Exotics Department Staff

Heidi L. Hoefer, DVM, DABVP- Avian Practice graduated  from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine where she received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree. She completed a comprehensive one year internship in small animal medicine and surgery at the Animal Medical Center in New York City. Following her internship, Dr. Hoefer completed a two-year residency program in avian and exotic pet medicine at the Animal Medical Center. Dr. Hoefer served as a staff veterinarian in the department of Avian and Exotic Pets at the Animal Medical Center for eight years before joining Long Island Veterinary Specialists.

Dr. Hoefer is presently an adjunct instructor for Long Island Veterinary Specialists and is currently available for consultations at Island Exotic Veterinary Care located in Huntington Station, NY. She is a diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners in Avian Practice since 1993 and has served as Avian Residency Chairperson and on the Credentialing Committee of the ABVP .Dr. Hoefer has been a veterinary consultant for Veterinary Research Associates and Antech Diagnostic Laboratory for several years. She has lectured extensively on avian and exotic animal topics both nationally and internationally and has authored many scientific articles and chapters for veterinary textbooks. Dr. Hoefer's practice has been limited exclusively to small exotic pets since 1988.

Gregory L. Panarello, DVM, DACVECC, graduated with honors from Wagner College in Staten Island, New York, where he received his Bachelors of Science degree.  He received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Florida, and  was the recipient of  many Academic Achievement Awards.  Dr. Panarello completed an intensive one-year emergency and critical care internship  and a comprehensive three-year residency in emergency  and critical care at Long Island Veterinary Specialists.  Dr. Panarello is board certified  by the American College of Veterinary Emergency & Critical Care.

He attends conferences with all specialty departments at Long Island Veterinary Specialists, as well as weekly lectures with the critical care department at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Panarello has authored articles for the “Society for Neuro Science Journal” and has been the Director of Emergency and Critical Care Department at Long Island Veterinary Specialists since 1998.  His special interests include ischemia, reperfusion injury, sepsis, and avian/exotic emergencies.