Administration

If you add together an interest in science and a love of animals, Dr. John Silbernagel is the end result. “I grew up on a North Dakota ranch with a lot of animals,” Silbernagel says. “And even though I initially planned to work with large animals, I fell in love with surgery, which guided me to where I am today.”

Dr. Silbernagel graduated from Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine, and completed his residency at the University Of Illinois College Of Veterinary Medicine in small animal surgery. He worked at 24-hour-a-day hospitals and referral centers in Illinois, and Indiana. He later moved to Wisconsin and opened a specialty and emergency care facility several years prior to founding Madison Veterinary Specialists.

Dr. Silbernagel is a board-certified small animal surgeon, and a member of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons, Veterinary Orthopedic Society, American Veterinarian Medical Association, Wisconsin-VMA, and Dane County-VMA. He appreciates the collaboration found at multi-specialty emergency facilities which “offer the highest level of care to clients and their pets by allowing different disciplines to consult with each other on the same case.”

When not working, Dr. Silbernagel can often be found spending time with family — camping, biking, skiing, or enjoying other outdoor activities. He also considers himself a “foodie,” and enjoys cooking up new recipes in the kitchen.

Nicole transitioned to veterinary medicine from a seasoned career in human healthcare operations and administration.  Her leadership journey includes healthcare operations, finance, business development, and management experience in both academic medical centers and private practice settings.  She has worked directly with primary and specialty service lines of Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, and Pediatrics, Ophthalmology, OB/Gyn, Urology, Lab & Imaging, and Ambulatory Surgery Centers.  Nicole is experienced in leading operational redesign, transformational leadership, and managing procedural and personnel practices, Physician, and leadership coaching, developing, and directing strategic planning.

Nicole received her Master of Business Administration – Healthcare Management from Western Governor’s University and her bachelor’s degree from Edgewood College in Madison, WI.  She holds a Certification in Patient Experience (CPXP) from the Beryl Institute.  She is active in the community and serves on several non-profit, business, and professional association boards.  Outside of MVS, Nicole provides business consulting, keynote speaking, and leadership development coaching.  She strives to ensure that individuals have the knowledge and resources to blend personal and professional experiences to serve not only clients, but team members by fostering open communication and a growth mindset.

Nicole enjoys spending time with her husband, daughter, and their Doberman, Emmett.  Together, they are very active outdoors and enjoy camping, biking, running, and hiking.  She loves to read, write, and cook.

Marjan Faterioun graduated from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 2013 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science and a concentration in Business. She has been a dedicated member of the Madison Veterinary Specialists team since graduation and has grown alongside the hospital as it has expanded and evolved.

As Operations and Marketing Manager, Marjan oversees all non-clinical departments and is deeply committed to creating an exceptional experience for both clients and team members. With an extensive background in client experience, communication strategy, and operational workflow, she focuses on integrating systems and processes that support efficiency, clarity, and compassionate service. Her work helps ensure that every interaction with MVS reflects the hospital’s commitment to excellence in specialty and emergency veterinary care.

Marjan leads the hospital’s marketing and brand initiatives, including website development, social media, and client outreach. She also coordinates internal IT and works closely with the rest of the administrative team to continuously improve operations and strengthen the connection between medical and non-clinical teams and the clients they serve.

Outside of MVS, Marjan owns and operates a management and consulting business dedicated to supporting equine facilities and businesses. She is passionate about helping animal-focused organizations build sustainable, client-centered operations.

In her free time, Marjan enjoys spending as much time outdoors as possible — working on projects for her home or stable and exploring new campgrounds and trails with her American Saddlebred horses. She lives in Madison with her Border Collie, Spider, her long-haired cat, Sullivan, and her three horses, Dave, Tom, and Archie.

Advanced Training

-Leadership and Management
-Training for high performance teams
-Oncology
-Internal Medicine
-Anesthesia
-RECOVER CPR Certified
-Mental Health First Aid Certified
-VECCS Member

Maria joined the MVS team in the beginning of it all in 2012. She completed veterinary technician school through Penn Foster and has extensive experience in emergency and specialty medicine. Oncology, neurology and internal medicine are particular interests of hers.

Maria resides on the west side of Madison with her brown tabby named Jeter and her Havanese dogs named Maddie and Penny who are litter mates. She enjoys cycling and swimming and can be found competing in triathlons and Olympic style weight lifting in her free time.

Advanced Training

-RECOVER CPR Certified

Nick completed the Veterinary Technician program at Madison College and graduated in May 2017. That same month, he joined the Madison Veterinary Specialists team and obtained his Certified Veterinary Technician (CVT) license later that year.

Although he developed an interest in emergency medicine shortly after graduating, it did not take long for him to find his true calling within the surgery service. He finds fulfillment in assisting with complex fracture repairs and seeing how well patients progress throughout their recovery. Nick also thrives in high-risk anesthetic cases, where he is dedicated to providing the best care for patients in their most critical moments.

Nick lives in Madison with his Siberian Husky, Valor, and his Alaskan Malamute, Enzo. In his free time, he enjoys outdoor activities such as disc golf, hiking, and running. He also enjoys trying different types of cuisine, with a particular interest in exploring different variations of pho.

Sara joined the MVS team in September 2025.

Samantha joined MVS in April 2021. She came to us with an extensive background in customer service. Samantha enjoys spending time with her son, watching movies, cooking, and reading. She lives at home with her son, a Boxer named Remy and her 3 cats; Rosie, Rally and Lily.

Samantha joined MVS in April 2021. She came to us with an extensive background in customer service. Samantha enjoys spending time with her son, watching movies, cooking, and reading. She lives at home with her son, a Boxer named Remy and her 3 cats; Rosie, Rally and Lily.

If you add together an interest in science and a love of animals, Dr. John Silbernagel is the end result. “I grew up on a North Dakota ranch with a lot of animals,” Silbernagel says. “And even though I initially planned to work with large animals, I fell in love with surgery, which guided me to where I am today.”

Dr. Silbernagel graduated from Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine, and completed his residency at the University Of Illinois College Of Veterinary Medicine in small animal surgery. He worked at 24-hour-a-day hospitals and referral centers in Illinois, and Indiana. He later moved to Wisconsin and opened a specialty and emergency care facility several years prior to founding Madison Veterinary Specialists.

Dr. Silbernagel is a board-certified small animal surgeon, and a member of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons, Veterinary Orthopedic Society, American Veterinarian Medical Association, Wisconsin-VMA, and Dane County-VMA. He appreciates the collaboration found at multi-specialty emergency facilities which “offer the highest level of care to clients and their pets by allowing different disciplines to consult with each other on the same case.”

When not working, Dr. Silbernagel can often be found spending time with family — camping, biking, skiing, or enjoying other outdoor activities. He also considers himself a “foodie,” and enjoys cooking up new recipes in the kitchen.

Advanced Training

-RECOVER CPR Certified

Nick completed the Veterinary Technician program at Madison College and graduated in May 2017. That same month, he joined the Madison Veterinary Specialists team and obtained his Certified Veterinary Technician (CVT) license later that year.

Although he developed an interest in emergency medicine shortly after graduating, it did not take long for him to find his true calling within the surgery service. He finds fulfillment in assisting with complex fracture repairs and seeing how well patients progress throughout their recovery. Nick also thrives in high-risk anesthetic cases, where he is dedicated to providing the best care for patients in their most critical moments.

Nick lives in Madison with his Siberian Husky, Valor, and his Alaskan Malamute, Enzo. In his free time, he enjoys outdoor activities such as disc golf, hiking, and running. He also enjoys trying different types of cuisine, with a particular interest in exploring different variations of pho.