Leah Park, DVM, Diplomate ACVS
Dr. Leah Park is a 2012 graduate of Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine. She completed a rotating internship in small animal medicine and surgery at Garden State Veterinary Specialists. Thereafter, she completed a surgical internship at Dallas Veterinary Surgical Center and then returned to Garden State Veterinary Specialists for a small animal surgery residency. Dr. Park became a Diplomate of The American College of Veterinary Surgeons in 2023. Her surgical interests include orthopedics, wound management, and postoperative rehabilitation.
Thomas D. Scavelli, DVM, Diplomate ACVS
Founder and Director of Garden State Veterinary Specialists. Dr. Scavelli is a 1982 graduate of The New York State College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University. Following graduation, Tom completed an internship and 3 year surgical residency program at The Animal Medical Center in New York City. He became a Diplomate of The American College of Veterinary Surgeons in 1987 and headed a surgical service at The Animal Medical Center for 6 years. He established a surgical referral practice (Veterinary Surgical Specialists) in 1990 which has evolved into Garden State Veterinary Specialists.
Alison Morgera, VMD, Diplomate ACVS
Dr. Morgera is a 2104 graduate of University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. Alison, a native of Rhode Island, received her undergraduate degree from University of New Hampshire. Dr. Morgera completed a rotating internship at University of Illinois and a Surgical Internship at Garden State Veterinary Specialists. Alison is currently a Surgical Resident at GSVS and recently became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons.
Casey Murphy, VMD, Diplomate ACVS
Dr. Murphy is a 2017 graduate of the University Of Pennsylvania School Of Veterinary Medicine. Casey, a native of Connecticut, received her undergraduate degree from George Washington University. In July 2018, Dr. Murphy completed a Rotating Internship in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery at Oradell Animal Hospital, thereafter, Casey joined the surgery department of Garden State Veterinary Specialists and Garden State Veterinary Services as surgical intern. Dr. Murphy became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons in 2024.
Brandon Halper, DVM, Practice Limited to Surgery
Dr. Halper is a 2019 graduate of Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine. He completed a small animal rotating internship, a surgical internship, and a surgical residency at Garden State Veterinary Specialists. Dr. Halper completed his residency in surgery in 2024.
The Surgery Department accepts referrals on orthopedic, thoracic, abdominal, reconstructive, and neurosurgical cases. GSVS Woodbridge surgeons utilize the very latest equipment and are proficient in many procedures including Tibial Tuberosity Advancement (TTA), Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy (TPLO), Triple Pelvic Osteotomy (TPO) and Biometrix hip implant procedures. The hospital is equipped with surgical stapling devices, vessel sealing devices, an intra-operative microscope, digital radiography and fluoroscopy.
Surgery is scheduled according to the urgency of the patient’s condition; priority is given to critical patients and fracture cases. Referring veterinarians are updated on the condition of the patient post-operatively.Written reports detailing the patient’s diagnosis, treatment and prognosis are also sent.
Orthopedic Surgery
- Fracture repair
- Cruciate stabilization
- Tibial Tuberosity Advancement (TTA)
- Tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO)
- Lateral Suture Technique
- Total hip replacement
- Triple pelvic osteotomy
- Patella luxation stabilization
Arthroscopic Surgery
Arthroscopy is used alone or in combination with other orthopedic procedures to minimally invasively evaluate joints. Arthroscopy allows our surgeons to explore a joint under magnification without the need for large incisions and painful recoveries. Arthroscopy can be used to evaluate most joints. Common procedures include evaluation and treatment of elbow dysplasia, removal of OCD flaps from shoulders and the diagnosis of early cruciate ligament tears.
Thoracic Surgery
GSVS Woodbridge is fully equipped to perform open thoracic surgery. Ventilators and state of the art anesthesia equipment allows our surgeons to open chests for procedures such as lung tumor removal, esophageal or thoracic duct surgery and even cardiac procedures. Thoracoscopy can be performed for minimally invasive procedures. Postoperatively our thoracic patients receive 24 hour nursing care in the ICU to ensure a comfortable and safe recovery.
- Lung lobectomy
- Pericardectomy
- Persistent right aortic arch
- Patent ductus arteriosus occlusion
- Reconstructive Surgery
Reconstructive Surgery
Traumatic wound care is a common occurrence in most veterinary hospitals. Large wounds that require surgical debridement or special closures involving skin flaps or grafts are commonly sent to our hospital. Removal of large tumors can also require skin reconstructive procedures to help close the wound once the mass is removed.
Abdominal Surgery
Abdominal surgeries are one of the most common procedures performed at GSVS Woodbridge. Abdominal surgery is required to treat conditions of the liver, spleen, kidneys, gallbladder, bladder and pancreas. Gastric dilatation and volvulus (GDV) is a life threatening condition that requires emergency surgery to derotate and tack the stomach to prevent occurrence in the future. Gastrotomy or enterotomy may be performed to remove ingested foreign bodies. GSVS Woodbridge is also equipped to perform laparoscopic procedures such as liver biopsy to minimize the size of incisions and maximize comfort during recovery.
- Intestinal resection and anastomosis
- Enterotomy
- Gastrotomy
- Subtotal colectomy
- Liver lobectomy
- Splenectomy
- Cholecystectomy/cholecystoduodenostomy
- Portosystemic shunt ligation
- Cystotomy
- Nephrotomy/nephrectomy