Why Powers? Meet the Team

Specialty and Referral Veterinarians

Lee Wilwerding, DVM, Founder

Dr. Wilwerding earned his DVM from Iowa State University in 1994 and has worked exclusively with companion animals throughout his career. He spent three years in Maine working with an orthopedic surgeon, and has continued to develop his orthopedic surgery skills, including such procedures as fracture repair and stifle stabilization (TPLO, Tightrope and extracapsular). He also has extensive experience in emergency/trauma and soft-tissue surgery. He likes to say the operating room is his happy place as he’s in there solely focused on helping a pet get well.

Dr. Wilwerding moved to Colorado in 1998 and founded Powers Pet Emergency Services in 2005, adding rehabilitation in 2010, and expanded his practice to include specialty care in 2015.

Outside of the practice you’ll find him enjoying all that Colorado has offer including as many days of fresh powder as possible.

Lee Wilwerding, DVM Founder

Brianna Backlund, DVM, Medical Director, Diplomate ACVIM (SAIM)

Dr. Backlund is an internal medicine specialist originally from Seattle, Washington. She earned her DVM from Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine in Pullman, going on to complete an internship in small-animal medicine and surgery from Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, and her residency in internal medicine at Texas A&M University’s College of Veterinary Medicine.She is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (DACVIM).

Dr. Backlund’s clinical interests include immune mediated disorders such as hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia and polyarthritis, gastrointestinal disease management (IBD, gastrointestinal lymphoma), and renal (chronic renal failure) and hepatic diseases (chronic active hepatitis, other inflammatory or infectious hepatobiliary diseases).

In addition, she is a skilled endoscopist and provides bronchoscopy, rhinoscopy, cystoscopy and endoscopy services.

Off duty, Dr. Backlund enjoys spending time with her family, running, and appreciating the natural beauty of Colorado.

Brianna Backlund, DVM Medical Director, Diplomate ACVIM (SAIM)

Rainier Ko, DVM, Diplomate ACVS – SA, Diplomate ACVIM (Neurology)

Born in Montreal, Canada, Dr. Ko completed his biology undergraduate degree at McGill University, and his DVM in 2000 from the University of Montreal. Following an internship at the renowned Angell Memorial Animal Hospital in Boston, Dr. Ko returned to his veterinary college in Montreal as a laboratory instructor in small animal anatomy and applied surgical anatomy.

He then completed a residency in small-animal surgery and a master of science degree at Purdue University in 2005, earning board certification in 2007. Dr. Ko spent three years as a staff surgeon at Alameda East Veterinary Hospital and starred on Animal Planet’s popular television series “E-Vet Interns.” He returned to Purdue in 2008 as an assistant professor in small-animal orthopedics and neurosurgery.

Dr. Ko completed a neurology residency at Colorado State University and Wheat Ridge Animal Hospital in Denver, achieving board-certification in neurology in 2014.

This formidable accomplishment distinguishes Dr. Ko as one of only seven individuals worldwide with double-boarded certification in veterinary surgery and neurology/neurosurgery. His expertise, thoroughness and strong bond with his patients and clients have earned him numerous teaching and clinical awards, including CVTA’s “Colorado Veterinarian of the Year” in 2012.

Dr. Ko’s clinical interests include neurosurgical oncology (brain and spinal cord tumors, vertebral replacement), vertebral implantology, congenital spinal deformities, and electrodiagnostics.

In his spare time, Dr. Ko enjoys rock climbing, hiking, and the company of his three dogs, Rowdy, Hope and Cricket.

Rainier Ko, DVM, MS Diplomate ACVS – SA, Diplomate ACVIM (Neurology)

Brandy Cichocki, DVM, MS, Diplomate ACVS – SA

Originally from Indiana, Dr. Brandy Cichocki obtained her veterinary degree from Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine. After graduation, she completed a rotating internship and then a small animal surgery residency at Oklahoma State University. Following residency, she obtained a position as an assistant professor at Purdue University and focused solely on small animal soft tissue surgery. She has a passion for soft tissue surgery and enjoys the diversity of the case load. Dr. Cichocki has experience with oncologic, thoracic, abdominal, gastrointestinal, urogenital, and minimally invasive surgery.

In her free time, she enjoys outdoor activities, reading, spending time with family and friends, and pampering her two cats (Finn and Avery). She is excited to be a part of the team at Powers Pet Emergency and Specialty and get to know southern Colorado.

Brandy Cichocki, DVM, MS Diplomate ACVS – SA

Edmund Leigh, DVM, Diplomate ACVR (Radiology)

Dr. Leigh began his career as a geologist working on civil engineering projects in Vermont and Colorado, eventually making his way to Alaska exploring for gold. After several years, he returned to school to pursue his childhood dream of becoming a veterinarian, earning his DVM with honors from Colorado State University in 2001, then completing a one year internship in small-animal medicine and surgery at the Animal Medical Center in New York City.

Dr. Leigh returned to Colorado and practiced small-animal medicine in the Denver area for two years before being accepted into the radiology residency program at North Carolina State University. After completing his residency training, he became board certified by the American College of Veterinary Radiology in 2007.

Dr. Leigh worked as a veterinary radiologist in Raleigh, North Carolina, before moving back to Colorado in 2008. His professional interests include small-animal abdominal and musculoskeletal ultrasonography, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain and spine.

Dr. Leigh lives in Palmer Lake with his wife and son. He also shares his home with a Labrador retriever, a border collie mix, and a geriatric cat. When not working, he enjoys time with his family, mountain biking, skiing and hiking.

Edmund Leigh, DVM Diplomate ACVR (Radiology)

Karen Sanderson, DVM, Diplomate ACVIM (Cardiology)

Dr. Sanderson received her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Colorado State University in 1999 followed by an internship in small animal medicine and surgery at the Atlantic Veterinary College on Prince Edward Island in Canada. She went on to pursue residency training in cardiology at the University of California at Davis and became a board certified cardiologist in 2003.

Dr. Sanderson’s special interests are the management of congestive heart failure in both dogs and cats, pulmonary hypertension (its etiology and treatment), and congenital heart disease. She works closely with her specialist colleagues and primary care veterinarians and is committed to providing compassionate, comprehensive, coordinated care to all of her patients.

Dr. Sanderson lives in Boulder with her husband, two children, two cats, and dog. She enjoys trail running, hiking, nordic and telemark skiing, and playing with her family outdoors.

Karen Sanderson, DVM Diplomate ACVIM (Cardiology)

Dani Waite, DVM, CCRT, CVA (Canine Rehabilitation, Acupuncture)

Dr. Waite received her undergraduate degree from the University of Wyoming and went on to earn her DVM degree from Colorado State University in 2011. She spent two years in small-animal general practice in Colorado Springs before transitioning to physical therapy/rehabilitation work, earning certification in canine rehabilitation and in veterinary medical acupuncture in 2016—the same year she joined the Powers team. Dr. Waite is passionate about neurologic and orthopedic rehabilitation and pain management.

In her free time, she enjoys skiing, hiking, and spending time with her husband and son. She has two fur children, a cat named Milo and an Irish wolfhound named Poppy.

Dani Waite, DVM CCRT, CVA (Canine Rehabilitation, Acupuncture)

Emergency and Critical Care Team

Arielle Aylor, DVM

Dr. Aylor is a native of Colorado, born and raised in Colorado Springs. She completed her undergraduate and graduate studies at Colorado State University, and attended veterinary school at the University of Edinburgh where she graduated with distinction in 2017, joining the Powers practice later that year. Dr. Aylor’s clinical interests include emergency medicine, internal medicine and cardiology. When not working, she enjoys hiking, travel, cooking, and watching movies with her cat, Frodo.

Arielle Aylor, DVM Emergency

Danika Chambers, DVM

Dr. Chambers earned her veterinary degree from Colorado State University before practicing emergency medicine in Indiana. She joined the Powers team in 2017, and enjoys being back in Colorado, near family and the mountains. Her clinical interests within emergency medicine include toxicology and trauma management. Outside of work, Dr. Chambers spends time with her two Labradors, Morpheus and Elliot, and two cats, Talos and Abilone. She loves hiking in the mountains with her dogs and reading books with her cats on the couch.

Danika Chambers, DVM Emergency

Carin Cordelli, DVM

Dr. Cordelli attended veterinary school in Scotland and graduated from the University of Edinburgh in 2011. She completed a small-animal internship at Carolina Veterinary Specialists in North Carolina after veterinary school, and has been practicing emergency medicine since then, first at a specialty and emergency hospital in Pennsylvania, then joining Powers in 2015. Her professional interests include internal medicine, wound management and toxicology. Dr. Cordelli is a pet parent to a dog named Aiden and a horse named Bailey. Her hobbies include hiking, skiing, horseback riding and spending time with all her animals.

Carin Cordelli, DVM Emergency

Dr. Amy Estrada, DVM

Originally from Columbus, OH, Dr. Estrada moved to Colorado in 1994 to attend college and graduated with a BS in Environmental, Population and Organismic Biology from the University of Colorado. She then pursued her veterinary degree from Colorado State University and graduated in 1998. Dr. Estrada has worked in primary care and as a veterinary technician instructor at PIMA Medical Institute. Her true love is emergency medicine where she has nearly two decades of experience. She enjoys the diagnostic challenge of emergency cases and the management of patients in intensive care (ICU).

Outside of the hospital Dr. Estrada enjoys time with her husband, four children, two dogs, and two lizards. Her hobbies are hiking, ski and reading.

Amy Estrada, DVM Emergency

Dana Goddard, DVM

Dr. Goddard earned her undergraduate degree at Colorado State University in 2012, and her DVM from Michigan State University in 2016, joining the Powers team that same year. She grew up in a military family and moved to Colorado Springs in 2000, living here until veterinary school then deciding to “come home” to practice medicine. She has a senior yellow Labrador named Pippin and, outside of work, she enjoys playing sports like lacrosse, basketball and softball, watching medical television shows, and visiting breweries with friends.

Dana Goddard, DVM Emergency

Julie Hesse, DVM

A Colorado native, Dr. Hesse received her undergraduate degree at CU Boulder, then completed her veterinary education with honors at CSU in 1997. She spent the next six years working as a small animal general practitioner in Denver and Durango. During this time, she developed an interest in emergency medicine and spent the next nine years as an emergency veterinarian in Castle Rock. She joined Powers in 2013. Outside of work, Dr. Hesse can be found riding, training and spoiling her much-loved dressage horses, and spending time with her dog Lilly.

Julie Hesse, DVM Emergency

Christopher Korte, DVM

Dr. Korte joined our team in the spring of 2015. He earned his degree in veterinary medicine at the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1998. After graduation he began working in a mixed animal practice north of Kansas City, MO. A strong interest in equine medicine then took him to Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, and Kentucky for few years. A desire to be closer to family guided him to Colorado in 2012. Dr Korte has a special interest in surgery and trauma medicine. Outside work you can find him spending time playing and helping to coach hockey with kids. He also enjoys horseback riding, skiing, hiking, playing multiple sports and spending time with his wife and four kids.

Christopher Korte, DVM Emergency

Marek Mrzglocki, DVM

Bio Coming Soon.

Marek Mrzyglocki, DVM Emergency

Jennifer Price, DVM, Emergency Department Coordinator

Dr. Price completed her veterinary education at Colorado State University in 2009 after earning her undergraduate degree from LSU in Baton Rouge and working as a chemistry research scientist for six years in Boulder. After veterinary school, she spent a year each in New York and Texas working as a general practitioner. During that time, she developed a passion for emergency medicine, returning “home” to Colorado and joining the Powers practice in 2011. Within veterinary emergency medicine, Dr. Price’s clinical interests include cardiology and general resuscitation.

Jennifer Price, DVM Emergency Department Coordinator

Kim Tedeschi, DVM

Dr. Tedeschi received her undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia and went on to earn her DVM degree from the Virginia Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine in 2013. She completed a one-year small-animal internship at Iowa State University, then completed a one-year small-animal neurology internship at VCA Animal Specialty Center in Columbia, South Carolina. She spent a year practicing emergency medicine in Charlotte, North Carolina before moving to Colorado Springs and joining the Powers team in 2016. In her free time, Dr. Tedeschi enjoys running, hiking and mountain biking with her three dogs Schuyler, Kiki and Cleetus. She also has a cat named Django.

Kim Tedeschi, DVM Emergency

Lindsey Verlander, DVM

Dr. Verlander grew up in Lawrenceville, Georgia. She received her bachelor’s degree from Wofford College in Spartanburg, South Carolina, with a double major in biology and religion, while playing intercollegiate soccer and running track. She earned her DVM from the University of Georgia, and has been working in emergency medicine since 2013. While in veterinary school, she performed research which was published in 2015 in the Journal of American Veterinary Medical Association. Dr. Verlander’s clinical interests include emergency and critical care, soft-tissue surgery, exotics, and research. She lives in Colorado Springs with her dog Levi and bearded dragon Ridley. In her spare time, she enjoys climbing, hiking, backpacking, paddle boarding, ultra-distance/long-distance running and Ragnar Relays.