A leader in the field of small animal arthroscopy, Dr. Sams is recognized for his achievements in arthroscopic and general orthopaedic surgery, and has lectured on both nationally and internationally. He has a special interest in cruciate ligament disease and repair, which includes surgeries such as the TPLO (Tibial Plateau Leveleing Osteotomy). He has practiced small animal arthroscopy since 1994, first as chief of orthopaedic and neurology services at the Animal Medical Center in New York, where he launched a canine arthroscopy program. In 1999, Dr. Sams opened The Sams Clinic with the goal of providing state-of-the art veterinary medicine, with an emphasis on minimally invasive diagnosis and treatment. It was important that The Sams Clinic provide a comfortable environment where people feel confident their pets are receiving the best possible care.

A 1989 graduate of UC Davis Veterinary School, Dr. Sams’ academic achievements include specialty certification by the American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS) in 1994, an internship at Texas A&M University and a residency in surgery at Cornell University. This is where he earned a master’s degree studying biological methods of resurfacing damaged joints. A native San Franciscan, Dr. Sams and his family, which includes a yellow Labrador retriever, live in Marin County, California.

“All through veterinary school, my master’s and post-grad training, my internship and residency, I found orthopaedics rewarding. I’ve always enjoyed the technology, the physics, the science, and I still do. But in the end, the best reward is to see my patients go back to doing the things they like to do, and their people like to do with them.”

– Dr. Andrew Sams

Dr. Sherman O. Canapp Jr., DVM, MS, CCRT

Board Certified Veterinary Surgeon, Board Certified Sports Medicine Specialist

Dr. Sherman Canapp DVM, MS, CCRT, DACVS-SA, DACVSMR is an internationally recognized veterinary surgeon, international speaker, published researcher, and expert in canine sports medicine, minimally-invasive arthroscopic surgery, orthopedics, and regenerative medicine. In 2006, he co-founded VOSM, the first U.S. hospital dedicated to veterinary orthopedics and sports medicine, his passion. He served as the founding National Director for Sports Medicine and Regenerative Medicine at Thrive Pet Healthcare. He was the first to complete a combine DVM/MS at Kansas State University in 1999, an internship in small animal medicine and surgery at the University of Missouri followed by a three-year residency in small animal surgery at the University of Florida. Dr. Canapp is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons and a Charter Diplomate and Past President of the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation. He is the President and CEO of Orthobiologic Innovations LLC (OBI), a translational medicine company that focuses on product design, development and testing of orthopedic and arthroscopic devices, instrumentation, medical systems, biologics and regenerative medicine technologies. OBI is actively involved in designing and performing clinical trials.Dr. Canapp’s client base includes athletic, working and sporting dogs as well as pets. He is renowned for getting clients across the USA and Canada answers to difficult to diagnose conditions, both orthopedic and “soft tissue”, in particular forelimb injuries, so that patients can be accurately treated and returned to sport and function. Dr. Canapp is the co-founder of Canapp Sports Medicine, LLC (CSM), a virtual sports medicine educational platform, which delivers teleconsultations / telemedicine / tele-training to veterinarians and performance dog owners around the world. Dr. Canapp created the VOSM Academy, LLC educational training programs for veterinarians interested in bringing high level sports & regenerative medicine, rehabilitation therapy, diagnostic musculoskeletal ultrasound and arthroscopic procedures to their practice in the US and abroad. To serve patients across the U.S. and Canada, Dr. Canapp maintains a bi-coastal practice, seeing patients at both the Sams Clinic in California and HART for Animals in Maryland. From cherished companions to World Team canine athletes, his mission is to provide clear answers and help your dog return to comfort, function, and peak performance.

Dr. Daniel Ben-Aderet, DVM, DACVAA

Dr. Ben-Aderet grew up in rural San Diego County in a veterinary household. His parents owned and operated a small animal general practice hospital for over 30 years and introduced him to his love of veterinary medicine.

After graduating with a bachelor’s degree from UCLA in 2012 he attended UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, obtaining his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree in 2018. Following a year in general practice and a subsequent year of training focusing on specialty and emergency medicine, he developed a passion for, and commitment to enhanced peri-operative care and pain management. In light of this development, a residency in anesthesia and analgesia was a natural next step. After completion of a 3-year residency in anesthesia and analgesia at UC Davis he became a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia. His professional interests include cardio-thoracic anesthesia, one lung ventilation, orthopedic case management, and local/regional analgesia (ultrasound and nerve stimulation guided peripheral nerve blocks).

Dr. Ben-Aderet pursued two additional years of clinical and teaching work in the department of Anesthesia and Analgesia at UC Davis before shifting his focus to bringing enhanced peri-operative anesthetic and pain management services to practices all over California.

When not overseeing cases in the operating room, Dr. Ben-Aderet enjoys exploring both the mountains and restaurants of northern California and is an avid tennis player and downhill skier.

Dr. Dana Whitlock, DVM, MS, DACVSMR

Board Certified sports medicine and rehabilitation Specialist

Dr. Whitlock joined The Sams Clinic in July 2016. Prior to becoming a veterinarian, Dr. Whitlock was a physical therapist for humans, receiving one of two Masters degrees from Duke University. She also completed a Masters degree at SUNY Upstate Medical Center studying muscle physiology as it pertains to exercise. As a physical therapist, she was a Board Certified Orthopedic Specialist and a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Therapists. She began working with dogs in the realm of physical rehabilitation in 2001 and completed her canine rehabilitation certification at the University of Tennessee. She went on to complete her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine at UC Davis in 2007.

She completed an internship at the University of Georgia, a surgical internship at Dallas Veterinary Surgical Center, and a fellowship in the canine gait lab at the University of Tennessee prior to surgical residency training at the University of Missouri. She is a Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist through the Chi Institute in Florida.

Dr. Whitlock is the only board-certified sports medicine and rehabilitation specialist in the Bay area working with dogs and cats.