Meet Our Team
Meet the veterinarians and team at Tuder Veterinary Group.
Get To Know Our Team
We’re pleased to provide exceptional vet care for your pets! We look forward to getting to know you, and we hope you’ll take the time to scroll down and get to know us.
Dr. Michael Tuder
Founder/Veterinarian Emeritus
Dr. Michael Tuder was born and raised in Jersey City, and after becoming a veterinarian he returned to the area to begin practicing. A warm and caring veterinarian, Dr. Tuder has been practicing in Hudson County since 1982. He is always interested in advances in veterinary medicine; he trained and became a Fellow of Veterinary Laser Surgery. Dr. Tuder is an honorary Professor of Surgery at PHU National University, School of Veterinary Medicine in the Dominican Republic. He introduced the use of Laser surgery to the veterinary community there. Dr. Tuder is also accredited by the US Department of Agriculture for International Animal Transport and is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), and the NJ Veterinary Medical Association (NJVMA).
Dr. Tuder is married with two grown children and a grandson. In his retirement, he is enjoying the extra time to play golf, travel, and of course spend time with his family and moyen poodle, Winnie.
Dr. Alanna Chesney-Manz, CVA
Medical Director
Dr. Chesney graduated summa cum laude from The College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia and attended veterinary school at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. She completed her acupuncture training at the Chi Institute at the University of Florida and is a certified veterinary acupuncturist. She enjoys the integrative medicine approach and is always interested in talking about acupuncture or other integrative care. Dr. Chesney is also accredited by the US Department of Agriculture for international animal export.
Dr. Chesney lives with her husband Kevin, her sons Teddy and Henry, and her little rescue schnoodle Ewok in downtown Manhattan. Her “free” time is dedicated to her kids but she also teaches a class at the American Museum of Natural History and occasionally guest-speaks at various camps and schools. She loves working with children as much as she loves working with your pets. She is approachable by phone or email and employs a step-by-step approach to complicated cases.
Contact Dr. Chesney:
drchesney@michaeltuderdvm.com
Dr. Lisa Capelli-Truppner
Dr. Capelli-Truppner is a graduate of Montclair State University and Michigan State University, where she earned her DVM degree in 1997. She has been practicing with us since her graduation in 1997 and she specializes in small animal medicine. Dr. Capelli-Truppner is also accredited by the US Department of Agriculture for International Animal Transport.
She was born and raised in Hoboken, has an extensive family still living in town and is married to her wonderful husband, Bobby. Her hobbies include watersports, boating, and tennis. She also loves traveling and going to the beach. She has 4 cats named Baxter, Sammy, Jenny, and Miss Presley.
Dr. Janirka S. R. Ponce
Dr. Ponce is an Associate Veterinarian with Dr. Michael Tuder and Associates and has been a part of the team since 2001. She earned her DVM from Kansas State University with a specialty in small animal medicine. Dr. Ponce is also accredited by the US Department of Agriculture for International Animal Transport.
She is enthusiastic about traveling and reading (both for leisure and for her profession), and she enjoys great food. Dr. Ponce cherishes her parents and her husband, and she loves all animals. She is always thinking about her beloved late partner-in-crime, Dali.
Contact Dr. Ponce:
drponce@michaeltuderdvm.com
Dr. Ken Heilpern
Dr. Heilpern is originally from New City, NY. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science from Cornell University in 1997 and his Veterinariae Medicinae Doctoris (Latin for Doctor of Veterinary Medicine) from the University of Pennsylvania in 2001. Dr. Heilpern is also accredited by the US Department of Agriculture for International Animal Transport.
He is happily married to his wonderful wife Alyse and they have 4 children: daughters Charlotte and Jasmine, a dog named Mushie, and a cat named Amelia. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his family, surfing the internet, and playing poker.
Contact Dr. Heilpern:
drheilpern@michaeltuderdvm.com
Dr. Kate Norby
Dr. Norby received her BS in Biology from Washington and Lee University in Lexington, VA and her DVM from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine in beautiful St. Kitts, West Indies. She completed her veterinary clinical year at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Although Dr. Norby has lived all over, she was raised in Pt. Pleasant, NJ and is thrilled to be so close to family and friends once again. In her free time, she enjoys catching up with family and friends, hanging out with her rescued island cat “Stuart,” and fixing up her “new” turn-of-the-century apartment in Jersey City Heights.
Contact Dr. Norby:
drnorby@michaeltuderdvm.com
Dr. Jamie Schwartz
Dr. Schwartz received her B.S. in Biology from Bucknell University in Lewisburg, PA and her DVM from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana. She grew up in central NJ and has since moved to Hudson County to be closer to her friends, family, and the city. Dr. Schwartz joined the practice in the summer of 2012.
Dr. Schwartz loves cooking, running, and the Yankees. She also loves spending time with her two “boys,” a chubby cat named Tubby and a very handsome Pitbull mix named Jimmy.
Contact Dr. Schwartz:
drschwartz@michaeltuderdvm.com
Dr. Christopher Snarski
Dr. Snarski was born and raised in Jersey City, NJ. He received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine in St. Kitts, West Indies. He completed his veterinary clinical year at the University Of Florida School Of Veterinary Medicine and a rotating surgical and medical internship at Garden State Veterinary Specialists.
Dr. Snarski has been with the practice for over five years. His interests are in emergency medicine and advanced surgical procedures such as soft tissue surgeries and orthopedics.
In his spare time, Dr. Snarski enjoys being outdoors with his Island Retrievers, Rocky and Ollie.
Contact Dr. Snarski:
drsnarski@michaeltuderdvm.com
Dr. Victor Rendano Jr.
VMD, MS, DACVR, DACVR (RO)
Board-certified in Radiology and Radiation Oncology
Dr. Rendano graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University Of Pennsylvania School Of Veterinary Medicine and received his Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine in 1972. He continued his studies and after finishing a rigorous training program, he was inducted as a Diplomate into the American College of Veterinary Radiology and received his board certification in 1975.
Dr. Rendano worked at Cornell as an Associate Professor and Senior Radiology Clinician for 20 years. In 1996, Dr. Rendano retired from his position at Cornell Veterinary School in order to study radiation oncology and pursue a career in private practice. Dr. Rendano was awarded board certification in Veterinary Radiation Oncology in 2001. He has published over 100 papers and has lectured throughout the world. The New York State Veterinary Medical Society and the University of Pennsylvania Alumni Society have honored him for his outstanding career and his dedication to the veterinary profession. A firm believer in veterinary continuing education, Dr. Rendano has offered radiology film reading sessions, ultrasound lectures, and wet labs to primary care veterinarians.
Dr. Miriam Smith-Drelich
Dr. Drelich received her undergraduate degree from Wesleyan University in Middletown, Ct. and her veterinary degree from Cornell University in Ithaca, NY.
She grew up in Western Maryland surrounded by an assortment of pet cats, rats, sheep, and chickens and currently lives in NYC. Most of her extended family is from New Jersey so she is glad to be back in the area! In her spare time, she enjoys reading, writing, traveling, playing music, and exploring the great outdoors.
Contact Miriam:
DrSmith.Drelich@micaeltuderdvm.com
Dr. Dominic Scaffa
Dr. Scaffa received his B.S. in Pre-Veterinary Medicine and Animal Biosciences with an Honors Degree from the University of Delaware and his DVM degree from Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine in Massachusetts. Dr. Scaffa’s interests include preventative medicine and dermatology. He grew up in Manalapan, NJ, and has since moved back to NJ to be closer to his friends and family.
Dr. Scaffa’s favorite animals are otters and dogs. In his spare time, he enjoys outdoor activities, visiting breweries, and going to amusement parks (especially Disney World). He also loves spending time with his mixed-breed dog named Hunny.
Contact Dominic:
DrScaffa@michaeltuderdvm.com
Dr. Sharon Williams
Dr. Sharon Williams received her veterinary degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. She received her Bachelor of Science from Loyola University Maryland and went to high school at the Montclair Kimberley Academy.
Dr. Williams is a Jersey native having grown up in Ridgewood. She currently lives in Hoboken with her two dogs (Rory & Tony), her bearded dragon (Lou), and her human (Brian).
When she’s not working, Dr. Williams likes to spend as much time as possible outdoors. Her hobbies include running, skiing, rock climbing, cooking, traveling, spending time with friends & family, and speaking in a third-person narrative
Contact Dr. Williams:
drwilliams@michaeltuderdvm.com
Dr. Kira Scarangella
Dr. Scarangella is from Leonia, NJ. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology from Drew University and her DVM from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana. Dr. Scarangella joined our team in the summer of 2022. Her areas of special interest include surgery and emergency medicine.
After vet school, Dr. Scarangella moved back home to NJ to be closer to family and friends. She is so thrilled to be back in the area! Outside of work she enjoys being outdoors, exploring NYC, and exercising. She also loves spending time with her cat named Sammy, who is a gray tuxedo cat. He loves cuddles and treats!
Deborah Vayda
Practice Administrator
Debbie began working with Dr. Tuder 16 years ago as the Hospital Manager for our Hoboken location. She is now the Practice Administrator for the group and has over 30 years of experience caring for animals. Debbie is happily married for 10 years to her husband Bill. She has 3 children and 2 beautiful grandsons. She is also mom to Yoshi, a 14-year-old Chihuahua mix, and 3 cats, Macho, Isis, and Sheldon. During her leisure time, Debbie enjoys traveling, especially to the Hawaiian Islands. On her day off, however, you’ll find her spending time with and spoiling her grandsons.
Contact Debbie:
Debbie@michaeltuderdvm.com
Jacqueline Mazza
Administrative Assistant
Jacki has worked for the group since 2004. She started off in our Downtown Veterinary office until she was promoted in 2009 to the manager of Bayonne. In 2012, she was again promoted to Administrative Assistant.
In her leisure time, Jacki enjoys watching football (Go Cowboys!), comedy, and reality television, and spending as much time as she can with her two nephews, Jonathan and Timothy. She is also a bit of a health nut, spending the majority of her “free time” at the gym or researching about health. She has two fur babies: Mister Happy, a 12-year-old feline, and his brother, a 4-year-old Pit Bull named Valentine.
Contact Jacki:
jacqueline@michaeltuderdvm.com