Meet our Team

Dr. Gellasch received her DVM at Michigan State University, where she graduated with honors, then traveled to the other MSU, Mississippi State University for an internship in small animal medicine and surgery. Back up north at the University of Wisconsin Dr. Gellasch did her surgical training. She received her board certification in surgery and a few years later received credentialing in pain management. She spent eight years practicing in Ohio at a multispecialty clinic before re-locating to Maryland to start CARE Veterinary Center.

In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her son, their four labradorables (Finn, Lilly, Haley, Bailey) and two cats (Abby and TJ) and training for her next race.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Dr. Gellasch is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, College of Veterinary Surgeons, American Academy of Integrated Pain Management, Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society, Maryland Veterinary Medical Association.

Dr. Brenda Austin is a native of Maryland. She has over 10 years of small animal surgery experience and was previously a locum at Louisiana State University and Assistant Professor at Purdue University. Dr. Austin graduated with honors and received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA. and completed her small animal internship and surgery residency at Auburn University. She is board certified as a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons.

In her free time, Dr. Austin likes to spend time with pets and garden. She loves to learn other languages, such as Hindi, to better communicate with people of different cultures.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Dr. Austin is a member of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons, American Veterinary Medical Association, and Veterinary Emergency Critical Care Society.

Dr. James McConnell has provided internal medicine referral services for dogs and cats for over 25 years. He obtained a DVM degree at Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1981 and completed a small animal internal medicine residency at Tufts University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1987. In addition to practicing referral medicine at several multispecialty veterinary practices in the DC area, he was an owner and founding partner of a large, multispecialty veterinary center located in northern Virginia.  Dr. McConnell has also been a consultant at the National Zoo in Washington DC, where he performed ultrasound and endoscopic procedures on cheetahs, tigers, primates, seals, and Pandas. He has a special interest in performing minimally-invasive diagnostic procedures used in the evaluation of gastrointestinal, liver, and other abdominal and systemic disorders.

When out of the office, Dr. McConnell spends most of his time with his wife, daughter, son, and cats. He also composes and plays music at his home studio, enjoys cooking and good wine, and religiously practices Tai Chi.

Dr. Pera attended veterinary school at Tufts University in Massachusetts followed by a general and Internal Medicine Internship at Angell Animal Medical Center in Boston. She completed her residency in Internal Medicine at the prestigious Animal Medical Center in New York City. She has since practiced in Virginia and Rockville, Maryland. She joined C.A.R.E. in January 2021. 

As an Internist, Dr. Pera has interests in all aspects of Internal Medicine. She has a special affinity for nephrology and gastrointestinal diseases. 

Her time outside of work is spent wrangling her little human children and cuddling her 4 cats, a chihuahua named Belladonna, and a Labrador retriever named Marshmallow. She also snuggles her bird of 25 years, a cockatoo named Popeye....and her 11 chickens.