Cardiology Faculty Veterinarians
Stacey Leach, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Cardiology)
Chief of Cardiology
Associate Teaching Professor of Cardiology
Board-Certified Specialist in Cardiology
Stacey Leach graduated from Texas A&M University where he earned both a bachelor of science and doctor of veterinary medicine degree. He completed a small animal rotating internship in 2008 at the University of Missouri. He also completed a cardiology residency at MU in 2012 and subsequently joined the faculty as an assistant teaching professor. He is board certified by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine in the specialty of cardiology.
Kelly Wiggen, DVM, DACVIM-Cardiology
Assistant Teaching Professor of Veterinary Cardiology
Board-Certified Specialist in Veterinary Cardiology
Kelly Wiggen is a native of the Chicago area, who undertook her veterinary education from the University of Illinois, graduating with her DVM in 2015. She returned to the Chicago suburbs to complete a rotating internship at VCA Aurora Animal Hospital. She went on to complete a cardiology internship at VCA Animal Specialty and Emergency Center in Los Angeles. She completed her cardiology residency here at the University of Missouri Veterinary Health Center in July 2020 and is thrilled to stay on as faculty.
Residents
Nekesa Morey, BVM&S, MRCVS
Nekesa originally grew up in Nairobi, Kenya, before moving to the United Kingdom to complete her bachelor and veterinary degrees at The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies at the University of Edinburgh. She moved to Denver, Colorado, to complete a small animal rotating internship at Wheat Ridge Animal Hospital. She then completed a cardiology internship at Seattle Veterinary Specialists in Kirkland, Washington. She joined the University of Missouri for a cardiology residency in July 2020. She loves to spend her free time cycling, hiking and running outdoors.
Alix Saavedra, DVM
Alix Saavedra was born in Colombia and was raised in Orlando, Florida. She moved to Saint Kitts to pursue her veterinary degree at Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine with her clinical year spent at Colorado State University. She then completed a small animal rotating internship at BluePearl Pet Hospital in Tampa, Florida. She undertook a cardiology internship at Southwest Florida Veterinary Specialists in Bonita Springs, Florida, and joined the University of Missouri in July of 2022 to pursue a cardiology residency. She loves to spend her free time hiking, drawing, and hanging out with her cats and bearded dragon.
Intern
Elizabeth Martin, DVM
Elizabeth Martin originally grew up near Dallas, Texas. She completed her undergraduate degree in biomedical sciences and veterinary degree at Texas A&M University. She then moved to Blacksburg, Virginia, and completed a rotating internship followed by a cardiology specialty internship at Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine (Virginia Tech). She joined the University of Missouri for a cardiology specialty internship in July 2022. Martin enjoys indoor and outdoor cycling and taking her blue heeler mix, Allie, on outdoor adventures.
Cardiology Staff
Alyssa Langsdorf, RVT, SRT, LATG, Veterinary Technician
Alyssa Langsdorf was born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada, where she received her veterinary technology degree from College of Southern Nevada in 2010. Shortly after graduating, Alyssa moved to Columbia, Missouri and worked in research for over 7 years. During that time, Alyssa earned her Laboratory Animal Technologist (LATG) certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) and her Surgical Research Technician (SRT) certification from the Academy of Surgical Research. Alyssa joined the University of Missouri Veterinary Health Center in March 2018 and is looking forward to gaining her Veterinary Technician Specialty (VTS) in Cardiology.
