Hospital Information

Meet Our Doctors

Portrait of Sarah Bernat, VMD

Sara Bernat, VMD

Dr. Bernat graduated with her VMD from The University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine in 1998. Her professional interests include surgery, ultrasound, and internal medicine. She is a member of the AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association), AAHA (American Animal Hospital Association), and the NYSVMS (New York State Medical Society).
Portrait of Corey Biesinger, DVM

Corey Biesinger, DVM

Dr. Biesinger began his veterinary career as a Veterinary Assistant here at Green Acres while pursuing his Pre-Veterinarian degree from Medaille College. He then graduated from The Ontario Veterinary College in 2013. He has assisted in spay/neuter clinics in India and Thailand and plans to return in the near future. Dr. Biesinger’s interests include ultrasound, radiology, and surgery.

Samantha Harack, DVM

Green Acres Veterinary Center
Dr. Harack is a Western NY native from North Tonawanda. She received her Bachelors of Science in Biology at Niagara University in 2015, and received her D.V.M from The Ohio State University in 2020. Her experience in school includes: completing a Business Minor at The Ohio State University Fisher College of Business, being a student ambassador for OSU, assisting in a spay/neuter trip to Costa Rica, and being a Hill’s Pet Nutrition Primary student representative. Dr. Harack’s medical interests include: oncology, soft tissue and orthopedic surgery, emergency and critical care. Her professional associations include being a member of AVMA, being fear free certified, and recover CPR certified. Dr. Harack’s personal interests include watching OSU football (Go Bucks!), and staying active in volleyball, softball, and snowboarding. She currently lives with her fiancé, Jeffrey and her 6 year-old Jack Russel Terrier Mix named Echo.
Dr. Chloe Karson

Chloe Karson, BVMS, DACVIM

Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine,
Green Acres Veterinary Center
Dr. Chloe Karson is a board certified small animal neurologist and neurosurgeon. She studied abroad and graduated with commendation from the University of Glasgow College of Veterinary Medicine.  Following veterinary school she returned to the USA and completed a small animal rotating internship, neurology internship, and neurology/neurosurgery residency at Metropolitan Veterinary Hospital in Copley, Ohio.  Her primary interests include neurosurgery, CNS autoimmune disease, and epilepsy management.
Dr. Mathew MacCormick

Mathew MacCormick, DVM, DACVS

Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Surgeons (Small Animal),
Green Acres Veterinary Center
Dr. Mathew MacCormick is from Ontario, Canada and attended the Ontario Veterinary College.  He completed a small animal rotating internship at Veterinary Specialists and Emergency Services in Rochester, New York, followed by a small animal surgery internship and subsequent residency at Metropolitan Veterinary Hospital in Akron, Ohio. In March of 2025, he became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons (Small Animal). Dr. MacCormick has been published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association as well as the Veterinary Surgery. Dr. MacCormick has been trained in all facets of veterinary surgery, but holds particular interest in orthopedic surgery and arthroscopy.  In his spare time, he enjoys cycling, scuba diving, and spending time with his wife and canine children.

Shannon Palermo, VMD, DACVIM

Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine,
Green Acres Veterinary Center
Dr. Shannon Palermo graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Palermo completed her internal medicine residency at the Matthew J. Ryan Veterinary Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. While in school, she was the president of the Penn Vet Shelter Medicine Club, where she was a recipient of the SVAVMA Community Outreach Excellence Award. Her volunteer work didn’t end there. She also worked with Hand2Paw, working with at-risk youth and shelter animals to help them see a better future. Dr. Palermo has been in the veterinary field for eight years, active both professionally and academically with several published articles to her name. Dr. Palermo also works with Mission Rabies, a non-profit organization committed to helping vaccinate dogs in parts of the world where Rabies is pervasive.
Paul Harper, DVM

Paul Harper, DVM

Green Acres Veterinary Center
Dr. Paul Harper was born and raised in Buffalo, NY.  He attended the Ohio State University for his undergraduate education and graduated from the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine.  After graduation, Dr. Harper returned to the Buffalo-Niagara area to practice small animal medicine. He is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the American Animal Hospital Association, the American Association of Feline Practitioners, Western New York Veterinary Medical Association, and the Niagara Veterinary Medical Association. His areas of interest include orthopedic surgery (fracture repair, TPLO, MPL, etc), soft tissue surgery, and emergency/critical care.
Dr. Cody Howard

Cody Howard, DVM

Green Acres Veterinary Center
Dr. Cody Howard was born in Salyersville, Kentucky, and is a graduate of Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine. He obtained his bachelor’s degree from Morehead State University. His professional and medical interests are in leadership, emergency and critical care, surgery, and endoscopy. Dr. Howard enjoys going on adventures with his wife, daughter, and rescue dog Briar. He enjoys serving at his local Church, and he is an avid weightlifter and gamer. Proverbs 3:5-6
Dr. Jamie Rottstock

Jamie Rottstock, DVM

Dr. Rottstock is a graduate from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine class of 2007. She completed her clinical studies at Louisiana State University and received a Bachelor’s in Science of Biology from the University of Puerto Rico. She has an interest in Emergency Medicine, Internal Medicine and Anesthesia. She is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association and the NYS Veterinary Medical Society. She moved to Buffalo in 2018 with her husband and daughter accompanied by her rescue dog “Nietzsche” and cat “Baby Kitty”. She enjoys spending time with her family hiking, traveling and watching blockbusters.
Dr. Lindsey Tanalski

Lindsey Tanalski, DVM

Dr. Tanalski is originally from Long Island, NY but fell in love with western NY after attending the University at Buffalo where she received a degree in Biology with a minor in Medical Anthropology. She then received her D.V.M. from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign College of Veterinary Medicine in 2021. At Illinois, she worked with the resident wildlife animals, volunteered with the Veterinary Leadership Institute, and enjoyed outreach in the local community. Her veterinary interests include surgery, internal medicine, oncology, and pathology. She is a Fear Free certified professional, recover CPR certified, and a member of the AVMA.

Amanda Gerard, DVM

Green Acres Veterinary Center
Dr. Gerard graduated from Dickinson College earning a Bachelor of Science in Biology and History. She then went on to earn her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine at Iowa State University in 2013. Upon graduation, Dr. Gerard completed an internship in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery at Iowa State and an Internal Medicine residency at the Atlantic Veterinary College (Prince Edward Island, Canada). She has previously worked in Massachusetts and Utah. She joins the Green acres family with years of experience in internal medicine, oncology, ultrasound, endoscopy, and computed tomography (CT).

Joshua Reeder DVM

Green Acres Veterinary Center
Originally from Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, Dr. Reeder went to Albright College for his Bachelor of Science degree. He then attended the Atlantic Veterinary College (PEI Canada) for his DVM. His professional interests include emergency/critical care and surgery. He has one dog, a 3 year old boxer named Phoenix.

Derek Haley, DVM

Green Acres Veterinary Center
Dr. Derek Haley was raised in Fayetteville, Georgia. He received his Bachelor of Arts from Hampshire College in Massachusetts where he studied film and animal behavior. He then received his D.V.M. from the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine in 2022. Dr. Haley’s professional interests include emergency/critical care, behavioral medicine, and soft tissue surgery. He is a Fear Free certified professional and a member of the AVMA. Dr. Haley’s personal interests include photography, sailing, and rock climbing. He also enjoys spending lots of time with his German Shepherd named Freja.
Dr. Moore

Kiera Moore, DVM

Green Acres Veterinary Center
Dr. Moore is from Ontario, Canada. She attended the University of Guelph and completed her bachelor’s degree in Animal Biology. She travelled to the Caribbean and received her Doctorate from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, and then completed her clinical year at Purdue University in Indiana. Buffalo allows her the opportunity to be close to family but also gain the most experience in emergency medicine. She is Fear Free Certified and Recover CPR certified. Her veterinary interests are emergency and shelter medicine. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, marine wildlife, and spending time with her Australian shepherd.
portrait of Samantha Murray, VMD

Samantha Murray, VMD

VMD, DACVIM – Internal Medicine,
Green Acres Veterinary Center
Dr. Murray attended the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, graduating in 2001. She received the Auxiliary to the Pennsylvania Veterinary Medical Association prize and the Small Animal Award. Dr. Murray completed her residency in small animal internal medicine at the Matthew J. Ryan Veterinary Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania from 2002-2004. She also completed a rotating internship in small animal medicine and surgery from 2001-2002. Dr. Murray is a member of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine and the American Veterinary Medical Association. Dr. Murray’s professional interests include hepatic disease, gastrointestinal disease, and immune-mediated disease. In her spare time, she enjoys running, cycling, and hiking, as well as spending time with her husband and children.

Lindsay Shevlin – VMD

VMD,
Green Acres Veterinary Center
Dr. Shevlin first worked at Green Acres Veterinary Center as a Veterinary Assistant while pursuing her Bachelors degree in Biology.  She moved on to get her VMD from the University of Pennsylvania.  Dr. Shevlin continued her studies with a rotating internship in small animal medicine and surgery at Oradell animal hospital.  She has since moved back to Buffalo to work as an emergency doctor and has professional interests in critical care and ultrasound.
Dr. Kristina Toth

Kristina Toth, DVM

Green Acres Veterinary Center
Dr. Toth grew up in Toronto, Ontario and received her Bachelor of Science from the University of Guelph. She then went on to graduate with her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the Ontario Veterinary College in 2017. She completed a small animal rotating internship at IndyVet Veterinary Emergency and Specialty Hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana. Her areas of clinical interest include emergency and critical care, and she is the proud pet parent of 2 cats and 1 dog. Outside of work, Dr. Toth loves spending time with her family and friends, hiking with her dog, staying active at the gym, and traveling.

Hospital Tour

Getting Ready for Your Appointment

No Appointment Needed for Emergencies

If your pet is experiencing a veterinary emergency, there is no appointment required. Please make your way to the hospital and call the front desk so our team can prepare for your arrival.

We offer appointments 7 days a week! Please call (716) 694-0122 to schedule an appointment, or use our virtual assistant Sophie in the bottom right corner to schedule an appointment online! 

Got Records?

Please bring your pet's health records to your appointment.

Questions? We Have Answers!

We encourage you to prepare a list of questions prior to your appointment. We're happy to share advice on grooming, diet, behaviors, and more.

Pro Tip: Take a Picture or Video

Take a picture or video! An itch, cough, or shake can be hard to describe, and our pets often don't do things at the vet that we see them do at home. A picture or video can really help our vets narrow down what's going on.

Snacky Pets Encouraged

If possible, don't feed your pet right before a visit. We may use treats to help your pet feel comfortable with us, and we want every appointment to be a positive one!

The GAVC Difference

Convenience

  • Drop Off Appointments

    For your convenience, we offer “drop-off” appointments. This means you have the option to bring your pet in at the time that works best for you, and leave him/her with us for a couple of hours. Once the doctor has examined your pet, you will receive a call to go over the exam findings. From that point we will organize a pick up time for your pet.

  • Concierge Appointments

    Need some help getting your pet inside? We also offer concierge appointments: simply let the front desk know before your appointment that you would like help with your furry friend, and a member of our team will meet you at your car to help bring your pet inside!

Accessibility

  • Virtual Assistant

    Our virtual assistant, Sophie, is available 24/7 to help with appointment requests, online food and medication refills, and other common questions. With Sophie, help is always within paw’s reach!

  • Walk-In Lobby

    Our hospital features a walk-in lobby with a covered, doorside drop-off area to support easier arrival for clients and pets. This allows for convenient access in all weather conditions (including snowy Buffalo winters!) and additional assistance when needed.

Less Stress, More Tail Wags & Purrs!

We know vet visits can be stressful — for pets and their people! At GAVC, we use a combination of comfort-focused design and gentle care practices to help every visit feel calmer and more comfortable for your furry friend.

Happy Visits

Sometimes a visit is just about building trust! We offer free Happy Visits during our regular business hours, which let your pet stop by for treats, praise, and positive experiences with our team — no exams required — so the clinic becomes a place they feel good about.

Non-Slip Flooring

Secure footing matters. Our non-slip flooring helps pets feel steady and confident as they move through the hospital, reducing fear and preventing slips or falls.

Calm Music

Soft, calming music plays throughout the hospital to help reduce stress and create a soothing atmosphere. It’s a small detail that can make a big difference for anxious pets.

PVPs (Pre-Visit Pharmaceuticals)

For pets who need a little extra support, pre-visit pharmaceuticals can help take the edge off anxiety before they arrive. Used thoughtfully and safely, they make appointments smoother and less stressful for everyone involved.

Pheromones

We use calming pheromones throughout the hospital to help pets feel more relaxed in an unfamiliar environment. These scent signals are species-specific and naturally reassuring.

Quiet Exam Rooms

Our exam rooms are designed to be calm, quiet spaces with minimal distractions. Less noise and movement means pets can settle in more easily and feel secure during their visit.

Policies

For your protection and the safety of your pet and others, we require that all patients be placed on a leash, or contained in pet carriers. All pets are to be properly controlled while in the waiting room and the exam room.

We accept cash, Mastercard/VISA/Discover/American Express and CareCredit. Payment is expected when services are rendered. We will gladly prepare you a written estimate of services prior to the treatment of your pet if you desire. 

In urgent or emergency situations, a pet may require immediate stabilization or life-saving care before a full treatment plan can be discussed. This can include initial diagnostics, pain control, fluid therapy, oxygen support, or other appropriate interventions necessary to stabilize your pet so that further evaluation and treatment can be provided safely. In these cases, you will be asked to review and sign a stabilization consent form that outlines possible services and associated costs.

Please don’t hesitate to speak with us if you have questions about emergency care, financial policies, or how we handle urgent situations. Your peace of mind matters to us.

 

Payments

Payment options for hospital services include Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, and cash. 

We also accept CareCredit financing.

WHY GREEN ACRES VETERINARY CENTER?

We always welcome new clients to our practice, and we look forward to building a life-long partnership with you and your pet. Our staff and doctors provide AAHA Accredited physical examinations, vaccines, surgery, including spay and neuter, emergency services, in house pharmacy, in house laboratory diagnostics, laser surgery, laser therapy, ultrasound, digital x-ray, and boarding.

Accreditation & Continuing Education

Green Acres Animal Hospital is proudly accredited by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), a distinction earned by only about 14% of veterinary hospitals nationwide. AAHA accreditation requires compliance with over 900 standards of care, reflecting our commitment to quality, safety, and excellence in veterinary medicine.

Our veterinarians are active members of the Buffalo Academy of Veterinary Medicine and the American Veterinary Medical Association. Continuing education is a priority at our hospital, and our team regularly participates in both local and national learning opportunities to stay current with best practices for your pet’s care.

AAHA Accredited/ Standard of Veterinary Excellence Mark
American Veterinary Medical Association Logo
Buffalo Academy of Veterinary Medicine Logo