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.
Laura Nafe, DVM, MS, DACVIM–Small Animal Internal Medicine
Assistant Teaching Professor of Veterinary Internal Medicine
Board-Certified Specialist in Small Animal Internal Medicine
Laura Nafe specializes in small animal internal medicine with interests in infectious disease, immune-mediated disease, and interventional procedures. She has lectured regionally and nationally on various topics related to small animal internal medicine. She also has a passion for teaching and mentoring veterinary students and house officers.
Laura Nafe received a bachelor of science degree from Bates College in Lewiston, Maine. She then obtained her doctor of veterinary medicine degree from the University of Missouri. Following graduation, Laura Nafe completed a small animal rotating internship at North Carolina State University before returning to University of Missouri for a residency in small animal internal medicine. Following residency, Laura Nafe was a faculty member at the University of Wisconsin (2013-2014) and then Oklahoma State University (2014-2020) prior to returning to University of Missouri as an Assistant Teaching Professor in the fall of 2020.
When she isn’t working, Laura Nafe enjoys sports, outdoor activities, and spending quality time with friends and family.
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, DACVIM–Small Animal Internal Medicine
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
Samantha A. Bailey, DVM
Samantha Altemus Bailey received her doctorate from Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine. She completed a one-year small animal medicine and surgery rotating internship at BluePearl in North Houston before starting her residency in small animal internal medicine at Oklahoma State University. She is excited to complete her final year of residency at Mizzou. Her current research interest includes the coagulation cascade and her hobbies include hiking and traveling.
Jennifer Howard, DVM
Born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, Jenny received her doctorate of veterinary medicine from the University of Missouri in 2019. She then completed a one-year rotating internship in small animal medicine and surgery at Auburn University before returning to Mizzou for a residency in small animal internal medicine. Her clinical interests include respiratory and hematologic disease. Outside of work, Jenny likes to run, practice yoga, try new restaurants, and spend time with her three handsome cats Jet, Silver, and Pierre.
Julia Remaks, DVM
Dr. Julia Remaks graduated from Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine and completed her small animal rotating internship here at the University of Missouri. She is excited to stay on at Mizzou as an Internal Medicine resident and complete her training in this amazing specialty. In her spare time, she watches movies, reads novels, and loves to travel.
Interns
Charlotte Gerhard, DVM
Charlotte Gerhard graduated from Midwestern University College of Veterinary Medicine. Prior to veterinary school she worked as a certified veterinary technician in both large and small animal medicine. During her studies she found a passion for internal medicine and is now joining the Veterinary Health Center Internal Medicine Section as the specialty intern.
During her spare time she enjoys playing the guitar, hiking, and spending time with her fiancé and their two dogs Fiona Grace and Lucy Ann Lynn.
Jennifer Gamracy, BVM&S
Jennifer grew up in Western Canada before attending veterinary school at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, UK. After graduating in 2016, she completed a rotating/emergency and critical care internship at Canada West Veterinary Specialists in Vancouver, Canada. She then continued to work in ER practice in the Pacific Northwest until moving to Missouri to join the VHC Internal Medicine team as a specialty intern. Her specific clinical interests include cardio-respiratory disease and geriatric care. Outside of the clinic, Jennifer likes to hike, cycle, and run with her two rescue dogs, Bueller and Odie.
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.
Sydney Miget, RVT
Sydney Miget graduated from Murray State University in December of 2018 with a bachelor’s degree in animal science with an emphasis in animal health technology. She completed her licensure exam in June of 2019 of become a RVT. She was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, and has joined the MU VHC to continue her love of specialty care. Outside of work, Miget enjoys running, hiking, fishing, crafting and spending time with her pets.
