Veterinary Specialist and What That Means For My Pet
A veterinary board certified specialist is a Veterinarian who has extensive experience and education in their specialized field. After finishing vet school, graduates have the option to work in general practice or specialize in their area(s) of interest. A Veterinarian who decides to specialize must apply and be accepted into a one year internship followed by a 3-5 year residency in their specialty. Board certified specialists typically have 4-6 years of additional training after veterinary school. During their residency, in addition to examining, diagnosing, and treating patients, candidates also must complete a research project, publish a scientific article in an approved journal, and finally pass a rigorous multiple day examination given by that specialty college. Only after successful completion of all these standards is this Veterinarian considered a specialist in their field, earning the title of Diplomate.
Meet Your Doctor
Dr. Melissa Stoll, DVM and Diplomate,
American College of Veterinary Surgeons
Dr. Melissa Stoll received her DVM degree from Texas A&M University in 1997 where she graduated cum laude. One year later she completed her medical and surgical internship at Kansas State University. In 2001, Dr. Stoll completed her surgical residency at University of Missouri, where she also underwent additional training and certification to perform TPLO surgeries. In 2003, Dr. Stoll completed the board certification process to become a Diplomate and specialist in the field of veterinary surgery.
After the completion of her residency, Dr. Stoll stayed on faculty at the University of Missouri for a year. In 2002, she moved to St. Louis, Missouri and spent the next five years working for a high-volume specialty hospital. Dr. Stoll moved to coastal NC in January 2007 where she practiced at a referral hospital in Wilmington. In March 2015, Dr. Stoll started CCVSS as a way to provide specialty surgery to you and your pet in a familiar setting.
Dr. Stoll enjoys spending time with her family and friends, along with her 2 dogs, Emma and Aggie, and cat, William. In her spare time she attends sporting events, horse shows, and likes to spend time working outside.
Meet the Staff
Dani Cook, RVT
Dani was born and raised in eastern North Carolina. She is a 2019 graduate of the Associates Program in Veterinary Technician held at Cape Fear Community College. In school, Dani thrived in the surgical labs and took a special interest in anesthesia, orthopedics and patient care.
Prior to attending school, Dani was an Advanced EMT, serving Brunswick County EMS, concluding her career with Vitalink/Airlink Critical Care Team.
Dani has always had a special place in her heart for animals, having two rescue dogs, Bentley, and Odie, her quarter horse Joker and a rescue pony named Pone Pone. Dani and her husband live in Columbus County and enjoy working on their small farmstead and watching movies from the 90s.