About Us
Overview
Founded in 2001, VDx Veterinary Diagnostics was established to provide the highest level of diagnostic quality and reliability, with a focus on outstanding customer service. Our staff of board-certified pathologists is trusted for its consistent delivery of accurate diagnoses and comprehensive reports.
The success of VDx has been built upon our reputation, experience and ability to provide a more personalized, accessible and dependable service than other laboratories.
Our Pathologist Team
Anatomic Pathology
Dr. John Peauroi, DVM, MPVM
Dr. John Peauroi, DVM, MPVM
Dr. John Peauroi is the founder and Laboratory Director of VDx, and also a practicing anatomic pathologist. He established VDx in 2001 to deliver technical excellence with a focus on quality service to his clients, and has built the VDx team around these principles. Dr. Peauroi’s expertise is in diagnostic surgical pathology, particularly oncologic pathology and lymphoma, and he enjoys the challenge of advanced cancer diagnostics, including immunohistochemistry and PARR, and consulting with clients on tough cases. Dr. Peauroi is a 1990 graduate of the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine and completed his training in anatomic pathology at UC Davis in 1994. Before founding VDx, he worked as Chief of Service at the UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital and as Chief of Anatomic Pathology for IDEXX Veterinary Services. Dr. Peauroi is married with four kids and when not in the lab, he enjoys spending time with his wife and family, working in the garden, hiking, and making and fixing things.
Dr. Teena Price, BSc, BVMS
Dr. Teena Price, BSc, BVMS
Dr. Teena Price earned her veterinary degree in 1994 from Murdoch University in Western Australia. She spent 10 years working primarily in small-animal clinics in England and Australia. She completed a pathology internship at the University of Queensland in 2004, moving to the US, and completing an anatomic pathology residency at UC Davis in 2006. Teena earned her diplomate in anatomic pathology in 2007. She spent thirteen years as an anatomic pathologist at IDEXX before joining VDx in 2020. Teena’s areas of interest in surgical pathology include round cell tumors, particularly lymphoma, and immunohistochemistry. She lives in Davis, California, with her husband Chris, two very active boys, one dog (Charlie), and two cats (Tux and Stash).
Dr. Katherine Watson, DVM, PhD
Dr. Kate Watson, DVM, PhD
Dr. Kate Watson earned her PhD in 2014 and her veterinary degree in 2016 as part of the Veterinary Scientist Training Program (VSTP) at UC Davis. Kate continued her training at UC Davis to become a board-certified anatomic pathologist in 2019. After residency, she spent 6-years working as a faculty veterinary diagnostician at UC Davis focused on protecting animal health and performance, public health and the food supply prior to joining VDx in 2023. Kate is passionate about drawing upon her biomedical research training and pathology expertise to help innovators translate their therapeutics into market realities. In her free time, she is a soccer coach mentor, attempts to train her independent Great Pyrenees and Terrier, and exploring the great outdoors with her family.
Dr. Tanya (Angell) Faber, DVM
Dr. Tanya (Angell) Faber, DVM
Dr. Tanya (Angell) Faber received her veterinary degree from the University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine in 2018. After graduation, she moved across the country to Philadelphia and started her residency at the University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine, and was board certified in anatomic pathology by the American College of Veterinary Pathologists in 2021. Tanya joined the pathology team at VDx soon after moving back across the country with her beloved hound dog, Remington. Tanya’s areas of interest include dermatopathology and surgical pathology. She lives in Davis, California and loves to play volleyball, host board game nights, and partner dance in her free time.
Dr. Samantha Darling, DVM
Dr. Samantha Darling, DVM
Dr. Samantha Darling received her DVM from Michigan State University in 2018. She then traveled from her home state of Michigan to complete an anatomic pathology residency at the University of California, Davis. Samantha was board certified in anatomic pathology by the American College of Veterinary Pathologists in 2021. She has a cat, Worthington and a dog, Finnegan. In her free time, she loves to read.
Dr. Tatiana Wolf, DVM
Dr. Tatiana Wolf, DVM
Dr. Tatiana Wolf received her veterinary degree from the University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine in 2020. After graduation, she stayed in Davis to continue her residency at the University of California, Davis and was board certified in anatomic pathology by the American College of Veterinary Pathologists in 2023. Tatiana joined the pathology team at VDx soon after. Tatiana’s areas of interest include dermatopathology and surgical pathology. When not at work, she loves spending time with her two beloved Australian Shepherds (Kato & Knox), exploring the outdoors, and collecting trinkets and curiosities during the many adventures with her husband.
Clinical Pathology
Dr. Joanne Hodges, DVM
Dr. Joanne Hodges, DVM
Dr. Joanne Hodges received her DVM from the U.C. Davis School of Veterinary Medicine in 1999 and, following a small animal internship year, she entered small animal private practice prior to completing a residency in clinical pathology also at U.C. Davis. She has been a board-certified diagnostic clinical pathologist since 2010 and at VDx since 2012. Outside of the lab, gardening, backpacking with her dogs, and family time are favorite priorities.
Dr. Jacqueline Brady, DVM, MS
Jacqueline Brady, DVM, MS
Dr. Jackie Brady received her DVM from the Oregon State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2012. She completed an internship at the VCA Animal Specialty & Emergency Center (VCA ASEC) in Los Angeles and practiced emergency medicine before returning to Corvallis, Oregon to complete a residency in clinical pathology. During her residency, she also received her Master’s degree in Comparative Health Sciences studying proteomic profiles of circulating exosomes in canine cancer patients. Jackie was board certified in clinical pathology by the American College of Veterinary Pathologists in 2017. Jackie and her husband welcomed their daughter (Jovie) in 2020. Together they enjoy music, sports, traveling, hiking, and snuggling with their two sweet geriatric dogs.
Dr. Diana Schwartz, DVM
Dr. Diana Schwartz, DVM
Dr. Diana Schwartz received her DVM from the University of Minnesota in 2013. Following a rotating internship at VCA Sacramento Veterinary Referral Center she completed a clinical pathology residency at the University of California Davis and was board certified in clinical pathology by the American College of Veterinary Pathologists in 2017. Diana served on the faculty at Kansas State University for two years prior to joining the clinical pathology group at VDx in 2019.
Dr. Laura Cagle, DVM, PhD
Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care
Dr. Laura Cagle, DVM, PhD
Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care
Dr. Cagle grew up in Arizona and completed her DVM studies at The University of Prince Edward Island, Canada. After graduating, she pursued a rotating internship followed by an emergency-focused specialty internship and residency in emergency and critical care medicine at the University of California, Davis. She obtained board certification in emergency and critical medicine. She then worked as a criticalist while she pursued her PhD in Comparative Pathobiology while focusing her studies on the mechanisms of lung injury. After completion of her PhD, she pursued a residency in clinical pathology at the University of Florida. She completed her residency training, obtained board certification, and joined VDx in 2023. Away from the scope she and her husband are kept busy raising their two children.
Management
Allie Johnson, AA, BS
Allie Johnson, AA, BS
Allie Johnson majored in Animal Science at UC Davis and has worked in the veterinary industry for nearly 20 years, starting in high school as a kennel assistant at a veterinary clinic in the Bay Area. She joined VDx in 2015 as a Lab Assistant and has been the Clinical Operations Manager since 2021. Outside of the lab, she enjoys visiting with family including going to concerts with her sister, spending quality time with her dog (Kiki) and two cats (Kimmy & Jill), and occasionally working on small art projects.
Julianna Gallardo (Biondo), BS, BA
Julianna Gallardo (Biondo), BS, BA
Julianna earned her Bachelor’s degrees in Biology and Criminology from Drury University in Springfield, Missouri. She moved to California to pursue her Master’s degree in Forensic Science. After completing a crime scene and pathology internship at the Yolo county Sheriff’s office she decided to pivot her career and focus on anatomic pathology. Julianna began working as a Histology Technician at VDx in 2021 and was promoted to the Histology Manager the same year. Julianna is an active member of the National Society for Histotechnology and enjoys the constant learning that this field provides. She lives in Davis with her husband, Ricky, and their cats, James and Tommy.
Marina Waggoner, BA
Marina Waggoner, BA
Marina Waggoner majored in Russian and Zoology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She grew up in California, so she came back to the West Coast during the pandemic. She started her VDx career in 2021 as a Clinical Lab Assistant and was later promoted to Clinical Specialist while also transitioning into the Sales & Marketing role. Being eager to continue learning, she also received her HR certification from the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM) in February 2024. In her free time, Marina enjoys crafting, working on home projects and spending R&R time with her two cats (Peep and Svetlana), dog (Dasha), and fiancé.
Melanie Walker, BS
Melanie Walker, BS
Melanie Walker graduated from UC Davis in 2006 with a BS, majoring in Neurology, Physiology and Behavior. She began working at VDx as a clinical laboratory assistant in 2007. During her career at VDx she has been engaged in all areas of laboratory operations, including previous roles working, training and managing the histology team, and the preclinical research department Through a thorough understanding of the day to day work performed at VDx she is able to bring a creative and practical perspective to her role as QA Manager. Melanie lives in Sacramento, California with her husband Logan, two wonderful children and their many furry friends (5 cats, 2 bunnies and a new puppy!)
Amanda Force (Pasilis), BS
Amanda Force (Pasilis), BS
Amanda Force was born and raised in the Northern California town of Paradise and left smalltown life to move to Sacramento and attend California State University Sacramento, where she majored in Biological Sciences. Her VDx career started in 2020 as a Research Laboratory Assistant, promoted later to Research Technician, and finally as Preclinical Research Specialist (Pathology Study), before taking on the role of Preclinical Research Manager. Amanda has taken some additional biology coursework from UC San Diego online Extension courses, as she loves to learn and has a passion for biology. Outside of work, Amanda enjoys bike rides around Sacramento, playing video games with friends, drawing and painting, and spending plenty of cozy time with her cat (Burt) and her husband.