community College and then the University of Florida for his undergraduate studies. During college, he was awarded the Florida Sea Grant Scholarship and the Edwin Link Distinguished Scholar Award. In 2003, he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology and Cell Science. He then enrolled in the University of Florida’s College of Veterinary Medicine where he graduated with a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in 2008.
Other than emergency and critical care medicine, Dr. Wilkening’s areas of professional interest include neurology and surgery. He is also a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association and has volunteered for Project HEAL in Ecuador, spay/neuter and rabies vaccination clinics in Mexico, and at the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute.
His pets include two cats Pauck and Elliot, both of which were found behind a dumpster in St. Augustine. Dr. Wilkening’s interests include riding, racing, rebuilding motorcycles, travel, cooking, carpentry and reading.