Meet Our Veterinary Team in Colchester, CT
Experience, compassion and integrity--these are just a few ways we can describe the outstanding veterinarians at Colchester Veterinary Hospital. Each of our vets are dedicated to excelling in their practice and improving veterinary medicine through continuing education and involvement in leading medical associations. While they all have their own special interests in the field, they share a mutual commitment to strengthening the human-animal bonds and being your chosen family veterinarian. Get to know a little bit about them! Ready to book an appointment with our veterinarians? Call (860) 537-3435 or use our online form today!
James Geer
VMD
Dr. Geer is a Connecticut native who founded the Colchester Veterinary Hospital in 1974. He attended undergraduate school at the University of Connecticut and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine in 1972. He is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Connecticut Veterinary Medical Association, the American Animal Hospital Association, and the Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society. Dr. Geer lives with his wife Jeanne in Hebron along with a Boxer, many cats, and 2 horses. His interests include woodworking, sailing, and organic farming.
Robert McLaughlin
DVM
Dr. McLaughlin received his Bachelor's degree in Animal Science from the University of Connecticut in 1984. He earned his D.V.M. degree at Oklahoma State University in 1989, the same year he joined the staff at Colchester Veterinary Hospital. Dr. McLaughlin's wife Elizabeth is a Special Education teacher. They have two daughters, Kimberly and Julie. Irish Setters Callie and Charlotte and Caleb, a domestic shorthair cat, round out the household. Dr. McLaughlin enjoys outdoor sports and is an avid runner. He also takes great pleasure in hiking, skiing, and running triathlons.
Michael Berard
DVM
Dr. Berard is a 1991 graduate of the University of Florida, College of Veterinary Medicine. He earned his Bachelor's degree in Animal Science at the University of Connecticut. Dr. Berard is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Connecticut Veterinary Medical Association, and the Florida Veterinary Medical Association. He resides in Colchester with his wife Brenda and their children Stephanie, Zachary and Olivia. Dr. Berard's special interests in veterinary medicine include chemotherapy and heartworm disease. His hobbies are baseball, carpentry, farming, and John Deere tractors.
Jonathan Walker
DVM
Dr. Walker is a 2006 graduate of Texas A&M University's College of Veterinary Medicine. He did his undergraduate work at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst where he earned his B.S. degree in Cellular Biology. Dr. Walker also holds a license to practice veterinary medicine in Massachusetts. He is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association and the Connecticut Veterinary Medical Association, of which he is a board member. Dr. Walker is a Massachusetts native who joined Colchester Veterinary Hospital in 2006. He currently lives in Lebanon with his wife Kate, their daughter Piper, 3 cats named Pete, Frank and Mustacchio, a Labrador Retriever named Iris, 8 chickens, and a rooster named Dug. Dr. Walker's hobbies include building computers, homebrewing beer, mixology, amateur horology, and Texas-style barbecuing.
Sara Caruso
VMD
Dr. Caruso grew up outside of Boston and received her Bachelor's degree in Molecular Biology from Haverford College in 2002. She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine in 2006 and then returned to New England to join the staff of Colchester Veterinary Hospital. She and her husband John, daughter Julia, and son Corbin live in Glastonbury along with their 2 dogs, Mabel and Zeta, and 2 cats, Bellatrix and Leonard. In her spare time, Dr. Caruso enjoys running, playing tennis, and participating in triathlons.
David Busch
VMD
Dr. Busch is a Connecticut native who received his BS in Animal Science and Pathobiology from the University of Connecticut in 2005. He then traveled to Philadelphia and received his VMD from The University of Pennsylvania in 2010, and started at Colchester Veterinary Hospital two years later. Dr. Busch is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association and the Connecticut Veterinary Medical Association. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his wife, Dr. Heather Busch, their son Ethan and their 3 dogs Flint, Hamlet and Aspen, and he also enjoys gardening, fly-fishing and hiking.
Heather Busch
DVM
Dr. Busch is an Eastern Connecticut native. She received her undergraduate degree in Animal Science and Pathobiology from the University of Connecticut in 2002. She then received her DVM degree from the Atlantic Veterinary College at the University of Prince Edward Island in 2010. Her professional interests include feline medicine and dermatology. Dr. Busch currently lives in Plainfield with her husband David, son Ethan and their 3 dogs, 3 cats (Amelia, Morris and Simon), and 16 chickens. In her spare time, she enjoys being with her family, horseback riding, and hiking.
Kristen Crowther
DVM
Dr. Kristen Crowther is a Connecticut native. She received her Bachelor of Science degree from Elon University in 2002, and her DVM from the University of Prince Edward Island in 2009. Dr. Crowther went into veterinary medicine to help families live the best possible life with their pets by focusing on preventative medicine. She lives in Glastonbury with her husband Jack and their son, Sam, along with their dog, Clifford, and cat, Scout. In her free time, Dr. Crowther enjoys going on adventures with Sam, skiing, hiking, and crafts.
Tyler Maddox
DVM
Dr. Maddox grew up outside of Rochester, NY, where her love for animals developed while working with and riding horses. She received her B.S. in Biology from the University of Pittsburgh before attending Tufts Veterinary School. Her professional interests include neurology and surgery. Dr. Maddox lives in Mystic, CT, and enjoys being out on the water, cooking, and playing with her one-of-a-kind dachshund mix, Darwin.
Michael Lomazzo, DVM
Dr. Lomazzo is a Connecticut native. He received his B.S. in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology from Brown University before attending Tufts Veterinary School. His professional interests include preventative medicine, cytology, and surgery. He enjoys hiking, e-sports, and spending time with his cat, Hazel, and dog, Lola
Meet Our Specialist
Steve Heyman
VMD, Diplomate ACVS
Dr. Heyman is a board-certified veterinary surgeon. He attended the University of Pennsylvania, receiving his B.A. degree in 1983 and his V.M.D. degree in 1987. After graduation, he completed an internship and residency at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Heyman became board-certified by the American College of Veterinary Surgeons in 1993. He is the owner of Surgical Care Specialists and visits Colchester Veterinary Hospital every Thursday to perform complex soft tissue and orthopedic surgeries for our patients. For more information about Dr. Heyman, see his full bio at surgical-care-specialists.com.