365 days a year
Including holidays!
365 days a year
Including holidays!
Veterinarians
Meet Our Veterinarians at South Metro Animal Emergency Care
Dr. Bryan Birch
Veterinarian
Dr. Bryan Birch is a recent graduate of the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine. Prior to becoming a doctor, Dr. Birch served in the United States Navy and then attended Penn State University where he received a Bachelor’s of Science degree. He grew up in upstate New York, but after completing the program at the University of Minnesota has decided to make Minnesota his home. His wife and daughter share their lives with a dog, two cats, a turtle and a gerbil.
Dr. Steven Wenum
Veterinarian
Dr. Wenum grew up in Minnesota, in the Twin Cities area. He joined the Coast Guard and was stationed on the East Coast for 4 years. He moved back to Minnesota and attended the University of Minnesota for both undergraduate and graduate school. He graduated Veterinary school in 2000. Dr. Wenum has worked in the Emergency Field of Veterinary Medicine for more than 20 years. He enjoys the case load in an emergency setting and enjoys helping clients and their pets during a typically stressful period. His main professional interests include Emergency and Critical Care, Surgery and Diagnostic Imaging. His personal interest include spending time with his family, weight lifting, Muay Thai boxing, scuba diving and travel.
Dr Natasha Novik
Veterinarian
Dr. Novik earned her DVM degree from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine. She did her internship in small animal medicine and surgery at VCA Referral and Emergency Center in New York, NY.
Dr. Novik is passionate about surgery, critical care, and wound management. She speaks fluent Russian, is scuba diving certified, and has competed as a ballroom dancer. She has a Boston terrier named Louie and an orange tabby named Rishka, who she rescued while in vet school.
Dr. Steven Wasmoen
Veterinarian
Dr. Steven Wasmoen was raised in Minnesota and grew up in the metro area. He graduated with honors from the University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point and majored in Biology with a Chemistry minor. He received his veterinary education from the University of Minnesota, College of Veterinary Medicine and graduated in 2018. He has an interest in critical care and endocrine disease. During his first year of practice, he received a mentorship in emergency medicine from All City Pet Care, in Sioux Falls, SD. Dr. Wasmoen and his wife Dr. Wasmoen, both practice veterinary medicine locally and moved to Apple Valley in 2020. In their spare time they enjoy camping, hiking, and gardening.
Dr. Erica Kenworthy
Veterinarian
Dr. Erica Kenworthy joined our team in 2023. Dr. Kenworthy earned her DVM degree from St. Matthew’s University in 2022. Before coming to SMAEC, she spent her first year in practice as a doctor at a general practice. She has a German Shepherd/Husky mix named Kevlar.
Dr. Austin Vaughn
Veterinarian
Dr. Vaughn grew up in Evansville, Indiana. He graduated from Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2019. Dr. Vaughn has always had a passion for emergency veterinary medicine both in the variety of cases and the opportunity it provides to help people and their pets when they are most in need. Dr. Vaughn enjoys time with his wife, Ellie, and their dogs Axl and Rosie. They love hiking, skiing, attending sporting events, and just about anything they can do outdoors.
Dr. Jessica McGuigan
Veterinarian
Dr. Jessica McGuigan is excited to rejoin South Metro Animal Emergency Care. She received her DVM from the University of Minnesota in 2014. After completing a rotating internship with VCA Veterinary Emergency and Referral Center in New York, she and her husband returned to Minnesota.
Dr. McGuigan has spent her career working in small animal emergency, urgent care and general practice. Her professional interests include pain management in trauma patients, toxicology and endocrine emergencies. She also has a special interest in behavioral medicine and low stress handling.
Dr. McGuigan looks forward to growing more as a part of the South Metro team!
