Meet our Team

Prior to joining the Heart of Texas Dr. Vasanjee spent almost 8 years at Louisiana State University (LSU), where his last position was as Assistant Professor of Surgery. Before becoming a faculty member at LSU, Dr. Vasanjee completed a rigorous surgical residency, two surgical fellowships, an internship and a Masters degree, all at LSU. He was trained by some of the top surgeons in the country and utilized state of the art techniques and equipment. Dr. Vasanjee has published literature in peer reviewed journals related to cranial cruciate ligament rupture, hip dysplasia, liver surgery, vascular surgery and avian surgery. Dr. Vasanjee has in the past and will continue to collaborate with other board certified specialists in other fields to ensure our patients are receiving the most current and the most appropriate treatment.

Dr. Vasanjee lives in Round Rock with his wife and two children. They have one adopted Shih Tzu, Plex. Dr. Vasanjee is thrilled to be part of the HOT VSC and is honored to be able to make his skills available to the greater Austin and surrounding areas.

Dr. Ana Bascuñán was born and raised in northern Colorado. She completed veterinary school at Colorado State University knowing that she wanted to pursue Small Animal Surgery as a specialty after graduation. She was selected for a year-long internship at Texas A&M University, after which she was accepted into a residency in Small Animal Surgery at the University of Florida. She spent four years in Gainesville, Florida learning advanced surgical techniques in one of the most prestigious training programs in the country. She also completed her Master’s in Veterinary Science during her residency, including a thesis related to ACL injury. She has authored scientific publications on ACL injury, heart anomalies in cats, and various other topics. Her surgical and research interests include microsurgical techniques, minimally invasive surgery, and cardiovascular surgery.

Dr. Bascuñán is very excited to join the Heart of Texas VSC Team, and to become an active member of the Round Rock community. She looks forward to exploring Austin with her two dogs, Lola and Dolly, and making Round Rock her new home with her three cats - Elmer (the World’s Most Handsome Cat), Poppy, and Pete.

Dr. Meighan Daly DeHart graduated with honors from the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, continued on after graduation to an internship at Florida Veterinary Specialists, and then completed a medical oncology residency at Texas A&M University. She completed her board certification with the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine. She has many publications (Veterinary Comparative Oncology, Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, and the Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation) and has participated in many research studies/clinical trials.

Dr. Daly’s areas of special interest include feline oncology, complementary and alternative therapies in conjunction with traditional oncology therapies, and clinical trials. She is an active volunteer in the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM).  She enjoys the bond that forms with clients and patients during cancer treatment, and likes to maintain communication with the referring veterinarian to create a team for the patients well being. She approaches cancer in a way that focuses on the patient’s overall well-being and quality of life.  She lives in Austin with her husband, daughter, two cats, and the cutest dog in the world.

Dr. Sabina Sheppard-Olivares is a graduate of the Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, where she also worked in a veterinary oncology research laboratory for three years. After receiving three degrees from Texas A&M, she went on to complete a small animal rotating internship at VCA Veterinary Care in Albuquerque, NM, and a medical oncology residency at Kansas State University. She has contributed to several laboratory bench top and clinical research studies in the field of veterinary oncology. Dr. Sheppard enjoys connecting with all of her patients and their people, with special interests in hemangiosarcoma, targeted therapies, immunotherapy, and improving the quality of life of cancer patients through attentive supportive care. Dr. Sheppard is originally from San Antonio, TX and loves to explore the Texas Hill Country as well as savor the local cuisine and music scene. Her hobbies include reading, barre, hiking, and spending time with her husband Pablo, their dog Tara, and their recently adopted Kansas kitten- Glinda the Good Witch. 

Dr. Julia Lindholm, a Massachusetts native, spent most of her childhood growing up in the south including, Georgia, North Carolina, and Texas. She decided to stick with Texas and attended Texas A&M University for veterinary school. From there, she had a rotating medicine and surgery internship at Purdue University in Indiana, which was followed by a cardiology internship at MedVet Cincinnati in Ohio. Dr. Lindholm spent three years at Angell-MSPCA in Boston for a Cardiology Residency. During her cardiology training, she had the opportunity to work not only with cats and dogs, but also with rabbits, guinea pigs, rats, hamsters, chinchillas, ferrets, snakes, hedgehogs, meerkats, kemp's ridley and loggerhead turtles, African painted dogs, a hippo, and a gorilla. She also spent time at Boston Children's Hospital and Dell Children's Hospital, learning advanced interventional cardiology.

Outside of cardiology, Dr. Lindholm’s passion is horses. She coached the equestrian team at Texas Tech for three years and then rode hunters and jumpers full time before attending veterinary school. She still rides and hopes to have a horse of her own again very soon. Currently, Dr. Lindholm has two Manx cats and is on the lookout for a dog to fit into the mix.

Dr. Crystal Hoh is a native Texan who graduated with honors from Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine in 2006. She then completed an internship at Louisiana State University and finished specialty training and Internal Medicine board certification in 2010 with a residency and master’s degree at the University of Illinois.

After becoming board certified, Dr. Hoh practiced at a busy specialty hospital in Kansas City, KS for six years before finally returning home to Texas and joining the HOT VSC. As an internal medicine specialist, Dr. Hoh understands the importance of collaboration with other specialists as well as with primary veterinarians to provide the best patient care possible.

Her professional interests include feline medicine, infectious diseases, immune-mediated disorders, gastrointestinal diseases, and conditions where minimally invasive interventional procedures can be performed to enhance quality of life while minimizing patient stress or discomfort.

Dr. Hoh enjoys exploring shaded parks with her two Cavalier King Charles spaniels, tasting local cuisine, listening to live music, and cuddling with her three cats. Her return to Texas also brings her back to family and after having most recently lived in Kansas, she wholeheartedly agrees that “there’s no place like home.

Dr. Jennifer Sinese is from North Carolina, having completed her undergraduate and veterinary degrees at North Carolina State University.  She then spent time in General Practice in the greater Chicago area, where she developed a passion for Internal Medicine.  Dr. Sinese went on to complete an Internal Veterinary Medicine and Emergency Medicine internship with BluePearl Veterinary Partners, an Internal Medicine residency at MedVet Medical and Cancer Centers for Pets, and now joins us at HOT VSC. 

She enjoys all aspects of Internal Medicine, including collaborating with referring veterinarians and owners in a team-based approach to patient care.  Dr. Sinese shares her home with two mixed breed dogs, a feisty calico, and a cornsnake.  

Dr. Curtis grew up in Washington State, and knew from a young age that she wanted to become a veterinarian. She attended Washington State University where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience and was accepted for early admission to WSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine. It was not until her senior year of veterinary school that she found her passion for clinical veterinary neurology. Following graduation, she completed a rotating internship at a private practice in Northeast Ohio, but quickly returned to her home in the Pacific Northwest for a specialty internship in neurology that led to a private practice residency in Seattle. Her passions within neurology include spinal surgery as well as teaching and working with students, interns and her support staff.

Dr. Curtis relocated to Austin, excited to get to know a new city, with her two dogs, Maddie and Reggie. Besides veterinary medicine, Dr. Curtis is passionate about helping others find their calling, the Green Bay Packers and good Tex-Mex!

Lauren Foster received her doctorate of veterinary medicine from Mississippi State University in 2006. Afterward, she moved to the east coast, where she practiced general small animal medicine and surgery for seven years in Maryland and New York before pursuing a small animal nutrition residency at the University of Missouri in 2013. She completed her residency in 2015, and began a post-doctoral research fellowship, awarded through the Morris Animal Foundation and Blue Buffalo Cancer Foundation. She became a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Nutrition in 2017, and a certified canine rehabilitation practitioner (CCRP) in 2019. Dr. Foster joins Heart of Texas Veterinary Specialty Hospital after spending a year and a half as assistant teaching professor in small animal nutrition at the University of Missouri. She is excited to return to private practice and advance the specialties of nutrition and rehabilitation in the private sector. Lauren has a very soft spot for cats and shares her home with her husband and his cat, Jade. In her free time, Lauren loves traveling, cooking, reading and being active outdoors.

Vibha went to Arizona State University in Tempe, AZ for an undergraduate degree in Biology. She then went to Purdue University for Veterinary School and on to the University of Tennessee for a small animal rotating internship. She moved to Chicago where she was an emergency doctor for a couple years before joining the University of Missouri as a small animal Emergency and Critical Care Resident. Vibha and her husband have one eccentric beagle, Quigley, and a naughty cat, Jinx, that are a handful. They spend their free time outdoors, finding new restaurants, and spending time on the water.

Dr Cuddihy was born in Australia and grew up in DC, Seattle and Washington.  She has been with the Heart of Texas Emergency team since January 2010.  She attended Oberlin College for her undergraduate and went on to attend Washington State University for her doctorate.  Dr Cuddihy’s professional interest include both emergency and internal medicine 

In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her husband, Jonny, 3 dogs and 5 cats as well as gardening. 

Dr. Leslie Holsapple graduated from the University of Georgia, Athens in 2011.  Following graduation she completed a prestigious rotating medicine and surgery internship at VCA West Los Angeles in California.  She then practiced mixed animal medicine in rural northern California for 4 years before moving to Austin and joining the HOT team.  Dr. Holsapple married  her college sweetheart, Bradley in 2005.   They have 2 children, IslaBelle, and Zachary.  In her “spare” time she enjoys running, traveling, gardening, kayaking, and horseback riding.  While working, Dr. Holsapple enjoys the unique variety of cases that emergency medicine imparts.  She takes special interest in neurology, ophthalmology, soft-tissue surgery, and client education.   

Dr. Jill Kirschenbaum was born and raised in the south suburbs of Chicago. She started working in the veterinary field at age 16 as a kennel assistant and has never looked back. She received both her undergraduate and doctorate from the University of Illinois.

After graduation from veterinary school she went to work at a 24-hour veterinary practice in Arizona for 3 years prior to joining HOTVSC in September of 2016.  Dr. Kirschenbaum really enjoys the rigors of emergency medicine and has a heard time imagining doing anything else.

She shares her home with her various pets: Sheldon (poodle mix), Simba (cat), Frankie (rabbit), and Pepe (Bearded Dragon).  In her spare time she enjoys, traveling, trying new restaurants, and exploring Austin. 

Dr. May was born in Illinois and raised in Parker, Colorado. She has always known she wanted to be a veterinarian and started working in the field as an assistant at a mixed animal practice while completing her undergraduate degree at the University of Wyoming. She went on to attain a Master's degree in Animal Nutrition before heading to veterinary school at Western University of Health Sciences in California. During her fourth year of veterinary school, Dr. May completed an externship in Austin, fell in love with the area, and knew that was the next place to call home. Her interests in the veterinary field include nutrition and oncology. In her free time, Dr. May enjoys spending time with her boxer dog Honey, exploring new towns, shopping, and baking.

Kristina has had an interest in veterinary medicine since before she was old enough to spell those words. It was a long journey to actualize that dream, and she ultimately developed a passion for the field of emergency medicine because it is both challenging and rewarding. Dr. Miller earned a B.A. in sociology and international relations from St. Edwards University in Austin. After testing the corporate world in her respective field and finding no satisfaction, she found fulfillment as a veterinary technician at a local small animal hospital.  After two years there she set out to pursue her life's dream of becoming a veterinarian. She graduated magna cum laude with a doctorate degree from St. George's University in Grenada. Following graduation she elected to pursue an additional year of training, completing a small animal emergency focused internship at a specialty practice in Tucson, AZ. Now settled back in Austin, emergency medicine continues to be her passion and the patients are her heart. When she's not at work you can find her staying active, being outside or cuddling with her neurotic nine year old pit-bull rescue, Jolee.

Dr. Pasternak has been a veterinarian for 11 years and is active in the Capital Area Veterinary Medical Association. She is originally from California, however she completed her under grad and attended veterinary college at the University of Missouri.  She currently owns 2 German Shepherds, a beagle who runs the show and a cat.  Dr. Pasternak loves learning new things and helps pets when she can and helps their owners when she can't.

Dr. Erin Schran was born and raised in Beavercreek, Ohio. She completed her undergraduate studies at The Ohio State University (Go Bucks!) and then attained her veterinary degree from Michigan State University. After graduating, she completed a year long, rotating small animal internship at a specialty hospital in Charlotte, North Carolina. 

She practiced in the Dallas area prior to moving to Austin in 2014, where she was an overnight emergency doctor. Dr. Schran joined the Heart of Texas Emergency team in November 2015. She enjoys the challenges and surprises of emergency & critical care. 

She shares her home with her two dogs, Darby (a golden-border collie mix) and Keller (a deaf border collie) & two cats, Crash & Thunder. In her spare time, Dr. Schran loves to be active outside. She also plays competitive ultimate frisbee (she currently plays for a nationally ranked team based out of Austin).

Dr. Amy Birdwell is a lifelong Texas native. Prior to her career as a veterinarian, she earned a degree in engineering from Rice University and worked as an engineer for Texas Instruments for five years. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Texas A & M College of Veterinary Medicine in 2005. After veterinary school she completed an additional internship at VCA Emergency Animal Hospital and Referral Center in San Diego. In 2011, she completed a course in veterinary acupuncture and uses this method to help pets. She has recently completed her certification in Chinese herbal medicine (CVCH), which involves over 150 hours of continuing education, as well as review by a certified veterinarian of three acupuncture and herbal cases. More importantly, this gives her more options to treat patients when Western medicine has reached it's limits, especially with chronic conditions or if pets experience side effects from medications. When Dr. Birdwell is not treating animals, she enjoys reading and swimming, as well as spending time with husband Jason, daughter Emma, son William, dog Baby Girl and their 3 cats Jingles, Yoda and Jack