Dr. Paul Wollenman
Founder of Palm Beach Equine Clinic
Dr. Wollenman graduated from Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine in 1972. After three years of private practice in Texas, he opened an equine practice in Palm Beach, Florida. In 1981, he founded and built Palm Beach Equine Clinic at Palm Beach Polo and Country Club.
Dr. Wollenman’s ambulatory practice focuses on polo ponies. He also provides veterinary service for the animals at Lion Country Safari. Dr. Wollenman travels with his wife Renee and two sons, Colby and Luke, to Wyoming during the summer to continue his veterinary practice and play polo
Dr. Scott Swerdlin
President of Palm Beach Equine Clinic
Dr. Scott Swerdlin is a Florida native whose family raised cattle and horses. After attending Tulane University, he pursued a master’s degree in equine reproduction at the University of Florida, and graduated from Auburn University School of Veterinary Medicine in 1976. Dr. Swerdlin was then appointed Chief of Clinical Services at Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines.
Following his tour in the military, he started a private practice in south Florida. He served on the state Board of Veterinary Medicine from 1981-1987, and received the Gold Star Award for outstanding contributions to veterinary medicine in the state of Florida. In 1999, he became a member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and is licensed to practice in Great Britain.
His specialties are practice management and lameness in performance horses. When not occupied with his veterinary responsibilities, he enjoys playing polo, fishing, and traveling with his wife, Amy.
Dr. Robert Brusie
Dr. Brusie graduated from Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine. He completed his surgical residency at the Marion DuPont Scott Equine Center in 1989 and has been in private practice ever since. He became Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons in 1994. Dr. Brusie joined Palm Beach Equine Clinic in 1996.
Dr. Brusie is a Board Certified Surgeon who is recognized for his expertise in colic surgery, as well as for his skill in arthroscopic surgery. His surgical experience expands the clinic’s progressive care in both emergency and elective procedures. He has published articles on numerous topics, including the equine intestinal tract and septic arthritis in horses. Dr. Brusie is married and has three daughters.
Dr. William Patterson
Dr. William Patterson received his undergraduate degree in Animal Science from Cornell University in 1980, and his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Michigan State University in 1984. He completed an internship in Large Animal Medicine and Surgery at the University of Tennessee in 1985. After two years in private practice in Ohio, he attended the University of Wisconsin for a residency in Large Animal Internal Medicine. After completion of the residency, Dr, Patterson founded Good Thunder Veterinary Service in New Carlisle, Ohio, where he remains the principal. His principal interests are lameness associated with the neck and axial spine.
Dr. Patterson is also the founder and President of Stampede Software, a provider of software products to the veterinary industry. His primary avocation is polo. He is joined by his wife Kim and daughter Haley in their love of horses and training.
Dr. Richard Wheeler
Dr. Wheeler is a native of the UK and graduated from the Royal Veterinary College, London in 2002. Following graduation he completed a two year internship at Greenwood, Ellis and Partners in Newmarket (now Newmarket Equine Hospital). While in the UK Dr. Wheeler competed in a variety of equine sports, most extensively eventing and while at the RVC was captain of the University of London Polo Club.
Dr. Wheeler moved to the USA and joined PBEC in 2005 and became a partner in 2009. Dr. Wheeler’s primary focus is sports medicine and he frequently travels throughout the USA and to Europe for clients. Dr Wheeler is an FEI Veterinary Delegate for Show Jumping and Dressage, has authored several articles regarding equine sports medicine and previously sat on the USHJA Horse and Rider Advocates Committee. Most recently Dr Wheeler became one of the founding members of The Sport Horse Research Foundation.
Dr. Wheeler is married to Jessica who often travels and works with him and they have 2 children.
Dr. Marilyn Connor
Dr. Marilyn Connor is originally from the just north of Dallas, TX. She attended Texas A&M University for her undergraduate education and graduated with honors with a Bachelors of Science in Biomedical Science with minors in Chemistry and Business. Dr. Connor returned to Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine for her veterinary education in 2013 and graduated in May 2017.
Before becoming a veterinarian, Dr. Connor worked in finance and served with multiple charitable organizations. She resided for several years in New York City where she worked as an analyst and junior stock trader at a boutique hedge fund investment firm that specialized in statistical quantitative arbitrage strategies. She has severed on the board of directors of numerous charities and eventually established and served as the executive director for a not-for-profit animal rescue organization, Flower Mound Furry Friends. Dr. Connor is a PATH certified therapeutic riding instructor and has taught children and adults with a variety of cognitive, emotional and physical disabilities.
Dr. Connor has a broad interest in veterinary medicine. She enjoys equine sports medicine and lameness, and hopes to become certified with the International Society of Equine Locomotor Pathologists (ISELP). Dr. Connor also enjoys soft tissue surgery and wound management. She also has an interest in nutrition and complementary/alternative medicine. Dr. Connor recently completed training to become certified in veterinary chiropractic at Options for Animals and she is certified by the International Veterinary Chiropractic Association (IVCA). She plans to complete training in veterinary acupuncture next year at the Chi Institute. Dr. Connor enjoys blending her business background with her veterinary career and assisting with practice management operations at Palm Beach Equine Clinic.
Dr. Connor enjoys giving back to the community and mentoring future generations of equestrians and aspiring veterinarians. She is the official veterinarian for Vinceremos Therapeutic Riding Program in Loxahatchee and is a veterinary ambassador for Horses Healing Hearts. Dr. Connor mentors students in high school, college, and veterinary school who are interested in a career in veterinary medicine.
Outside of work, Dr. Connor enjoys riding horses, traveling, hiking, biking, and spending time with friends and family. She enjoys being outside in nature and has enjoyed exploring the beautiful beaches of Florida. She is a passionate horsewoman and has ridden horses since a child. She has trained and competed in Western, Hunters, Jumpers, Dressage, and Endurance racing. Since coming to Wellington, she has started to learn to play polo.
Dr. Tyler Davis
Dr. Tyler Davis graduated from the University of Glasgow School of Veterinary Medicine in Glasgow, Scotland, and performed his undergraduate studies at Pennsylvania State University. He then became a member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. Dr. Davis’ practice focuses on Equine Dentistry.
Dr. Davis was born in Linesville, Pennsylvania. His other interests include archery, fishing, and woodworking. When Tyler is not working he is spending time with his beautiful wife Dr. Janet Greenfield, who is also a veterinarian at PBEC, and daughters, Zella and Maisie.
Dr. Weston Davis
Dr. Davis is a second-generation veterinarian from South Florida. His father is recently retired from veterinary medicine and his family raises beef cattle in Clewiston, FL. Dr. Davis graduated from the University of Florida College Of Veterinary Medicine in 2008. He was awarded the Barbaro Gulfstream Scholarship (a veterinary scholarship named in honor of the amazing Barbaro), the Calder Race Course Scholarship, and the Student Award for Excellence in Large Animal Surgery.
After graduation, Dr. Davis completed his internship in Sports Medicine and Surgery at Oakridge Equine Hospital, followed by a residency in Equine Surgery at North Carolina State University. In 2012, he became board certified in Large Animal Surgery by the American College of Veterinary Surgeons. Before joining Palm Beach Equine Clinic, Dr. Davis spent 1.5 years as a staff surgeon at a private practice referral center in Texas, and has authored and co-authored publications on topics including colic surgery in performance horses, MRI diagnosis of tendon lesions, and novel imaging and surgical techniques. He has spoken at several national and state meetings.
Dr. Davis is an avid sportsman himself, and his hobbies include team roping, fishing, hunting, waterskiing and almost any outdoor activity.
Dr. Bryan Dubynsky
Dr. Dubynsky attended Indiana University for his undergraduate studies and attained a B.S. degree in biology. He continued his education at Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine and finished his clinical training at Purdue University. While in school, he achieved top honors and earned the Excellence in Equine Medicine and Surgery award. After graduation from veterinary school, Dr. Dubynsky practiced medicine in the Saratoga, NY area where he began his veterinary career.
Dr. Dubynsky spent most of his life breeding, raising, training, and showing horses. Prior to veterinary school, he had the opportunity to work with some of the premier trainers and horsemen in central Kentucky. Dr. Dubynsky has worked in the Hamptons doing sport horse medicine for 5 years and is the show vet for the Hampton Classic. His interests include sports medicine and lameness.
Dr. Alex Emerson
Dr. Alex Emerson grew up in Nova Scotia, Canada playing hockey and showing horses at the local shows. He attended the University of Kentucky for undergraduate studies while working in the thoroughbred industry. Dr. Emerson graduated from Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2002 after completing a preceptorship at Palm Beach Equine Clinic. After developing a sports medicine practice in Kentucky and the Midwest, Dr. Emerson decided to join his friends at Palm Beach Equine Clinic in 2015. He is a proud member of the International Society of Equine Locomotor Pathology (ISELP), which celebrated its 10 year anniversary in 2016.
Dr. Emerson enjoys playing polo, hockey and golf when he is not working with horses or shuttling his two wonderful boys to the hockey rink.
Dr. Janet Greenfield-Davis
Janet Greenfield grew up in Northern California showing hunters on the “A” circuit. A passion for horses led Janet to a passion in veterinary medicine. She finished her undergraduate studies at California Polytechnic State University in 2005. She continued to veterinary school graduating from the University of Glasgow in 2010.
Dr. Greenfield has specialized in equine acupuncture and herbal medicine since 2010 and hopes to further her holistic medicine through food therapy. Her hobbies include watching her clients show, swing dancing and spending time with her husband and two children.
Dr. Jorge Gomez
Dr. Gomez graduated from the University of Caldas in Colombia. He practiced in Colombia for 14years before completing his Masters Degree and Surgical Residency in Biomedical Sciences and Surgery at Auburn University. After completing his Residency, Dr. Gomez became a Clinical Instructor in Equine Surgery. In 2004 he received Diplomate status in the American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS).
Dr. Gomez joined Hagyard Equine Medical Institute in Lexington, Kentucky in July of 2005 as a staff Surgeon and Sport Horse Veterinarian. In December 2010 Dr. Gomez and his family moved to Wellington, Florida. Dr. Gomez has participated as a speaker at many national and international meetings. He has engaged as a moderator on the panel of “Lameness in Sport Horses” at the annual meeting of American Association of Equine Practicioners (AAEP). Dr Gomez authored two book chapters and several papers on lameness and surgery that have been published in equine veterinary journals.
Dr. Jorge Gomez will be joining Dr. Bob Brusie as a staff surgeon.
Dr. Peter Heidmann
With over 20 years experience in the field, Dr. Peter Heidmann is a board-certified expert in Equine Internal Medicine. He grew up working with horses and other livestock in Southern New England, and learned horsemanship from farmers who had once made their livings driving draft horse teams. He is a graduate of Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine, where he also completed a Master’s in Public Health/Epidemiology. After veterinary school, Peter trained under a diverse array of equine veterinary experts during an internship at Arizona Equine, a fellowship at Oregon State University, and a residency at UC Davis in California. He credits his mentors for instilling a great depth of understanding of many types of equine athletes; his insight into equine medical conditions, both common and rare, owes a great deal to their wisdom and experience.
Dr. Heidmann sees referrals and consults on cases in Wellington at Palm Beach Equine and around the world. He is the Head of Internal Medicine at Palm Beach Equine, and sees cases on referral from other veterinarians and also as a primary care veterinarian. In addition to treating illness, he also helps diagnose and treat subtle performance-limiting conditions in top equine athletes, helping them to compete at their full potential.
Dr. Heidmann provides seminars on internal medicine topics for horse-owners and veterinarians, and has served as an expert witness in many legal, welfare, and insurance cases. He consults around the world on challenging medical cases, and has served as the primary consulting medicine specialist for the Pan American games. He can be reached at or 561-793-1599, or peter.heidmann@equineclinic.com.
Dr. Meredith Hustler
Dr. Meredith M. Hustler, born in Ocean Grove New Jersey, has grown up in the hunter/jumper community with a lifelong love for horses and equestrian sports. Meredith completed her undergraduate degree in Equine Science at Centenary University in Hackettstown, NJ. She then pursued her dream of becoming a veterinarian and graduated in 2016 from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine & Colorado State University. During her clinical year at CSU, she became acupuncture certified in small animal, exotics and large animals. Her main interests in veterinary medicine are sports medicine, lameness, rehabilitation, acupuncture, and alternative therapies. Outside of the clinic she enjoys spending time with her husband, family, friends, and her three dogs. Other interests include going to the beach, scuba diving, hiking, traveling, and practicing yoga.
Dr. Jordan Lewis
Dr. Jordan Lewis is a 2004 graduate of the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine. She completed her internship in equine medicine and surgery at the Equine Medical Center in Ocala. Growing up in south Florida, she began her relationship with horses as a young teenager and competed on the Arabian circuit. Her hobbies include riding her horse and running/playing with her two dogs.
Dr. Ryan Lukens
Dr. Lukens became interested in horses at an early age growing up on a 30 acre horse farm in Lebanon, Ohio. He performed his undergraduate studies and earned his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from The Ohio State University. After graduating with his DVM in June of 2012, he became the 4th generation veterinarian in the Lukens’ family, dating back to his great-grandfather’s graduation from The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1912. Dr. Lukens interests include sports medicine, lameness, and ultrasound.
When not at the clinic, Dr. Lukens enjoys engaging in outdoor activities with his wife Jessica, a small animal veterinarian, and his three dogs.
Dr. Natalia Novoa
Dr. Novoa was born in Nashville, Tennessee and raised in Colombia. She is a graduate of the University of La Salle in Colombia. Dr. Novoa received her education in Chiropractic at Options for Animals in Kansas City. She has been a practicing veterinarian in Florida and Ontario-Canada. Her main focus is on sports medicine, lameness exams, prepurchase exams, chiropractic adjustments, acupuncture as well as preventive health care. Dr. Novoa is fluent in both english and spanish.
Dr. Steve O’Grady
Dr. Steve O’Grady is both a veterinarian and a professional farrier. He learned the farrier trade through a formal three year apprenticeship under “Hall of Fame” farrier, Joseph M. Pierce, of West Chester, Pennsylvania and then practiced as a professional farrier for 10 years. He then returned to school, attended Haverford College and went on to graduate from the University of Pretoria, Faculty of Veterinary Science in South Africa with a DVM Degree. He currently operates Virginia Therapeutic Farriery in Keswick, Virginia which is a referral practice devoted to equine foot disease and therapeutic farriery. Here he combines his skills as a veterinarian and a farrier to better understand and treat problems of the foot. He also operates a consulting service where he travels worldwide to treat complicated podiatry cases. He has published 33 peer-reviewed papers in the veterinary literature, numerous papers in the farrier literature, written 18 book chapters and edited two editions of Veterinary Clinics of North America on equine podiatry and therapeutic farriery – all resulting from his extensive work in equine podiatry. He is currently in the process of editing a textbook on Farriery to be published in 2017. In 2003, he was inducted into the International Equine Veterinarians Hall of Fame and in 2009; he received the AAEP President’s Award for his work in farrier education.
Dr. O’Grady joined Palm Beach Equine Clinic during the 2015-2016 winter seasons as a consultant in therapeutic farriery. This unique service, based on Dr. O’Grady’s forty years of farriery experience, is available to veterinarians and farriers for their client’s horses with any foot problem, foot related lameness or farriery related issues. The service will be on a consultation basis only with the veterinarian and or the farrier, therefore, this concept does not present any type of competition to the client’s present attending farrier. Dr. O’Grady is also available to provide a second opinion on lameness cases involving the foot, complicated farriery cases and foot / farriey issues related to foot radiographs acquired during pre-purchase examinations.
Periodic seminars / clinics on various foot topics of interest to veterinarians and farriers will be held at Palm Beach Equine Clinic during the show season.
Dr. Selina Passante
Dr. Selina Passante is from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada and graduated from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon, SK in June 2012. After graduation Selina moved west to Calgary, Alberta and completed an internship in equine medicine and surgery at Moore Equine Veterinary Centre. She is also certified in equine acupuncture and chiropractic. Selina and her husband Walker Watt, who is also an equine veterinarian, own an ambulatory equine practice in Southern Alberta where Selina works in the summer and fall. She then goes to Wellington to work with Palm Beach Equine for the winter and spring months.
Selina has a variety of interests including ophthalmology, diagnostic imaging, lameness, emergency medicine and general equine medicine. When she is not working she spends time with her husband and their two dogs as well as enjoying outdoor activities such as running, snowboarding, scuba diving and playing polo.
Dr. Gary T. Priest
Dr. Gary T. Priest has joined Palm Beach Equine Clinic for the winter season as a surgeon and diagnostician. His areas of expertise in diagnostics include Lameness Evaluations and Upper Airway Function. He has spent a lot of time at PBEC in the past 2 years with prototypes of the new Dynamic Respiratory Endoscope developed in France by Optomed. This technology is now available at PBE and gives a new way to accurately evaluate the function and performance of the horse’s Upper Airway in the horse’s discipline. Dr. Priest has now over 200 cases done with the DRS Scope over the USA and Canada.
Gary T. Priest, DVM graduation in 1976 from Auburn University he first joined M. B. Teigland and Associates in Miami, Fla. , working as a ambulatory vet and in their surgery. In 1977 he joined Woodford Veterinary Clinic in Kentucky as a surgeon and developed a very successful farm and racetrack practice. During his time there he introduced ultrasound technology to Kentucky and was one of the first to perform arthroscopic surgery in the horse.
In 1985 he assisted in establishing the present clinic in Kentucky, Harthill & Priest Equine Surgery and has taken part in operating on more than 6,000 TB race horses and countless horses of other breeds. These horses have included many champions and Derby winners. Out of all the many awards that Dr. Priest has received over the years he is most proud of being named “Veterinarian of the Year” in 1996 for the State of Kentucky.
Dr. Priest return to South Florida is joined by his wife Kathy who has been a consistent competitor in Dressage for the past 20+ years. They will reside at Palm Beach Polo Club.
Dr. Sarah Puchalski
Dr. Puchalski is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Radiology whose specialty includes the interpretation of radiographs in addition to other diagnostic imaging techniques.
Dr. Puchalski is from Davis, CA, where she was an associate professor at the University of California in their Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences. In 1995, she received her BSc in biology from Simon Fraser University in British Columbia, and in 1999 earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, where she received the ACVS Outstanding Large Animal Surgery Student award that same year. Dr. Puchalski interned in Field Service and Sports Medicine at New Bolton Center at the University of Pennsylvania in 2001, and completed her residency in radiology at UC Davis in 2005.
Dr. Puchalski has devoted her career to teaching and improving equine health through the development and refinement of diagnostic techniques. In 2011 she contributed to two books on the topic of equine lameness. Her recent contributions include chapters in Diagnosis and Management of Lameness in the Horse edited by Ross and Dyson, as well as in Veterinary Computed Tomography and the Clinical Veterinary Advisor: The Horse, Equine Colic and Veterinary Clinics of North America. She also has contributed close to 50 scientific articles concerning the diagnosis of equine lameness to many periodic journals, including Veterinary Radiology & Ultrasound: the official journal of the American College of Veterinary Radiology and the International Veterinary Radiology Association; Veterinary Pathology; Equine Veterinary Journal; the American Journal of Veterinary Research; Equine Veterinary Education; Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association; and Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
Dr. Bob Smith
Dr. Bob Smith is a 1975 graduate of the University of Georgia who lives in Royal Palm Beach and has been practicing for 30 years. Dr. Smith is a renowned veterinarian who specializes in advanced reproductive services. Dr. Smith advises and consults with clients on advanced fertility techniques, such as embryo transfers, and oversees a complete frozen semen program, from collection to storage to worldwide distribution.
Dr. Stephen G. Soule
Dr. Soule graduated from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine in 1973. He interned at the New Bolton Center in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. Dr. Soule has served as a state veterinarian in Pennsylvania and has been in private practice since then. He has also served as a United States Equestrian Team Veterinarian since 1978. He is widely published in industry journals and has lectured at numerous events and conferences. His hobbies include sailing, fishing, hunting, and scuba diving with his wife Jeanette.
Dr. Daren Tamplin
Dr. Daren Tamplin graduated from Kansas State College of Veterinary Medicine and began his veterinary career practicing sports medicine on thoroughbred racehorses in the mid-atlantic and in Louisiana. Upon graduation from veterinary school he received awards for demonstrating proficiency in equine medicine and large animal surgery.
Dr. Tamplin did his undergraduate work at Texas A&M University where he was involved in the Texas A&M polo club serving as a club officer and as a member of the 1998 National Intercollegiate Championship team. His main interests within veterinary medicine are lameness and diagnostic imaging in the equine athlete.
Dr. Tamplin is married to Alison Tamplin and they have three sons – Abel, Solon and Emmett.
Dr. Kathleen A. Timmins
Dr. Kathleen A. Timmins is a 1993 graduate of the Ohio State University School of Veterinary Medicine. She completed her internship in equine medicine and surgery at the Illinois Equine Hospital near Chicago. Prior to coming to Florida, Dr. Timmins practiced in Aiken, South Carolina, where she met her husband, John, who plays polo professionally. Growing up in Central Ohio, Dr. Timmins began her relationship with horses as a child on the hunter/jumper circuit. She continues to ride and show as much as possible. She and her husband are enjoying parenthood with their daughter Schuyler.