Surgery
Anke Langenbach, Dr Med Vet, Diplomate ACVS & ECVS
VSC Owner and Chief Surgeon
Dr. Anke Langenbach, owner and Chief Surgeon, is a Diplomate of the American and European Colleges of Veterinary Surgeons. She earned her veterinary degree in 1992 from the University of Munich, College of Veterinary Medicine in Germany. Dr. Langenbach was awarded a scholarship allowing her a combined American and German education. She spent most of her third year of veterinary school at Kansas State University and part of her fourth year at the Ohio State University, Cornell University, and Animal Medical Center of New York.
After receiving her veterinary degree, she continued her studies with a 1-year internship followed by a 3-year residency program at the University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine. After completion of her residency, she stayed with the University accepting a lecturing position. Dr. Langenbach achieved Diplomate status as a board certified surgeon in 1998. Following her extensive academic career, Dr. Langenbach moved to Northern Virginia to work in private referral practice.
Since her time at the University, Dr. Langenbach has published several articles, authored a book chapter, and has presented at many regional and local meetings, as well as national meetings held by the College of Veterinary Surgeons. She is currently participating in clinical research at the University of Pennsylvania involving cancer related feline patients. Dr. Langenbach was also featured in the book “In Their Shoes” by Debbie Reiber. She presented at the 2007 Annual Surgeons Summit and will present in Basel at the European Surgeons Summit in July 2008. Her other areas of research interest relate to bone and joint diseases and injuries of the canine patient.
Dr. Langenbach lives with her husband, two sons, two dogs, and two cats in Vienna, VA.
Tibor Lazar, DVM, Diplomate ACVS
VSC Staff Surgeon
Dr. Lazar, Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons, graduated from the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine in 1996. He continued his academic career with a 1-year internship at the Animal Medical Center in New York City and followed with a 3-year surgical residency at Affiliated Veterinary Specialists, a large specialty referral practice in Maitland, Florida.
Originally from Northern Virginia, Dr. Lazar decided to move back to the area following his academic studies. He joined our team of surgeons in 2002 and was awarded Diplomate status as a board certified surgeon by the College of Veterinary Surgeons in 2003.
During Dr. Lazar’s tenure with Veterinary Surgical Center, he has actively pursued his interests in orthopedic surgery, learning new techniques such as Cementless Total Hip Replacements and TTA (tibial tuberosity advancement) for the repair of cranial cruciate tears. He is the first surgeon in Northern Virginia to offer the TTA procedure. Dr. Lazar’s other area of interest is laparoscopy and thoracoscopy. These procedures improve our ability to diagnose and treat certain conditions with minimally invasive surgery.
Dr. Lazar resides in Reston, Virginia with his wife and two sons.
Matthew E. Nicholson, DVM, Diplomate ACVS
VSC Staff Surgeon
Matthew Nicholson, Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons, received his Bachelor’s degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and his Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine in Blacksburg, Virginia.
Dr. Nicholson continued with his academic studies completing a 1-year internship and a 3-year small animal surgical residency with the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. He achieved Diplomate status as a board certified surgeon with the American College of Veterinary Surgeons in 2004.
Following his time with the University, Dr. Nicholson spent two years as an associate surgeon with a veterinary referral practice in New Jersey. A native of Northern Virginia, he joined our practice and surgical team in 2005.
His areas of interest are soft tissue surgery and minimally invasive surgery. He especially enjoys tracheal stent placements, arthroscopy, thoracoscopy and laparoscopy.
Dr. Nicholson and his wife live in Haymarket, Virginia.
Raviv Balfour, DVM, Diplomate ACVS
VSC Staff Surgeon
Raviv Balfour, Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons, graduated from the University of Illinois Veterinary School in 1995. He continued his studies completing a 1-year internship with California Animal Hosptial, Dept. of Surgery, followed by a 3-year residency program at Tufts University/
Angell Memorial Animal Hospital. After completion of his academic studies, Dr. Balfour successfully passed his board certification in 2000, achieving Diplomate status with the American College of Veterinary Surgeons. Since his time at the University, Dr. Balfour has been working with Animal Surgical and Emergency
Center (ASEC) in Los Angeles, CA.
During Dr. Balfour’s career, he has published and presented on angular limb deformities in dogs, as well as co-authoring chapters in the Veterinary Clinical Advisor textbook and the Ettinger’s Textbook of Internal Medicine. Additional publications include articles for Pulse Magazine Journal of Southern California Veterinary Medical Association (VMA). He has also presented numerous
continuing education lectures for the California VMA.
Dr. Balfour currently resides in Marina Del Rey, CA. He joins VSC part-time while continuing to practice with ASEC. His professional interests are orthopedic surgery, neurosurgery and minimally invasive procedures. While on the East Coast, he lives in Leesburg, VA with his girlfriend, Dr. Paige Evans,
ophthalmology resident with EyeCare for Animals. Dr. Balfour has two dogs and five cats and in his spare time enjoys golfing, scuba diving, and hiking.
Jim Taylor, DVM
VSC Surgical Intern
Jim Taylor, DVM received his veterinary degree from the Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2004. Dr. Taylor began his professional career working for two years in small animal private practice in Oklahoma City. Following his time in private practice, he continued his academic studies by completing a 1-year small animal rotating internship at Garden State Veterinary Specialists in New Jersey. In July of 2007, Dr. Taylor joined VSC and is currently completing a 1-year surgical internship. He will continue his academic studies staying with VSC to complete a 3-year surgical residency. Dr. Taylor will be presenting at the annual ACVS surgery summit in San Diego, CA in October 2008.
Dr. Taylor lives with his wife and three dogs in Vienna, VA and his hobbies include various outdoor activities and watching Oklahoma State football.