Atlantic Veterinary Internal Medicine, LLC

AVIM of Annapolis Veterinarians:

1979-Doctor of Veterinary Medicine - Iowa State University

1979-1983-general small animal veterinary practices in Ft. Lauderdale and Richmond

1983-1986-Residency Certificate in Veterinary Internal Medicine - University of Missouri

1986-1996-Diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners

1987 ~current-Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine - Specialty of Internal Medicine

1986-1992-Assistant Professor Atlantic Veterinary College, UPEI

1991-Associate Professor with Tenure Atlantic Veterinary College, UPEI

1992-Master of Science - Atlantic Vet College, Department of Pathology & Toxicology

1992-current-Atlantic Veterinary Internal Medicine started in Annapolis

1998-current-Atlantic Veterinary Internal Medicine expanded to Towson

Mark E. Hitt, DVM, MS

Diplomate American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine - Specialty of Internal Medicine

In 1992, Dr. Mark E. Hitt started Atlantic Veterinary Internal Medicine in Annapolis, Maryland. Dr. Hitt was born in Rockville, Maryland. He graduated from Iowa State University in 1979 with his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree. After working in general small animal veterinary practices in Fort Lauderdale, FL and Richmond, VA, for 4 years he decided to continue his education and was accepted to a residency program in veterinary internal medicine at the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine. This program was completed in 1986. Dr. Hitt was invited to apply for the first internal medicine position at a new veterinary college, the Atlantic Veterinary College at the University of Prince Edward Island in Canada. In this role he participated in the development of the clinical facilities and curriculum from the ground up. This was a unique and rewarding experience. He then went on to serve terms as chief of the internal medicine section, head of the critical care unit, lecturer in several areas of internal medicine, and the leader of the small animal practice rotations for senior students. During his stay with the A VC, Dr. Hitt earned an MS degree in the Department of Pathology and Microbiology. Promotion to associate professor and tenure were granted in 1991. But after almost seven years, the Hitt family decided it was time to move back "south" to the United States. In 1992, Atlantic Veterinary Internal Medicine merged with other specialty groups in Annapolis to form the umbrella organization of Chesapeake Veterinary Referral Center, LLC. The second center was opened in the Baltimore area in 1998, joining the Annapolis location. There are currently seven veterinarians practicing internal medicine and an oncologist associated with the two A VIM locations. Doctor Hitt has been an author for several texts on topics of internal medicine and has published many articles in the veterinary literature over the past two decades. He continues to be invited as a contributor to veterinary textbooks, a reviewer for veterinary journals, and a lecturer on topics of Veterinary Internal Medicine. Although practicing in all areas of internal medicine, his particular interests are in endoscopy, abdominal ultrasound and diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and liver.

Dr. John Paola
John P. Paola, DVM

Diplomate American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine - Specialty of Internal Medicine

Dr. Paola is originally from Pittsburgh. He attended Michigan State University's College of Veterinary Medicine, graduating in 1988. He then was accepted at "the" Ohio State University for internship and then an internal medicine residency from 1990, finishing in 1994. He has been certified as a Specialist in Internal Medicine since 1994. As the father of two beautiful young daughters, his pastimes include coloring and playing with blocks.

Janet L. Peterson, DVM, MS

Diplomate American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine - Specialty of Oncology

Dr. Peterson is a native of Texas. She completed a veterinary residency in oncology with "the" Ohio State University's College of Veterinary Medicine. She passed her specialist examinations in 1994. After that she has been recruited to practice in specialty veterinary cancer medicine in California, Texas, Kansas, and finally Maryland. We are thrilled to have her join us and to make her a "Marylander".

Deb Klaser, DVM

Diplomate American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine - Specialty of Internal Medicine

Dr. Klaser grew up in Southern California and attended veterinary school at the University of Georgia, graduating in 2000. She completed both her internship and residency in internal medicine at the Animal Medical Center in New York City. Dr. Klaser enjoys spending time with her newborn daughter, husband and two loving yellow labradors Sam and Caribou. She also loves to cook.

Adam Gonzales, DVM

Diplomate American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine - Specialty of Internal Medicine

Dr. Gonzales has been a specialist in northern Virginia until relocating to be with Atlantic Veterinary Internal Medicine. He completed his residency training at the Veterinary College at Tufts University. He has strong interests in urinary diseases and diagnostic tests. But, as with all of our internists, he maintains activity in all aspects of veterinary internal medicine.

AVIM of Towson Veterinarians:

Dan J. Petrus, DVM

Diplomate American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine - Specialty of Internal Medicine

Dr. Petrus has traveled extensively in the world, having lived and visited about every continent. He completed an internship at North Carolina State University and a three year residency with the veterinary college at the University of Wisconsin. He joins AVIM after a 3 year fellowship with the Royal College of Veterinary Medicine in London, England.

Nivia Martinez, DVM

Diplomate American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine - Specialty of Internal Medicine

Dr. Martinez was born and raised in Puerto Rico. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Peidras Campus, with a major in Biology in 1988. She received her D.V.M. degree in 1992 from The Ohio State University, in Columbus, Ohio. After graduation from veterinary school, she worked at a private practice in Michigan. After one year in private practice, she went to Purdue University, in West Lafayette, Indiana, to complete a one year rotating internship in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery. She then went back to Puerto Rico, where she practiced for 5 years.

In 1999, she returned to the United States for a Small Animal Internal Medicine Residency and graduate studies at the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, in Blacksburg, Virginia. She conducted research on the pathophysiology of hypertension in canine hyperadrenocorticism as part of her graduate studies. During her residency, she was awarded the Bente Flatland Memorial Award in recognition of her clinical abilities and compassion toward pets and owners. She completed her residency and was awarded a masters degree in Veterinary Clinical Sciences in 2002. She became board certified in Internal Medicine in 2002.

Dr. Martinez stayed at the VMRCVM as a Clinical Instructor in the areas of Neurology and Internal Medicine for one year. She joined AVIM in August of 2003.

Frederic Jacob, DVM, PhD

Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine

Frederic Jacob is a graduate of the University of Montreal. After obtaining his veterinary medical degree in 1995, he pursued an internship in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery at Washington State University. In 1996, he was accepted in a combined Residency/PhD program in Veterinary Internal Medicine at the University of Minnesota. In 2000, Dr. Jacob was certified as a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (small animal). During his PhD, Dr. Jacob and colleagues published several significant studies that helped identifying key factors (such as diet, high blood pressure and increased protein in the urine) that played an important role in the progression of renal failure, survival time and quality of life in dogs with renal failure. It is during his Residency/PhD program that Dr. Jacob developed a keen interest in studying hypertension, its clinical consequences and treatment options in dogs with chronic renal diseases. In 2002, this genuine interest led him to pursue a post-doctoral fellowship to investigate the interactive role of specific areas of the brain and the kidneys in the long-term control of blood pressure.

His training in internal medicine and special interest in urological diseases of dogs and cats will be complementary to the dedicated staff of the Atlantic Veterinary Internal Medicine group in Towson.