Legal investigations involving veterinary care provided to family pets often requires expert evaluation of the received medical care. Like the practice of human medicine, veterinarians are also…
McGee Leonard, DVM, DACVECC Veterinary Expert
Dr. McGee Leonard is a board-certified specialist in veterinary emergency and critical care medicine with a decade of professional experience in veterinary science and practice. Dr. Leonard applies her expertise to plaintiff and defense investigations involving animal bites, abuse and neglect, veterinary malpractice, the veterinary prescription of opioids, and other disputes involving animals.
Dr. Leonard has worked in emergency and critical care medicine since the beginning of her career. Working in a high volume, fast paced environment has given her exposure to trauma cases and the critical phases of chronic illnesses (cancer, end stage heart failure, etc.). Her specialization as a small animal general practitioner requires proficiency for a variety of animals in many areas of veterinary medicine, including internal medicine, nutrition, anesthesia, surgery, and dentistry.
An innate part of animal medicine is an understanding of animal behavior, as well as proper handling and restraint. She has experience performing behavioral assessments on cats and dogs and has trained veterinary clinic technicians and emergency staff members on the basics of animal behavior, handling, and the safe application of physical restraints.
Dr. Leonard earned her Bachelor of Science in Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics from the University of California, Los Angeles. She earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) from the Western University of Health Sciences. Dr. Leonard is licensed to practice veterinary medicine in California, holds her DEA Prescribing License up to and including Schedule II drugs, and is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Emergency & Critical Care (DACVECC).
Professional Experience
Robson Forensic, Inc.
Associate
2022 to PresentProvide technical investigations, analysis, reports, and testimony related to commercial and personal injury litigation involving all areas of veterinary science and practice including, but not limited to the following: emergency and critical care medicine, administration of veterinary specialty hospitals, animal abuse and neglect issues, injuries inflicted by dogs or cats, prescription and non-prescription drug administration and use in animals, infectious diseases, small animal behavior, safety protocols for veterinary staff and animal restraint, failure analysis of small animal medicine and surgery. Areas of expertise include:
Emergency and Critical Care Medicine: Extensive experience in emergency case receiving and long-term management of critically ill patients, stabilization and post-operative care of surgical emergencies, design and implementation of triage protocols, collaboration with specialists in a multidisciplinary specialty setting, emergency medical and catastrophic trauma assessment and management of multiple body organ systems (e. g., cardiopulmonary, neurologic, gastrointestinal, nephrology/urology, musculoskeletal, and endocrine).
Anesthesia and Pain Management: Special interest in general anesthesia protocols and anesthetic patient monitoring, critical care pain management (analgesia) including acute and chronic pain, hospice care, and humane euthanasia.
Behavior and Training: Assessing and addressing normal and abnormal behaviors in cats and dogs, safe and compassionate physical restraint, chemical restraint, group housing dynamics, and staff safety.
Abuse and Neglect: Evaluation of abuse or neglect associated with injury (intentional or unintentional), training procedures, failure to provide medical care, irresponsible breeding for sale, confinement, and nutrition issues.
Infectious Disease: Surveillance and tracking infectious disease outbreaks among companion animals, reporting infectious disease data to local public health authorities, designation, and implementation of isolation protocols in clinic or shelter settings, and prevention of zoonotic disease transmission.
Professional Communications: Assessing and evaluating Veterinary-Client-Patient relationships (VCPR), including those within the referring veterinary community regarding collaborative patient care and client education, medical record keeping, and controlled substance documentation.
TrueCare for Pets
Director of Emergency Services
Senior Emergency & Critical Care Clinician
- Primary management of patients hospitalized by the Emergency Service
- Consulting with other specialists and referral veterinarians
- Training for both emergency clinicians and technical staff
Veterinary Specialty & Emergency Center
Director of Emergency Services
Senior Emergency & Critical Care Clinician
- Receiving and managing all daytime and overnight emergency hospitalized patients within the Emergency Service
- Consulting with other specialists and referral veterinarians
- Training emergency clinicians and technical staff
- Scheduling and interviewing emergency clinician applicants for relevant positions
- Providing continuing education lectures to the local community of referring veterinarians
Western University of Health Sciences
Clinical Assistant Professor of Veterinary Medicine (Affiliate)
2015 to 2017- Supervising and mentoring third- and fourth-year veterinary students during 2-to-4-week emergency medicine rotations at VCA Animal Specialty & Emergency Center (ASEC)
- Mentoring and preparing fourth-year veterinary students for national board exams (NAVLE)
- Assisting fourth-year veterinary students with applications for internship positions
VCA Animal Specialty & Emergency Center
2009 to 2017Emergency Director 2015-2017
- Reviewing applications and interviewing candidates for the hospital’s internship program
- Liaison to hospital medical director and corporate management regarding the status and needs of the Emergency Service
- Management of critically ill patients in the Emergency Service
- Consulting with other specialists in the hospital and with referral veterinarians regarding patient care
Emergency Clinician 2014-2017
- Receiving and managing all daytime and overnight emergency hospitalized patients within the Emergency Service
- Providing continuing education lectures to the local community of referring veterinarians
- Mentoring and teaching third- and fourth-year veterinary students
Emergency and Critical Care Resident 2010-2013
- Receiving and managing all daytime and overnight emergency hospitalized patients within the Emergency Service
- Providing continuing education lectures to the local community of referring veterinarians
Rotating Intern 2009-2010
- Primary emergency receiving responsibilities on daytime and overnight shifts
- Clinical assistance with patient care, client communication, and record keeping, working with specialists in Internal Medicine, Surgery, Cardiology, and Radiology
Professional Credentials
- Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM)
- License to Practice Veterinary Medicine: California
- National USDA Accreditation, Category II (All species)
- Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) Prescribing License: Up to and including schedule II drugs
- Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Emergency & Critical Care (DACVECC)
Education
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Western University of Health Sciences
B.S., Microbiology, Immunology, Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles
Continuing Education
- International Association for Animal Hospice & Palliative Care Conference, 2021
- Global FAST Point of Care Ultrasound Training, 2019
- International Veterinary Emergency & Critical Care Symposium, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2022
- Society of Critical Care Medicine Critical Care Congress, 2011, 2013
Lectures
- “Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation,” Veterinary Specialty & Emergency Center Continuing Education Continuing Education Series, 2018
- “Fluid Therapy,” Animal Specialty & Emergency Center Continuing Education Series, 2017
- “Management of Hypotension,” Animal Specialty & Emergency Center Continuing Education Series, 2017
- “Transfusion Medicine,” Animal Specialty & Emergency Center Continuing Education Series, 2012
- “Venomous Animals in Southern California,” Animal Specialty & Emergency Center Continuing Education Series
Professional Memberships
- American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care, 2016-present
- Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society, 2011 to present
- International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management, 2021 - present
- American Veterinary Medical Association, 2009-present
Publications
Leonard M, Bresee C, Cruikshank A. “Effects of the canine rattlesnake vaccine in moderate to severe cases of canine crotalid envenomation” Veterinary Medicine: Research and Reports, 2014(5): 153-158.
Leonard M. “Rattlesnake Envenomation” SCVMA Pulse Magazine, September 2012.
v. 09/8/22
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