Our Staff

 

 

James Zeliff, DVM, MBA

James Zeliff | Allegheny Equine Veterinarian

Dr. Jim Zeliff grew up in northern New Hampshire where his interests were skiing and trail riding. He graduated from Purdue University with a bachelor’s degree in Biology in 1983 and a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 1988. After graduation he completed an internship at Belmont Racetrack in New York. He came to western Pennsylvania in 1989 and founded Allegheny Equine in 1992. His primary interests are equine reproduction, sports medicine, lameness diagnosis and practice management. In 2019, Dr Zeliff completed and received his MBA degree. Dr. Zeliff and his wife Tammy have a son, Dustin and two daughters, Ali and Haley.

Nadine Salomon, VMD, CVSMT

Dr. Salomonn | Allegheny Equine Veterinarian

Dr. Nadine Salomon joined Allegheny Equine Associates in 2011. Dr. Salomon grew up in Armstrong County and completed her Animal Bioscience Degree at Penn State and her Veterinary Medical Degree at the University of Pennsylvania. In 2018, she completed a 5-month program with Healing Oasis Wellness Center to become certified in veterinary spinal manipulation therapy.   Dr. Salomon is currently the managing DVM partner at AE and her interests lie in reproduction and internal medicine. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family and riding her horse.

Dara Brown, VMD, CVA

Dr. Brown | Allegheny Equine Veterinarian

Dr. Dara Brown joined Allegheny Equine in 2013. After completing the Options for Animals course in 2014, Dr. Brown became certified in equine chiropractic by the International Veterinary Chiropractic Association. She also attended the Chi Institute and became certified in equine veterinary acupuncture in 2014. In 2016, Dr. Brown became a certified equine rehabilitation practitioner through the University of Tennessee. As evidenced by her training, her veterinary interests are centered around integrative therapies and rehabilitation. Dr. Brown is originally from western New York, where she grew up riding and showing Arabian horses at both the local and regional level. She was active in the local horse community and was a 4-H club leader for several years. Dr. Brown received her Bachelor’s degree in genetics from the University of Rochester in 2006, followed by a Master’s degree in molecular biology from Carnegie Mellon University in 2008. Trading in her microscope for a stethoscope, Dr. Brown attended the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine and completed an internship at Blue Ridge Equine Clinic in Virginia. In her free time, Dr. Brown enjoys spending time with her children and husband, running, and cheering on the Steelers.

Nicolette Santercangelo, DVM
Nicolette Santercangelo | Allegheny Equine Veterinarian

Dr. Nicolette Santercangelo is born and raised in Western Pennsylvania in a horse-loving family and has been riding Hunter/Jumpers her whole life.  She received her Bachelors of Arts in Biology from Seton Hill University in Greensburg, PA and was a member of the Seton Hill Equestrian Team.  She attended Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine.  Her interests include lameness, ultrasound, internal medicine, and emergency medicine.  Her hobbies include painting, drawing, reading fiction novels, riding horses with her friends and family, going to the gym, playing with her dog and cat, Jasper and Toulouse, and spending time with her family.

Adria Schlesman, VMD

Adria Schlesman, VMD | Allegheny Equine Veterinarian

Dr. Adria Schlesman joined Allegheny Equine in May 2021. She was born and raised in Westmoreland County where she grew up riding and showing Quarter horses through 4-H and the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA). In 2017, Dr. Schlesman received her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from The University of Pittsburgh where she was a member of the University of Pittsburgh Equestrian Team. While earning her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine and a certificate in Veterinary Business from the University of Pennsylvania in 2021, Dr. Schlesman spent the majority of her training at their large animal hospital, New Bolton Center. Dr. Schlesman’s professional interests include internal medicine, preventative medicine, and emergency/critical care. In her free time, Dr. Schlesman enjoys riding her horse, Zandy; visiting her two Shetland ponies, Linnaeus and Maurice; running, and spending time with her husband, family, and friends.

Miranda Hengy, DVM

Miranda Hengy, DVM | Allegheny Equine Veterinarian

Dr. Miranda Hengy grew up in the small town of Onekama, Michigan where she participated in 4H and showed Morgan Horses. She completed a bachelor’s degree in biology at Central Michigan University in 2017 and received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) from The Ohio State University. Following veterinary school, Dr. Hengy completed a 1-year internship at Brown Equine Hospital where she gained experience in internal medicine, soft tissue and orthopedic surgery, and equine lameness.

Dr. Hengy‘s interests include internal medicine, emergency care, and soft tissue surgery. In her free time Dr. Hengy enjoys spending time with family, friends, and her Devon Rex cat, Rissy. She loves spending time outdoors participating in activities such as hiking, kayaking, and horseback riding with friends.

Raechelle Dietsch, DVM

Raechelle Dietsch, DVM | Allegheny Equine Veterinarian

Dr. Raechelle Dietsch grew up in western Pennsylvania. She discovered her love of horses at a young age, riding and competing through 4-H and the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA). She graduated from Delaware Valley University with a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Animal Science in 2017, then attended the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine, graduating in 2021. While in veterinary school, Dr. Dietsch served as President of the student chapter of American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP). After graduating, she completed an internship at Blue Ridge Equine Clinic, an ambulatory and referral hospital, located in Virginia. Her veterinary interests include sports medicine, emergency medicine, and preventative care. She also has a soft spot for chestnut mares and geriatric horses. In her free time, Dr. Dietsch enjoys hiking, traveling, and spending time with her two horses Que and Misfit, her dog Kai, and her cat Pia.

Our Interns

Dr. Alexis Foran, DVM
Dr. Alexis Foran, DVM | Allegheny Equine Veterinarian
Dr. Alexis Foran grew up in Freeport Pennsylvania. Dr. Foran graduated from the University of Findlay with her Bachelor’s degree in Biology and Animal Science. She went on to earn her Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine at The Ohio State University. After 8 years in Ohio, Dr. Foran is excited to be back in Pennsylvania to serve the people and animals that inspired her to become a veterinarian as a child. When Dr. Foran isn’t working, she enjoys tending to her exotic houseplant collection, seeing movies with her husband and spending time with her family.

Our Support Staff

Alexis Graham

Alexis Graham | Allegheny Equine Veterinarian

Alexis has been a part of the Allegheny Equine team since January 2010. Alexis works in the office and when she isn’t on the clock, she enjoys spending time with her horses and cats.

 

Melissa Endlich

Melissa Endlich | Allegheny Equine Veterinarian

Melissa rejoined Allegheny Equine in 2013. She grew up in this area and has had horses most of her life. Melissa enjoys trail riding with her horses. In her free time, Melissa enjoys boating, kayaking, camping and hiking with her dog.

 

Kim Stubbs

Kim Stubbs | Allegheny Equine Veterinarian

Kim joined Allegheny Equine as a Vet Tech in April of 2015. She began taking horse riding lessons at the age of 10. During High School, she tried her hand at various disciplines but loved trail riding most of all. She attended the Indiana University of Pennsylvania in Indiana, PA and graduated with a Bachelor’s in English, Editing and Publishing, while working at Winning Key Farms, a Standardbred Breeding farm located in Worthington, PA. In her spare time, she enjoys reading and trail riding her Standardbred mares, Cricket and Siren. She also has two dogs, Bear and Apollo, and a cat, Arya.

Abby Burkardt, CVPM

Abby Burkhardt | Allegheny Equine Veterinarian

Abby joined Allegheny Equine in October 2017. Abby works in the office, helping our clients and supporting our veterinarians. When she isn’t working, she can be found at the barn with her horse Lucy and her three German Shepherds Eva, Mowgli & Mater.

 

Caleigh Anderson

Caleigh Anderson | Allegheny Equine Veterinarian

Caleigh started at Allegheny Equine in May of 2020.  After high school, she went to Penn State University where she earned a Bachelor’s in Animal Science with a minor in Equine Science. While there she especially enjoyed competing on the Western Equestrian team and helping to monitor and foal out the PSU broodmare herd. Caleigh has grown up in the horse industry, starting with 4-H and working her way onto the APHA circuit. She currently has 4 horses, 2 of which she shows in the all-around events. She enjoys training her horses from the ground up and has acquired several national titles with APHA. When she’s not showing she enjoys going horse camping with her family in various national forests.

 

Jocelyn Moser
Jocelyn Moser | Allegheny Equine Veterinarian

 

Dana Speranza

Dana Speranza | Allegheny Equine Veterinarian
Keri Dinsmore
Keri Dinsmore | Allegheny Equine Veterinarian
Keri joined the Allegheny Equine office in August 2021. She graduated from Penn State with a B.S. Animal Science and a minor in Equine Science, and was a student worker at the university’s Quarter Horse farm for 3 years. She loves Penn State’s horse program so much that after graduation, she purchased one of the horses she foaled out as a student. Prior to Allegheny Equine, Keri worked a variety of animal-related jobs including guiding trail rides on a historic Wyoming ranch, companion animal nutrition sales, and small animal veterinary. In addition to her gelding CJ, she loves the outdoors, photography, history, and her two cats Albus and Vincent.

Julia Kline

Julia Kline

Hi, my name is Julia. I joined Allegheny Equine in February 2022. I have been around horses my entire life. I started out jumping but discovered that I really loved barrel racing while I was in high school. After high school I attended Southern New Hampshire University to earn a degree in Forensic Psychology. My favorite cases at work are the emergency medicine cases. When I am not working, I enjoy reading, horseback riding, and spending time with my friends and family.

Amanda Chrise

Amanda Chrise

Mackenzie McCandles

Mackenzie McCandles

Horses have been a huge part of my life since I was very young. I grew up riding for leisure, until high school when I started youth rodeo. Through the years I continued to run in many different rodeo organizations as well as the NPBA. After high school, I went to Meredith Manor international Equestrian Centre and became a certified farrier. I’ve recently gone back to school to complete my undergraduate degree in veterinary/biomedical sciences at Penn State University. In my free time I enjoy spending time with my family, horse, and two dogs.

Abby Springer

Abby Springer

My name is Abby and I am from Mount Pleasant. I just graduated from Mercyhurst University in Erie this past May with a bachelor of science in Forensic Science with a concentration in Criminalistics and Biology with a minor in law enforcement. I love to be outside whether I am camping, hiking, fishing, or hunting. Then when I can’t be outside I like to read, listen to music, or work on some of the projects that I have. Although my schooling was not for working in a Veterinary Office, I love to learn and am very excited to start this new adventure!

 

Past Interns

2022 – 2023

Alejandra Rodriguez, DVM and Lydia Cassidy, DVM

Alejandra Rodriguez, DVM | Allegheny Equine Intern
Lydia Cassidy, DVM| Allegheny Equine Intern

2021 – 2022

Adria Schlesman, VMD

Nicolette Santercangelo, DVM | Allegheny Equine Intern

 

2020 – 2021

Nicolette Santercangelo, DVM and Gabriel Gonzalez, DVM

Nicolette Santercangelo, DVM | Allegheny Equine Intern
Gabriel Gonzalez, DVM | Allegheny Equine Intern

 

2018 – 2019

Dr. Lauren Powell

2016 – 2017

Dr. Margaret Bojko

Margaret-Bojko | Allegheny Equine Veterinarian