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Oakton-Vienna Veterinary Hospital is marking 50 years of caring for pets across Vienna, Oakton, McLean, Tysons, Merrifield and Reston.
The locally owned, full-service animal hospital opened in 1975 and has grown from one veterinarian’s practice into a six-doctor operation offering preventive care, diagnostics, surgery and other services.
A founder focused on the human-animal bond
Founder Dr. Charles Blevins grew up in Washington, D.C. His interest in animals began at age 8, when he found a baby raccoon.
In addition to studying veterinary medicine, Blevins trained as a cognitive therapist. That training contributed to his interest in the bond between people and companion animals, including the role pets can play in emotional and physical health. His work was featured on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” in 2001.
Six doctors, varied specialties
Dr. Sandy Christmus earned a bachelor’s degree in microbiology from Clemson University before graduating from the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine in 1995. A member of the Phi Zeta Veterinary Honor Society, he has performed more than 1,000 ultrasounds on dogs and cats.
Dr. Jackie Jones graduated from Ohio State’s College of Veterinary Medicine in 1993. She later practiced in California, treating animals ranging from ostriches to wolves, before returning to the East Coast.
Dr. Lydia Megremis graduated from Purdue University and completed training in canine physical rehabilitation through the University of Tennessee Veterinary School. Her work includes helping animals recover from orthopedic surgery and treating patients with neurological conditions.
Dr. Diane Heinz took an unconventional route into veterinary medicine. She earned an MBA in finance from the University of Pittsburgh in 1986 and spent a decade working in financial services before receiving her veterinary degree from the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine in 2000. Her clinical focus includes internal medicine for companion animals.
Dr. Paula Clark-Fischinger has more than 23 years of experience in small-animal medicine, including 12 years practicing in Northern Virginia. She works with cats and dogs through pain management and consultations involving nutrition, exercise and behavior.
Dr. Cassaundra “Cass” Lang studied theater performance at Northeastern University and worked as a veterinary technician in Boston before graduating from Tufts University’s Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine. Her professional interests include pain management, behavior, surgery, dentistry, hospice and palliative care.
Care from prevention through recovery
The hospital provides preventive medicine, an in-house laboratory, digital X-rays, ultrasound, surgery, dentistry and pain control. Boarding and grooming are also available.
When a case requires additional expertise, the practice refers patients to specialists in fields including cardiology, dermatology, neurology, oncology, ophthalmology and holistic medicine.
The hospital is open from 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.
Its community work has included Christmus’ service as a former vice president of The Shiloh Project, a nonprofit that helped at-risk young people learn responsibility and compassion by training and socializing rescued dogs. He has also worked with Greyhound Rescue Inc. before and after adoptions.
Oakton-Vienna Veterinary Hospital is located at 320 Maple Avenue East in Vienna. Its stated mission is to promote preventive care and help pets maintain their quality of life for as long as possible.