Meet the Anesthesia Team

Sandra Allweiler, DVM, DACVAA, CMVA, CCRT

Dr. Allweiler is a board-certified veterinary anesthesiologist and pain specialist. She is certified in traditional (Chi Institute) and veterinary medical acupuncture (CuraCore) and in canine massage and rehabilitation through the Canine Rehabilitation Institute (CRI). She lectures nationally and internationally on pain management, acupuncture and wildlife anesthesia.

Dr. Allweiler is a member of the American College of Veterinary Anesthesia & Analgesia, a member of the Association of Veterinary Anaesthetists, the American Association of Wildlife Veterinarians, and the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society.

Outside of work, Dr. Allweiler enjoys photography, hiking, traveling, and most important spending time with her family and their dogs: a catahoula leopard dog called Mobitz, and three Border Terriers named Momo, Martin, and Andechs.

EDUCATION
University of Zurich, Vetsuisse Faculty, DVM, 2001

SPECIALTY TRAINING
Royal Veterinary College, London, UK, veterinary anesthesia residency, 2002-2005
New Bolton Center, The Large Animal Veterinary Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, large animal anesthesia internship, 2001-2002

Katherine (Kate) Cummings, DVM, DACVAA

Prior to joining the Angell team, Dr. Cummings served as the staff veterinary anesthesiologist at MedVet Medical and Cancer Center for Pets in Columbus, Ohio. Her professional areas of interest include regional anesthesia with the use of peripheral nerve blocks, epidurals, wound soaker catheters, and transfusion medicine. She has added interests in the anesthetic and analgesic management of trauma patients, those patients that are emergent or critically ill, and those patients undergoing thoracic surgery. Outside of work, Dr. Cummings enjoys running, hiking, and cooking. She enjoys time spent with family, friends, and her three dogs, Polly, Phoebe, and Maple.

EDUCATION
Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine, DVM, 2011
Carnegie Mellon University, BS, 2007

SPECIALTY TRAINING
Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, Anesthesia Residency, 2015
Michigan Veterinary Specialists, Rotatng Internship, 2012

CERTIFICATION
Diplomate, American College in Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia, 2015

Becca Reader, DVM, DACVAA

Dr. Reader attended Wesleyan University for her undergraduate degree, and earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Tufts University in 2013.  She spent a year in private practice before returning to Tufts in 2014 for a combined internship in Anesthesia and Emergency/Critical Care. Dr. Reader then stayed on at Tufts University to pursue a residency in Anesthesia and Pain Management, which she completed in 2018. Her clinical interests include critical care anesthesia, as well as the management of perioperative pain, stress and anxiety in hospitalized patients. She is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia, and is also certified in veterinary medical acupuncture through the Colorado Veterinary Medical Association/Curacore Integrative Medicine.

In her spare time, Dr. Reader enjoys running, cycling, practicing hot yoga, and chasing the perfect sunrise/sunset views. She shares her home with her husband, Andy, and their three dogs Izzy, Nellie, and George Michael.

EDUCATION
Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, DVM, 2013

CERTIFICATION
Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia, 2018

Amanda Brown, CVT, Anesthesia Technician

Amanda became an anesthesia technician in Angell’s surgery department in April 2014. Prior to this position, she worked in a general practice in her home town for almost 15 years. Her love of animals and desire to work with them started at a young age and was further instilled by going to an agricultural high school and majoring in Canine Science. She went on to Mount Ida College and earned her Bachelor’s degree in Veterinary Technology and became a CVT (Certified Veterinary Technician).

Outside of work, Amanda likes to enjoy nature with her dog on long walks or go see live music with friends. She has a Yorkshire terrier named Opie and a 3 legged cat named Tipper. She has a soft spot for tripods! She had another 3 legged cat in the past along with other cats and dogs.

Leah Contreras, Lead Anesthesia Technician

Leah joined the anesthesia team at Angell as a certified veterinary technician in the fall of 2020. She is originally from Santa Monica, CA, and has been in the veterinary field since graduating high school. Leah started as a high-volume spay and neuter surgical assistant at various shelters in Los Angeles. After three years, she wanted to try out specialty/emergency medicine, and accepted a position as a radiology assistant at ASEC and transferred to the surgical department after a year. In 2016, Leah became a registered veterinary technician. Over the next five years, she worked primarily as a surgical technician and cross-trained in the ECC/ICU department. In the fall of 2019, she decided to move states to work exclusively as an anesthesia technician at a university teaching hospital. She primarily taught fourth-year veterinary students during their small and large animal anesthesia rotation. Professionally, Leah loves critical anesthetic case management, local/regional anesthesia, exotics, teaching, and lecturing. Outside of work, Leah loves to try out local food spots, travel to different countries, play volleyball, swim, and snuggle with her mischievous cat, Obi.

Patrick Fitzgerald, Anesthesia Technician

Patrick received his A.S. in Veterinary Technology from Great Bay Community College in 2017. Initially after graduating, he enrolled in the Pre-Vet program at UVM in Vermont, but circumstances changed and he decided to refocus on his work as a tech. Patrick has always loved surgery and anesthesia but he really does enjoy learning anything and everything. When not in scrubs, Patrick enjoys working with people on canine behavior helping them train their dogs, horseback riding, or just playing with his own dog, Bram.

Jez Magarinos, RVN, CVT, VTS (Anesthesia/Analgesia), Anesthesia, Surgery, and Dentistry Department Manager

Jez has worked in the veterinary field since leaving higher education in England. There, he held the role of head nurse, managing a small animal practice and then as a veterinary standards and training officer, travelling the country auditing and training technicians and doctors. He came to Boston in 2001 and has worked for Angell- Boston since 2002 in a variety of roles from supervisor to lead anesthesia technician and now as the manager of the surgery, anesthesia and dentistry departments. He is a registered veterinary nurse (RVN) in England and has achieved his veterinary technician specialist (VTS) in anesthesia/analgesia. When not at work, Jez runs a B&B, volunteers in and around Boston, likes to travel and spend time with friends and family. Winston, his cat, is very affectionate.