Our Surgery Department is a large team of board-certified doctors and technicians invested in caring for your pet’s surgical needs. With doctors specializing in soft-tissue, oncologic and orthopedic surgery, our practice offers the knowledge and skill required to meet your pet’s medical needs.
In addition, understanding your concern for your pet, we aim to alleviate any apprehension by keeping you well informed throughout your pet’s stay in the hospital. The surgery department is generally in the hospital from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, as well as 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Saturdays (for releases at Akron only). The hospital open and fully-staffed 24 hours a day, offering your pet around the clock care and attention.
Check In Form
Click Here to download the editable check in form for the Surgery Department in Akron and email to [email protected]
Surgery New Patient Packet (MCE) to download the editable check in form for the Surgery Department in Highland Heights and email to [email protected]
Getting Treatment
To schedule an appointment, call our office:
Akron: 330-670-2358 | Cleveland East: 216-201-9843
After hours emergencies, please call:
Akron: 330-666-2976 | Cleveland East: 440-673-3483
Our Services
Soft Tissue/Oncology Surgery
Soft tissue surgery encompasses a wide range of procedures involving internal organs, the body wall, masses or tumors, and hernias or defects. Our soft-tissue and oncologic surgery specialists offer elite knowledge and surgical treatment in many different areas.
- Advanced wound treatment and reconstructive surgery
- Amputations (digits, limbs, screw tails)
- Biopsies
- Brachycephalic syndrome
- Congenital defects
- Exploratory surgery
- Endocrine surgery (adrenal gland, insulinoma, parathyroid and thyroid)
- Gastropexy
- Hernia repairs
- Intestinal foreign body removal
- Laryngeal paralysis
- Mass removal
- Minimally invasive surgery (laparoscopy, thoracoscopy, stenting)
- Porto-systemic shunts
- Stenting placement (trachea, urethra, ureters)
- Thoracic (chest) surgery
- Total ear canal ablation (TECA)
- Tracheal collapse
- Urinary tract surgery and stone removal
- Vascular surgery ( PDA, PRAA, VRA)
Orthopedic Surgery
The Orthopedic Service handles problems associated with bones, joints, ligaments, and tendons. Our department performs the latest surgical treatments; using the advanced technology available at MVH, our specialists can diagnose and treat many shoulder, elbow, carpal, stifle, and hock conditions. Some of our abilities include:
- Angular limb deformity correction
- Arthrodesis (joint fusion procedures)
- Arthroscopy (minimally invasive joint surgery)
- Distal femoral osteotomy
- Femoral head ostectomy
- Fracture repairs – from simple to complex
- Patellar luxation surgery
- Tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO)
- Tibial tuberosity advancement (TTA)
- Total hip replacements (cemented and cementless)
- Triple pelvic osteotomy
- Juvenile pubic symphysiodesis
- Sliding humeral osteotomy
- Hip luxation surgery
All of our surgeons are at the forefront of pain management. We spare nothing to make sure our patients are comfortable.

Frequently Asked Post-Op Questions (FAQs)
You will receive a call immediately following your pet’s procedure to let you know their status and the outcome of the procedure or surgery.
In addition, you will receive a call from us every morning that your pet is in the hospital. We perform rounds first thing in the morning and then call you with an update. We will also call you in the evenings — offering an update on how your pet did throughout the day.
Visitation
Doctor Discretion
Patient Release
When your pet is ready to go home, we ask that you pick up your pet while the surgical service is still in the hospital (typically between the hours of 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday) so we can prepare you properly. Staff will review your written instructions, review medications and gladly address any concerns you may have.
Follow-Up
After a pet’s undergone a procedure, questions are common. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to call! If your call is after hours, just leave a voicemail and we’ll get back to you the next business day. If your call is of an urgent nature after hours, call the hospital and inform the emergency service of your concerns.
Meet Our Doctors

Sheldon Padgett, DVM, MS, DACVS (Akron & Cleveland East)
Dr. Padgett grew up in northwest Ohio, and attended The Ohio State University for both his undergraduate studies and his veterinary degree (making him a true Buckeye). After graduation from veterinary school, he spent a year of intensive training at the Animal Medical Center in New York City. Following this, he pursued a surgical residency at the Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine. During the 3-year surgical residency, he also obtained his Master’s degree. After practicing in Massachusetts for 3 years, he then came back to Ohio in 2000 and established Veterinary Surgery Services of NE Ohio, now Ohio Veterinary Surgery and Neurology, LLC, the surgical practice at Metropolitan Veterinary Hospital, and part of the Metropolitan Veterinary Referral Group.
While all small-animal board certified surgeons are trained in both orthopedic and general (soft-tissue) surgery, Dr. Padgett is able to concentrate primarily on soft tissue surgery (mostly within body cavities). Dr. Padgett has published and lectured on many topics such as liver surgery, pain management, endocrine surgery, thoracic and airway surgery and thyroid surgery. One of his special interests includes surgical oncology, or the surgical treatment of tumors. He enjoys this field as it is both challenging, and it allows him to work closely with other specialists for the best care available to his patients. He is an active member of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons, the Veterinary Cancer Society, and the Society for Veterinary Soft Tissue Surgery.

R. Mark Daye, DVM, MS, DACVS (Akron & Cleveland East)
Dr. Daye grew up in Western Canada near Calgary, Alberta. His pre-veterinary education was completed at the University of Alberta. Dr. Daye received his veterinary degree from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan. Following graduation, he completed a year-long rotation as a small-animal medical and surgical intern at the Animal Medical Center in New York City. After a year in private emergency practice and six months in a cardiothoracic surgery research laboratory, he completed a three-year small animal surgical residency at Auburn University. Dr. Daye is board certified by the American College of Veterinary Surgeons. In July 2003, he relocated from North Carolina to join Veterinary Surgery Services of Northeast Ohio (now Ohio Veterinary Surgery and Neurology, LLC).
While trained in all areas of small-animal surgery, Dr. Daye focuses his day-to-day attention on orthopedic conditions – treating general surgical conditions and neurosurgical conditions only on an as-needed or emergency basis. This focus allows Dr. Daye to offer a comprehensive list of advanced orthopedic procedures, including simple and complex fracture repairs of the entire skeletal system, arthroscopic treatments for many joints, multiple advanced treatments for ruptured cranial cruciate ligaments, multiple elbow dysplasia surgeries, as well as pubic symphysiodesis, triple pelvic osteotomy and total hip replacement for treatment of canine hip dysplasia.
Dr. Daye has received extensive training in many cutting edge orthopedic surgical procedures and fosters aggressive pain management for his orthopedic patients. He is a longtime and currently active member of the Veterinary Orthopedic Society and the International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management. He is a reviewer of scientific studies in orthopedics for the prestigious veterinary medical journal Veterinary Surgery.

Josh Collins, DVM, DACVS (Akron)
Dr. Collins pursued education at Hiram College, The Ohio State University, Michigan Veterinary Specialists, and Ocean State Veterinary Specialists. Dr. Collins brings with him considerable experience in a wide range of orthopedic and soft-tissue conditions. He is published in both of the veterinary surgical journals, Veterinary Surgery and Veterinary Comparative Orthopedics and Traumatology and maintains a healthy interest in clinical research. Dr. Collins surgical interests vary from the common CCL repairs to reconstructive and oncological procedures. Minimally invasive orthopedic and soft-tissue surgery holds a particular interest making Dr. Collins a great fit for our already well-developed minimally invasive programs.
In his private life, Dr. Collins enjoys many outdoor athletic activities including time with his dog Maverick. His interest in sailing occupies an increasing amount of spare time these days.

Christina Cocca, DVM, MS, DACVS (Akron & Cleveland East)
Dr. Cocca is originally from Cleveland Ohio. She received her undergraduate degree from John Carroll University and later attended The Ohio State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine for her veterinary degree in 2014. Dr. Cocca completed a small animal rotating internship at the Animal Medical Center in NYC followed by a specialized surgical internship here at Metropolitan Veterinary Hospital. She then completed a 3-year surgical residency at the University of Illinois in 2019 before becoming a board-certified surgeon the following year. Although she specializes in both soft tissue and orthopedic procedures, her particular areas of interest include minimally invasive surgery, reconstructive surgery, and cardiothoracic procedures. In her free time, Dr. Cocca enjoys cooking authentic Italian food, mountain biking, traveling abroad, and taking hikes with her dog Clyde.

Brittany Cortina, DVM (Akron & Cleveland East)
Dr. Cortina grew up in Miami, Florida. She attended Florida State University and after graduation she pursued her veterinary education at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine where she earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree. Following graduation, she completed a small animal medicine and surgery rotating internship at the Oklahoma State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital. She moved to Akron in 2019 to complete a one-year specialized surgical internship here at Metropolitan Veterinary Hospital. She was later selected to continue her training at Metropolitan in a rigorous three-year surgical residency program, during which time she also published in Veterinary Surgery, a prestigious veterinary medical journal.
Dr. Cortina is skilled in both soft tissue and orthopedic surgery, however, her specific surgical interests include oncologic surgery, emergency surgery, and minimally invasive surgery. She is an active member of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons, the Society for Veterinary Soft Tissue Surgery, Veterinary Orthopedic Society, Veterinary Society of Surgical Oncology, and AO Vet North America, among other professional organizations.
Outside of work, Dr. Cortina loves spending time outdoors, on the water, trying new foods, fitness, the performing arts, and traveling the world.

Alyssa Motz, DVM (Akron & Cleveland East)
Dr. Alyssa Motz grew up in Macedonia, Ohio and pursued her veterinary education at The Ohio State University. After graduation, she completed a small animal rotating internship and a surgical internship at Metropolitan Veterinary Hospital. Dr. Motz then continued her training at Veterinary Specialists and Emergency Services in Rochester, New York, where she completed a surgical internship and surgery residency program. She is excited to be returning to Metropolitan Veterinary Hospital’s Surgery team in September 2023.
When not working, Dr. Motz enjoys reading, spending time with friends and family, and her three cats Erised, Penelope, and Liam.

Matthew MacCormick, DVM, Resident in Surgery
Dr. MacCormick was born and raised in a small town outside of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. After starting an undergraduate degree in Biomedical Sciences with a minor in Biophysics, Dr. MacCormick earned a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from the Ontario Veterinary College at the University of Guelph. He then moved across the border to complete a small animal rotating internship at Veterinary Specialists and Emergency Services in Rochester, New York. Dr. MacCormick joined the surgery team at Metropolitan Veterinary Hospital in 2020 for a surgical internship and stayed on to continue education as a surgical resident.
Dr. MacCormick maintains a broad interest in surgery with a particular fascination in minimally invasive procedures, having previously completed research in the area of laparoscopy. Outside of work, Dr. MacCormick enjoys all water sports, including scuba diving, and he enjoys spending time with friends and family, especially his two dogs and cat.

Megan Caiazzo, VMD, Resident in Surgery
Dr. Caiazzo grew up in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and pursued her veterinary education at the University of Pennsylvania. After graduation, she moved to Charlotte, NC to complete small animal general internship followed by a year-long surgery internship at Carolina Veterinary Specialists. She joined the surgery team at Metropolitan Veterinary Hospital in July 2022 as a surgery resident.
Dr. Caiazzo maintains a broad interest in all aspects of surgery but is particularly fascinated by cardiothoracic procedures, minimally invasive surgery, joint arthroplasty, and angular limb correctional surgery. Outside of work, Dr. Caiazzo enjoys hiking, reading, spending time with family and friends, and trying new restaurants and breweries.

Rachel Naghi, DVM, Resident in Surgery
Dr. Naghi was born and raised in Palos Verdes, CA. After obtaining her B.Sc in Animal Science, she pursued her veterinary education at Western University College of Health Sciences in Southern California. Rachel completed a small animal rotating internship and a small animal surgical specialty internship in Los Angeles. Dr. Naghi has continued to follow her passion for surgery and completed a surgical oncology specialty internship at the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Florida. In July of 2023, Dr. Naghi moved to Akron, Ohio, and joined the surgery team at Metropolitan Veterinary Hospital for her surgical residency.
Dr. Naghi’s interests include soft tissue reconstructive surgery, fracture repair, and chronic wound management care. When she is not scrubbed into the operating room or caring for her patients, you can find her playing with her German Shepherd, Darwin, completing a DIY project, or exploring all that Akron and Ohio have to offer, including unique restaurants and nature parks.

James Gant, DVM, Resident in Surgery
Dr. Gant grew up in New Mexico and attended Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine. After completing a private practice internship in Colorado, he spent eight years as an emergency clinician in the Cleveland area. Surgery became his passion during the time he spent as an ER doctor, and he pursued continued training through a surgical internship. He is currently a surgical resident at Metropolitan Veterinary Hospital.
Outside the hospital, Dr. Gant enjoys fishing, fly tying, mountain biking, cooking, traveling, and spending time with his wife, five cats, two dogs, and chickens.