Faculty and Diagnostic Imaging Technicians
Faculty
Susanne Stieger-Vanegas, DVM, Dr. med. vet., Ph.D., Dipl. ECVDI
Susanne Stieger-Vanegas received her DVM degree from the University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna, Austria in 1995. Dr. Stieger-Vanegas worked part time in a small animal clinic in Vienna before she completed a doctoral thesis about gallbladder disease in dogs. Following her graduate time she completed a combined diagnostic imaging residency at the University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna, Austria and the Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Switzerland in 2001. Following her residency, she worked as a lecturer at the College of Veterinary Medicine at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences in Uppsala, Sweden. From 2003 to 2007 she performed a PhD in the Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences at the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of California, Davis. Since July 2009 she is an Assistant Professor of Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Oregon State University in Corvallis. Her clinical research interests include cancer imaging, thoracic and abdominal CT imaging in small animals and New World camelids. She is specifically interested in developing better imaging protocols imaging the heart, lungs and abdomen using computed tomography.
Outside of work Susanne enjoys spending time with her family, going for walks along the Oregon coast, as well as hiking and biking around Corvallis. Her family shares the house with 3 goldfish, “Mira”, the tortoise, “Minka”, the cat and “Minnie”, the dog; the latter 3 all adopted in the last few years.
Sarah Nemanic, D.V.M., M.S., Ph.D., Dipl. ACVR
Sarah Nemanic received her BS in Animal Physiology and Neuroscience from the University of California, San Diego in 1996. She received her MS in 1999 and PhD in 2002 in the field of Neuroscience from the University of Texas, Houston Health Science Center and MD Anderson Cancer Center. She received her DVM degree from the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of California, Davis in 2006. Following vet school, she performed a small animal rotating internship at Southern Arizona Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Center in Tucson, Arizona. She practiced emergency medicine from 2007-2008 at the Veterinary Specialty Center of Tucson in Arizona. From 2008-2011 she completed a residency in Diagnostic Imaging at Michigan State University. She became a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Radiology in 2011. Since July 2011, she has been an Assistant Professor of Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Oregon State University in Corvallis. Her clinical and research interests include imaging of lymph nodes in cats, imaging of orthopedic diseases of dogs and diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the central nervous system.
Outside of work, Sarah enjoys exploring the coast, Cascade mountain range and Columbia River Gorge. She also enjoys spending time with her two incorrigible cats, Joey and Simeon.
Diagnostic Imaging Technicians
Becki Francis, RT(R)
Becki Francis has worked at the Lois Acheson Bates Veterinary Teaching Hospital (VTH) since 1994. Before working in the diagnostic imaging service of the VTH, she worked as a veterinary technician in the Large Animal teaching hospital.
Prior to working at the VTH, Becki worked for several years as a veterinary technician in the Biomedical field in Southern California. She moved to Oregon in 1991. She is a Certified Veterinary Technician in the state of Oregon and was previously certified in California. She truly enjoys her work with the large and small animals and especially values her time with the veterinary students.
Becki loves spending time with her daughter, often cheering her on at volleyball tournaments. Her interests include hiking and road trips with her dog Sawyer, a very active mutt. She also has an Arabian horse, Spitfire (Spitty), who has been with her since 1990 when he was just 4 years of age. Spitty continues to keep her amused after all these years.
Jason Wiest, RT(R)(CT)
Since 2008 Jason has been in charge of running the CT facility at the Lois Acheson Bates Veterinary Teaching Hospital. The CT facility houses one of the fastest CT scanners in the veterinary field in the United States. Jason received his Associate in Arts degree from the Oregon Institute of Technology, and his Bachelor of Science degree from Western Oregon University. In 2006, he received his certificate as a radiologic technologist and in 2008 his certificate in Computed Tomography.
Outside work Jason enjoys spending time with his family and their three dogs — Macy, Daisy and Wolfie, travelling to different countries, and watching his son’s sporting events.
Duane Ackley RT (R)
Duane Ackley has been a radiology technologist for many years in the human world and now enjoys working with animals. Animal radiography is a different challenge and he finds it very rewarding. Duane performs MRI, CT, and general radiography exams at the Lois Bates Acheson Veterinary Teaching Hospital.
Outside of work, Duane enjoys cycling, keeping honey bees, and raising his kids.
Jennifer McClain RDMS, RT(R)
Jennifer McClain has worked since 2006 in human medicine as a Radiologic Technologist and has been an Ultrasonographer since 2008. Jennifer received her radiology and ultrasound training in Indiana. In 2002, she graduated with a Bachelor of Science from Indiana University (I.U.P.U.I.). In 2010, she received her American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) certification as an ultrasonographer. She has been at OSU since 2011.
Outside work Jennifer enjoys spending time with family and their two dogs, running, biking, and traveling.
Residents and Interns
Residents
James Berman, BVSc(Hons), MACVSc(rad)
James Berman graduated from Sydney University in 2002. He has spent several years in private practice in Australia and England. In July 2012 he started his Diagnostic Imaging Residency at the College of Veterinary Medicine, Oregon State University.
Former Interns
Pax Harness, DVM
Stacy Cooley, DVM