About Us

The Veterinary Chiropractic Learning Centre, formerly associated with The Healing Oasis Wellness Center in Wisconsin, offers post-graduate certificate programs for licensed health care professionals. The VCLC provides a specific, well-rounded animal chiropractic program to licensed chiropractors and veterinarians in good standing.

The Directors of VCLC:

Dr. Annette Langlois, DC, Co-Director

Dr. Annette Langlois Dr. Annette Langlois graduated from the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College in 1987. At that time, she entered into practice in Brantford, Ontario.

Dr. Annette completed the certification program in animal chiropractic from Options for Animals in 1998, became a member of the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association (AVCA), and has maintained an animal practice ever since. She has also completed some training in advanced neurology and is a co-founder and a co-director of the Veterinary Chiropractic Learning Centre. She is also a founding member of the College of Animal Chiropractors (CoAC). Dr. Langlois enjoys sharing her knowledge through public speaking and teaching with audiences ranging from the interested public to other professionals.

Dr. Annette shares her life with her four-footed child Gypsy Rose.

 

Dr. Kim Adie, DC, Co-Director

Dr. Annette LangloisDr. Kim Adie graduated from the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College in 1994 after studying Biology at Brock University. After 13 years of family practice, she attended post-graduate certification training in animal chiropractic. She has studied advanced adjusting methods and soft-tissue techniques such as Cranial Sacral, Myofascial Release and Graston. She devotes all her clinical practice to animals' chiropractic care, providing services at a veterinary hospital, dog training facilities and private practice settings. She is currently completing a master's degree at Ontario Tech University with a research focus on measuring sensory-motor changes and functional abilities in canines in response to chiropractic treatment. She plans to continue investigating the effects of spinal manipulation in animal populations and educating regarding the conservative treatment of spinal dysfunction in animals.

Dr. Adie resides in Lindsay, Ontario, with her two lovely children, Sam and Grace. She is owned by one Cat Boss, Daisy, and four dogs--two working Kelpies who love to work sheep, Katie, a senior Border Collie rescue, and an extraordinary, retired athlete, Reggie, who has competed internationally in the dog sport of dock diving. 

 

INSTRUCTORS:

Dr. Ernie Perry, DC

Dr. Ernie Perry Dr. Ernie Perry graduated from the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College in 1987, being accepted into the College after completing two years of undergraduate study in Biology at the University of Prince Edward Island. He has maintained a private practice in Toronto since his graduation.

Dr. Perry's interest in animal chiropractic started with his love of Boxers and competing in the show ring. He went on to study animal chiropractic at Options for Animals, successfully completing the program and becoming AVCA certified in 1998. He has been treating animals ever since. Dr. Perry's animal practice has since evolved into primarily an equine practice. He truly enjoys treating horses of all disciplines and breeds. He especially enjoys treating standardbreds and working closely with trainers and owners.

His growing interest in animal chiropractic led him to continue studies in Advanced Animal Studies through Options for Animals International Academy of Animal Chiropractic. He has completed all the lectures and labs and is currently working on the research required to complete his Advanced designation.

Dr. Perry looks forward to sharing the knowledge and experience he has gained over the last 13 years.

He shares his home with his wife, Dr. Gloria Bracchetti, and their Boxer Elle.

 

Dr. R Scott Hie, DC

Dr. R Scott Hie Dr. R Scott Hie graduated from Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College in 1996, being accepted into the College after completing two years of undergraduate study in Animal Science at the University of Guelph. He has maintained a private human practice in Toronto since his graduation.

In addition, he completed the Canadian Animal Chiropractic Certification Program, and he is a member of the College of Animal Chiropractors and the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association.

Dr. Hie has a longstanding passion for horses which has led to his involvement in many different equine disciplines, including harness racing, thoroughbred racing, polo, barrel racing, endurance, reining, 3-day eventing, jumpers, and hunters.

When he is not practicing, he enjoys travelling, his motorcycle, many sports and time on his family's farm.

 

Dr. Pedro Rivera, DVM, FACFNn England

Dr. Pedro Rivera, DVM, FACFN Dr. Pedro Luis Rivera, DVM, FACFN 2555 Wisconsin St. Sturtevant, WI 53177-1825 Phone: 262-898-1680 Fax: 262-886-6460 Web: www.healingoasis.edu  

CV:

  • 1998 – Present: Faculty and main instructor at the Healing Oasis Wellness Center, a Nationally Accredited School offering state-approved (Wisconsin Educational Approval Board) post-graduate programs. All programs are approved by the Wisconsin Educational Approval Board. The Healing Oasis received full accreditation from the Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training (www.accet.org), recognized by the U.S. Dept of Education. Programs include Veterinary Spinal Manipulative Therapy, Veterinary Massage and Rehabilitation Therapy and Advance Neurology – VSMT.
  • 2005 – Present: Faculty and main instructor at the Veterinary Chiropractic Learning Centre – Ontario, Canada and the Backbone Academy for Veterinary Chiropractic and Healing Arts in Sittensen, Germany. Post-graduate educational institution offering approved programs in Veterinary Spinal Manipulation or "Animal Chiropractic".
  • 2003 – 2005: Faculty at the European Academy of Veterinary Chiropractic
  • 1993 – 1999:Full time instructor at the Options for Animals Veterinary Chiropractic Center
  • 1986: Received the degree of Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Purdue University, School of Veterinary Medicine
  • 1985:Received a B.S. in Animal Science from Purdue University Extra-professional certifications:
  • 2009: Fellow of the American College of Functional Neurology
  • 2002 – Present: Enrolled in the Carrick Institute; Chiropractic Neurology Program and Masters Degree program.
  • 1999: Completed a seminar on Veterinary Rehabilitation from the University of Tennessee, School of Veterinary Medicine, Continuing Education program
  • 1993: Completed all requirements for the advanced status of the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association
  • 1992: Completed Level I & II from the New England School of Homeopathy
  • 1989: Completed the certificate of completion offered by the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association and Options for Animal Veterinary Chiropractic Center. Course length = 150hrs.

Work:

  • 2005 – Present: Co-Founder and primary instructor at the Veterinary Chiropractic Learning Centre, Brantford, Ontario, Canada and the Backbone Academy of Veterinary Chiropractic and Healing Arts in Sittensen, Germany
  • 1998 – Present: Co-Founder & primary instructor at The Healing Oasis Wellness Center, an educational institution offering state-approved programs through the Wisconsin Educational Approval Board (WEAB) on Veterinary Massage and Rehabilitation; Veterinary Chinese Herbology and Veterinary Spinal Manipulative Therapy. These programs are offered to licensed healthcare professionals that meet the rigorous standards set forth by this institution and the WEAB
  • 1993 – Present: Co-owner of The Healing Oasis Veterinary Hospital, a 100% Holistic Veterinary Practice devoted to offering Veterinary Massage and Rehabilitation Therapy, Veterinary Chiropractic and Veterinary Chinese & Western Herbology as the primary health care modalities. The hospital also provides conventional diagnostics such as digital x-rays, ultrasound, blood chemistries, surgery, and EKG.

Literature:

  • 1999: Co-author of 'Veterinary Chiropractic' published in the Journal of Veterinary Technician, May 2000
  • 1997: Equine Influenza and Equine Herpes Virus titers: Their significance. Unpublished information is done in cooperation with Dr. Ed Dubovi at Cornell University

Lectured at:
Dr. Rivera has been a speaker at many National, International, State and Local Veterinary Medical Associations. They include:

  • AVMA – 2008, 2005, 2004, 2003
  • Puerto Rico VMA – 2004, 2002
  • Minnesota VMA – 2004
  • New Jersey VMA (N.E. Vet Conference) – 2004
  • Ohio VMA / Midwest Veterinary Conference – 2003, 2001
  • Wisconsin VMA – 2003
  • Maine VMA – 2002
  • UW Madison, Conference in Integrative Medicine – 2005, 07
  • Eastern and Western States VMA (Orlando Fla) – 2005
  • ACVS - 2008
  • Others

Dr. Rivera also lectures during every module offered at the Healing Oasis Wellness Center (7 – 8 days per month). Every module is 45 hrs long (Wed-Sun for the Veterinary Spinal Manipulative Therapy) and 32 hrs long for the Veterinary Massage and Rehabilitation Therapy) among other C.E. seminars of different lengths.

 

Dr. Lori Berardinucci, DC

Dr. Lori Berardinucci Dr. Lori Berardinucci graduated from the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College in 1992. She started work immediately in a busy office in Oshawa, Ontario. Although this kept her busy and happy, she had always yearned to work with animals.

It wasn't until years later that she attended the Veterinary Chiropractic Learning Centre and completed the Canadian Animal Chiropractic Certification Program. She has since completed several advanced technique courses and canine rehabilitation seminars and received her Equi-tape certification.

Lori has enjoyed recreational obedience, agility, flyball and search and rescue with her Doberman pinschers in the past and riding her trusty Connemara in the hunter/jumper disciplines. Today, she maintains a private practice and divides her time between humans, horses, dogs and the occasional cat.

Dr. Berardinucci lives in Campbellville with her husband, two children, and their little Shih Tzu, Mushu.

 

Dr. Lisa Bowes, DVM

Dr. Lisa BowesDr. Lisa Bowes graduated from the Atlantic Veterinary College in 2009. She practiced briefly in her hometown in Nova Scotia before moving to Ontario and has been working in small animal private practice in the GTA ever since.

Dr. Bowes has a special interest in multimodal pain management and, in 2015, completed certification in Medical Acupuncture for Veterinarians. In 2016 she attended the Veterinary Chiropractic Learning Center and completed her training in Veterinary Spinal Manipulative Therapy (VSMT). She is currently enrolled in the Canine Rehabilitation program at the University of Tennessee.

 

Dr. Cerah Bowyer, DVM

Dr. Cerah BowyerDr. Cerah Bowyer graduated from WCVM in 2006 and moved to Barrhead, Alberta, to practice in a mixed animal practice, Barr-North Veterinary Services. In 2008 she was certified through IVAS in veterinary acupuncture, and in 2012 Certified through VCLC in VSMT. Currently, Dr. Cerah Bowyer is a partner in Barr- North Veterinary Services Ltd and enjoys her life as a mixed animal veterinarian. Her VSMT has become a huge part of her small animal and equine practice. She has even used it on dairy and beef cattle, rabbits and sheep!

At home with her husband and three kidlets, she enjoys their dogs, horses, rabbits and cats and spends spare minutes riding, gardening and generally being outdoors. She is excited to be part of the VCLC team as she continues to meet other great professionals, improve her skills and help others learn about VSMT.

 

Dr. Alycia Chrenek, DVM

Dr. Alycia Chrenek Dr. Alycia Chrenek graduated with distinction from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM), University of Saskatchewan. Upon graduation completed an equine medicine and surgery internship and the University of Melbourne in Australia. When she returned, she worked as a clinical associate veterinarian at Moore Equine Veterinary Center in Alberta, where she performed both primary case and referral clinic veterinary functions. In this role, Dr. Chrenek was also responsible for designing key management protocols and performing advanced equine lameness techniques, dentistry procedures, reproductive management, acupuncture and chiropractic treatments. Dr. Chrenek joined the Zoetis Veterinary Services team in 2015 to help support the Equine business in Western Canada.

Dr. Chrenek was raised on a small cow-calf operation in Central Alberta and is still part of that operation today. Alongside the ranch horses and trips to the Rocky Mountains, she raised, trained and showed warmblood horses and has recently started riding dressage.

 

Dr. Jordan Cook, DVM

Dr. Jordan Cook Dr. Jordan Cook is a 2010 graduate of the Ontario Veterinary College at the University of Guelph. She completed an equine internship at Moore Equine Veterinary Centre in Calgary, Alberta, before returning to Ontario to work at McKee-Pownall Equine Services. She worked on everything from pasture pets to high-level competition horses performing lameness diagnostics and treatments, dentistry, wellness, and emergency care. She also expanded her racetrack clientele to the neighbouring Standardbred and Thoroughbred tracks. She completed her veterinary spinal manipulative therapy (VSMT) training at the Veterinary Chiropractic Learning Centre and is a member of the College of Animal Chiropractors.

Unable to resist the draw of the west, she returned to Moore Equine in May 2015, where her clientele covers a multitude of disciplines, including dressage, hunter/jumper, barrel racing, cutting and reining, mounted shooting, and National Show Horses. Dr. Cook can also often work on harness horses at the new Century Downs Racetrack in Calgary. VSMT has become an integral part of her practice, and she is excited to work towards her client goals and optimize patient performance and comfort.

She recently brought home a German Shepherd X puppy, Kira, who, in true empathetic vet fashion, had persistent aortic arch surgery performed. Kira is growing like a weed and keeping Dr. Cook active! She also enjoys hacking through the mountains on an off-the-track Standardbred.

 

Dr. Julie Cull, DC

Dr. Julie CullDr. Julie Cull graduated from Guelph University in 2002, earning her Bachelor of Science, specializing in zoology. After experiencing remarkable results from chiropractic care personally, Dr. Cull decided to help others achieve a better quality of life through chiropractic and enrolled at New York Chiropractic College.

Soon after graduating in 2006, Dr. Cull settled in Hamilton, where she works at both the Mountain Wellness Centre and KGC Therapy.

In 2015, Dr. Cull decided to combine her passion for chiropractic and her love of animals by furthering her education and attending the Canadian Animal Certification Program at the VCLC. She is now thrilled to be offering qualified animal chiropractic care to her furry friends.

Dr. Cull is licensed by the College of Chiropractors of Ontario and is a member of both the Ontario and Canadian Chiropractic Associations. She is also a member of the College of Animal Chiropractors (CoAC).

In her spare time, Dr. Cull enjoys camping and hiking with her sweet 4-legged companion Daphne and 2-legged companion, Brian.

 

Dr. Janis Fisher, DVM

Dr. Janis Fisher Dr. Fisher graduated from the Atlantic Veterinary College in 1997. Early in her career, she realized that she wanted to take a more holistic approach to healing. In 2005, she became a Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist through the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society, and ever since, her practice has included both acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine herbal therapy.

Her love of competing in Agility and her interest in keeping the canine athletes sound led her to become a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Therapist in 2010. Dr. Fisher practices at Full Circle Veterinary Alternatives in Dartmouth, NS. Her caseload now includes mostly orthopedic and neurologic patients and canine athletes competing at the highest levels of agility and flyball.

In 2015 she attended the Veterinary Chiropractic Learning Center and completed her training in Veterinary Spinal Manipulative Therapy (VSMT). She is now a member of the College of Animal Chiropractors and is certified in Animal Chiropractic in Nova Scotia.

Her training in VSMT has changed the way she looks at her cases, and Chiropractic is now an integral component of her practice.

Dr. Fisher lives in Dartmouth with her three-year-old daughter Liv, her 4 cats and 3 dogs, Wisp, Quick and Wow.

 

Dr. Tanya Dobrzanski, DC

Dr. Tanya Dobrzanski, D.C. Dr. Dobrzanski graduated Cum Laude from Palmer College of Chiropractic West in 2007. After a year of practice in California, she returned home to Canada and started her private practice in 2010. Dr. Dobrzanski quickly became passionate about dog sports, particularly herding, agility and dog mushing. After one of her dogs was injured while working cattle, she became interested in Animal Chiropractic.

Dr. Dobrzanski completed the Animal Chiropractic Program with VCLC in 2017. She quickly built up an animal practice that includes high-performance canine athletes, including agility, conformation, herding and mushing dogs.

When she is not working, Dr. Dobrzanski still competes in agility and has recently represented Alberta in the Canadian Dryland Mushing Championships. She makes her home in Calgary, AB,  with her dogs, Yogi, Taz, Dizzy, BooBoo and Frakker and cat, Wino.

 

Dr. Marisa Markey, DVM

Dr. Marisa Markey, DVM Dr. Markey graduated from the Ontario Veterinary College in 2015. After graduation, she completed a one-year internship and another year of clinical practice at Moore Equine, an equine referral hospital in Calgary, Alberta. She furthered her knowledge and skills in internal medicine, surgery, dentistry, lameness, sport horses, and racehorses. Before becoming a veterinarian, Marisa worked as a veterinary assistant at McKee-Pownall at both the Campbellville and Mohawk racetrack clinics for several years.

Marisa loves working with horses and their people to achieve excellent overall health, whether they are companion horses or top-level competitors. Her professional interests are preventative medicine, dentistry and oral extractions, emergency care, and sports medicine.

Marisa has a particular interest in providing a holistic approach to the overall well-being of her patients. This interest led her to become certified in Veterinary Spinal Manipulation Therapy. She completed the Veterinary Chiropractic Learning Centre course in 2019 and is using VSMT to optimize performance and improve the quality of life of her patients.

 

Dr. Erin Culligan, DVM

Dr. Erin Culligan, DVM Dr. Erin Culligan grew up in Brule, Alberta, in an outfitting family. She currently lives in Duchess, Alberta, and with her husband, Ryan, runs a commercial cow/calf operation and raises horses. With their son, Kagan, they enjoy ranching and spending their time roping and going to rodeos.  

Erin graduated with a DVM from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in 2006. She has spent her career in wildlife medicine, large animal practice and with the CFIA, but her passion lies in complementary veterinary medicine. She graduated with certificates from the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society in 2007 and from the Veterinary Chiropractic Learning Centre in 2017.

 

Dr. Andrew Sparling, DVM

Dr. Andrew Sparling, DVMDr. Andrew Sparling graduated with honours from the Ontario Veterinary College in 1999.   Since then, he has been practicing just south of Ottawa, working in mixed practice, then slowly transitioning to companion animals. After several years of missing treating large animals, he attended the Veterinary Chiropractic Learning Center, completed his Veterinary Spinal Manipulative Therapy mixed animal training in 2015 and is a fellow of the College of Animal Chiropractors. He also has completed training at the Chi Institute in Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine starting in 2018. He is a Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist in mixed animal practice as of 2020 with advanced course work in companion animal acupuncture. In his words, these courses have made Dr. Sparling a better veterinarian with both a more focused approach and considering the patient as a whole instead of simply focusing on a single disease process.

Dr. Sparling enjoys practice at Osgoode Veterinary Services with a fantastic team. He is very busy at home with his wife, two very fast-growing boys, a dog, and two cats when not at work. Here he can be found attempting to be handy around the house and property, coaching or taking part in various sports, and spending as much time outdoors as possible.

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About Veterinary Chiropractic

In concert with appropriate veterinary care, many specific musculo-skeletal conditions are well addressed by animal chiropractic. In addition, numerous animal care-takers understand the value of chiropractic in the over-all health and wellness of their dogs, cats, horses and other animals. Benefits of animal chiropractic include, enhanced performance, function and quality of life.

About The VCLC

The staff of the Veterinary Chiropractic Learning Centre has over 170 years of combined experience in both Veterinary Medicine and Chiropractic. Our students gain the benefit of this diverse expertise. We welcome Doctors of Veterinary Medicine and Chiropractic to our website and ultimately to our programs.