Our Team

  • Dr. Chris Konvalinka

    Dr. Chris Konvalinka received his B.S. in Biology from Guilford College and his DVM from North Carolina State University's College of Veterinary Medicine in 1992.

    The first 12 years of his career were practicing Emergency Medicine and Surgery in Durham, NC, culminating with one year back at NCSU as the first Director of the Small Animal Emergency Service.

    In 2004, Chris left the field of emergency veterinary work and opted for the more 'regular' hours at Bahama Road Veterinary Hospital!

    He, his wife, and their twins live on ten acres in Bahama with a variety of pets. They love traveling, being active, and enjoying some of the great local restaurants our area has to offer.

  • Dr. Chris York

    Dr. Chris York graduated from NCSU College of Veterinary Medicine in 1996. He completed his undergrad at UNC-Chapel Hill.

    Dr. Chris York has been with BRVH since 1996. He enjoys small animal medicine and surgery and is particulary fond of playing a part in the bond between people and their pets.

    He is passionate about college basketball and outdoor activities, but most of all spending quality time with his two daughters. 

  • Dr. Rachel Cocchiaro

    Dr. Rachel Cocchiaro

    Dr. Rachel Cocchiaro is a 2010 graduate of North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine. She received her bachelor's degree in animal science from North Carolina State University in 2006.

    Since graduating from veterinary school, Dr. Cocchiaro has lived and worked in Davis, California, Charleston, South Carolina and Austin, Texas. She enjoyed living in different places around the country, but is happy to be back home in North Carolina. Dr. Cocchiaro grew up in Durham and now lives with her family in Hillsborough. She enjoys running, working on her small hobby farm, visiting the numerous Carolina beaches, and spending time with her twins.

    Dr. Cocchiaro has a special interest in dermatology, dentistry and internal medicine. She joined the Bahama Road Veterinary Hospital team in 2016.

  • Dr. Heidi Perreault

    Dr. Heidi Perreault is a 2007 graduate of North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine.

    Dr. Heidi Perreault chose to become a veterinarian so she could work with animals and the people who love them. She enjoys all aspects of her job with particular interests in surgery, dentistry, endocrinology and senior patient care. Dr. Perreault is a local North Carolinian and she received her Bachelor of Science degree from NC State University, as well as her DVM. In addition to her schooling, she completed an internship in Small Animal Emergency Medicine and Surgery at Michigan Veterinary Specialists. She is a Barry Goldwater Scholar.
    Dr. Perreault enjoys spending time with her family on their farm, endurance horse riding, hiking, camping and reading a good book. They have seven dogs (all rescues), three Orange Tabby cats, six Arabian horses, 300+ chickens, bees and other farm animals. Dr. Perreault joined our team in 2017.

  • Dr. Max Jones

    Dr. Max Jones earned his doctorate from The University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine in 2010 after obtaining his undergraduate education at The University of North Carolina - Asheville.

    After graduation, he completed an internship at North Carolina State College of Veterinary Medicine. Before joining our practice, Dr. Jones worked in both emergency and general practice settings in Western North Carolina and East Tennessee.

    The mountains will always have a special place in his heart, but Dr. Jones is a Durham native, and decided to come back to the piedmont after starting a family. He lives with his wife, two young sons, and a faithful Golden Retriever here in North Durham.

    Dr. Jones loves the variety of cases that we see, but has a special interest in emergency medicine, diagnostic imaging, wound management, and neurology. He joined Bahama Road Veterinary Hospital in 2019.

  • Dr. Makenna Cash

    Dr. Cash joined our team in September 2022. Dr. Cash graduated from NCSU College of Veterinary Medicine in 2012. 

    After graduation, she moved to Ohio to complete a rotating internship, where she fell in love with Emergency Medicine. She followed this with an Internal Medicine internship, honing her skills with ultrasound and endoscopy. After enduring two Ohio winters, Dr. Cash returned to NC to enjoy a warmer climate and be closer to her family.

    Dr. Cash lives in Durham with her husband Will. They have two daughters and a few fur babies as well. The family loves spending time hiking, camping, and climbing together. They also own a small business converting cargo vans into gorgeous tiny homes.

  • Dr. Read Tull

    We are excited to announce that Dr. Read Tull will be joining our team on 1/2/2024! We know he will be a great addition to the BRVH family and can’t wait for you to meet him. Dr. Tull earned his veterinary degree from NC State in 2012, after also completing his undergraduate studies in biological science at NC State.  

    After graduation from veterinary school, Dr. Tull completed a small animal internship and worked as an emergency veterinarian in his hometown of Charlotte. He then returned to the triangle area where he practiced in Raleigh for several years. Dr. Tull’s special interests include surgery and helping develop the human-animal bond between people and their pets.

    Dr. Tull lives in Raleigh with his wife, their cat, and their German Shepherd. When he is not caring for his patients, he loves spending time cycling, cooking, and working in his garage to restore classic and race cars.

  • Dr. Amanda Jeffries

    Our newest team member and Urgent Care Medical Director, Dr. Amanda Jeffries, will oversee Urgent Care on the weekends and offer routine appointments each Wednesday. Dr. Jeffries is a native of Raleigh, NC. In 2010, she received her Bachelor of Science in Animal Medicine and a Minor in Military Science from North Carolina State University, where she completed the Reserve Officer Training Program (ROTC). Dr. Jeffries went on to earn her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from the NCSU College of Veterinary Medicine in 2014.

    Following graduation, Dr. Jeffries entered active-duty service in the U.S. Army and served globally from 2014 to 2022. In addition to her role as a U.S. Army Veterinary Corps Officer, Dr. Jeffries also worked as a relief emergency veterinarian in Delaware and South Carolina. Upon returning home to Raleigh, Dr. Jeffries was a relief veterinarian throughout the Triangle, including Bahama Road Veterinary Hospital. She spent a year in exclusive emergency veterinary medicine before returning to Bahama Road Veterinary Hospital to serve as the Medical Director of our Urgent Care Service.

    When not working, Dr. Jeffries enjoys spending time with her daughter, 2dogs, family, and friends she considers family. We know you will love her as much as we do, and we are happy to have her back home at BRVH.

  • Dr. Laura Ellsaesser

    We are excited to welcome Dr. Laura Ellsaesser to the BVRH family! She has been working with us for about 1.5 years as a relief veterinarian and enjoyed it so much she decided to join the team. Dr. Ellsaesser is from Charlotte, NC, completed her undergraduate studies at Auburn University (War Eagle!) before coming home to North Carolina for veterinary school.

    After graduation, Dr. Ellsaesser completed a small animal internship at Texas A&M. She then moved to southeast Virginia, where she practiced as an emergency and general practice veterinarian for several years before returning to the triangle area. Dr. Ellsaesser’s special interests include feline medicine, mobility and pain management, and care for geriatric pets.

    Dr. Ellsaesser lives in Durham with her 2 senior cats. When she is not caring for her patients, she loves spending time outside, hiking or near the water, reading and going to live music or theater performances.