Surgery - Staff
Dr. Brian Van Vechten was raised in east San Diego County. An early interest in animal care led to involvement in 4-H and FFA where he showed dogs, cattle, and sheep. After graduating Granite Hills High School in 1974, Dr. Van Vechten attended the University of California at Davis majoring in Zoology. He was accepted into U. C. Davis Veterinary School and attained a doctor of veterinary medicine degree in 1982. Following graduation from veterinary school Dr. Van Vechten owned and operated Valhalla Veterinary Clinic in El Cajon, California. In 1989 after 7 years in general practice Dr. Van Vechten sold Valhalla Veterinary Clinic to further a longtime interest in veterinary surgery. He was accepted into a small animal surgery residency program at the University of California at Davis where he obtained training in soft tissue surgery, orthopedic surgery, and microvascular surgery. Study projects included growth plate deformities and the resulting alignment problems and evaluation of porto-systemic shunts. Dr, Van Vechten completed his residency in 1992 and was voted resident teacher of the year by the graduating class. He then did extensive traveling and lecturing in Europe, Africa, and Asia. In 1994 Dr. Van Vechten moved to Fort Collins, Colorado to pursue a fellowship in surgical oncology at Colorado State University Comparative Oncology Unit. This training included surgeries in limb sparings, soft tissue resections, and surgical options for vertebral tumors.
Chad M. Devitt, DVM, MS, DACVS is a board-certified surgeon and joined the surgery section at VRCC in 1999. Dr. Devitt completed a master's degree program and surgical residency at Colorado State University in 1996. Following his residency, Dr. Devitt joined the staff at the Animal Tumor Center at Colorado State University as a Surgical Oncology Fellow in 1996. Dr. Devitt became a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons in 1997. Chad M. Devitt DMV, MS attended Iowa State University for his undergraduate and Veterinary Training and graduated from Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine with honors in 1992. After graduation, Dr. Devitt was an intern at the Animal Medical Center in New York City. He graduated from his internship in 1993 and received the President's award for Intern of the Year. From New York City Dr. Devitt traveled to Fort Collins, Colorado, beginning a three-year small animal surgical residency at Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital. During Dr. Devitt's residency, he developed many of his professional interest including reconstructive surgery, minimally invasive surgery and surgical oncology. While a resident at Colorado State University, Dr. Devitt completed a Masters Degree in Veterinary Clinical Sciences (Surgery). Following, his surgical residency, Dr. Devitt became a Surgical Oncology Fellow at the Animal Tumor Center at Colorado State University. During his fellowship, Dr. Devitt received additional training and experience in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer in small animal patients. Performing surgeries such as limb salvage in dogs with osteosarcoma, radical maxillofacial surgery, and brain tumor resections. In February of 1997 Dr. Devitt passed the American College of Veterinary Surgeons board exam and became a board certified Surgeon. Dr. Devitt moved to St. Petersburg, Florida following his fellowship to join the Tampa Bay Veterinary Specialist in 1997. During a summer trip back to Colorado, Dr. Devitt visited VRCC's new facility, and just had to move back to Colorado. When away from the hospital, Dr. Devitt enjoys mountain biking, windsurfing, fly-fishing, and backcountry skiing.
Tara Britt, VMD is a Diplomate of the American College ofVeterinary Surgeons. She is a native of Pennsylvania and attended Coastal Carolina University in Conway, South Carolina, obtaining a bachelors degree in biology and marine science. Dr. Britt returned to Pennsylvania for her veterinary training and received her VMD from the University of Pennsylvania in 2002. Prior to graduation, she participated in a summer externship in marine mammal rehabilitation at Sea World in San Diego and attended a summer veterinary course in Woods Hole, Massachusetts. After graduation from veterinary school, she completed a small animal internship at Red Bank Veterinary Hospital in New Jersey and discovered her passion for surgery.
Marlon Nelly, DVM - RETIRED
“I appreciated the vets and staff at VRCC. Everyone was very knowledgeable and good. It was great to be able to go from department to department and have our records go with us easily. It felt like we had a whole team on our side.”
Kurt Grimm, DVM, MS, PhD, Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Anesthesiologists and Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Clinical Pharmacology is a former assistant professor of anesthesiology and pain management at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine. He earned his DVM from Iowa State University in 1995 and later his MS and PhD from the University of Illinois. He is co-editor of several texts including Pain Management for the Small Animal Practitioner and Lumb and Jones’ Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia, 4th edition.
Etta is a Colorado native and grew up in Denver. She graduated from Colorado State University and did an internship at the University of Missouri-Columbia. Her anesthesia residency and Master’s degree were completed at the University of Illinois. Etta was one of the faculty anesthesiologists at Cornell University and later at CSU. Etta has also completed IVAS training in acupuncture and was certified in 1999. She has been in practice for the past 15 years.
Jodi is a certified veterinary assistant. She graduated from PIMA Medical in 2005. Jodi worked at a non-profit veterinary facility before joining VSS in July of 2006. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her family and friends. Jodi volunteers at Littleton Hospital, and at a rehab clinic also in Littleton, with her three legged dog Rachett, visiting patients. Jodi's dedication to animals is a lifetime love and she feels fortunate to be able to have a job in this field.
Leslie is a 2004 graduate of Bel-Rea who joined VSS in the summer of 2006.
Melissa is a certified veterinary technician and graduate of Bel-Rea Institute of Animal Technology. She is originally from Chicago and transplanted here in 1999. She has been a technician since 2003. Melissa volunteers for the CACVT a couple times a year at local events and for environmental organizations. Melissa's favorite part of her job is meeting all the new clients and their pets. Melissa loves to ride her bike, hike, snow shoe, anything outdoor adventurist. She also enjoys the local music scene, seeing live shows and going to art museums and galleries.
Mark is a Colorado native and resides in a community just east of Golden. After graduation from the University of Colorado, he worked for several years in the insurance industry. Due to a growing and unfulfilled passion for animals, Mark decided a career change was in order. He decided to attend Bel-Rea and graduated in 2002. He joined VSS in September of 2003. In his free time, he enjoys golf, skiing, biking, bowling and pool. Mark is a sports fan and likes to watch football, basketball and baseball.
Rona McElroy came to Colorado from Canada with her husband and daughter in the fall of 1994. She graduated from Bel-Rea in March of 2000 and started working for VSS right after graduation. Rona loves outdoor activities which include equestrian, sports, camping, snowmobiling, skiing and being an ostrich jockey. In 2006, Rona achieved certification as a Veterinary Technician Specialist in Anesthesia. She joins an already elite group of technicians, and is one of only four technicians in Colorado that are certified in anesthesia. Currently, she is working towards a speciality in surgery.
Roxane is a Colorado native, growing up in a farm community south of Brighton. Although she had been active in animal welfare for years, it wasn't until one of her own dogs was diagnosed with diabetes that she decided to make a career change and leave the floral industry. She graduated from Bel Rea in September 2001 and received her certification in January 2002. Roxane spent 3 years at a general veterinary practice before joining the VSS team in April 2005. She has a special interest in anesthesia and pain management. Away from VRCC, Roxane is a very active volunteer for the Colorado Association of Certified Veterinary Technicians. She strives to educate the public on the importance of credentialed technicians as well as assist technicians in reaching their own professional goals. At home, she cares for her teenaged son Alec and dogs Tess and Shyanne.
Margie is the surgery greeter- the friendly face that you see when you come into the lobby at VRCC, Margie is originally from Texas and has been in Colorado for four and a half years. She has a son and daughter-in-law that are in Texas and a daughter here in Denver. Margie has four grandchildren that are her pride and joy. Margie enjoys reading, collecting recipes and being part of the Red Hat Ladies group.
Kelly joined VSS in September of 2000, moving here from Texas. Surgery is very fascinating to Kelly and she thrives in the fast-paced setting. Kelly enjoys using vacation time to volunteer with VIDAS, an organization that holds free veterinary medicine and education clinics in the Yucatan of Mexico. She enjoys being able to give back to the community by helping the growing health concerns in such a poor country. In working for VSS, Kelly finds new and intriguing ways to love her job and help strengthen the human-animal bond.
Stacey graduated from Bel-Rea Institute in Denver in June, 1997. He has worked in General Practice, Emergency, and Specialty Hospitals during his career. His interests are keeping up with his wife, three kids, and their 2 Siberian Huskies (ages 13 and 10). He's also an avid runner and enjoys the Bolder Boulder and other races each year.
Lara grew up in Michigan and moved to Colorado in 1995. She attended and graduated from PIMA Institute in the summer of 2003. After graduation Lara worked at a general practice veterinary clinic for 3 years. Lara joined the staff of VSS in November of 2006 and enjoys learning something new every day about veterinary medicine and surgery. Lara enjoys spending time with her friends, family and two dogs ‘Teddy’ and ‘Tre’.
Diana De la Cruz Diana is originally from southern California. She, her husband, Gabe and 3 cats (8-Ball, Le Mieux and Flipper) moved to Colorado in March 2003. Since moving to such a dog friendly state, they have adopted 2 beagles (Buddy and Cassandra) and beagle/chihuahua mix named Skittles. In November 2006 they added one more to the family, a son named Joaquin Rafael.
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Brian Van Vechten, DVM
Chad M. Devitt, DVM, MS, Diplomate ACVS 
Tara Britt, VMD Diplomate ACVS 
Kurt Grimm, DVM, MS, PhD, DACVA, DACVCP
Etta Wertz, DVM, MS, DACVA, CVA
Jennifer Barry, Surgery Coordinator
Jodi Fortin, Technician Assistant 
Leslie Gaudet, C.V.T. 
Melissa Kinzer, C.V.T. 
Mark Horton, C.V.T. 
Rona McElroy, C.V.T., VTS (Anesthesia)
Roxane Rocks, C.V.T. 
Margie Deichmann, Greeter
Kelly Stevenson, C.V.T. 
Stacey Vaughan, CVT 
Lara Tannian, Technician Assistant 
