Meet Our Team!
Meet the Veterinarians and team of Rocky Gorge Animal Hospital! We’re pleased to provide exceptional vet care for your pets!
Serving The CommunityMeet Our Veterinarians
Dr. Marisa Pasekoff
Managing Veterinarian & Partner
Interest: General Medicine
Biography: Dr. Pasekoff, a Miami, Florida native, joined the Rocky Gorge team in 2002. Her medical interests are focused on all aspects of canine and feline primary care. In her spare time, Dr. Pasekoff enjoys reading, music, and spending time with her family. She has three dogs — Emerson, Zero, and Wilson.
Dr. Tracy Appelbaum
Medical Director & Partner
Interest: General Medicine
Biography: Dr. Appelbaum, a West Laurel native, truly grew up at Rocky Gorge. Her family has come here for veterinary care her whole life, and she’s worked with us both before and after obtaining her veterinary degree. Dr. Appelbaum’s areas of interest are internal medicine, dermatology, and ultrasound. She has one dog named Hobbes.
Dr. Lindsay Lane
Interest: General Medicine
Biography: Dr. Lane is a Laurel native and has been a member of the Rocky Gorge family since she started as a technician in 1998. She grew up in the area, too, attending Pallotti High School and getting her Bachelors in Animal Science from the University of Maryland. She jumped at the chance to come back and join as a Veterinarian after graduating with her DVM from St. Matthew’s University (Cayman Islands) and the University of Minnesota in 2013. Dr. Lane, who has always wanted to be a veterinarian, loves her clients, patients, and especially the fantastic team she gets to work with every single day. Her fun personality and passion for veterinary medicine help to make her a valuable team member at Rocky Gorge. She wants nothing but the best for her patients! Dr. Lane has 2 dogs, Linus and Ricky (both were adopted through RGAH), a cat, Peanut, her old horse, Toby, a very patient and understanding hubby, Kevin, and the most amazing, fun little girl, Josephine.
Dr. Nelson Bricker
Partner
Interest: Emergency, Exotic Care
Biography: Dr. Bricker, a Litchfield, Connecticut native, joined the Rocky Gorge family in 2012. He specializes in emergency medicine and is our go-to for exotic animal care. Dr. Bricker enjoys hikes, photography, gardening, and working with conservationists and rescuers. His family has a cat – Izzy, two frogs – Bill and Ted, a gecko – Spike, two skunks – Juan and Andy, and a dog – Ivy.
Dr. Steven Wolchinsky
Interest: Internal medicine, cardiology, diagnostic imaging, and many other exceptional advances.
Biography: Dr. Steven Wolchinsky, a Brooklyn, New York native, migrated to Maryland in 1987 and purchased Rocky Gorge Animal Hospital. The hospital has grown to seventeen doctors and approximately one hundred employees. He is the Laurel City Veterinarian, on the board of trustees at the McDonogh School, and on the Board of directors at Vista Del Mar. He is an Advisory Board Member for the Grey Muzzle Organization and VitusVet. He enjoys all aspects of canine and feline medicine, but he has special interests in internal medicine, cardiology, diagnostic imaging, and many other cutting-edge advances. He serves as an advisor to a number of veterinary startups as well as established veterinary companies. His passions outside of Veterinary medicine are coaching baseball, teaching financial literacy to young adults, and helping veterinary practices implement the latest technological advances. Dr. Wolchinsky and his wife have three children: a black Labrador, two cats, and a snake.
Dr. Emily Bishop
Interest: General Medicine & Surgery
Biography: Dr. Bishop joined the Rocky Gorge team in 2016 as a technician but returned as a doctor after graduating from the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine in 2020. She is interested in surgery and believes in a pragmatic patient care approach, with medicine tailored to a patient’s individualized needs. As a former college athlete, Dr. Bishop is always looking for opportunities to be outside and be active in her free time.
Dr. Karen Farnan
Associate Veterinarian
Interest: General Medicine & Surgery
Biography: Dr. Farnan, an Annapolis, Maryland native, has worked at Rocky Gorge since 1994. Her medical interests are focused on all aspects of canine and feline medicine and surgery. In her free time, she can be found spending time with her family, reading, skiing, and appreciating nature. Dr. Farnan has three cats and a dog named Friday.
Dr. Morganne Kelliebrew
Interest: Surgery, Emergency Medicine
Biography: Dr. Kelliebrew, born and raised in Prince George’s County, graduated from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine. Her passions in small animal veterinary medicine include wellness visits, emergencies, and behavior. She enjoys quality time with her variety of pets at home, going to dinners with friends, and watching a good movie at home. Her dog and cat, Mario and Nacho, were rescued from the island of St. Kitts while she adopted her guinea pigs during her clinical year with Lincoln Memorial University.
Dr. Sallie Morris
Interest: General Medicine & Surgery
Biography: Dr. Morris, a Texas native, has been with the Rocky Gorge team since 1979. Her surgical expertise is extraordinary, and she dedicates her time to animal care both in and outside the hospital. Dr. Morris has more than twenty horses, three Dobermans, three cats, six geese, and two white doves — that’s quite a crew!
Dr. Kristen Rothdeutsch
Interest: Emergency Medicine and Surgery
Biography: Dr. Rothdeutsch, a Dutchess County New York native, relocated to Maryland after graduating from the Western University of Health Sciences. She has a special interest in soft tissue surgery and emergency medicine. Dr. Rothdeutsch is Fear Free Certified and strives to make every vet visit as stress-free as possible while also providing the best quality care for her patients. In her free time, Dr. Rothdeutsch enjoys exploring the beautiful state parks in the Virginia-Maryland area, playing tennis, and spending time with her cat (Marceline).
Dr. Aubrie Smith
Interest: Emergency Medicine
Biography: Dr. Smith is a Virginia native who graduated from the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine. She developed a passion for emergency medicine while in vet school. Outside of the clinic, she enjoys snuggling with her German Shepherd and 2 cats.
Dr. Meegan Weiler
Interest: Emergency Medicine & Critical Care
Biography: Dr. Weiler, a Little Rock, Arkansas native, became part of Rocky Gorge Animal Hospital’s team in 2010. She has an interest in emergency medicine as well as critical care; and believes compassion and use of common sense is what makes a great vet. Dr. Weiler has a dog named Brewster and two cats named Max and Bungee – all rescues.
Dr. Janet Weistock
Interest: General Medicine
Biography: Dr. Weinstock, a Baltimore native, joined the Rocky Gorge team in early 2016. Her medical interests are focused on canine and feline general medicine. Dr. Weistock’s daily goal is to provide the highest quality of care to her patients. In her spare time, she enjoys taking pictures, traveling, and spending time with her German Shepherds.
Dr. Jessica Wooleyhand
Interest: General Medicine
Biography: Dr. Jessica Wooleyhand is another member of our team who started as a technician in 2013. She received her Bachelor’s in Animal Science from the University of Maryland and her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Wooleyhand loves bringing in new ideas to our practice and has an active love of learning to try and provide the absolute best care for her patients! She has a particular interest in minimally invasive diagnostics/endoscopic procedures/surgery, emergency medicine, and dermatology. Dr. Wooleyhand is Fear Free Certified and is currently completing Endoscopic Certification. In her free time, Dr. Wooleyhand enjoys hiking, traveling, and spending time with her two dogs (Rowan and Axel) and her cat (Bodhi)!
Meet Our Management Team
Rayner Harris
Biography: Rayner has been leading the Rocky Gorge Team since 2020. She has been in Operational Leadership roles since she graduated from Towson University with her Bachelor’s in Psychology. Most recently the COO of a Long-Term Care and Senior Living Corporation, the leap into the Veterinary industry was an easy one. Rayner’s in-laws have been clients of Rocky Gorge for over 25 years and the draw to continue the values and customer service Dr. Morley instilled so many years ago is what she strives for every day. When not at work, Rayner is constantly kept busy with her husband, two toddlers, and Belgian Malinois, Nash.
Emily Caspar
Interest: Emergency Medicine & Critical Care
Biography: Emily joined the Rocky Gorge team in 2016 as a technician. That same year she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Animal Sciences from the University of Maryland. She found her place in the Emergency department and quickly discovered her passion for ICU patient care. When not working, she enjoys spending time with her family and her two senior pups; a dachshund mix named Chloe and a min-pin named Truman.
Sarah Kelly
Interest: General Medicine
Biography: Sarah has been part of the Rocky Gorge family since the fall of 2005. She joined us as a technician and worked her way up to our Pharmacy & Inventory Manager. She strives to make sure we have everything on hand that we need to take care of our patients. When not working, she enjoys spending time with her family; her husband, two sons, their dogs Hank (a rescue through Rocky Gorge) and Harley, as well as her sister and her family.
Stephanie Heuber
Biography: Stephanie, a Maryland native, has been a part of the Rocky Gorge team since 2015. She graduated University of Maryland with a bachelor’s in Animal Science knowing she wanted to work with animals. In her spare time, she loves to spend time with family and her two dogs Bella and Matilda (a rescue through Rocky Gorge).
Karin Mock
Interest: Emergency Medicine & Critical Care
Biography: Karin grew up in West Laurel, MD, and has been bringing her family pets to Rocky Gorge Animal Hospital since she was young. She joined the Rocky Gorge family as an employee in the Resort and then returned as a Veterinary technician after graduating from Mars Hill College with a Bachelor’s degree in Zoology. She loves traveling and spending time with her family and her dog, a golden retriever named Sadie.
Nikki Wines
Interest: General Medicine
Biography: Nikki grew up in Rockville, but migrated her way to the Annapolis area, and has been with Rocky Gorge since 2013. She has worked in nearly every department but found her home in Surgery, which she considers her passion. When she’s not watching over her furry patients, she likes to spend time at home with her family and friends. She particularly loves her time with her husband, and young daughter (with hopes for a sibling down the road). She particularly enjoys traveling whenever she can with them, hoping to explore as much of the world as she can.
Marlene Wolchinsky
Biography: Marlene Wolchinsky, a native of New York City, is the Director of Resort and Spa Operations. She has worked with Rocky Gorge Animal Hospital for eight years and has worked in several management roles within the hospital. Marlene understands the bond between you and your pets and understands that the team needs to be sure you are confident that your pets will get the best care at our resort. She makes sure every pet is treated as if it were owned by her. She loves spending time with her family of humans and animals (not necessarily in that order), which consists of dogs, cats, and a snake.
Nichole Reel
ER Director
Biography: Coming Soon
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