Cardiology
Chesapeake Veterinary Cardiology Associates
Chesapeake Veterinary Cardiology Associates is a TLC Founding Practice and the largest private cardiology practice in existence today. Our Leesburg, Virginia, office, one of eight cardiac centers located throughout Maryland and Virginia, is home to experienced, highly specialized professionals who offer the most progressive cardiac diagnostics, medical therapy and interventional treatments. At CVCA, we are dedicated to delivering compassionate, expert cardiac care.
We Offer:
- 11 board-certified cardiologists
- 2 residents in cardiology
- 12,000 cardiac cases annually
- 8 locations from Baltimore to Richmond
- State-of-the-art echocardiography with the latest software and imaging technology
- A collaborative partnership with the primary care veterinarian
- 24-hour, 7 day a week availability for telephone consultations with your veterinarian
- Coordination of urgent and same day referrals
- Detailed report with diagnosis, treatment plan, prognosis, and follow-up care recommendations faxed and mailed on the same day of the initial consultation
- Echocardiograms performed with clients present
- Ongoing collaboration with primary care veterinarian to facilitate optimal
patient care and client service
Cardiac Services
- Echocardiography
- 2 and 3 dimensional
- M-mode
- Continuous and pulse wave Doppler
- Color flow Doppler
- Tissue velocity imaging
- Electrocardiography
- 24-hour ambulatory ECG monitoring
- Heart registry certification (ARCH and OFA)
- Cardiac catheterization
- Pacemaker implantation
- Invasive congenital heart defect repair
- Radiography
Advancing Cardiac Care
Due to the volume of patients we care for in all of our offices, it is our ambition and, we believe, our responsibility to help advance the care and treatment of cardiac disease. That’s why CVCA frequently participates in leading research projects and clinical trials, and it is likely that there is an active study going on at all times. Veterinarians that believe a patient may be a candidate for a research study or clinical trial should contact us for more information.
Education And Training
We continually seek to improve knowledge in the field of veterinary cardiology, which is the inspiration behind our residency program. We also provide regular, ongoing staff training and education for our specialist colleagues, primary care veterinarians and pet owners. Please contact us to learn more about these opportunities.
Organized Veterinary Medicine
Our cardiologists are active in local and national veterinary associations:
- The Virginia Veterinary Medical Association
- The Maryland Veterinary Medical Association
- The Northern Virginia Veterinary Medical Association
- The American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, College of Cardiology
- The ACVIM Cardiology Examination Committee
- The ACVIM Cardiology Heart Disease Registry Committee
- The Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine Alumni Society
- DC Academy of Veterinary Medicine
- The American Veterinary Medical Association
Community Involvement
We believe in supporting the communities that have supported our practice, so CVCA participates in many local activities serving the needs of companion animals and children. For instance, we sponsor the annual Inova Fairfax Children’s Hospital Pediatric Heart Reunion, and bring to the celebration canine friends with the same or similar heart conditions as the children who are treated at the Hospital.
We invite you to join us in assisting these charitable organizations:
- Cat Rescue of Maryland
- Fairfax Pets on Wheels
- Feline Foundation
- Frederick County Humane Society
- Friends of Homeless Animals
- Hart Homeless Animal Rescue Team
- Henrico County Humane Society
- Inova Fairfax Children’s Hospital
- Loudoun County SPCA
- Montgomery County Humane Society
- Oldies but Goodies Cocker Rescue
- The Animal Welfare League of Alexandria
- The Animal Welfare League of Arlington
- The Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Fredericksburg
- Virginia Tech Foundation
- Washington Animal Welfare League
- Washington Humane Society
Specialists:
Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Cardiology)
Dr. Bill Tyrrell is a 1992 graduate of the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine. After graduation, he spent four years in small animal practice in Northern Virginia, where he became fascinated with cardiology and echocardiography. He then began a cardiology residency program at the Angell Memorial Animal Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. He completed his residency credentials with Chesapeake Veterinary Cardiology Associates and achieved Diplomate status in the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine in the College of Cardiology in 1999. Dr. Tyrrell strives to fully educate his clients about the cardiac disease found within their pets. Interactive communication is a very important part of his examination, consultation, and follow-up treatment.
Dr. Tyrrell recently presented at the 2009 American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine Forum in Montreal as well as the 2007 American Veterinary Medical Association conference in Washington, DC. Currently, he is the President of the Virginia Veterinary Medical Association and has served on its Board of Directors for the past six years. He is a past president of the Northern Virginia Veterinary Medical Association and the Virginia Tech (VMRCVM) Veterinary School Alumni Society. He is also a past chair of the VMRCVM Curriculum Advisory Board. Dr. Tyrrell was awarded the Outstanding Young Alumnus Award in 2003 by the VA Tech Alumni Association. He lives in Leesburg with his wife, two young daughters and his cat, Chianti. In his rare personal time, he enjoys golfing, fishing and cheering on the Hokies.
Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Cardiology)
Dr. Pasieka joined CVCA as a resident in July of 2006. After graduating at the top of her class with a veterinary degree from Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine, she completed an internship with Oradell Animal Hospital in New Jersey. Prior to joining CVCA, she worked as a primary care veterinarian in her home state of New York.
Dr. Pasieka has a strong interest in delivering quality, compassionate care for companion animals. In her spare time, Gina enjoys Shutzhund and loves to work with sporting breeds of dogs. Dr. Pasieka’s husband is a board certified Internist in Leesburg, Virginia. They share their home with a cat, Armand, and an Italian Greyhound, Dexter.
Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Cardiology)
Dr. Peckens joined CVCA as Chief Resident in June of 2008. He earned a Bachelor's degree in Biology from St. Mary's College of Maryland and subsequently earned his veterinary degree from the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine. He completed a rotating emergency/specialty medicine internship with a regional referral hospital. Prior to joining CVCA, he was employed by Animal Emergency and Critical Care at The LifeCentre of Leesburg, Virginia, as an emergency clinician.
Dr. Peckens’ professional interests including minimally invasive interventional catheterization procedures, canine cardiomyopathies, and evidence based neutraceutical support of the cardiac patient. Dr. Peckens strives to provide optimal care tailored to each individual patient. Open and effective communication are a cornerstone of his daily interactions with his clients and collaborating primary care veterinarians in his effort to optimize his patient’s quality and quantity of life. Dr. Peckens and his wife share their Herndon, VA, home with four cats and their beloved Doberman-mix, Sadie. In his free time, he enjoys backcountry hiking, playing guitar, cooking/grilling, and playing soccer.
For further information about
CVCA and the services they offer,
please click here.