Douglas Tack, DVM
Dr. Douglas Tack was raised on his family’s working farm in rural Michigan. He received his B.S. from Michigan State University and earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1988. Upon graduating vet school, Dr. Tack moved to the east coast and worked in private practice, referral hospitals, and specialty facilities. He developed an interest in emergency medicine/critical care, complex internal medicine cases, and soft tissue surgery. Dr. Tack acquired Black River Veterinary Hospital (BRVH) in 2006.
Dr. Tack and his wife, Dr. Susan Tack (also a veterinarian!), have two children, Erin and Greg. Erin graduated from University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine in 2023 and will begin her residency at PennVet’s Ryan Veterinary Hospital in 2024. Greg is a professional bowler and has degrees in Math & Statistics from Florida State University and an M.B.A. from Quinnipiac University.
In Dr. Tack’s personal time, he can often be seen throughout North America showing his own terriers. His passion for working terrier breeds has given him the opportunity to judge dogs throughout the United States, Canada, and Great Britain. Dr. Tack feels that he is “living the dream” having a life devoted to Veterinary Medicine.
Maria Hancock, BVMS
Dr. Maria Hancock has been at Black River Veterinary Hospital since June 2018 and has loved meeting everyone and their beloved pets! She completed her B.S. in Animal Science at Rutgers University and attended veterinary school at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. She has a special interest in animal nutrition and surgery. When she is not practicing, she enjoys the outdoors and is a self-proclaimed foodie, trying all kinds of cuisines, with Korean being her favorite. Dr. Hancock is the proud owner of “Misia” a crazy beagle, and “Uno,” her one-eyed feline friend.
Kelly Vex, DVM
Dr. Kelly Vex began the pursuit of her dream to practice Veterinary Medicine as a young girl in Niagara Falls, New York. Dr. Vex earned her undergraduate degree in Animal Science from Cornell University and graduated from Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1994. As a student, she was recognized by the American Association of Feline Practitioners for outstanding interest and ability in feline medicine and surgery. After graduation, she moved to Northern New Jersey with her husband to begin her veterinary career. Inspired by a service dog patient as MSU, she was a volunteer veterinarian for guide dogs in training on her days off at the Seeing Eye in Morristown. Although Dr. Vex enjoys all aspects of small animal care, she has developed special interests in soft tissue surgery and internal medicine. When not at work she enjoys the outdoors, DIY projects, and spending time with her husband and their four children.
Michelle Hewitt, DVM
Dr. Michelle Hewitt always dreamed of becoming a veterinarian. Dr. Hewitt, who is originally from Mine Hill, received her B.S. in biology from the College of Saint Elizabeth in Morristown, NJ. She went on to receive her veterinary degree at North Carolina State University in 1997. Dr. Hewitt has special interests in chronic disease management, geriatric care, and preventative medicine. Dr. Hewitt enjoys volunteering at Father John’s Animal House in Lafayette and spending time with her two rescued dogs, Dixie and Steve, and her four cats, Friendly, Crazy Eye, Copy, and Slick.
Linda Wall, DVM
Dr. Linda (Krotje) Wall grew up on a dairy farm in Sussex County, NJ. She was actively involved in 4-H as a youth, showing Brown Swiss cattle, a Quarter Horse, and completing a variety of sewing projects. Dr. Wall accomplished her childhood dream upon graduating from the Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1978. She concurrently completed a small animal internal medicine residency at Iowa State College of Veterinary Medicine and board certification in 1988. The following year she held the position of adjunct instructor in Small Animal Internal Medicine at ISU. During this time, she published several papers and case reports in the Journal of American Veterinary Medical Association and the Compendium of Continuing Education.
Dr. Wall returned to the family farm in NJ in 1990 with her husband, Keith Wall, DVM. While raising twins, she practice part-time for 28 years at a local veterinary clinic. There she specialized in internal medicine cases, performed endoscopic procedures, and ultrasound examinations.
Currently, she and her husband operate the family farm in Sussex County. They breed, raise, and show registered Simmental cattle. In addition, she has two black Labs to keep her busy. We welcomed Dr. Wall to the BRVH family in 2021.
Elizabeth (Leach) Elliott, DVM, DACVS-SA
Dr. Elliott joined the team at Black River Veterinary Hospital in the summer of 2022, after working at a large specialty practice in South Carolina. Originally from Connecticut, Dr. Elliott moved to Prince Edward Island, Canada to attend veterinary school at the Atlantic Veterinary College. Her keen interest in specialty medicine brought her to Cornell University’s Hospital for Animals for a rotating internship and three-year residency in small animal surgery. Dr. Elliott is board certified with the American College of Veterinary Surgeons and is versed in both soft tissue and orthopedic surgery. She is excited to bring a unique continuity of care to surgical patients at Black River Veterinary Hospital, where their primary care doctors remain involved in their progress. Dr. Elliott is looking forward to growing the surgical service at BRVH and will also be able to offer laparoscopic procedures by late 2022. Outside of work, she enjoys riding dressage horses and spending time outdoors with her husband, an equine surgeon, and their young daughter.
Emily Gussman, DVM
Dr. Gussman grew up in Somerset County, NJ and completed her B.S. in
Animal Science at Rutgers University New Brunswick. She graduated from
veterinary school from St. George’s University and completed her
clinical year at the University of Tennessee. Dr. Gussman has a special
interest in preventative medicine, integrative medicine, and anesthesia.
In her free time she likes to go on hikes with her rescue Shepard mix,
Scotch, or spend time with her cat, Ting. Fun fact: Dr. Gussman grew up
raising and showing pigeons.