Our Team at Animal Imaging in Irving TX

Our Veterinarians

Our team is made up of the best and brightest doctors and supporting staff in the country. They go above and beyond to provide the best imaging services in the industry of veterinary radiology.

Jake Hersman

DVM, Equine Director, Founder

Dr. Hersman graduated from Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1980. He established the Argyle Veterinary Clinic in Argyle, Texas. In 1990, he established the Las

Colinas Veterinary Clinic, whose premises are now devoted to Animal Imaging. Dr. Hersman’s areas of interest include radiology, scintigraphy and lameness diagnosis and treatment for the equine.

Dana Neelis

DVM, MS, DACVR, DACVR-EDI, Radiologist

Dr. Neelis received her DVM from Michigan State University in 2006. After completing her radiology residency at Washington State University in 2011, she took a position as an assistant professor at

Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine in Blacksburg, Virginia. She performed an equine ultrasound and cardiology fellowship with Dr. Virginia Reef at the University of Pennsylvania, New Bolton Center, prior to her radiology training. Dr. Neelis received board certification in Equine Diagnostic Imaging (ACVR-EDI) in 2019. She enjoys imaging all species and has extensive experience with the equine.

Beth Biscoe

DVM, MS, DACVR, DACVR-EDI, Radiologist

Dr. Biscoe received her DVM from Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine in 2006 and a Master of Science degree (Veterinary Sciences) from Washington State

University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2014. She did her diagnostic imaging residency at Washington State University and obtained Diplomate status in September 2014. She recently boarded in Equine Diagnostic Imaging (ACVR-EDI) in 2019. Prior to her radiology residency, she completed 2 years of fellowship training with Dr. Mary Beth Whitcomb at the University of California, Davis in large animal ultrasound. She is active in the ACVR, currently serving as the president of the ACVR-Equine Diagnostic Imaging (2022-2024), president of the ACVR Society of Veterinary Nuclear Medicine (2022-2024), and on the ACVR-EDI Exam Committee. She is also active in the AAEP, serving on the Scientific Review and Editorial Committee

Lon Hays

DVM, Small Animal Veterinarian

Dr. Hays is a native of Louisiana. He received his veterinary degree from the Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine in 1995. After graduation, Dr. Hays moved to the Dallas

area and joined Lovers Lane Animal Hospital in the Park Cities area as an associate veterinarian. He purchased the practice with a business partner the following year and continued to practice there for the next 26 years. He recently sold the practice and has since joined the staff here at Animal Imaging.

Dr. Hays has a special passion for sporting dog medicine and care. He pursues continuing education opportunities in this field whenever possible. He has previously served on the Dallas County Veterinary Medical Association board of directors for 7 years.

He and his wife, Dr. Jo Alleman have two children, Abigail and Natalie. In his spare time, Dr. Hays enjoys reading history based books, outdoor activities, training his retrievers and managing their farm in Oklahoma. The family currently has 3 dogs, all labrador retrievers; Mojo, Adie and Lilly and 3 cats; LJ, Padfoot and Mateo.

Amy Armentrout

DVM, MS, DACVS, Equine Veterinarian

A native of Nevada, Dr. Armentrout completed her veterinary degree in 2006 at Colorado State University where she subsequently worked at the Orthopaedic Research Center

(a part of the Translational Medicine Institute). She then completed an internship and worked as an associate at Pioneer Equine Hospital in Oakdale, CA from 2006-2008. After completing her Master’s degree and Surgical Residency at Kansas State University in 2011, she worked as a surgeon and sports medicine practitioner at Burleson Equine Hospital for almost 11 years before joining the team at Animal Imaging. She is very active in the American Association of Equine Practitioners, serving on several different committees and spends her free time with her kids enjoying outdoor activities.

John Pickard

DVM, Equine Fellow

Dr. John Pickard recently joined our practice as our new Equine Fellow. Growing up in the state of New Mexico, Dr. Pickard was actively involved in 4-H, showing cattle and pigs, and working alongside his dad

who is also a veterinarian, spending much of his life on the race track. He graduated from Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, where he received an Undergraduate Degrees in Physiology and Biochemistry & Molecular Biology. He then went to St. George’s University School of Veterinary Medicine in Grenada, graduating in 2021. Prior to joining our team, he completed a year-long internship at Idaho Equine. In his spare time, he enjoys fly fishing, hunting, and watching college football. Dr. Pickard is passionate about equine imaging, sports medicine and lameness and took the fellowship with our team for the opportunity to learn more about diagnostic imaging.

Our Supporting Staff

Robert Magnus

DVM, General Manager

Dr. Magnus and the Oculus Insights Management Team joined Animal Imaging in 2017 providing strategic, operational, and human resource services to our diagnostic imaging company.

Dr. Magnus is an accomplished, senior executive and thought leader with over thirty years in the veterinary and business consulting industries. As managing partner of Oculus Insights, he brings a great deal of experience and additional resources to Animal Imaging to build on the foundation established by its founder, Dr. Jake Hersman, DVM.

Susan Willenbrock

Operations Manager, HR Director

Susan has been involved in veterinary medicine since 1988, including experience at a large veterinary referral hospital in North Texas. Susan joined the Animal Imaging team in 2006 as office

manager and has taken on more responsibilities throughout the years of Operations Manager and Human Resources Director. Her passion is making sure the clients, patients and referring veterinarians’ needs are met as well as creating a cohesive and supportive environment for the entire Animal Imaging team. In her time off Susan has a love for gardening and spending time with her husband and four Border Collies.

Wade Friedeck

M.S., R.T. (MR) Imaging Director

Wade brings over 25 years of experience working in the veterinary industry with 16 of those years spent exclusively in diagnostic imaging. He has experience working with all modalities in both

small and large animal medicine and has spent several years working closely with radiologists in a clinical setting. Wade has co-authored multiple research papers that have been published about veterinary imaging and new techniques that he helped develop. Wade received his Master of Science in Radiologic Sciences and Administrative Leadership as well as a Bachelor of Science in Diagnostic Imaging from the University of Texas. He also has a Bachelor of Science from Texas A&M University in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences. He is originally from Marion, Texas and is excited to be in the Dallas area focusing on what he knows and enjoys most, diagnostic imaging.

Sunni Larue

LVT, Administrative Assistant

Sunni joined the Animal Imaging team in 2009. After earning her LVT at a community college in San Antonio in 2003, she went on to graduate from Texas A&M University in 2008 with a

Bachelor’s degree in Animal Science. Sunni worked as an ICU technician at the Texas A&M Veterinary Teaching Hospital before coming to Animal Imaging. Along with providing outstanding care to our patients, Sunni provides support on the administrative side of the practice including payroll and accounting support. She and her husband enjoy spending time raising their three boys on their small farm in the country.

Autumn Mapel

Clinical Services Coordinator

Autumn is a born and raised Texan who started her career in veterinary medicine about two years ago and has always been passionate about advanced animal care. She has a

dog named Lola that she loves very much – sometimes you may even see her in our lobby. In her free time, Autumn enjoys attending live music events, cooking, and working on her artistic skills.

Lynne Castleman

Nuclear Medicine Technologist

After a career in the radio and television industry, Lynne raised and showed Reining horses. She has been on the Animal Imaging team since its inception as a Nuclear Medicine Technologist

conducting bone scans for both small animal and equine patients. Lynne is consistent in her ability to produce quality studies to enhance the diagnosis of pathologies and abnormalities in her imaging patients.

Jennifer Sundstedt

R.T. (R) (MR) ARRT, MRI Technologist

Jennifer is a Registered Technologist of Radiology and Magnetic Resonance. She started in the veterinary field as a veterinary assistant in 2004. Following her passion for radiology,

she graduated from Grayson Community in 2014. In addition to radiology, Jennifer has a Bachelor of Science in criminal justice. Jennifer loves all animals and was excited to join the Animal Imaging team in 2020 as an MRI Technologist. Jennifer’s knowledge of MRI is invaluable in our ability to obtain quality diagnostic studies of both our equine and small animal patients. When Jennifer is not working, she enjoys crafting, cleaning and organizing, and traveling with family.

Anna Procious

RCDS, Veterinary Sonographer

Anna began her veterinary ultrasound career in 2001 as a mobile sonographer in the Dallas area. She has been an instructor with multiple education companies across the United States

and is currently an instructor with We Are Veterinary Education (WAVE). Anna graduated from Texas A&M University in 1995 with a BS in Exercise Physiology and worked as a human sonographer specializing in cardiology prior to becoming a veterinary sonographer. Anna is a Texas native, born and raised in Corsicana, Texas. She enjoys spending time with her husband and two children exploring all that Texas has to offer. Her current fur family consists of a rescued Anatolian Shepherd named Roscoe, a rescued cat named Jessie and two Australian Shepherds, Rocket and Annie.

Barbara Dugan

LVT, Veterinary Technician

Barbara graduated from Manor College in Pennsylvania in 2001. She began her career at Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Center as a surgery and treatment technician. In 2002, she

transferred to the University of Pennsylvania, New Bolton Center and continued her passion as a large animal technician for the next 15 years. During that time, Barbara also instructed a large animal course at Manor College for 7 years. She has been published in McCurnin’s Clinical Textbook for Veterinary Technicians and Veterinary Technician’s Large Animal Daily Reference Guide. In 2019, Barbara relocated to Texas and joined the Animal Imaging team bringing many years of skill and knowledge to the team in all areas of the practice including small animal and equine anesthesia, ultrasound and acquisition of standing equine MRI studies. She has a passion for working with small animal rescue organizations, hiking with her family and 4 dogs and spending time with horses.

Sara Jenkins

LVT, Veterinary Technician

Sara graduated from Cedar Valley College in 2013 and spent the next seven years working at a small animal veterinary specialty practice in North Dallas where she gained skills in both radiation

therapy and CT. She grew up with horses and has a passion for both small animal and equine patients, which brought her to Animal Imaging in 2020. Sara’s skills in both small animal and equine anesthesia are a true asset to the Animal Imaging team. In her spare time, she can be found trail riding and spending time on her mini farm with her miniature pigs.

Our Team

Our Veterinarians

Our Supporting Staff

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