The Vets

Dan Johnson, DVM, DABVP Exotic Companion Mammal

Dr. Johnson earned his BS in Biology from North Carolina State University in 1988, and his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from NCSU-College of Veterinary Medicine in 1992. He worked in small animal and emergency medicine for 4 years before starting North Carolina's first all-exotics practice. Dr. Johnson serves as an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Clinical Sciences at NCSU-CVM. He is Board Certified in Exotic Companion Mammal Practice by the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (ABVP) and is past president of the Association of Exotic Mammal Veterinarians (AEMV). Dr. Johnson publishes and lectures nationally about avian and exotic animal medicine.

Christine Eckermann-Ross, DVM, CVA, CVCH, CTPEP

Dr. Christine Eckermann-Ross joined Avian and Exotic Animal Care after graduating from North Carolina State College of Veterinary Medicine in 2000. Prior to veterinary school, Dr. Eckermann-Ross earned a BS in Biochemistry and worked as a research specialist in Radiation Oncology at UNC/CH. Dr. Eckermann-Ross serves as an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Clinical Sciences at NCSU-CVM, and has lectured at professional conferences on avian and exotic animal medicine and acupuncture. She is certified in acupuncture, herbal medicine, palliative, and end of life care. She has special interests in avian medicine, acupuncture, herbal medicine, surgery, and oncology.

Salina Locke, DVM, DABVP Avian Practice, CertAqV

Dr. Locke earned her BS in Biology from North Carolina State University and her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from The University of Georgia in 2011. After graduation, she worked in small animal practice seeing exotics for 7 years, during which she also worked with us as a relief doctor. Two of those years she spent as medical director for a corporate practice. She has conducted research on bald eagles and avian cardiac disease. She is Board Certified in Avian Practice by the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (ABVP). Dr. Locke is chair of the education committee of the Association of Avian Veterinarians (AAV). She is a Certified Aquatic Veterinarian with the World Aquatic Veterinary Medical Association (WAVMA).

Sara Sokolik, DVM, MPH

Dr. Sara Sokolik received her bachelor’s degree in Animal Science from the University of Minnesota in 2014, and went on to earn her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Minnesota in 2018. During her studies, she focused on both large and small animal species, devoting her clinical time to zoo animal medicine and management. She participated in research on various wild animal species, ranging from frogs to raptors to moose. After graduating vet school, Dr. Sokolik completed a rotating internship in medicine and surgery at a large hospital in Minnesota before moving east to complete a second internship at Cornell University specializing in exotic, zoo, and wild animal species. She has since fled south to warmer weather! Her interests are broad and include coming up with unique solutions to medical and surgical problems in all exotic animals. In 2021, Dr. Sokolik completed her Masters of Public Health degree focusing on transmission of disease between wolves and dogs.

Alissa Tepedino, DVM, CertAqV

Dr. Tepedino earned her B.S. in Biology from UNC-Chapel Hill, and her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Ross University in 2019. During veterinary school she began an ongoing research project studying pathology of hawksbill sea turtles, and completed externships in zoological, wildlife, and aquatic animal medicine. In 2021 she became a Certified Aquatic Veterinarian through the World Aquatic Veterinary Medical Association. Dr. Tepedino’s special interests include oncology, aquatic and amphibian medicine, ophthalmology, and surgery.