About Us

The Virginia Equine Imaging Staff

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A. Kent Allen, DVM – Practice Owner

Dr. Allen received his DVM from the University of Missouri in 1979 and has been practicing equine medicine ever since. Dr. Allen opened Virginia Equine Imaging in 1996 after selling the practice he formerly owned in Arizona (Arizona Equine Medical and Surgical Center). Virginia Equine Imaging became the first privately owned and operated equine diagnostic imaging specialty clinic in the world. He had a vision to establish a practice that provides advanced diagnostic and sports medicine catered to the equine athlete in a way that had never been done before. During his transition from Arizona to Virginia Dr. Allen served as Veterinary Services Manager at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. He was awarded the title of Arizona Equine Practitioner of the year.

Since moving to Virginia and establishing VEI Dr. Allen has found time to serve as the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI) Foreign Veterinary Delegate for the 1999 Pan American Games in Winnipeg, Canada, the 2000 Olympic Games at Sydney, and the 2012 Olympic Games in London. Dr. Allen was also the 2010 World Equestrian Games Veterinary Services Manager.

Dr. Allen is the Chairman of the USEF Veterinary Committee and is the FEI National Head Veterinarian for the United States and serves on the FEI List Committee.

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Dr. Allen is currently certified by the International Society of Equine Locomotor Pathology (ISELP) and the curent Vice President and Executive Director. Dr. Allen continues to see patients and share his knowledge with veterinary interns and clients on a day to day basis striving the share his knowledge with the equine industry both in his local community and around the world.

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Vetinary Doctor

Susan Johns, DVM – Senior Associate

Dr. Johns has served as the Land Rover US Event Team Head Veterinarian since 2015. Johns travels the globe with the US high performance event horses and oversees their care at Pan American Games, World Equestrian Games, FEI Eventing Nations Cups and Olympic games. Johns is certified in veterinary acupuncture.

Johns joined Virginia Equine Imaging as an intern in the spring of 2002, following graduation from Virginia Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine. She completed her internship in sports medicine and diagnostic imaging with VEI and continued on as a Senior Associate Veterinarian.  Johns travels throughout Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina and Florida offering top level ambulatory sports medicine, lameness and imaging services. Dr. Johns works extensively with national and international competition horses.

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Dr. Johns is originally from Los Angeles, California, and competed in the sport of three-day eventing to the FEI two star level. When she is not working on equine athletes, she enjoys spending down time with her husband. She loves meticulously manicuring her collection of Japanese Maples and rare garden conifers

Jack Caldwell, DVM

Dr. Caldwell had an interest in animal welfare from a young age, but his passion for veterinary medicine didn’t truly take off until adulthood when he began working with an equine veterinarian from his home town. He fell in love with the horses, the people, and the lifestyle and it has been his goal to improve as an equine sports medicine and imaging specialist ever since. Outside of work, you can find Jack snowboarding out west or simply hanging with his family just outside of the DC area.

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Carmen Musick – Practice Manager

Carmen has worked in the veterinary field since 1998. Prior to coming to VEI she was the practice manager at a “small animal” practice in Ashburn. She completed her veterinary practice management studies through Webster University. She was looking for something new and exciting such as equine or specialty practice and joined our team in 2014. She lives in Front Royal with her husband and daughter as well as her two golden retrievers – Romo and Ryder. She also has 3 horses and likes to hit the local trails.

Carmen enjoys group fitness classes in her spare time. She loves spin and yoga and is also a certified pound pro. She is also working toward her AFAA group fitness certification.

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Middleburg vet services

Christine Vallejo – LVT, CVT

Christine grew up in Virginia Beach, VA and started riding horses at 10 years old. She graduated from Old Dominion University with a degree in criminal justice and had a long career in the field, but ultimately decided to go back to school to become a veterinary technician. Christine graduated from Blue Ridge Community College in 2009. That year she got a job at Piedmont Equine Practice in The Plains, VA as their night technician. She was there for 3 and a half years before taking a position as the Large Animal Rescue Manager at the middleburg Humane Foundation. In 2017, she joined the team at Virginia Equine Imaging. Christine enjoys spending time with her family in Richmond, VA and her cat, “Miss Kitty”.

Shelby Kohn – Veterinary Assistant

Shelby grew up in the northern Virginia area and has been involved with horses her whole life. She has competed in many disciplines but currently enjoys showing her quarter horse Spade. She completed her BS in Dairy Science and equine production at Virginia Tech in 2021. Shelby originally found her way to VEI in 2019 helping as a student and joined our team full time after graduation. When not at VEI she can be found enjoying time with her family, horses and 2 dogs (Cali and Zeke).

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Heather Reeve – Veterinary Assistant

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Cynthia Wheeler-Cox – Admin Support

Cynthia is from Portland, Oregon and a graduate of Oregon State University. She has ridden and bred horses since childhood and competed in numerous equestrian sports including reining, hunter/jumper, eventing and dressage. Cynthia learned to foxhunt while living in Ireland and still enjoys hunting in the beautiful Virginia countryside. After 18 years traveling in a corporate career she decided to work for a local business in her community and came to VEI. She currently resides on her family’s farm in Delaplane with her husband, two children, four dogs, five horses and a flock of Katahdin sheep.

Patti Meagher – Receptionist

Patti has had a life-long love for horses and was a competitive hunter rider throughout her junior career in Colorado. Her passion continued through college and getting her MPA at George Mason University as she worked for local breeders and expanding her riding education.  After working in local government for 10 years, Patti returned to working with horses to spend more time with her children.

Patti and her family share their home in the Village of St. Louis with their 4 dogs and Flemish Giant Rabbit. Patti stays active volunteering with Appalachian Great Pyrenees Rescue, growing iris and trail riding her trusty Spotted Draft mare, Maggie.

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Marcial Resindez

Marcial has been with VEI for 14 years. He takes pride in keeping our stalls picture perfect and handles all of our landscaping and facility/grounds maintenance.

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Lucan Allen

Lucan, the cheerful black labrador that hangs out in the office, is the official therapy dog of VEI. He is there to offer emotional support for those long, difficult appointments for clients and staff alike. You’ll most likely find him in his bed under the office counter sleeping, searching for hoof clippings at the farrier station, or in the lobby playing with toys and greeting clients. Just don’t let Dr. Allen catch him on the couch with you!

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