Damascus Equine Associates
"We are equine veterinarians first and foremost because we love horses. They are amazing creatures, endowed with speed, grace, strength, bravery and trust. Our goal is the long-term health and happiness of your horse."
Damascus Equine Associates is a group of independent practitioners who work together to provide twenty-four hour, seven day a week emergency service to our clients. With each doctor having an area of interest and specialization, we can offer a variety of services within our group.
Dr. Roger Scullin began an equine practice in Montgomery County in 1970 after serving in the Army. In 1979 Dr. Peter Radue joined him to form Damascus Equine Associates.
Dr. Josephine Magurn practiced with us from 1981 until 1993 when she moved to Virginia Beach. Dr. Mike Erskine came in 1990, Dr. Jim Lewis in 1993, Dr. Rory Carolan in 1999. In 2003 Dr. Amy Polkes began taking internal medicine referrals as part of the practice. Dr. Megan Shepherd was an intern in 2006-2007 and has stayed on and Dr. Anna Dechtiaruk began as an intern in 2007.
Dr. Radue graduated from The University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine in 1978. After completing an internship in large animal surgery at the University of Guelph in Ontario, he returned to Maryland and began private practice Montgomery and Howard Counties. His horse interests have included raising and showing Morgans, eventing and foxhunting. His professional interests are lameness diagnosis and treatment with a special interest in ultrasound imaging. He lives in Howard County with his wife, Nanette and three children.
Dr. Erskine grew up in Maryland and graduated from the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech in 1988. He worked at a thoroughbred racetrack practice in Pennsylvania for two years before moving back to Maryland in 1990 to join Damascus Equine Associates.
Dr. Erskine is a past president of the Maryland Veterinary Medical Association. He serves on the Marion DuPont Scott Equine Medical Center Council on its Executive Committee. Dr. Erskine is currently the president of the Maryland Horse Council.
Dr. Erskine has been a diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners since 1996 and serves as the Equine Regent. He accepts veterinary students for externships and offers an equine private practice internship. He lives in Woodbine, Maryland with his wife, Kathleen and daughter, Olivia.
Dr. Carolan is a Captain in the Army Reserve, presently serving in Iraq.
Dr. Amy Polkes provides internal medicine services at Damascus Equine Associates. A native of Long Island, Dr. Amy Polkes graduated from Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine in 1993. She did a one year internship in equine medicine and surgery at Fox Run Equine Center in Pennsylvania and then spent 3 years in general equine practice in Virginia and Pennsylvania. Dr. Polkes returned to academics in 1997 and completed a 3 year residency in Large Animal Internal Medicine at the University of Florida, and is a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Medicine. She has been practicing in Maryland since 2000. Her specialty practice focuses on advanced diagnostics for cardiac, respiratory and gastrointestinal problems.
Dr. Polkes lives in Germantown, Maryland with her husband Keith and their two young children.
ANNA DECHTIARUK, DVM
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MEGAN SHEPHERD, DVM
Dr. Megan Shepherd received her DVM from the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech in 2006. She received her Bachelor’s of Science from Virginia Tech in 2002. GO HOKIES!!! Dr. Shepherd's career interests include the management of horses with endocrine and metabolic diseases (cushings & insulin resistance), dentistry, and ophthalmology. Her favorite hobby is running and is proud to have completed the 2007 Baltimore Marathon as her first of many to come. Dr. Shepherd currently resides in Frederick along with her boyfriend and dog.