Carrie Bonacorsi, DVM

I grew up in St. Louis, Missouri and my fascination with veterinary medicine began watching veterinarians seemingly magically extract information from horses to maintain their health at the barn where I rode. After completing my undergraduate studies at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, I returned to Missouri to obtain my veterinary degree at the University of Missouri.

My veterinary career began as an emergency doctor for 4 years in a multi-specialty practice in Baltimore, Maryland where I learned a ton. I then pursued an internship in Oncology before realizing I would be happiest playing a role in my patient’s entire life from wellness and prevention to long-term management of chronic conditions and, since then, I have enjoyed my role as a general practitioner for dogs and cats.

After a few years away due to a temporary, move I am thrilled to be back at Melrose Animal Clinic. It has been really exciting to get the MAC certified as an AAFP Cat Friendly Practice and I look forward to helping cat owners better understand and care for the furry under-cover agents they share their home with. A lot has changed in our understanding of normal feline behavior and expression of illness and there’s a lot more we can do to help our kitties live well.

I share my home with 2 silly kitties, Birdie and Ace. Outside of work I enjoy travel, camping, cooking, biking and running around Boston, as well as yoga. My professional affiliations include the AVMA, MVMA, and AAFP.

Bethany Surgan, DVM

I knew I wanted to be a veterinarian from a very young age, but my path wandered a

ways before getting there. I grew up in Brooklyn, NY and received my BA in Psychology

from Wesleyan University in CT. After undergrad, I worked in non-profit and education,

moving from New York to West Africa to New Orleans. In 1999, I moved to California,

where I retuned to school to finish my vet pre-requisites. I earned my DVM from the

University of California, Davis in 2006, graduating with Phi Zeta honors. I completed my

internship at San Francisco Vet Specialists before finally moving back to the northeast to

Boston. Before joining MAC, I spent 8 years working in a busy general practice in

Belmont, MA, as well as regularly volunteering at the MSPCA Nevins farm. I am thrilled

to be a part of the outstanding team here at Melrose Animal Clinic.

I love the variety and challenges of general practice, and the opportunity to guide clients

and their pets from puppy/kitten-hood to old age. Some of my veterinary interests include

internal medicine, ophthalmology, soft tissue surgery, diagnostic ultrasound and shelter

medicine. In my free time, I enjoy aerial classes (silks/fabrics and trapeze), yoga, travel,

hiking, live music, spending time with friends, eating good food, and exploring New

England. I live in Somerville with the world’s best dog, Mabel (a Great Dane/Lab rescue)

and 2 handsome tuxedo cats, Simon and Otto.

As a side note, my last name really is pronounced “surgeon”, which often leads to some

confusion and much amusement!

Lauren D. Sawchyn DVM, CMI: Portrait with Cat Skull

Lauren Sawchyn, DVM

I have been fascinated by veterinary art, history, pathology, and anatomy since I was a child. I grew up with animals, and my mother, an LVT and practice manager, was an award-winning breeder of the Irish Terrier and Cornish Rex. As a native of southwestern CT, I attended the Ellis Clark Regional Agriscience and Technology Center and became involved in the FFA. I did undergraduate studies in zoology and studio arts at the University of Maine, and attended Georgia Regents University to obtain a Master’s degree in medical illustration. In 2009, I became board-certified in medical illustration and graduated from Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine.

I now work as both a vet and a medical illustrator. Before joining the MAC, I practiced veterinary medicine in Ridgefield, CT. I own Sawchyn Medical Illustration, www.sawchynmi.com, a company that provides medical art services for biomedical and veterinary fields. My work is published in journals, textbooks, and presentations, and I lecture on the value of visuals in communication. I also create custom portraiture and fine art by commission.

I am on the Board for Certification of Medical Illustrators, as well as a professional member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, Association of Medical Illustrators, the Guild of Natural Science Illustrators, and the American Association of Veterinary Anatomists. As a USDA-accredited vet, I can assist with animal travel.

My husband Derek, a large animal vet and immunologist, and I have a tabby cat, “Joppa Flats”, a Border Collie, “Tam”, an English Labrador Retriever, “Perch”, and 6 chickens. I enjoy anything outdoors or with the dogs, including plein-air painting, running, hiking, fishing, xc skiing, obility, and rummaging at junk/antique shops. Derek and I also have an extensive garden to produce our own food and trial seeds for a family business.

Gaura Shah, DVM

I grew up in New Jersey and completed my undergraduate degree at Rutgers College in New Brunswick, NJ. I obtained my DVM from University of Minnesota in 2003, and continued my education by completing a year-long internship at Red Bank Veterinary Hospital: a 24-hour referral hospital in Tinton Falls, NJ. In 2004 I made Massachusetts my home and have stayed in the area ever since. Prior to working at Melrose Animal Clinic, I worked as an emergency clinician at Mass. Vet. Referral Hospital in Woburn.

Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my husband, Rob, and our furry children: two Frenchies (Argos and Fearghus), and our two cats Chaiindo and Haggis. Additionally in my spare time I enjoy traveling and exploring new cultures, trying new restaurants, long distance running and exploring the city. My professional interests include, amongst many others, Emergency and Critical Care medicine, Internal medicine, ultrasound and soft tissue surgery. I hope to see you and your families soon!

Pamela Low, DVM

I received my degree from Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine in 1987 and completed an internship at the Animal Medical Center in New York City the following year. I lived in Manhattan and worked at the ASPCA, a large urban animal humane society, for many years before returning to New England. I joined the staff at the Melrose Animal Clinic in 1998 and I have been a happy and dedicated member ever since. I enjoy working in a friendly, supportive, small clinic environment where I have the opportunity to develop long-term relationships with clients and care for their animals.

When I’m not at the MAC, I’m hard at work digging in my garden or paddling the waterways in and around Ipswich where I live with my husband Ken and son Thomas. We share our home with our dogs Liv and Dexter and four furry felines: Henry, Pablo, Dante and Nola.

Stewart J. Silverman, DVM, Practice Owner

I graduated from the College of Veterinary Medicine at Michigan State University in 1984. After being an associate veterinarian in eastern Massachusetts for several years, I acquired the Melrose Animal Clinic and became Owner and Hospital Director in 1991.

My professional areas of interest include wellness and preventative care, general and orthopedic surgery, dentistry, and internal medicine. I am a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the American Animal Hospital Association, the Massachusetts Veterinary Medical Association, as well as the American Veterinary Dental Society and the Veterinary Surgical Laser Society.

When not busy at the practice, I can usually be found with my three children and our pet, Mia, an adorable kitty who we rescued from a stray litter. I am an avid Boston sports fan and in addition enjoy biking, exercising, and golf, when I can find the time.

I take great pride in the excellent care and outstanding service provided at the animal clinic, and consider myself extremely fortunate to have found a career and practice that I find so personally fulfilling.