Meet Our Team

Michael W. Parks, DVM

Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, 1984
Dr. Parks feels most at home in the operating room, where he can see the immediate results of his surgical work. He finds deep satisfaction in the relationships he builds with clients and their animals. When not caring for patients, he enjoys boating and spending time with his grandchildren. He and his wife Gina, share their home with two dogs, ZouZou and Ginger

Chris H. Runde, DVM

Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, 1985
Dr. Runde is focused on building relationships with his clients, both small animal and equine. He is delighted by the challenges and surprises that come with veterinary practice because every day is different. 

He likes to chase striped bass on the Potomac River in the summer and watch foxhounds work the woods and fields in the winter. Dr. Runde and his wife Karen reside at Briarpatch Farm with three horses, three donkeys, and two amazing dogs.

Charles L. Benedict, DVM

Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, 1994
A lifelong animal lover with a special interest in ophthalmology, Dr. Benedict treats dogs, cats, horses, and farm animals. Away from the hospital, he enjoys golfing, fishing, and football with his family and their pets: dogs Jigsy and Spencer, and cats Squishy, Gary, and Marcie.

Paul E. Repenning, DVM, MS

Colorado State University
A Southern Maryland native who grew up on Cremona Farm, Dr. Repenning was inspired by Tidewater's own veterinarians to pursue this career. His expertise includes beef systems management, equine lameness, and dentistry. He and his wife Emily are active in the local equestrian community, enjoying polocrosse and foxhunting.

Kristina Kravchenko, DVM

University of Tennessee, 2022
Dr. Kravchenko graduated from the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine in 2022. Dr. Kravchenko has always loved working with animals and enjoyed learning about medicine, so she decided to pursue a career in veterinary medicine where she could do both. Dr. Kravchenko enjoys seeing cats, dogs, and farm animals as patients. She has many interests including small animal internal medicine, canine physical rehabilitation, and small ruminant medicine and reproduction. In her free time, Dr. Kravchenko enjoys doing martial arts, going biking, hiking, woodturning, and occasionally going on walks with her cat, Vasya. Originally from Knoxville, Tennessee, Dr. Kravchenko is excited to see what Southern Maryland has to offer her!

Tammy Dorsch, DVM

Ross University/Purdue University
Joining us in 2022, Dr. Dorsch specializes in soft tissue surgery, internal medicine, and exotic pets. A Charlotte Hall resident, she brings both professional expertise and local perspective to her practice.

Jessica Gleeson, DVM

Virginia Tech, 2005; Western University, 2010
Dr. Jessica Gleeson joined Tidewater in March of 2023. She graduated from Virginia Tech in 2005 and received her DVM from Western University of Health Sciences in 2010. She is a member of the AVMA and VIN. Dr. Gleeson returned to the area in 2022 with her family after being stationed overseas in England and is thrilled to be a part of the Tidewater Veterinary Hospital team.

Dr. Gleeson enjoys all aspects of veterinary medicine but has special interest in preventative medicine, dermatology and soft tissue surgery.  Her goal as a veterinarian is to treat each patient with the same compassion and care as she would her own pets.

Along with her husband, Kevin, and three beautiful children, Dr. Gleeson enjoys all things outdoors, including camping, hiking, running, swimming and riding her horse Beau that also made the journey home from England.  

Aswini Cherukuri, DVM

North Carolina State University, 2024
Dr. Aswini Cherukuri joined the Tidewater Veterinary Hospital team after receiving her veterinary medicine degree from North Carolina State University in 2024. Dr. Cherukuri is excited to work with a variety of species and all of their unique needs, and she has a special interest in exotics and preventative medicine, neurology, exotics, and wildlife. She is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association and Association for Avian Veterinarians. Outside of work, Dr. Cherukuri enjoys martial arts, birding, hiking, and exploring the natural areas of Southern Maryland. She shares her home with two needy roommates: a tuxedo cat named Chukka and a non-releasable Eastern box turtle named Brussel Sprout. 

Kayla Blatman, DVM

Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, 2024
Dr. Kayla Blatman is thrilled to be joining the Tidewater team after graduating from Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine in 2024. She obtained her bachelor’s degree from Virginia Tech in Animal & Poultry Sciences.  She has had a lifelong interest in animals, working at a farm and riding horses, and is excited to continue caring for dogs, cats, farm animals and horses.  Dr. Blatman is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association and the Veterinary Information Network. 

She has many professional interests including the human-animal bond, soft tissue surgery, small ruminant medicine, preventative care, and helping her clients so they can provide their animals with the best life possible.  Outside of work, Dr. Blatman enjoys singing, spending time with family and friends, reading, and being outdoors. Originally from northern Virginia, she is looking forward to exploring southern Maryland.

Avery Mandel , DVM

UC Davis
Dr. Avery Mandel is originally from southern California where her journey with horses began at a young age–at first mucking stalls for her neighbor in exchange for trail rides and eventually becoming a working student for a local dressage trainer. She earned both her Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degrees from UC Davis, where she remained actively involved in the equine community throughout her eight years at the university. As an undergraduate, she worked at the Center for Equine Health and in the veterinary hospital’s equine NICU, while also serving as the team manager for the UC Davis Dressage Team. During veterinary school, she worked as a barn nurse/surgery technician for the university’s livestock medicine service and as a groom for several clients, providing care and support at competitions and training facilities. 

She is excited to be part of a team that serves the local equine community. Veterinary medicine—especially equine medicine—is truly a collaborative effort, relying on strong partnerships among the entire support network that surrounds each horse. She deeply values this collaborative approach and strives to be an integral part of that team—not just an infrequent visitor in a horse’s care. She is passionate about providing high-quality, compassionate care and looks forward to working with the Maryland community to support the health and performance of our equine partners."