Our Team
A Team of Leaders
The Saginaw Valley Equine Clinic team strives to provide the highest quality veterinary care to horses through the most up-to-date biotechnologies and education. Whether your horse is your athlete or your pet, one thing is certain: Your horse is an important part of your family and should be treated as such. We appreciate your trust in our care.
Pete Baia, DVM
As a native of Romania, Dr. Petrisor Baia obtained his DVM degree from Banat’s University of Agriculture Sciences and Veterinary Medicine in Romania. Dr. Baia. His specific areas of interest are in equine orthopedics and soft tissues surgery, as well as sports medicine and diagnostic imaging.
Brad Cumper, DVM
Dr. Brad Cumper earned his doctorate in veterinary medicine from Michigan State University. His specific area of interest is sports medicine. He and his wife, Cami, have two daughters, Isabel and Peyton.
Sarah Eaton, DVM, DACT, CVA
Sarah graduated from the Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine. After graduation, she completed an internship in equine reproduction and general practice in Arizona and a residency in Theriogenology (animal reproduction) at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine.
Emily Galus
Emily, veterinary technician, is originally from Midland and has been working with horses since she was 8 years old. Today, she has a love for all animals. Her veterinary technician career started in South Carolina, where she lived for 5 years. She enjoyed showing paint horses during that time. She ultimately decided to move back home to be closer to family.
Timm Gudehus, DVM, DACVS, DECVS
Cheryl Heritier
Hospital Manager Cheryl Heritier is a lifetime horse owner who brings a practical, common sense approach to you and your horse’s appointment. She has one of the prettiest smiles you will ever see and yet is not afraid to straighten the doctors up if they get out of hand.
Katie Hessou
If you’ve visited Saginaw Valley Equine in person or called us on the phone, you’ve probably benefited from Katie’s upbeat personality and expertise. Katie is our Customer Care Associate, Receptionist, and Surgery Coordinator. She answers phones, sets up appointments, schedules surgeries, and completes too many other office tasks to list them all. Katie loves that her job lets her meet so many horse lovers.
Dawn LeBeau
Dawn LeBeau, our amazing barn technician, is currently serving in the Army National Guard. She has three horses and she enjoys trail riding and barrel racing.
Michelle Perry
Veterinary Technician Michelle Perry grew up in Saginaw, riding and showing horses all over Michigan.
What do you do at SVEC?
I’m a Veterinary Technician, so I assist the veterinarians with everything from joint injections to lameness exams. I also travel all over the country to horse shows and long distance farm calls.
Kendra Peruski, LVT
Kendra Peruski is a Licensed Veterinary Technician from Bad Axe, a rural town in the Thumb of Michigan. She graduated with an Associate of Applied Science degree in Veterinary Technology from Baker College in Flint, Michigan. Kendra previously worked at Thumb Veterinary Services in Sandusky, Michigan, a mixed animal practice. She did various tasks with small and large animals alike. It was there she discovered her passion for equine medicine. She is now gracing us with her knowledge and passion for equine medicine.
Carissa Rodarte
Carissa, Reproduction Coordinator and Marketing, is more than a voice at the other end of the phone when clients call the office. She has always had a love for horses and people, which led her to the University of Findlay where she graduated from the Western Equestrian Studies Program. Carissa works at SVEC helping clients and keeping us organized.
Liz Routh, DVM
Although originally from Indiana, Liz completed her doctorate of veterinary medicine at Iowa State University. Her main areas of interest include preventative medicine, herd health, dentistry, and ophthalmology. Outside of work, Liz likes to read, craft, maintain her aquariums and ride whenever possible!
Krista Schaefer
Krista Schaefer is our Inventory Manager. She brings years of customer service and experience in the equine industry to our team. Krista has many close friends within the horse community, who she enjoys spending time with while at barrel races, team sorting or at horsemanship clinics. Krista has spent much of her life in Freeland, where she currently resides with her husband, Ron, along with a rough collie (Bella), a border collie (Lilly) and her Quarter Horse mare (Chicka).
Sara Taylor, DVM Intern
Sara completed her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine at Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine. After graduation, she pursued an equine internship at SVEC. During her internship, she expects to focus on sports medicine. In her free time, she enjoys riding her horses and competing in barrel racing.
