Dr. Charles Garneau-So and Dr. Catalina Montealegre perform an ultrasound on a cat during the evening shift.
Penn Vet’s Emergency Service and Critical Care Unit at Ryan Hospital provides lifesaving care to extremely ill small animals. The service is open 24/7 and attracts clients and veterinary referrals from across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and other states outside the region.
The hospital’s faculty and staff are experts in trauma, shock, and other emergencies. They are also a collaborative group working closely to help highly vulnerable animals survive with the best possible outcomes.
Staff Veterinarians Catalina Montealegre, V’07, and Charles Garneau-So, MVB, are core to the team. They shared with Bellwether what it’s like working on the front lines of emergency veterinary medicine, the types of emergencies they encounter, and how they collaborate with the broader Penn Vet team to provide the best care available.
Q&A
Dr. Charles Garneau-So (left) and Dr. Catalina Montealegre (right) with Crystal Branch Wyman, LVT, examine Mo, a dog brought to Ryan Hospital through the Richard Lichter Charity for Dogs program, which gives shelter dogs world-class medical care.
1. What brought you to Ryan Hospital, particularly Emergency and Critical Care?
Montealegre: I was a nurse at Penn Vet in the early 2000s and worked in the Intensive Care Unit throughout vet school. I did an internship here as well. Then I left to practice with Red Bank Veterinary Hospital, following Dr. Dave Diefenderfer, V’81, GR’01. I gained a lot of experience in a busy emergency room. After leaving, I spent about a year doing veterinary relief work, which was also a fantastic experience. Eventually, I saw that Penn Vet was hiring for a staff veterinarian, and I knew it was the perfect fit for me—I’d always wanted to return.
Garneau-So: I was a medical director at a New York City animal hospital when the pandemic hit hard. I was considering my next move—opening my hospital or pursuing teaching—when the Penn Vet position opened. It was a tough decision to leave a familiar role for something new at a university, but it was the right choice. Now, I maintain a clinical practice and teach. Working with fourth-year students, interns, and residents is incredibly fulfilling.
2. What attracts you this area of veterinary medicine?
Montealegre: I like the surprise of not knowing what’s coming next. In general, I love being a veterinarian. You know, saying, “If you love what you do, you’ll never work another day in your life.”—that’s me; I believe that and live it. Emergency medicine is fascinating and exciting because it’s never routine and is so diverse.
Garneau-So: Like Catalina, I love the unpredictability and the variety. Every case is different. During an 11-hour shift, I might see up to 24 cases, ranging from routine issues to highly complex situations. We often see cases that other clinics can’t handle, which adds to the challenge and fulfillment of the job. Collaborating with interns and residents is another layer to the work—we discuss cases in-depth and explore all possible options.
From left, Dr. Catalina Montealegre, Lorna Evans, V’27, and Erin Gordon, CVT, attend to a patient.
3. How is working in a teaching hospital like Ryan different from a private hospital?
Garneau-So: The most significant difference is the access to an entire team of specialists—surgeons, radiologists, oncologists, and nurses are all available to consult on cases. And, it’s a unique way to practice with the latest knowledge and research about prevention and care. In private practice, you rely heavily on your own knowledge and continuing education courses. At Penn Vet, we constantly learn from each other and the cases we see. We also benefit from facilities with the latest technologies that private practices may not have onsite.
Montealegre: To that, I’d add students! Students bring new energy and perspectives, which keeps us all engaged. They’re eager to learn and contribute, making day-to-day work more interesting. Beyond that, there’s a profound satisfaction in helping them grow into competent, compassionate veterinarians.
Garneau-So: I agree. They ask questions that sometimes we don’t immediately know the answers to, so we look things up together. It’s a collaborative learning process that benefits everyone involved. Each student has a different learning style—some are more visual, others are detail-oriented—and that diversity makes teaching both challenging and rewarding.
Dr. Catalina Montealegre and Ethan Bailey, V’25, perform an ultrasound on a dog.
4. What are some things you want students to understand beyond clinical knowledge and skills?
Montealegre: I try to teach students the importance of understanding the context of each case. We must always appreciate veterinarians who send their patients to us for specialized care and give credit to our referring colleagues. This understanding fosters better communication and ultimately improves animals’ care.
I also emphasize the importance of empathy and resilience. Veterinary medicine can be stressful, especially in emergencies. It’s crucial that students learn how to manage their stress and feelings during what are crisis moments for our clients and patients. I want students to see that this career is deeply rewarding and find joy in the work, even on the most challenging days.
Garneau-So: I want students to understand how much veterinary medicine is about people, not just animals. In any type of clinical practice, the clients—the humans who love their animals—are an important part of every case, and we need to be skilled listeners and compassionate clinicians.
5. We know every patient captures your heart. Can you share a recent case that represents the skill and spirit of Emergency and Critical Care at Ryan Hospital?
Garneau-So: Certainly! A recent case that stands out involved a cat referred to us for a blocked kidney. [See sidebar.] He needed a delicate procedure, essentially a bypass. The surgery was successful, and the cat went home four days later in great condition. Cases like this, where everything comes together seamlessly, highlight our team’s skill and dedication. Another one is a dog named Mo. She came to us from the Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals with severe bite wounds. We treated her, and she’ll eventually be available for adoption and have a chance for a loving home.
Montealegre: I’ve worked on many cases that have deeply impacted me. Recently, a client in a difficult situation involving abuse came into the hospital. The client was in the process of leaving a violent home situation and was very concerned about their pet. Thanks to the resources available at our hospital, including our social worker, we were able to help the client navigate this sensitive situation and ensure a safe outcome for the client.