Dr. David Silliman brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the Surgery team at RRAEH since 2024. With a strong educational background and extensive training in veterinary surgery, he is dedicated to providing the highest quality of care to his patients.

Dr. Silliman’s journey in veterinary medicine began at North Carolina State University, where he obtained Bachelor of Science degrees in Animal Science and Zoology. He then pursued his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree at Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, graduating in 2010. Following veterinary school, Dr. Silliman embarked on a rigorous path, completing both a small animal rotating internship and a small animal surgical internship, followed by a three-year surgical residency at the Veterinary Specialty Center in Illinois.

Throughout his career, Dr. Silliman has worked in various locations, including Chicago, Pittsburgh, Asheville, and Greenville, before settling in Fargo, North Dakota. His diverse experiences have shaped his knowledge in all aspects of small animal surgery, with a particular focus on orthopedic, soft tissue, oncologic, neurologic, and minimally invasive surgery, as well as advanced surgical techniques.

Beyond his surgical skills, Dr. Silliman is deeply committed to comprehensive patient care, prioritizing the quality of life for his patients and serving as their advocate. He believes in the importance of compassion, communication, and teamwork in delivering optimal veterinary care to your pet.

Outside of his professional endeavors, Dr. Silliman enjoys outdoor activities such as hiking and fishing, and cherishes spending time with his family and friends.
With his dedication to excellence and passion for animal welfare, Dr. David Silliman continues to make significant contributions to the field of veterinary surgery at RRAEH and within the community.

Tracy Bagtas is a highly skilled and dedicated Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT), specializing as a Veterinary Technician Specialist (VTS) in anesthesia/analgesia. Joining the surgery team as a surgery lead at RRAEH in 2024, Tracy brings with her a profound commitment to promoting the humane treatment of animals, coupled with a strong emphasis on leadership, compassionate care, and client education.

Tracy embarked on her veterinary career journey by earning an associate's degree in science from the veterinary technology program at Parkland College in Champaign-Urbana, IL, graduating in 2006. Driven by her commitment to excellence, Tracy pursued further specialization, achieving her VTS in anesthesia/analgesia in 2017.

Since attaining her VTS, Tracy has been an active contributor to the veterinary community, serving on the credentials committee of the Academy of Veterinary Technicians in Anesthesia and Analgesia (AVTAA). She generously provides mentorship to aspiring VTS applicants, sharing her wealth of knowledge and experience to foster their professional growth.

Tracy's passion for anesthesia and analgesia shines through in her approach to patient care. She thrives on tackling challenging anesthetic cases and is adept at implementing multimodal analgesia techniques to ensure the comfort and well-being of her patients. Additionally, Tracy is deeply committed to empowering fellow technicians and assistants, guiding them to become strong advocates for patient welfare.

Outside of her professional endeavors, Tracy enjoys spending quality time with her exceptionally needy pets and honing her baking skills. Her unwavering dedication to animal welfare, combined with her expertise in anesthesia and analgesia, makes Tracy an indispensable member of the veterinary team at RRAEH. Through her compassionate care and commitment to excellence, Tracy continues to positively impact the lives of both patients and clients.

Rylee is from Big Lake, MN and joined RRAEH in 2019. She has a B.S in Veterinary Technology from NDSU. Her favorite things about veterinary medicine are learning new skills and venipuncture.
In her free time, Rylee enjoys reading Greek mythology & cooking/baking. She has 2 Pittie mixes named Baylor & Leilani.

LaShae joined RRAEH in 2019. She is from Norfolk, NE and moved to Fargo to attend NDSU in 2014. Her favorite thing about Veterinary Medicine is providing nursing care to all the patients to get them back to good health, she also enjoys learning new things every day!

In her free time, LaShae likes to relax with close friends and family and watch Netflix with her dogs Milo & Kev. She also enjoys spending time outdoors, going to the lakes during the summer months, and fostering rescue animals.

Brittany came to Fargo and RRAEH via California and General Practice. Brittany grew up in Kingsburg, California and graduated from San Joaquin Valley College in California. When asked her favorite thing about veterinary medicine, Brittany says “Being able to make a difference in an animals’ life and work with people who care as
much about that as I do”.

Brittany has in her animal family, 4 cats, Simba, Scar, Nala and Chief, and 3 dogs, Sheira, Tiny, and Tyson. When not working, you can find Brittany in the great outdoors. Lake area activities include jet skiing, camping, and hiking. Motorcycle rides find their way to Brittany’s fun as well, but finding time for friends and family is mixed in with it all.

Savannah joined the RRAEH/RC team in the early summer of 2024. Savannah has completed an Associate Degree in Interior Design, but her love of animals and medicine has drawn her to work and school to make this love a career. Savannah is currently working in our Surgical Service while attending Veterinary Technician classes. Being able to learn about veterinary medicine each day, and using the skills to make a difference in the animals' quality of life is pretty exciting and rewarding. Along with the patient care she does, Savannah enjoys helping families better understand their pet's treatment plans.

Savannah and her husband are managed by the following pet family; Lily the 14-year-old Siamese, Daisy the mighty 5-year-old Yorkie, and just to keep things interesting, Chester, the Shepherd/Pointer mix puppy is now part of the house too!

If there is any free time left for Savannah, you can find her, heading to the lakes, using her artistic side for arts and crafts, and reading the latest great books!