Meet Our Doctors

Dr. Richard J. Howard, DVM, MS

Dr. Howard graduated from Auburn University with his D.V.M. degree in 1977, and worked for two years in small animal practice before entering a small animal surgical residency program at Kansas State University. After completing his residency and earning a Master’s degree, he continued on at the KSU Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital as an assistant professor in small animal surgery.

In the summer of 1983, Dr. Howard moved to Oregon, living in Grant’s Pass briefly before coming to Portland to establish the Animal Surgical Practice of Portland in early 1984. Dr. Howard’s surgical interest, expertise include general soft tissue reconstruction, gastrointestinal, oncologic, thoracic and orthopedic surgery. Dr. Howard studied with the late Dr. Barclay Slocum, and was the first licensed surgeon in Oregon to perform the TPLO procedure (1994), and he continues to explore alternatives in elbow and hip dysplasia management.

Dr. Howard is a member of numerous professional organizations, including the American Animal Hospital Association, the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Oregon Veterinary Medical Association, the Portland Veterinary Medical Association, the Association for Veterinary Research and Education, and the Veterinary Orthopedic Society.

Dr. Howard has three grown children, two boys and a girl, as well as two dogs and a cat. His personal interests include running with friends and his dog, biking, skiing, and rock climbing.

Dr. Michael Flynn, DVM, DACVS

Dr. Flynn attended veterinary school at Louisiana State University from 1984-88, where he graduated 1st in his class. He then completed a one year internship in small animal medicine and surgery at Angell Memorial Animal Hospital in Boston, followed by a 3-year residency in small animal surgery at North Carolina State University. A surgical implant that he developed during his residency is currently in widespread use in the treatment of hip dislocations. Following completion of his residency in 1992, Dr. Flynn spent the next 4 years on faculty at the Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine, initially as a clinical instructor the first year, and subsequently as an assistant professor.

He became board-certified by the American College of Veterinary Surgeons in 1995. Dr. Flynn left the university to enter private referral practice in Michigan in 1996, and later moved to Portland in 1999. Dr. Flynn’s surgical expertise encompasses a wide range of soft-tissue surgery, orthopedics and neurosurgery. He has particular interest and experience in the areas of oncologic and reconstructive surgery.

Dr. Flynn is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, American College of Veterinary Surgeons, and the Portland Veterinary Medical Association. He has lectured frequently at local and national meetings. Dr. Flynn enjoys all forms of outdoor activity, and pursues his passion for fly-fishing every opportunity he gets.

Dr. Regina Tobin, DVM, DACVIM

Dr. Tobin is a board certified specialist in small animal internal medicine. After receiving her D.V.M. at Cornell University in 1994, she completed a one year internship in small animal medicine and surgery at Angel Memorial Animal Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. Dr. Tobin worked as a small animal practitioner in Boston for one year. In 1998, she completed a two year residency program in small animal internal medicine at the University of California at Davis. Dr. Tobin became board certified in internal medicine in 1999. She worked as a small animal internist in private referral practices in Oregon for six years before becoming an internal medicine consultant for a national diagnostic laboratory. Dr. Tobin joined Cascade Veterinary Referral Center in 2006.

Dr. Tobin’s main areas of clinical interest include renal disease, autoimmune disorders, gastrointestinal disease, and endocrine disorders. Her clinical research projects have focused on endocrine diseases and have been published in veterinary journals. She is skilled in a variety of endoscopic procedures, including bronchoscopy, gastrointestinal endoscopy, rhinoscopy, and cystoscopy. Dr. Tobin also administers chemotherapy to patients with cancer.

Dr. Tobin is a member of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, American Veterinary Medical Association, Oregon Veterinary Medical Association, and the Portland Veterinary Medical Association. She has given continuing education lectures on a variety of topics to veterinarians, veterinary technicians, and other veterinary clinic support staff.

Dr. Tobin believes her role as an internist is to offer her clients all diagnostic and treatment options appropriate for their pet, support her clients through difficult decisions, and provide compassionate high quality veterinary care for her patients.

Dr. Alon Kramer, DVM, DACVS

Dr. Kramer received his D.V.M. degree from the University of California, Davis school of veterinary medicine in 2002. He then completed a one year small animal surgery and medicine internship at Santa Cruz Veterinary Hospital in California. Dr. Kramer returned to the University of California at Davis following his internship for a 3-year small animal surgery residency. Following his residency, Dr. Kramer returned to the Santa Cruz Veterinary Hospital referral practice as a staff surgeon prior to moving to Portland and joining Cascade Veterinary Referral Center. Dr. Kramer attained board-certification with the American College of Veterinary Surgeons in February 2007. Dr. Kramer's research on canine elbow incongruity received an annual "Best clinical publication award" by the American College of Veterinary Surgeons.

Dr. Kramer's surgical interests and experience include all aspects of soft-tissue surgery, orthopedics, and neurosurgery. He has a strong interest in trauma, surgical oncology and reconstructive surgery, thoracic and GI surgery, as well as arthroscope and elective orthopedics.

Dr. Kramer is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, American College of Veterinary Surgeons, and the Portland Veterinary Medical Association. He has given presentations to local veterinarians and technicians while holding his California position.

Dr. Kramer has 2 boys (or they have him!), a dog, and a cat. In addition to immensely enjoying his profession, he cherishes spending time with his family, camping, long-distance running, biking, and reading.

Dr. Tom VanGundy, DVM, DACVS

Dr.VanGundy graduated from Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1984. He subsequently enjoyed general small animal practice in New York until moving to Texas for a surgical residency at the Texas Veterinary Medical Center (Texas A&M University). Following his surgical training, he moved to Ohio to practice as a referral surgical specialist at Metropolitan Veterinary Hospital in Akron. He became a member of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons in 1989. After seven years of busy practice and a lifetime following his vocation, the call of the beautiful Northwest and a balanced lifestyle was strong enough to take hold.

He has practiced specialty surgery in Portland since 1994 - mostly in association with Dr. Howard. He currently is on staff of the Cascade Veterinary Referral Center one day a week and spends the balance of the week in veterinary community outreach as a mobile veterinary surgeon at selected practices. He has a wide range of surgical experience and networks with the other surgeons in his profession to learn and extend his acumen. His professional interests are diseases of the stifle - especially anterior cruciate ligament injuries, biomechanics and reconstructive surgery.

He is a member of numerous professional organizations including the Portland VMA, Oregon VMA, American VMA, Association of Veterinary Orthopedic Research and Education, Veterinary Orthopedic Society and is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons. Dr VanGundy enjoys travel, outdoor sports and creative activities in his free time. He shares his life with a patient wife, two dogs, four cats and nine Koi.


	Meet Our Doctors Dr. Richard J. Howard, DVM, MS Dr. Howard graduated from Auburn University with his D.V.M. degree in 1977, and worked for two years in small animal practice before entering a small animal surgical residency program at Kansas State University. After completing his residency and earning a Master’s degree, he continued on at the KSU Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital as an assistant professor in small animal surgery. In the summer of 1983, Dr. Howard moved to Oregon, living in Grant’s Pass briefly before coming to Portland to establish the Animal Surgical Practice of Portland in early 1984. Dr. Howard’s surgical interest, expertise include general soft tissue reconstruction, gastrointestinal, oncologic, thoracic and orthopedic surgery. Dr. Howard studied with the late Dr. Barclay Slocum, and was the first licensed surgeon in Oregon to perform the TPLO procedure (1994), and he continues to explore alternatives in elbow and hip dysplasia management. Dr. Howard is a member of numerous professional organizations, including the American Animal Hospital Association, the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Oregon Veterinary Medical Association, the Portland Veterinary Medical Association, the Association for Veterinary Research and Education, and the Veterinary Orthopedic Society. Dr. Howard has three grown children, two boys and a girl, as well as two dogs and a cat. His personal interests include running with friends and his dog, biking, skiing, and rock climbing. Dr. Michael Flynn, DVM, DACVS Dr. Flynn attended veterinary school at Louisiana State University from 1984-88, where he graduated 1st in his class. He then completed a one year internship in small animal medicine and surgery at Angell Memorial Animal Hospital in Boston, followed by a 3-year residency in small animal surgery at North Carolina State University. A surgical implant that he developed during his residency is currently in widespread use in the treatment of hip dislocations. Following completion of his residency in 1992, Dr. Flynn spent the next 4 years on faculty at the Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine, initially as a clinical instructor the first year, and subsequently as an assistant professor. He became board-certified by the American College of Veterinary Surgeons in 1995. Dr. Flynn left the university to enter private referral practice in Michigan in 1996, and later moved to Portland in 1999. Dr. Flynn’s surgical expertise encompasses a wide range of soft-tissue surgery, orthopedics and neurosurgery. He has particular interest and experience in the areas of oncologic and reconstructive surgery. Dr. Flynn is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, American College of Veterinary Surgeons, and the Portland Veterinary Medical Association. He has lectured frequently at local and national meetings. Dr. Flynn enjoys all forms of outdoor activity, and pursues his passion for fly-fishing every opportunity he gets. Dr. Regina Tobin, DVM, DACVIM Dr. Tobin is a board certified specialist in small animal internal medicine. After receiving her D.V.M. at Cornell University in 1994, she completed a one year internship in small animal medicine and surgery at Angel Memorial Animal Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. Dr. Tobin worked as a small animal practitioner in Boston for one year. In 1998, she completed a two year residency program in small animal internal medicine at the University of California at Davis. Dr. Tobin became board certified in internal medicine in 1999. She worked as a small animal internist in private referral practices in Oregon for six years before becoming an internal medicine consultant for a national diagnostic laboratory. Dr. Tobin joined Cascade Veterinary Referral Center in 2006. Dr. Tobin’s main areas of clinical interest include renal disease, autoimmune disorders, gastrointestinal disease, and endocrine disorders. Her clinical research projects have focused on endocrine diseases and have been published in veterinary journals. She is skilled in a variety of endoscopic procedures, including bronchoscopy, gastrointestinal endoscopy, rhinoscopy, and cystoscopy. Dr. Tobin also administers chemotherapy to patients with cancer. Dr. Tobin is a member of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, American Veterinary Medical Association, Oregon Veterinary Medical Association, and the Portland Veterinary Medical Association. She has given continuing education lectures on a variety of topics to veterinarians, veterinary technicians, and other veterinary clinic support staff. Dr. Tobin believes her role as an internist is to offer her clients all diagnostic and treatment options appropriate for their pet, support her clients through difficult decisions, and provide compassionate high quality veterinary care for her patients. Dr. Alon Kramer, DVM, DACVS Dr. Kramer received his D.V.M. degree from the University of California, Davis school of veterinary medicine in 2002. He then completed a one year small animal surgery and medicine internship at Santa Cruz Veterinary Hospital in California. Dr. Kramer returned to the University of California at Davis following his internship for a 3-year small animal surgery residency. Following his residency, Dr. Kramer returned to the Santa Cruz Veterinary Hospital referral practice as a staff surgeon prior to moving to Portland and joining Cascade Veterinary Referral Center. Dr. Kramer attained board-certification with the American College of Veterinary Surgeons in February 2007. Dr. Kramer's research on canine elbow incongruity received an annual "Best clinical publication award" by the American College of Veterinary Surgeons. Dr. Kramer's surgical interests and experience include all aspects of soft-tissue surgery, orthopedics, and neurosurgery. He has a strong interest in trauma, surgical oncology and reconstructive surgery, thoracic and GI surgery, as well as arthroscope and elective orthopedics. Dr. Kramer is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, American College of Veterinary Surgeons, and the Portland Veterinary Medical Association. He has given presentations to local veterinarians and technicians while holding his California position. Dr. Kramer has 2 boys (or they have him!), a dog, and a cat. In addition to immensely enjoying his profession, he cherishes spending time with his family, camping, long-distance running, biking, and reading. Dr. Tom VanGundy, DVM, DACVS Dr.VanGundy graduated from Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1984. He subsequently enjoyed general small animal practice in New York until moving to Texas for a surgical residency at the Texas Veterinary Medical Center (Texas A&M University). Following his surgical training, he moved to Ohio to practice as a referral surgical specialist at Metropolitan Veterinary Hospital in Akron. He became a member of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons in 1989. After seven years of busy practice and a lifetime following his vocation, the call of the beautiful Northwest and a balanced lifestyle was strong enough to take hold. He has practiced specialty surgery in Portland since 1994 - mostly in association with Dr. Howard. He currently is on staff of the Cascade Veterinary Referral Center one day a week and spends the balance of the week in veterinary community outreach as a mobile veterinary surgeon at selected practices. He has a wide range of surgical experience and networks with the other surgeons in his profession to learn and extend his acumen. His professional interests are diseases of the stifle - especially anterior cruciate ligament injuries, biomechanics and reconstructive surgery. He is a member of numerous professional organizations including the Portland VMA, Oregon VMA, American VMA, Association of Veterinary Orthopedic Research and Education, Veterinary Orthopedic Society and is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons. Dr VanGundy enjoys travel, outdoor sports and creative activities in his free time. He shares his life with a patient wife, two dogs, four cats and nine Koi.

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