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Veterinarians
 Dr. Keith Merritt is a distinguished veterinarian with more than 20 years of equine specialization. Dr. Merritt received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) from Mississippi State University in 1985 and established Merritt & Associates in 1990. Since establishing his practice, Dr. Merritt has concentrated on Equine Sports Medicine and is sought out for his experience and expertise, particularly for his ability to diagnose and treat difficult lameness issues. Dr. Merritt leverages the latest technology by using sophisticated diagnostic imaging techniques, including Nuclear Scintigraphy. He is an expert at reading scintigraphy images as well as images from Radiography and Ultrasonography. Dr. Merritt is also a leader in developing new diagnostic techniques and treatment regimens for musculoskeletal and neuromuscular disorders, participating in clinical trials and advanced training programs on new technology and protocols. Importantly, Dr. Merritt integrates his knowledge and passion with all practice members and provides critical oversight, diagnostic consulting and training to all Merritt & Associate veterinarians. Dr. Merritt is a member of the International Society of Equine Locomotive Pathology (ISELP) and will matriculate as a diplomat of ISELP. Dr. Merritt is an FEI veterinarian as well as the team veterinarian for Area IV Young Riders. Dr. Merritt has the compassion and persistence to diagnose any Equine Sport Medicine injury or disease. He believes preventative medicine is the best way to keep horses sound and helps trainers and owners from all disciplines, design health maintenance programs to keep their horses on the road to success.
 Dr. Stephen Seabaugh worked as the Senior Commission Veterinarian for the Illinois Racing Board for 20 years, examining up to 100 horses per day for soundness and fitness to race, before joining Merritt & Associates.
Prior to working for the state he worked with standardbreds for 15 years. Dr. Seabaugh has extensive experience in treating and diagnosing lameness and through his many years as a regulatory veterinarian, is very familiar with drug withdrawal times.
 Katie Chiles, DVM graduated from Texas A & M College of Veterinary Medicine in May 2006. She began a one year Internship at Merritt & Associates in June of 2006 and in 2007 joined the practice as an associate. Dr. Chiles areas of interest are sports medicine, and reproduction. Eventually she would like to pursue a residency in equine surgery. She enjoys working with horses of all disciplines. Dr. Chiles is an accomplished horse person with extensive experience as a hunter-jumper.
 Dana Marsh, DVM graduated from the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine in May, 2006 with high honors. Upon graduation, she pursued a one year Internship at Merritt & Associates and joined the practice as an Associate in 2007. Her areas of special interest are sports medicine and internal medicine. Dr. Marsh hopes to pursue a residency in sports medicine and rehabilitation. She has trained both hunter/jumpers and dressage horses.
Interns
 Dr. Beth Buechler, DVM is a May 2008 graduate of the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine. Her areas of interest include sports medicine and surgery. Since she was a child, Dr. Buechler has been involved with showing horses. As an undergraduate, she worked with a therapeutic riding center in North Carolina, assisting disabled children learn to ride and during veterinary school, Dr. Buechler worked at Canterbury Racetrack as a test barn technician assisting the State Veterinarian.
 Dr. Beth Hirsch, DVM, graduated from The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine in June 2008 after completion of a Bachelor of Science in Equine Science from Otterbein College in 2003. Dr. Hirsch has received a scholarship for further education at the Chi Institute, where she will be participating in the basic equine acupuncture course this year. She holds a strong interest in diagnostic lameness and performance horse care. Additional interests for future study include acupuncture, dermatology, ophthalmology, and reproduction. Dr Hirsch grew up surrounded by horses, participating in 4-H, FFA, High School Equestrian Team, and showing on the Oregon Pinto Circuit in high school. She enjoys a variety of disciplines including riding, training and driving, and has pursued some Natural Horsemanship training as well.
Consultants
Joseph Foerner, DVM, DACVS is a graduate of the University of Illinois (B. S. 1963, DVM 1965) and the University of Pennsylvania, where he served his internship in equine surgery. Dr. Foerner was one of the nation's first veterinarians to use arthroscopic surgery in equine practice.
He is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons and has served as President, Chairman of the Board and Regent of that Association. He holds memberships in the AVMA and AAEP, as well as the Illinois State VMA where he has served on several committees to share his expertise at over seventy national and international conferences and seminars and has been published numerous times in various journals on equine and wildlife medicine. Dr. Foerner serves as a consultant to the Brookfield and Lincoln Park Zoos , the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, and the Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Circus in Washington, D.C. He is an internationally recognized authority on equine arthroscopic surgery and has coauthored several books on this topic.
William C. (Bill) Stone, DVM, DACVS graduated from veterinary school at Texas A&M in 1983. He completed an internship at the University of Tennessee in 1984 and returned to Texas where he worked at the Katy Equine Clinic until 1987.
In 1987 he entered a Surgical Residency at University of Wisconsin, which he completed in 1990, a Master’s Degree in 1992, and was certified by the American College of Veterinary Surgeons in 1994. He remained with the University of Wisconsin until 1998, at which time he formed the Equine Veterinary Associates in Wisconsin. He was the principle in a referral equine surgery and lameness practice designing and operating a referral facility which is soon to become a satellite hospital for a non-profit group in support of the Veterinary Medical Teaching Program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
He maintains his practice in Wisconsin and Illinois, and travels to Texas biweekly for surgery and lameness consultation.
Dr. Stone enjoys the collaborative relationship with Merritt & Associates Equine Hospital. The development of the working relationship for these two groups has been very productive. He and his specialized support staff are available to help you with your elective surgical needs.
 Scott McClure, DVM, DACVS received his veterinary degree from Iowa State University in 1990. He then completed an internship and surgery residency at Texas A&M. Dr. McClure became certified by the American College of Veterinary Surgeons in 1995 and received his PhD from Texas A&M in 1996. Dr. McClure was in private practice in Oklahoma and on faculty at Purdue University before returning to Iowa State University. He is currently an Assistant Professor in Veterinary Clinical Sciences doing equine surgery and lameness.
Stephen M. Reed, DVM, Diplomate ACVIM-LA is a 1971 graduate of the College of Agriculture and a 1976 graduate of the College of Veterinary Medicine at The Ohio State University. He moved to Michigan State University where he performed an Internship and Residency in Equine Medicine and Surgery. Dr. Reed has Board Certification in Large Animal Internal Medicine.
Dr. Reed's clinical and research interests have focused on equine neurological diseases, in particular Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis (EPM) and Cervical Vertebral Stenotic Myelopathy (CVM). Dr. Reed has been involved in work on the role of diet in development of CVM as well as continued study of surgical management of CVM.
Most recently, along with Dr. William JA Saville, Dr. Reed's research has helped elucidate the life cycle of S. neurona as well as make a model to reproduce this disease in horses. In 2003 he was awarded the Schering Plough Animal Health World Equine Veterinary Medical Association award for applied clinical research for his work investigating neurological diseases of horses.
Dr. Reed began his teaching career at Washington State University in 1979 and returned to Ohio State, his alma mater, in 1983 where he became a Professor and Head of Equine Medicine and Surgery. He is currently on staff at Rood & Riddle in Kentucky.
 Veterinary Technicians and Support Staff
In addition to the veterinarians, a talented and dedicated staff supports Merritt & Associates.The Veterinary Technicians are extremely knowledgeable and are critical to the day-to-day functioning of the hospital. The office and support staff are very friendly and customer-focused. It is this high level of professionalism and dedication that enables Merritt & Associates to set the trend in comprehensive equine health care.
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