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Ashley Power

Dr. Power is a New England native and completed bachelor’s and master’s degrees in biochemistry/molecular biology at Boston University. She attended veterinary school at the University of Pennsylvania and boomeranged back to Boston to complete a rotating internship at MSPCA-Angell. She remained on staff as an emergency clinician prior to completing a critical care specialty internship at Massachusetts Veterinary Referral Hospital and a surgery specialty internship at VCA South Shore Animal Hospital. She is thrilled to join the team as a surgical resident at VRC and enjoys all aspects of surgery, with a particular fondness for orthopedics. 

When not working, Dr. Power enjoys ice hockey and a slew of outdoor activities, including hiking, camping, boating, snowboarding, and taking her cat Fred out on his leash.

Steven Mahler

Stephen Mahler joined the United States Air force in 2009 where he was a heavy equipment operator for the 201st Red Horse Squadron. While in the Air Force, he earned an Associates Degree in construction technology. After completing prerequisite coursework at Bucks County Community College, he enrolled in a dual modality advanced placement degree program at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. In 2014, he completed the dual modality program, earning a Bachelor of Science in Radiologic Sciences with concentrations in Radiography and Radiation Therapy. He sat for and passed the radiography and radiation therapy boards shortly after graduating. Two months after graduating, an opportunity to work with animals in radiation therapy presented itself in which Stephen accepted a per diem position at Mid Atlantic Veterinary Specialists (now VRC). Around the same time, he accepted a full-time position at Jefferson Hospital for Neurosciences where he cross trained into Computed Tomography. He sat for and passed the Computed Tomography boards in 2015, giving him certifications in three modalities. Throughout the years, Stephen has worked at many human hospitals practicing in all three modalities. In 2017, Stephen was offered a full-time position working with animals in CT, MRI, and Radiation Therapy. He also accepted the role of the Radiation safety officer for the hospital. He continues to serve as the Radiation safety officer as well as in the Computed Tomography and Radiation Therapy department.

Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his wife, two daughters, and son. They love cooking together as a family, watching movies, spending time outdoors, and traveling.

Austin O’Connell

Austin O’Connell was born and raised in River Edge, NJ, a suburb of New York City. He graduated from the University of Rhode Island in 2009 with a Bachelor of Science in Animal and Veterinary Sciences.

From 2002 to 2015; Austin worked in northern New Jersey as a veterinary technician focusing on the specialties of Neurology/Neurosurgery, Diagnostic Imaging, Radiation Therapy, and high-risk anesthesia. In late 2015, Austin transitioned from the clinical floor to Purchasing & Inventory for Compassion First Pet Hospitals. In late 2017, Austin was named Hospital Director of Red Bank Veterinary Hospitals Mount Laurel- a multispecialty and emergency practice in Mount Laurel NJ. Austin joined the VRC team as Hospital Director in June of 2021.

Austin lives in New Jersey with his wife, Jenny, their two children, Henry and Whitney, and their cat Marcel. Outside of work, Austin enjoys playing golf, hiking, spending time with family down the shore, and reading about maritime history.

Sarah Fatula

Dr. Fatula earned her undergraduate degree in Neuroscience from Colgate University and her VMD degree at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine, where she graduated magna cum laude. She completed a small animal rotating internship at Red Bank Veterinary Hospital. Dr. Fatula has a special interest in neurologic emergencies, trauma and wound management. She is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society, and Pennsylvania Veterinary Medical Association. Dr. Fatula has a mixed breed dog named Buckley.

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