Internal Medicine Faculty Veterinarians
Leah A. Cohn, DVM, PhD, DACVIM–Small Animal Internal Medicine
Professor and Small Animal Internal Medicine Service Chief
Board-Certified Specialist in Small Animal Internal Medicine
Leah Cohn specializes in small animal internal medicine with special interests in the treatment of infectious, immune-mediated, and respiratory diseases. She has a particular focus on developing better prevention and treatment of feline cytauxzoonosis, commonly known as bobcat fever, which was first documented in Missouri in the 1970s.
Cohn received her bachelor’s degree and doctor of veterinary medicine from the University of Tennessee. She completed an internship and residency in small animal medicine and surgery at North Carolina State University, along with a PhD in veterinary microbiology and immunology.
Cohn is a former president and chair of the Board of Regents of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine. When she isn’t working, she loves to spend time with her husband and children, as well her dogs, cats, chickens, goats, sheep and llamas.
Amy E. DeClue, DVM, MS, DACVIM–Small Animal Internal Medicine
Associate Professor of Veterinary Internal Medicine
Board-Certified Specialist in Small Animal Internal Medicine
Amy DeClue specializes in small animal internal medicine with interests in sepsis, critical care and endocrinology. She has lectured nationally and internationally on sepsis and endocrinology, and has published numerous manuscripts and book chapters on those subjects. Her current research focuses on the innate immune response to pathogens and developing biomarkers for identification of disease.
DeClue received her bachelor’s and doctor of veterinary medicine degrees from the University of Illinois. She spent three years in small animal practice before completing a residency in small animal internal medicine and graduate degree at the University of Missouri. She has completed a postdoctoral fellowship with a focus on the immunopathogenic mechanisms of endotoxemia and endotoxin-induced lung injury.
When she isn’t working, DeClue enjoys nature and activities including running, hiking, skiing (water and snow), SCUBA diving, kayaking, swimming, cooking, eating and watching documentary films.
Carol Reinero, DVM, PhD, DACVIM– Small Animal Internal Medicine
Professor and Director, Comparative Internal Medicine Laboratory
Board-Certified Specialist in Small Animal Internal Medicine
Carol Reinero specializes in small animal internal medicine with special interests in respiratory medicine and a particular focus on lower airway disorders and interstitial lung diseases. Her research interests include investigations of novel diagnostics and therapeutics for feline asthma and the canine and feline respiratory microbiome. She also collaborates with other clinician scientists to characterize immune responses in cancer and neurodegenerative disorders, even those not directly related to the lungs.
Reinero received a doctor of veterinary medicine and PhD in immunology from the University of California, Davis, where she also completed a small animal internal medicine residency.
She is a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine and a former president of the Veterinary Comparative Respiratory Society.
When she isn’t working, she enjoys traveling, cooking, reading and teaching her two children all about the lung.
Aida Vientós-Plotts, DVM
Post-Doctoral Fellow
Aida Vientós-Plotts received her doctorate from Tuskegee University School of Veterinary Medicine in 2014. She completed a one-year internship in small animal medicine and surgery at Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine before coming to Mizzou for a residency in small animal internal medicine. Vientós-Plotts’ special interests include the respiratory microbiome and its role in respiratory diseases, in particular feline asthma and canine bacterial pneumonia.
Residents
Kristen Merrill, DVM
Kristen Merrill received her bachelor’s degree from Arizona State University and her doctor of veterinary medicine from Iowa State University. She completed a small animal rotating internship at Iowa State University. Coming to MU for a residency in small animal internal medicine, Kristen has special interests in gastrointestinal and hepatic diseases.
Matthew B. Hull, DVM
Matthew B. Hull is originally from Omaha, Nebraska. He undertook his undergraduate and veterinary training at Kansas State University. He completed a rotating internship at Purdue University before moving to the University of Illinois to complete a specialty internship in internal medicine. His interests focus on gastroenterology, pancreatic and hepatobiliary disease, and clinical nutrition.
In his free time he enjoys hiking with his dogs, watching college football and basketball, golfing, and competing with his horse in three day eventing.
Interns
Betsy Hernandez, DVM
Betsy Hernandez graduated from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine and completed her clinical year at Tufts University. She recently completed a small animal rotating internship at VCA Emergency Animal Hospital and Referral Center in San Diego, California, before moving to Missouri to join the Veterinary Health Center Internal Medicine Section as the specialty intern. During her spare time she enjoys going on hikes, short jogs, and cooking.
Alba Stavri, DVM, MPH
Alba Stavri is a multiple-time graduate of the University of Missouri. She earned a bachelor’s degree in biological engineering, as well as a doctor of veterinary medicine and master of public health at Mizzou. Stavri completed a large animal rotating internship at MU followed by a private practice internship in Melbourne, Florida, before returning. She has a particular interest in cardiology, but is eager to help clients and pets manage all chronic diseases.
Outside of work Stavri enjoys rock climbing, biking, SCUBA diving, water sports and activities, and playing fetch with her two dogs, Kramer and Leonard.
Veterinary Technicians
Matt Haight, RVT (Small Animal Internal Medicine)
Matt Haight is the senior technician for internal medicine. A graduate of Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Haight has worked at MU’s VHC since 1992. He is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the Veterinary Blood Donor Program: selecting all of the dog and cat donors, ensuring their health and care, performing all blood collection, and finding great homes for them when they retire from service.
Savannah Smith, RVT (Small Animal Internal Medicine)
Savannah E. Smith is a technician for internal medicine. She received a degree in veterinary technology from Crowder College in Neosho, Missouri. She completed an internship at MU’s VHC and worked in private practice before joining the Small Animal Internal Medicine service in 2014.
