Marie Kerl, DVM, MPH, MBA, DACVIM (SAIM), DACVECC Chief Medical Officer
oversees medical operations at VCA’s network of more than 1,000 small animal veterinary hospitals. She joined the VCA family in 2017 as regional medical director and then later moved into a combined regional medical director/regional operations director role, prior to her promotion to chief medical officer in 2020. Dr. Kerl also serves as the executive sponsor for the Pride* Network, VCA’s LGBTQ+ diversity resource group. 
Dr. Kerl received her bachelor’s and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degrees from Auburn University. Later, she earned her master’s in public health and MBA from the University of Missouri. 
A self-proclaimed nerd, Dr. Kerl enjoys choral singing, cooking, traveling and spending time with her partner of 25 years, Elizabeth, and their pets.

As VP of Digital Product at VCA, Abe has helped lead the way in developing veterinary industry tech within our hospitals to positively affect our clients, patients, and Associates. 

Antonia, graduated from Georgian College in Ontario, Canada in 2006 and had been primarily working in emergency/referral medicine before joining VCA Canada in 2016. Over the course of her career, she obtained her Veterinary Technician Specialty (VTS) in anesthesia and analgesia (2014) while concurrently learning the ins and outs of hands free radiology, as an associate of a facility that boasts a 100% hands free policy during radiographic acquisition.  For the past 12 years, Antonia has been an active proponent for non-manual restraint techniques, educating veterinary professionals on radiation safety and the importance of minimizing exposure levels. She has played a significant role in transitioning numerous facilities to embrace hands free policies, providing onsite training and working alongside the Hands-Free Initiative, supporting this vital shift for the veterinary industry in both the USA and Canada. 

Ashley Lavender and is a first year veterinary student at the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine.  She grew up in Roswell, Georgia and attended Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, and Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee to complete her undergraduate degree in biology.  She currently lives in Athens, Georgia with her two dogs, Enzo and Cyrus.

Carolyn has been in the veterinary industry for over 20 years.  She received her Bachelor’s in Animal and Poultry Science from Virginia Tech and her Associate of Applied Science – Veterinary Technology from the Community College of Baltimore County.  Over the course of her career, she has held roles in patient care,
leadership, hospital management, and field and support office positions.  She is currently the Director of Technician and Assistant Development in VCA’s Medical Operations Department.   Carolyn’s passion is helping to create opportunities for continued growth in skills, knowledge, and leadership development for our Veterinary Technicians and Assistants with a special focus on patient and team safety.

Diana Duncan is also on the board of directors for VCA Charities and serves as Group Vice President for the South Atlantic, which includes 94 hospitals in 11 states. Diana began her career in veterinary medicine working as a Client Service Representative at an Emergency/Specialty Hospital. She went on to become a Hospital Manager, and continued to deepen her operational experience. Today, Diana is the Group Vice President for the South Atlantic, which includes 94 hospitals in 11 states.

Dr. Alison B. Calfee is a 2022 graduate from the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine and is currently going through a small animal rotating internship with VCA River in Chattanooga, TN. She grew up in Georgia and went to UGA for her undergraduate degree in Animal Biology. While she now currently lives in Chattanooga, she also spends time as much time in Georgia as she can with her family and husband. Some of her hobbies include writing, painting, crocheting, hiking, and bouldering. She currently has three cats and a dog and some fish. 

One of Dr. Calfee's aunts is an equine veterinarian and helped her gain some of her first experiences in the field. After completion of her internship, she hopes to secure a diagnostic imaging residency. She has always loved the South and hopes to settle down somewhere in the Southeast to nuture her career and start a family.

Dr. Christy Bell has been in the veterinary industry since 1995 and spent 14 years in small animal clinical practice after graduating from the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine in 2002. Christy joined the Recruiting Team at VCA in 2016 and is now the Senior Director of Student Talent Acquisition leading a fantastic team of recruiters supporting veterinary students new in their veterinary career.

Dr. Koons is Regional Medical Director for VCA in the Mountain Southwest Group. She is passionate about promoting dental health in pets, which contributes to their overall health. 

Dr. Keith has been with VCA as a Radiologist, Medical Director and now Regional Medical Director since 2005.  In addition to radiology and ultrasound, he has emphasized the development of CT as a clinical useful modality throughout his career.  He graduated from Colorado State University in 1994.  After 2 years as a general practitioner, he then completed a Radiology Residency at the University of Pennsylvania in 1999, and remained on faculty until 2000.  Dr. Keith has spoken internationally on the topic of Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging, and the use of 3D Reconstructions and Printing.

Dr. Westworth received a BVSc with Honors (DVM) in 1995 from the University of Melbourne, Australia. He completed a surgical internship in Sydney, Australia in 2002. In 2006 he completed a Neurology/Neurosurgery residency at University of California, Davis. He became board certified in veterinary neurology, Diplomate American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, that same year and joined the VCA Animal Care Center of Sonoma County. Dr. Westworth has published in international veterinary journals in subjects including choroid plexus brain tumors and spinal congenital anomalies.

Dr. Houchen graduated with her DVM from Washington State Vet School and completed an internship in ER and Critical Care Medicine at VITECC the following year.  She has been an ER/Critical Care Vet for thirty years.  Dr. Houchen joined VCA Northwest Veterinary Specialists in Clackamas in 2006, where she has been the Intern Director as well as the director of the NW Veterinary Specialists Critical Care Blood Bank. Dr. Houchen writes and lectures extensively about her special interests of transfusion medicine, toxicology, and trauma/CPR.

Dr. Kline earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine at The Ohio State University in 1989. Following veterinary school, she completed a rotating internship and well as a neurology residency at The Animal Medical Center in New York City. After her residency she was a clinical instructor in neurology at the University of Missouri CVM. In 1994, Dr. Kline became board certified in veterinary neurology through the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine. From 1995 through 2008, Dr.
Kline was an associate professor of neurology and neurosurgery at Iowa State College of Veterinary Medicine. She has been the Medical Director and associate neurologist at the Veterinary Specialty Center of Seattle and is currently an associate neurologist and past Medical Director at VCA Northwest Veterinary Specialists in Portland, Oregon.

Dr. Kizzy English is the medical director for VCA Fort Collins Animal Hospital and Urgent Care in Fort Collins, Colorado. She was born in Virginia and completed her Bachelor of Arts in English Literature at the University of Virginia. She relocated to Colorado in 2006 and earned her Master’s of Science and DVM credentials at Colorado State University. She brings a broad range of experience in delivering care in rural environments, animal shelters, and general practice. She describes her style as “combining quality science with a gentle and compassionate approach, to provide the best care for pets and their families.”
Dr. English advanced from internship to staff veterinarian at Denver Dumb Friends League before joining VCA Animal Hospitals in 2016. She worked at VCA Southeast Area Animal Hospital in Denver before arriving in Fort Collins.
Dr. English enjoys spending free time with her husband, two daughters, and dog Maks.

Dr. Kristin MacDonald earned her doctorate of veterinary medicine in 1998 from Auburn University, and then completed an internship in small animal medicine and surgery at Michigan State University in 1999. She finished a residency in veterinary cardiology at University of California, Davis in 2001 and became a board certified veterinary cardiologist in the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine in 2002. Dr. MacDonald taught on faculty at UC Davis for a year, and then became the clinical cardiologist at the VCA Animal Care Center of Sonoma County in Rohnert Park, CA, where she continues to have a busy cardiology practice. Dr. MacDonald has participated in clinical trials involving treatment of canine congestive heart failure, and enjoys being the lecturer for the VCA Cardiology Series in the United States. Living in Sonoma County, she enjoys spending time outdoors hiking, skiing, and being mom of two daughters, two Tonkinese cats and a black Labrador Retriever.

Dr. Lore Haug graduated summa cum laude from Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine in 1993. She completed a one year internship in small animal medicine and surgery at Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine. In 2002, she completed a Master’s Degree and residency program in animal behavior at Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and ran the Animal Behavior Service at the university from 2002-2007. Dr. Haug is one of only two practicing board certified veterinary behaviorists in the state of Texas. In addition, she has a Master’s Degree and is a Certified Animal Behavior Consultant through the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants. Dr. Haug’s hobbies include equestrian activities, biking, scuba diving, travel, and reading. She currently shares her home with a pit bull mix and a Polish Arabian gelding.

Graduating with a veterinary degree from the University College Dublin, Dr. Doyle returned to Canada to practice in 2009, joining the VCA Canada team in 2011. She subsequently completed her training in Veterinary Forensics through the University of Florida. Dr. Doyle has lectured across North America, and Internationally to veterinarians, law enforcement and crown prosecutors on the recognition and reporting of animal abuse. She has consulted with law enforcement agencies across Canada on cases of animal abuse. As an advocate for awareness of the ‘Link’, she lectures on the need for mandated reporting among veterinarians and a need for broadening the scope of investigations involving the intersections of violence against all living beings. Currently based in Calgary, Alberta, at the VCA Riverbend Animal Hospital, Dr Doyle provides services from crime scene analysis and photography to forensic necropsies and live examinations. 

Dr. Michele Chin lives in Southern California with her family and works as an ER Veterinarian at VCA's Hotel Circle Hospital in San Diego.  She is also involved in valuable work as an Intern/Extern Director with VCA. 

Dr. Negeen Najafi, a Bay Area native from Northern California, discovered her passion for veterinary medicine at an early age. She completed her undergraduate degree in Animal Science at UC Davis where she worked at a Nigerian Dwarf goat farm as well as performed research on dairy cattle and methane production. Dr. Najafi loved Davis so much that she stayed for four more years to attend UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine.  Ultimately, Dr. Najafi discovered her true passion was in small animal emergency medicine and she decided to pursue a rotating internship at VCA Alameda East in Denver, Colorado. 
Currently, Dr. Najafi's professional interests include emergency and critical care medicine, specifically management of toxicities and endocrine emergencies.  When not tending to the needs of her furry patients, Dr. Najafi enjoys hiking, backpacking,
snowboarding, rock climbing, and spending time with her four-legged best friend, Winston.

Dr. Bergman is the Director of Clinical Studies for VCA.  He is an adjunct faculty member of the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and the principal veterinary investigator for the canine melanoma vaccine (Oncept®), which was fully licensed in 2009.  Prior to Dr. Bergman joining VCA, he served as the Chief Medical Officer for BrightHeart Veterinary Centers from 2007 to 2011; from 1999 – 2007 he was the head of the Donaldson-Atwood Cancer Center at AMC.  After finishing veterinary school from Colorado State in 1990, he was an intern at Kansas State (‘90-‘91) and returned to CSU for his medical oncology residency (‘91-‘94) and then completed a PhD Fellowship in human cancer biology from the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston (‘94-‘99).  He was previously Chair of the ACVIM Board of Regents and President of the Veterinary Cancer Society.

Dr. Phil Padrid graduated from the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine in
1985. He completed an internship at the Santa Cruz Veterinary Hospital in 1986,
followed by a Residency in Small Animal Internal Medicine at UC Davis 1986-1988.
From 1988-1990 Dr. Padrid was a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Division of Pulmonary and
Critical Care Medicine at the UC Davis School of Medicine.
After completing his Fellowship, Dr Padrid served for 10 years as Associate Professor,
Dep’t of Medicine, Section of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at the University of
Chicago. Phil is currently Sr. Regional Medical Director for Specialty Hospitals for the VCA/Mars Animal Health. Dr. Padrid is a world-renowned authority on pulmonary disease in dogs and cats and is credited with introducing into the veterinary profession the use of inhaled medications to treat pulmonary disease in dogs and cats.

Growing up in the apartment attached to his father’s animal hospital, Dr. Richard Levine knew from a very early age, that veterinary medicine would be in his future. Working at the practice through high school and college solidified that career goal. 
Dr. Levine was accepted after his third year of undergraduate school to the University of Pennsylvania's School of Veterinary Medicine and graduated with honors in 1981. In 2001 Dr. Levine joined the VCA Team and partnered with them as a co-owner and medical director for the next 13 years.  Among many other things, with a passion for mentoring, Dr. Levine developed a formal 3 month on-boarding program for new graduates which became the framework for the company wide VCA Academy. Rich and Catherine, an author, have been joined in Vermont by their daughters and their spouses and two grandchildren. Rich is also an avid photographer and martial artist.

Dr. Rocky McKelvey has been practicing veterinary medicine for over four decades. He graduated from Oklahoma State University in 1981 and started his own practice in 1982. He sold his practice to VCA in 1996, and the hospital became VCA’s first Texas location. In recounting the sale, he said “Bob Antin and I did the deal on the back of a napkin at Denny’s." 

After serving as president for the Texas market for several years, Dr. McKelvey became a regional medical director. He has seen tremendous change in not  only the veterinary profession, but the perception of VCA and corporate ownership over the past 25 years. Dr. McKelvey loves seeing young veterinarians become experts and leaders in the industry.

In his personal life, Dr. McKelvey is an avid cook, gardener, and horse racer (especially Breeder’s Cup.) He also enjoys unwinding at sea – cruising and sailing is his self-care.

Dr. Shaw is a 1998 graduate of Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine.  He completed a residency in emergency and critical care medicine in 2002.  After he completed his residency, he joined the Faculty at Tufts where he served until 2013.  After helping to open a specialty hospital in Hartford Connecticut, he joined VCA as a Regional Medical Director in 2015.

The last several years, he has also assumed the role of Director Patient Safety for VCA.  In that role he focuses on understanding how patient safety events happen in veterinary hospitals and developing systems to make the delivery of care safer.

He lives in CT with his wife, son, and an assortment of farm animals.

Dr. Silene St. Bernard is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, which focuses on zoonotic and infectious disease, epidemiology, food security and safety and public health. 
She has over 23 years of experience in companion animal veterinary medicine. She designed, operated, and sold a companion animal veterinary practice during her career and practiced both emergency/critical care and general medicine.

Dr. St. Bernard is currently a Regional Medical Director for VCA Animal Hospitals in Southern California, working with approximately 30 hospitals. Dr. St. Bernard has a passion for service and is a Past President of the American Association of Industry Veterinarians (AAIV), an Ambassador for the international charity World of Children, and she is currently

the Chair of the Board of Health and Human Services for the City of Long Beach CA.

Susan H. Zobler DVM, Diplomate ABVP (Canine/Feline) is the Regional Medical Director for the South Atlantic Specialty Group. She attended North Carolina State University and earned a BS in Zoology, graduating in1985. She then went on to the  University of Florida for her DVM. She is a Florida native and in her spare time she enjoys traveling, growing orchids, amd enjoying her four adorable Pugs.

Dr. Timbrala Marshall is VCA Animal Hospital’s Director of Equity, Inclusion and Diversity.  Dr. Marshall has been with VCA since 2014 and began her career as an Associate veterinarian before becoming Medical Director at VCA Terrell Mill Animal Hospital in Marietta, GA. Dr. Marshall practiced as a companion animal primary care veterinarian for over a decade before stepping into this role in 2021. Currently, Dr. Marshall focuses on creating and nurturing relationships with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic Serving Institution (HSIs), among other academic institutions. 

Dr. Marshall attended Tuskegee University for her undergraduate studies and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Animal and Poultry Sciences. Following graduation, she went to Michigan State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, where she earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree. 

Dr. Nelson is the Hospital Director of the VCA Animal Medical Center of N.E. Alabama in Anniston, AL and has been in private practice for 45 years. He was first elected to the board of American Heartworm Society in 2001 and has served as the Society president (2004-2007), Symposium Co-chair (2010-2013) and currently is chair of the AHS research committee. In 1997-1998, after doubting the validity of the incidence of heartworm in cats, he conducted his own study by performing necropsies on 259 cats
to determine true incidence. This study determined there was a higher prevalence of heartworm than feline leukemia or AIDS on the upper Texas Gulf Coast and that there was no correlation between heartworm and AIDS.

Dr. Tony Guerino is a native New Englander who graduated from Michigan State University with a BS in Physiology in 1989.  He received his DVM from Tufts in 1989. In 2013 he became the first Area Medical Director in the NE region, balancing his duties at his home hospital while overseeing 13 hospitals in NH, MA, and VT.  In 2016, he joined the Central group as a Regional Medical Director and is continuing this role in the recently formed Heartland Group.  His main interests are medical and leadership development.  Professionally, he enjoys surgery, anesthesia, and everything ZooMed.

After a 5-year stint in the Indianapolis area with his wife Erika, he has moved back to his beloved home state of New Hampshire. They have three grown children and share the house with one dog, two cats, and three birds.

Dr. Patricia Dettlinger graduated from Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine in 1999 as a member of the Phi Zeta National Honors Society, with numerous awards and accolades. Trish is an adjunct professor at the school and interviews candidates for the Admissions Committee and is a Tufts at Tech mentor. She and her family proudly owned and operated the Sterling Veterinary Clinic for over 30 years, and in that time she has worked extensively with NEADS (National Education for Assistance Dog Services), providing medical and surgical care and serving on the Advisory Board. 
Dr. Dettlinger was instrumental in developing the Prison Pup program at the Northeastern Correctional Center in Concord, Massachusetts, and developing a formal partnership between NEADS and VCA. Trish is an accomplished Freestyle skier, equestrian, sailor, musician, and offshore angler, and is the VCA North Atlantic Regional Medical Director.

Dr. Wright is a board certified veterinary medical oncologist practicing in the Dallas Metroplex. He has been a VCA employee since 2004 and now serves as the Medical Director of a large specialty hospital. He is also the current chair of the VCA Pet CancerCare Alliance. He and his wife (also a veterinarian) live in Dallas with their dog and two children.

Hannah Johnson, LCSW is the hospital-based social worker at VCA Aurora. She holds a Master of Social Work degree, specialized in healthcare. Prior to becoming a veterinary social worker, Hannah worked in human healthcare as a hospital discharge planner and more recently at an outpatient dialysis clinic. Some of her primary interests revolve around providing support during times of grief and loss, along with aiding communication between Associates and clients. Hannah began her VCA journey in May of 2021 and has found such value in being able to provide care and support for those working within veterinary medicine.  

Jessica Sewell, BAS CVT LVT LVMT RVT CPhT, graduated from Gwinnett Technical College with her Associate’s in Veterinary Technology in 2003. In 2011, she earned her Bachelor’s in Veterinary Technology (cum laude) with a combined focus in clinical practice and hospital management from Florida's St. Petersburg College. In August of 2022, Jessica began working towards her master’s in veterinary clinical care among the program’s inaugural class at Lincoln Memorial University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. Jessica has been a part of the VCA family since 2005 having spent time in emergency, specialty, and general practices. She has served in a variety of roles and is currently the Regional Technician and Assistant Director for the South Atlantic Group. Jessica's special interests include leadership and team development, mentoring, public speaking, instruction, and cats!

Jose started with VCA at the West LA Veterinary Medical Group in 1990 when VCA was made up of 3 hospitals. Between 1990 and 2001 he was promoted within the company, eventually being offered the job of Director of Technical Services. For the next 5 years, Jose worked in support of all matters related to Tech Support team members and hospital inventory. In 2002, Jose joined the Army as an Active-Duty Aviator providing aviation support through the use of the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter. He served two rotations through Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. In 2017, after 15 years away, Jose returned to the West LA Animal Hospital as the Director of Operations. Today, Jose can be found at the VCA West Coast Specialty Emergency Animal Hospital in Fountain Valley, CA. Jose continues to serve our nation as a Reservist with the Army Reserves based out of Los Alamitos, CA. His current role is that of a MEDEVAC Aviator providing support in theater and state-side operations.

Julie was born in Salem Massachusetts and grew up on Cape Cod. After graduating high school, she attended Mount Ida College to study Veterinary Technology.  In 2012, while working in emergency, Julie established the Veterinary Technicians of Cape Cod (VTCC). In 2017, Julie began working on the VCA Technician and Assistant Development Program Project as a Technician Evaluator one to three days a week until being offered a full-time position as a Technician Development Coordinator/ Group Technician Supervisor. In January of 2020, Julie was promoted to the role of Regional Technician Director for the North Atlantic Group. In 2021, Julie also became a Certified Pharmacy Technician.
Julie lives on Cape Cod with her husband, her son and their cat “Captain Spaulding”. When she is not working, she enjoys birding, gardening, music, and spending time with friends and family.

Kimberly West is board president and chair of VCA Charities board of directors. She is also vice president of Corporate Affairs at VCA Animal Hospitals. Before joining VCA in 2020, Kimberly served as director of external communications for Mars, Inc. as well as leadership roles at consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton and global communications agency FleishmanHillard.

Lisa has been in the medical field in one way or another since the age of 16. 
She started with VCA October 9, 2000, as a CSR, working her way up as a technician, Hospital Manager, Area Manager, and is currently an Operations Director.  
Lisa has loved working for VCA as an Operations Director as it includes everything she enjoys: animals, medicine, people, teaching, problem solving, and numbers.  What started as a part-time job quickly became a full-time passion.

 
Lisa has four grown children and four granddaughters, who she affectionately refers to as her girl gang.  She has a 12-year-old Australian Shepherd named Goose and a 1 year old Maine Coon named Tokki.