Veterinarians

Dr. Patty Ainsworth graduated with her DVM from Texas A&M University in 1993.  After graduation, she moved north to be closer to her family, working at Old Dominion Animal Health Center in McLean, VA, until 1999, when she joined the staff's Falls Road Veterinary Hospital.  She celebrated her 23rd^th anniversary at Falls Road in February 2022.  She has been serving as Medical Director since 2017. 
 
Dr. Ainsworth is married with two human children, Alex and Gabby.  They share their home with three cats adopted through Pet Connect Rescue: Anne (AKA Anna Banana Kins), Pete (AKA Peter Pumpkin Pie, Peter Pumpkin Eater), and Gatsby (AKA Gatsby Goose, GG Bad Cat).  As of January 2022, both human children have left home to attend the University of Maryland at College Park. They probably cannot be considered “empty nesters” quite yet, as the cats have yet to show any interest in higher education.  
 
If she is not working, she can be found on the couch streaming Netflix in common with the rest of America. Otherwise, her hobbies include running, hiking, reading, sleeping, cooking for two, and cleaning. Oh, those are not hobbies? Well, that is what she does…

Dr. Heather Lowenthal joined Falls Road Veterinary Hospital as an associate veterinarian in May of 2016.  She is a Colorado native and a graduate of Colorado State University who particular interest in integrative pain management and preventative care.  She is a certified veterinary acupuncturist and incorporates this specialty into her practice.  Dr. Lowenthal believes in treating her patients with a comprehensive approach by utilizing traditional medical and surgical techniques in conjunction with alternative therapies.  In the exam room, you will often find her sitting on the floor, attending to the comforts of her patients or connecting with clients.  When she is not tending to our clients, Heather enjoys spending time outdoors with her husband, Mark, and their sons, Bennett and Miles.  She has a mixed breed dog named Piper, who enjoys regular runs and hikes with her active family.  In addition to outdoor fun, Heather also loves to cook. 

Dr. Bridget Foist grew up in Owensboro, KY, and graduated from Xavier University in Cincinnati, OH, where she met her husband, Brian.  She earned her DVM degree from Auburn University School of Veterinary Medicine in 2004 and then moved to Washington, D.C.  
 
Dr. Foist began working at Falls Road Veterinary Hospital part-time in 2008.  She is interested in preventative care, nutrition, and internal medicine.  She lives in Bethesda with her husband, three kids, two dogs, and one cat.  She enjoys playing tennis, CrossFit, snowboarding, volunteering at the kids’ schools and spending time with her family and friends in her spare time.

Dr. Amy Fauth grew up in Orchard Park, NY (home to the Buffalo Bills) and graduated from Bucknell University in 1990.  She earned her VMD from The University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine in 1997. She completed an internship in small animal medicine and surgery at The Friendship Hospital for Animals in Washington, DC, in 1998.  After working at various veterinary hospitals in DC and Maryland, she settled on Falls Road Veterinary Hospital in 2001, where the team is excellent, and the atmosphere is fun.  Dr. Fauth is currently working part-time in the office. Dr. Fauth is married to Tom MacIsaac, and they have three kids and two dogs.  She splits her time equally between work and tennis.  She likes tennis the best...

Dr. Susan Dannis, DVM, CVA, CCRT, CVFT, graduated from Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine in 1994.  After graduation, she was accepted into the Internship program at the prestigious Animal Medical Center in Manhattan.  After 20 years of working as an Emergency and Critical Care Veterinarian, Dr. Dannis decided to switch gears a little and became certified in Veterinary Acupuncture (CVA) by the Chi Institute (2011) and became certified in Veterinary Rehabilitation (CCRT) by the Canine Rehabilitation Institute.  In 2017, Dr. Dannis became certified in food therapy (CVFT) by the Chi Institute.
 
Dr. Dannis is very involved in training and competing with her West German Shepherd.  She owned and competed for the #2 German Shepherd Dog in North America.  She is very interested in canine reproduction and fertility.

Dr. Erin Gaven grew up in Rockaway, New Jersey, and graduated from Lincoln Memorial University in May 2020 before moving to the DMV area. She joined Falls Road Veterinary Hospital as an associate veterinarian shortly after graduation and has a particular interest in ultrasonography and soft tissue and orthopedic surgery.
 
Dr. Gaven lives in Chantilly, VA, with her two rescue dogs, Lancelot (more commonly known as Lance when he’s getting into trouble) and Jet (a spoiled three-legged mutt who enjoys couch surfing) adopted during her time in Tennessee for veterinary school. Lancelot is the reason behind pursuing her Fear Free certification to give other pets the opportunity to have a positive experience when they come into the hospital. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking with her dogs, reading James Patterson books, doing DIY projects, volunteering herself and her family to cook for the homeless during the holidays, and playing tennis when she’s in the competitive mood. She also loves running and training for marathons.