PATHOLOGISTS
Dr. Allan Berrington
Dr. Allan Berrington had his beginnings in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, obtained a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Winnipeg and graduated from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in 1986. After 3 years in private practice in a small animal hospital in Port Colborne, Ontario he returned to WCVM to complete a non thesis master degree in clinical pathology in 1992. Allan obtained diplomate status with the American College of Veterinary Pathologists the same year and moved to British Columbia to accept a position of associate pathologist at Central Laboratory for Veterinarians Ltd. where he worked until 2006. In 2008, Allan along with Dr. Jim Bilenduke helped start True North Veterinary Diagnostics Inc. Past time interests include cycling, golf, snorkelling, scuba, and, well a picture speaks for itself.
Dr. Jim Bilenduke
Dr. Jim Bilenduke was born in Dauphin Manitoba but moved to British Columbia at age 5, spending most of his formative years in the beautiful Pemberton Valley just north of Whistler. After 2 years at the University of Manitoba acquiring prerequisites he was accepted into WCVM and graduated from vet school in 1986. Jim spent three years in private practice in Calgary and Toronto as an emergency veterinarian and returned to pursue a non-thesis master of veterinary science in clinical pathology at WCVM in 1989. After completing his MVSc in 1992 he joined Central Laboratory for Veterinarians to help start and manage the Calgary branch of the lab, also achieving certification with the American College of Veterinary Pathologists in 1993. Jim continued as manager and associate pathologist at CVL Calgary until 2002 when he transferred to the Langley laboratory in order to be with his soon bride to be, Dr. Margie Scherk, continuing with CVL until 2006. In 2008, he and Dr. Allan Berrington helped start True North Veterinary Diagnostics. Jim enjoys hiking, craft beer and carrying his wife's suitcase as she travels around the world lecturing in feline medicine.
Dr. Kristyna Musil
Kristyna is originally from Winnipeg Manitoba. She completed a BSc in Science at the University of Manitoba before starting her DVM at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine. Following completion of her DVM in 2011, Kristyna decided to pursue her interest in clinical pathology. She completed her residency and ACVP certifying examination in 2014, and joined True North Veterinary Diagnostics shortly thereafter. In her spare time Kristyna enjoys hiking with her two dogs Crimp and Rock.
Dr. Delphine Guldner
Delphine grew up in France and went to Belgium to study veterinary medicine. She obtained her DVM in 2009 at the FMV in Liege. She continued with a small animal rotating internship the next year and started working on a research project in Brussels while being a teacher’s assistant for vet students the following two years. She flew to Australia where she also had a teacher’s assistant position for biomedical and vet students in North Queensland until she obtained a clinical pathology residency at Washington State University in 2013. She completed her masters’ thesis in veterinary science at WSU in 2016 and joined TNVD in January 2017. She is a nature lover and outdoor enthusiast.
Dr. Brodie Reinhart
Brodie is originally from Quispamsis, New Brunswick where he obtained a BSc in General Biology from the University of New Brunswick in Saint John. He then went on to obtain his DVM from the Atlantic Veterinary College in 2015. Brodie returned to the Atlantic Veterinary College for his residency training in Clinical Pathology, before joining True North Veterinary Diagnostics in 2022. He loves coffee, nature photography, hiking, woodworking, writing, and more coffee.
Dr. Kimberly Pattullo
Kim is originally from Calgary, Alberta. After initially obtaining a Bachelor of Music in Music Education and Flute Performance from the University of Calgary with the original goal of becoming a high school band teacher, she completely switched gears and pursued veterinary medicine, obtaining her DVM from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in 2007. After practicing small animal medicine in Alberta and Saskatchewan, she returned to the University of Saskatchewan in 2011 and began a residency in clinical pathology. Following her residency, she moved south to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign to work as a clinical instructor for 2 years before switching to diagnostic work, working for Phoenix Diagnostic Laboratory for Veterinarians in Mukilteo, WA and Antech Diagnostics as a remote pathologist before joining True North Veterinary Diagnostics in 2023. She loves nature, knitting, playing the ukulele, and cuddling her two cats, Frank and Harriet.
INTERNIST
Dr. Julie Armstrong
Julie was born and raised in Victoria BC. Following graduation from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) in Saskatoon, 1996, she joined Veterinary Specialists of Hartford, Connecticut for a one-year internship. She completed a three-year residency and MVSc program in small animal internal medicine back at WCVM from 1997-2000. She became a board-certified internal medicine specialist in 2000. Shortly after finishing her residency she received a clinical position within the small animal medicine department at the Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph. In 2004 she joined Medi-Cal/ Royal Canin as an Internal Medicine/Nutrition consultant and research associate. After eight years in Ontario, she and her family moved to British Columbia where she joined Boundary Bay Veterinary Specialists in her capacity of Internal Medicine Specialist prior to joining True North Veterinary Diagnostic Services in 2011. Julie has always had a keen interest in clinical pathology and jumped at the opportunity to explore this interest further as part of the True North Team. Julie is passionately aware and reminded daily of the joy and love our canine and feline family members bring to our lives.
REMOTE PATHOLOGISTS
Dr. Sally Lester
Dr. Sally Lester received her DVM with distinction from Washington State University in 1967 and then received her Master of Veterinary Science from the University of Saskatchewan in 1979. She is a Diplomate in the ACVP in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology. In 1982 she helped to establish Evergreen Professional Services (Veterinary laboratory), in Kirkland Washington and at the same time Central Laboratory for Veterinarians (CLV) in Langley BC. She worked with both laboratories until 1985, and was a director and CEO of CLV from 1982 to November 2006. Dr. Lester is now the Director for the laboratories at Pilchuck Veterinary Hospital and its other specialty hospital, Seattle Veterinary Specialists. She is also a consultant for Phoenix Central Laboratory for Veterinarians. Dr. Lester has been a consulting pathologist for True North Veterinary Diagnostics since its conception in 2008. Other professional activities include Assistant Editor for the Feline Medicine Journal and the Canadian Veterinary Journal as well as Scientific Reviewer for the American Journal of Veterinary Research. She has two sons, one an equine surgeon at Pilchuck Veterinary Hospital and the other a feline practitioner at All About Cats, both in Washington state.
Dr. Steven Scott
Steven was born and raised in Miramichi, New Brunswick. He obtained a Bachelor of Science in Biology at the University of New Brunswick and graduated from the Atlantic Veterinary College in 2011. He then completed a residency in anatomic pathology at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in 2014 and passed the American College of Veterinary Pathologists certifying examination the same year. He briefly worked as a wildlife pathologist at the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative before joining True North Veterinary Diagnostics in 2015. In his spare time, Steve enjoys trail running, hiking, camping, and spending time with his husband and cats.
Dr. Steven Mills
Stay tuned for bio!
Dr. Jenna Thebeau
Dr. Jenna Thebeau was born and raised in Moncton, New Brunswick. She obtained a Bachelor of Science with Honours from Mount Allison University and thereafter graduated from the DVM program at the Atlantic Veterinary College in 2020. Finding a passion for anatomic pathology through vet school, Jenna pursued residency training and a Master of Science through the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon, SK. Soon after completing of her residency training in 2023, Jenna joined True North Diagnostics as a part-time consultant. In her spare time, Jenna enjoys camping with her partner and two dogs, crafting, gardening, paddleboarding, and creating naturalistic habitats for her furless (reptiles, fish, and invertebrate) pets.
Dr. Rina Nabeta
Dr. Rina Nabeta was born and raised in Japan. She earned her DVM from University of Miyazaki in 2015, after which she spent two years on a small animal rotating internship at the Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, and one year in private practice. She returned to the Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology in 2018 to start a PhD on novel diagnostic markers and therapeutic strategies for canine mesothelioma. Shortly thereafter, she accepted a clinical pathology residency at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine, and earned her board certification in clinical pathology in 2022. She now works remotely for True North while continuing work on her PhD in Tokyo. Rina has a love of cats and dogs (despite severe allergies, especially to cats) as well as sea otters, which she considers to be the aquatic version of dogs. She enjoys biking, travelling, music, seafood, and watching baseball.
Dr. Moira Kerr
Dr. Moira Kerr was a veterinary diagnostic pathologist with Prairie Diagnostic Services (PDS) from its inception in 1998 until her retirement in 2023. She joined True North Veterinary Diagnostics Inc. (TNVD) as a remote clinical pathologist in Jun of 2023.
As a veterinary diagnostic pathologist with PDS, Dr. Kerr provided diagnostic expertise in clinical pathology, surgical pathology, ocular pathology and dermatohistopathology. She appreciates the unique relationship that diagnostic veterinary laboratories share with veterinary practitioners and knows performing diagnostic services in an academic environment honed her diagnostic skills. She looks forward to working with the pathologists and support staff at TNVD.
In her spare time, she enjoys walks with her Cairn Terrier dog, Olive, at local dog parks and along the Meewasin Valley riverside trails; pen and ink drawing and watercolor painting; learning French and Spanish; reading; knitting and taking naps.
VISITING RESIDENTS
Dr. Cally Chuback
Dr. Chuback is originally from Toronto, Ontario. She graduated from University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine in 2022, where she also worked in the clinical pathology lab. Subsequently she decided to pursue clinical pathology residency training at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon, SK. She is a lover of all kinds of spicy food, beaches but most of all cats!
Dr. Chuback joins True North in July and August 2024.
Dr. Amber Allain
Dr. Allain is originally from New Brunswick, and graduated veterinary school at Massey University, New Zealand. She spent several years in companion animal practice, then transitioned to teaching veterinary assistants at a private college until getting accepted at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine for a clinical pathology residency. She loves dogs and exotics, particularly snakes, and has at various points in her life owned representatives of most domestic companion species!
Dr. Allain joins True North in late July- mid August 2024.
Dr. Nicole Rose
Nicole was born and raised in Montréal, Québec. She completed a BSc at McGill University before moving to Calgary for her first job. She returned to school to complete her DVM as part of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine's inaugural class at the University of Calgary. Nicole completed two internships after graduation, one in wildlife medicine and one in small animal medicine. She continued her career by moving into general practice for a few years while starting her family. She finally decided to return to school to complete her anatomic pathology residency at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine and passed her certifying examination in 2024. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her two girls and her husband. Nicole is fluent in both English and French and will always be a Habs fan.