Meet the Internal Medicine Team in Waltham

Daniela Vrabelova Ackley, DVM, MS, DACVIM-SA

Dr. Ackley, originally from Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, received her DVM degree in 2004 from the University of Veterinary Medicine in Slovakia. After graduation, Dr. Ackley completed two small animal internships, one at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of the Autonomous University of Barcelona, Spain, and the other at North Carolina State University. Her strong interest in internal medicine lead her to the residency at The Ohio State University. Dr. Ackley is especially passionate about respiratory and immune mediated diseases as well as endoscopic procedures, including upper and lower gastrointestinal endoscopy, rhinoscopy, bronchoscopy, cystoscopy and laparoscopic liver biopsies. Multilingual, she is fluent in English, Spanish and Czech, and proficient in German and Polish.

EDUCATION
University of Veterinary Medicine, Kosice, Slovakia, DVM, 2004

SPECIALTY TRAINING
The Ohio State University, Residency in Small Animal Internal Medicine (SAIM) and Masters program, 2010-2013
North Carolina State University, Rotating Internship, 2009-2010
Autonomous University of Barcelona, Spain, Rotating Internship and Master Degree, 2006-2008

CERTIFICATION
Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 2013

Lisa Gorman, DVM, DACVIM-SA

Dr. Lisa Gorman is originally from Massachusetts and earned her Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Biology from Cornell University in 2007.  She attended veterinary school at Washington State University, where she graduated with honors in 2011.  Dr. Gorman completed her rotating internship at the Animal Medical Center in New York in 2012, and went on to pursue a small animal internal medicine residency at the University of Minnesota, which she finished in 2015.  She worked at a referral hospital in Connecticut for 2 years before moving back to Massachusetts and joining the Angell West team. In her free time, Dr. Gorman enjoys reading, playing the piano, baking, traveling, and hiking with her dogs Jude and Roger.

EDUCATION
Washington State University, DVM, 2011
Cornell University, BA, 2007

SPECIALTY TRAINING
University of Minnesota, Residency in SAIM, 2012-2015
Animal Medical Center, New York, NY, Rotating Internship, 2011-2012

CERTIFICATION
Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 2015

Dan, CVT, Internal Medicine Technician

Dan grew up in Attleboro, MA, and attended Wheaton College in Norton, majoring in psychobiology. He interned at several zoos and a wildlife rehabilitation center. He served in AmeriCorps NCCC on the West coast before starting at his first veterinary clinic in California. He joined Angell in Boston in 2011, where he worked for several years before working in general practice for a couple of years. He began at Angell West ER in 2017. He enjoys the variety that emergency medicine provides and does his best to make his patients comfortable and alleviate fear during their stay. Outside of work, he and his girlfriend have a geriatric cat adopted from Boston and enjoy gaming.

Kristen, CVT, VTS (Cardiology), Specialty Services Supervisor

Kristen grew up attending summer camps and volunteering at the shelter at the MSPCA-Nevins Farm. Her passion for animals led her to attend Essex Agricultural and Technical High School (now known as Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technician High School).

She began working as a kennel attendant/veterinary technician in 2001 and obtained her veterinary technician certification in 2005. In 2005, Kristen started working for the MSPCA-Angell – Western NE in Springfield, MA. The closure of the hospital in 2007 led her to her next journey at Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, starting in the intensive care unit. From there, she joined the cardiology department, became a Veterinary Technician Specialist in cardiology, and then moved into a leadership role as Supervisor for various Specialty Services at Angell West in 2022.

Her professional interests include providing the best patient care to our patients and clients, teaching and providing technicians and assistants with the necessary knowledge and skills to succeed, and, of course, anything related to cardiology.

Outside of work, she loves spending time with friends, exploring different food and drinks, and finding entertainment in the playful antics of her cats, Link and Leo.

Stephanie, Internal Medicine Assistant

Shortly after graduating high school, Stephanie started her career in veterinary medicine in 2017. Over her veterinary career, Stephanie has worked in general practice, physical therapy, and behavior therapy. She has volunteered at Animal Adventures Family Zoo and Rescue Center, where she worked with a variety of animals, from ferrets to kangaroos. Currently, she works as a technician in Internal Medicine at the MSPCA-Angell West. She spends her free time cuddling her Shiba Inu Nebula, trying new restaurants, and enjoying the outdoors.

Alicia, Internal Medicine Assistant

Alicia joined the Angell West Internal Medicine team in November 2023. Initially working in the film and TV industry, her weekend job at an animal shelter awoke her passion for helping those with no voice. She started her career in the veterinary industry to help all animals in need three years ago. She is enrolled in the Penn Foster program to become a certified veterinary technician. She lives in Lowell with her Chihuahua mix, Winston, and a bearded dragon, Jeffrey. She has a soft spot for all exotics, especially ferrets, having rescued them multiple times over the years.