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
Assistant Professor
Associate Director, Comparative Internal Medicine Laboratory
Board-Certified Specialist in Small Animal Internal Medicine
Aida I. Vientós-Plotts specializes in small animal internal medicine with interest in respiratory and gastrointestinal diseases and the link between these two systems in health and disease. Her research interests include investigation of the respiratory microbiota in health and infectious or inflammatory airway diseases of dogs and cats, influence of antimicrobials and probiotics on the respiratory microbiota and distant sites. She also has a passion for promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in veterinary profession.
Vientós-Plotts received a bachelor of science degree in microbiology from Iowa State University followed by her doctor of veterinary medicine degree from Tuskegee University. Following graduation, she completed a small animal rotating internship at Auburn University and a residency in small animal internal medicine at the University of Missouri. Following residency, she completed a postdoctoral fellowship in small animal respiratory dysbiosis. She joined the MU faculty in 2020 as an assistant professor in small animal internal medicine.
Originally from San Juan, Puerto Rico, she is one of the co-founders and currently serves on the board of directors of a nonprofit organization – Veterinarians for Puerto Rico. Since its inception in 2017, this organization has facilitated more than 20,000 spays and neuters, vaccinated close to 16,000 dogs and cats, and continues to spearhead efforts to help tackle the overpopulation of dogs and cats on the island. While she wears many hats, her favorites are mama and wife. When she is not working, she enjoys spending time with her family, traveling and organizing.
Residents
Ashley Anderson, DVM
Ashley Anderson, DVM, was born and raised in Texas before moving to the Midwest where she received her doctorate from Kansas State University in 2020. During her time in vet school she developed a passion for internal medicine and became interested in specializing. She then completed a small animal medicine and surgery internship at the University of Missouri. She is excited to continue her specialty training at Mizzou as a small animal internal medicine resident. In her spare time, Anderson enjoys reading, baking, traveling, watching her favorite TV shows, and spending time with her two dogs, Scarlett and Rhett, and cat, Melly.
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 a resident.
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 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.
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.
