Timothy J. Ireland, VMD

Owner

Born and raided in Northeast Philadelphia, Dr. Ireland graduated from the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine in 1990. After graduating, Tim joined Newtown Vet Hospital and then purchased the practice from the previous owner, Fred Guenther, VMD in 1992.

Dr. Ireland is passionate about all aspects of veterinary care but finds soft tissue, orthopedic surgery and dentistry to be the most enjoyable. In addition to overseeing everything at Newtown Vet, Dr. Ireland has served on the board of the PA Veterinary Medical Association, the largest organized group of veterinarians in PA: as VP in 2003, President-elect in 2004 and President in 2005.

Outside of the hospital, Dr. Ireland spends as much time as possible with his wife and children.  Like any family of animal-lovers, they have opened their home to a variety of pets currently including Annie the great Pyrenees,  Maverick the Golder Retriever, Einstein the Maltese and Armstrong, the cat that adopted them all.  They are joined by cows, chickens and Phoebe who speaks in everyone’s voices!

Dr. Ireland is on the Board of Canine Support Teams, a non-profit Organization that raises and places specialized service dogs for primarily veterans with emotional and medical disabilities.  The Irelands have raised multiple puppies and have also provided advanced training and socialization to dogs in the program.

Lizzy Bairstow, VMD

Dr. Bairstow grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area. She discovered her passion for veterinary medicine through her work at an aquarium during college where she cared for all creatures great and small! After graduating from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, she moved to Philadelphia to pursue her dream of becoming a Veterinarian. She attended the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine and Philadelphia has become her second home.

Dr. Bairstow joined us in 2018 after post doctorate training in emergency medicine. She loves the opportunity that Newtown Vet gives her to develop long-lasting relationships with her patients and clients as well as focus on preventative care. Her special interests in veterinary medicine include ophthalmology and internal medicine. Outside of work, she enjoys hiking, traveling and a good cappuccino. She lives in Philadelphia with her husband, Mike, and golden retriever, Cricket.

Catherine Cryer, VMD

Dr. Cryer grew up in Yardley, Pennsylvania and remembers bringing her pets to Newtown Veterinary Hospital as long ago as 1999, after her family adopted their first dog, Bonnie. She attended Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, and during her summers she worked as a client care technician at Newtown Vet. In 2012 she graduated with a B.A. in history, and shortly thereafter began pursuing her veterinary degree at the University of Pennsylvania. Following graduation from veterinary school, Dr. Cryer completed a one-year rotating internship in small animal medicine and surgery at Friendship Hospital for Animals in Washington, DC, where she developed special interests in neurology, emergency medicine, and dermatology. She currently lives in Philadelphia, PA, and in her free time she enjoys traveling, practicing the piano, writing sketch comedy, and playing fetch with her dog, Theodore. Dr. Cryer is thrilled to be back at Newtown Veterinary Hospital, her first veterinary family!

Jaaron Graham, DVM

Dr. Graham is from a small town in Western Pennsylvania just north of Pittsburgh. After high school, he attended Tufts University in Massachusetts, spent a year in the UK doing coursework in Biochemistry, and returned to Tufts to complete his undergraduate degree in Biology. He then spent some time doing research in molecular biology before starting at Tufts Veterinary School in 2001.

During veterinary school, Dr. Graham received a military scholarship and after graduating he immediately began military training and assumed the position of a Veterinary Corps Officer (VCO) for the US Army. After serving some time in Virginia and South Korea, Dr. Graham completed his contract with the military and became part of the Newtown Vet family.

Karen Kohler, DVM

Dr. Kohler grew up in suburban Philadelphia. She received her undergraduate degree from Harvard University and her DVM from Purdue University. Dr. Kohler enjoys all aspects of small animal practice, but she has an especially strong interest in soft tissue and orthopedic surgery.

Presently, Dr. Kohler resides in New Jersey, on a dairy farm with her family, their dog, and numerous cows, horses, and cats. In her free time she helps with the farm work and enjoys cooking and gardening.

Judith E. Palm, VMD

Dr. Palm was a New York City native who came to this region in 1986 after college. She is a 1990 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine and a classmate of Dr. Ireland. A true cat lover, Dr. Palm has also practiced at cat-only hospitals in Philadelphia and New York before joining Newtown Vet. She is particularly interested in feline health and the challenges cat owners face when trying to provide consistent, stress-free veterinary care for their pets.

Julia Weeder, VMD

Dr. Weeder grew up in Doylestown, PA. She attended Purdue University in Indiana, where she earned a B.S. in Biochemistry and a minor in Classical Studies in 2018. She then returned to the Philadelphia area to attend the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. Throughout her schooling, she was involved with various orientation and admission programs, and in vet school volunteered at the Ronald McDonald House for pet therapy with her german shepherd, Olay. She loves the collaborative nature of veterinary medicine, both with owners as well as other veterinarians and technicians. In school, she enjoyed learning about neurology, dermatology, and ophthalmology. In her free time, she loves to crochet and water ski, and she’s just started learning how to bake bread!

Beth Urbaniak, VMD

Dr. Urbaniak is a lifelong resident of Bucks County, attending the Hun School of Princeton and Lafayette College before graduating from the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine. She attended the Chi Institute  and added acupuncture to the services she provides for her clients and joined Newtown Vet in 2025.

Mom to 2 dogs, 4 cats and 2 horses she continues to enjoy the equestrian world in her spare time.  She is an avid traveler, loves reading and hiking and is passionate about perfecting the ultimate craft cocktail.

Tanya Thies, VMD

Dr. Thies is a full-time veterinarian and joined the Newtown Vet Family in 2024. She is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine. She is passionate about patient care, client education, and building strong relationships with both pets and their families. Her professional interests include soft tissue surgery, dentistry, dermatology, and helping pet parents better understand and care for their beloved companions.

Outside of veterinary medicine, Dr. Thies enjoys traveling, reading, and spending time with her family, including her two adult children, one teenager, and a lively household of pets made up of one dog, two cats, and a guinea pig. She also treasures time with her 86-year-old father, who is currently writing a book and has always inspired her with his optimism and love of life.