MEET OUR VETERINARY SPECIALISTS
Carlos M. Mongil, DVM, DAVCS
Surgeon
Dr. Carlos M. Mongil obtained his degree of Doctor in Veterinary Medicine from Louisiana State University in 1988. He completed an Internship in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery and a Residency in Small Animal Surgery at the Veterinary Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in 1992. While at the University of Pennsylvania, Dr. Mongil conducted clinical research in the areas of esophageal healing, trauma and orthopedic conditions that affect the Rottweiler dogs. He was the recipient of the Iams Company Award of Excellence by a Resident for his outstanding performance during his residency.
In 1994 he became certified by the American College of Veterinary Surgeons becoming the first veterinary surgery specialist in Puerto Rico. He has been invited to lecture about his research and clinical experience in local and international meetings. He was President of the Colegio de Médicos Veterinarios (Puerto Rico Veterinary Medical Association) de Puerto Rico in 1997 and has been in the Board of Directors of the Colegio since 1992.
Dr. Mongil is the founder of Centro de Especialistas Veterinarios de Puerto Rico, the first multi-specialty veterinary referral center in Puerto Rico. He is also a member of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons, American Veterinary Medical Association, Colegio de Médicos Veterinarios de Puerto Rico, and the Society for Veterinary Soft Tissue Surgery.
Dinelí Bras,
DVM, MS, DACVO
Ophthalmologist
Dr. Dinelí Bras graduated from Purdue University in 1995. In 2000, she received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Louisiana State University. Dr. Bras completed an internship in small animal medicine and surgery at Louisiana Veterinary Referral Center in 2001. From 2001 to 2004 she completed a residency in Comparative Ophthalmology at The Ohio State University in conjunction with her Master's of Science Degree focusing on the canine lens and posterior capsular opacification after cataract surgery. While at Ohio State, Dr. Bras was the recipient of the hospital service award for her dedication to patients and clients.
Dr. Bras is a Diplomate and board-certified member of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists. She is currently a Board Regent of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists. She has been recognized as an Emeritus member of the ACVO Vision for Animals Foundation after serving 4 years as president and 10 years as a board member. She is an international speaker, and has participated in seminars in the United States, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Brazil, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Romania, England, and Ireland. Dr. Bras is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, and the Colegio de Médicos Veterinarios de Puerto Rico.
Dr. Bras' special interests in ophthalmology include cataract and glaucoma surgery. Dr. Bras has developed the endolaser surgical approach and technique in canine and feline patients.
Michelle Trappler, VMD, MS, DACVS
Surgeon
Dr. Michelle Trappler graduated from veterinary school at the University of Pennsylvania in 2008. She completed a rotating internship at Coral Springs Animal Hospital in Coral Springs, Florida, followed by a surgical internship at Dallas Veterinary Surgical Center in Dallas, Texas.
Dr. Trappler completed a 3-year surgical residency at Veterinary
Specialty and Emergency Center and became board-certified in small animal surgery with the American College of Veterinary Surgeons in
2014. Following her residency, she completed a 1-year sports medicine and arthroscopy fellowship at Veterinary Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Group. Dr. Trappler enjoys all aspects of soft tissue and orthopedic surgery and has a particular interest in wound healing and regenerative medicine.
Dr. Trappler is a diplomate member of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons. She is also a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association and Colegio de Médicos Veterinarios de Puerto Rico. She is a consultant for VetGirl, a web-based continuing education company. Dr. Trappler has also lectured for various groups on wound healing, and laser therapy in veterinary medicine.
Victor A. Oppenheimer,
DVM, MS
Internal Medicine
Dr. Víctor A. Oppenheimer Lúgaro is a native of Ponce, Puerto Rico. He earned his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine in 2017. Following graduation, he completed both a one-year rotating internship and a specialty internship in Small Animal Internal Medicine.
Dr. Oppenheimer then joined Capital Veterinary Specialists in Tallahassee, Florida, as a hospitalist, where he managed Internal Medicine and ICU patients in close collaboration with specialty teams to provide comprehensive care for complex, multi-systemic cases. In 2020, he began a dual residency and Master’s program in Small Animal Internal Medicine at Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine, completing both in 2023 before successfully passing his specialty board examination. He is currently finalizing his manuscript on canine multidrug-resistant urinary tract infections to achieve Diplomate status in the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Small Animal).
His primary clinical interests include gastroenterology and infectious diseases, though his expertise also extends to endocrinology, nephrology/urology, pulmonology, and hematology. Dr. Oppenheimer is proficient in advanced diagnostic and therapeutic procedures such as abdominal ultrasonography, organ fine-needle aspirates, bone marrow sampling, joint taps, various centeses with cytologic evaluation, and endoscopy. He has also participated in numerous interventional radiology procedures, including placement and management of subcutaneous ureteral bypass (SUB) systems, stents, ectopic ureter laser ablation, and laser lithotripsy—techniques he hopes to help introduce to the Puerto Rican veterinary community in the future.
A proud boricua, Dr. Oppenheimer is thrilled to return to La Isla del Encanto to provide advanced internal medicine care for dogs and cats. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with and spoiling his two dogs, Charlie and Ben, as well as karaoke, trivia nights, dancing, and relaxing at the beach with his fiancée.
Andrea Hernández Burés, DVM, DACVD, DLACVD
Dermatologist
Dr. Andrea Hernández Burés graduated from Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2017. Following graduation, Dr. Hernández Burés completed a 1-year small animal medicine and surgery rotating internship at the Florida Veterinary Referral Center in southwest Florida. She then worked in general practice for a year as a part-time associate veterinarian while doing research with the veterinary dermatology service at the University of Florida. She completed a 1-year specialty internship in veterinary dermatology at the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana and then moved to California to complete an American College of Veterinary Dermatology (ACVD) 3-year residency at Animal Dermatology Clinic – Tustin.
Dr. Hernández Burés became board-certified in veterinary dermatology with the Latin American College of Veterinary Dermatology in 2023 and with the American College of Veterinary Dermatology in 2024. She is a published author in scientific literature and has been an invited speaker for seminars in the United States, Puerto Rico, Central, and South America.
Oscar Alas,
DVM, DACVR
Radiologist
Dr. Oscar Alas attended veterinary school at St. George’s University College of Veterinary Medicine in Grenada and did his clinical year rotation at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. He graduated with his Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine in 2017. He completed a rotating internship at Mississippi State College of Veterinary Medicine in 2020. He then completed a specialty internship at the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine in 2021.
Dr. Alas went on to complete a 3-year Diagnostic Imaging Residency at the University of Florida in 2024, then successfully passed certifying boards and is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Radiology. Dr. Alas has authored one and co-authored multiple publications in various journals during his residence. His residency was sponsored by IDEXX telemedicine, and he currently works remotely for IDEXX telemedicine consultants. During his time off, Dr. Alas is doing in-person work at Centro de Especialistas Veterinarios.
Dr. Alas’ mission is to bring high-quality veterinary radiology care to support local veterinarians advancing veterinary medicine in Puerto Rico, and to reach a prompt, safe, efficient, and accurate diagnosis to institute treatment in a timely manner. In his spare time, he likes to spend time with his family, grow superhot peppers to make his own hot sauce, surf, fishing, watch sports, and barbecue.
