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Our Team
Dr. Patricia Gaviller - Owner/Veterinarian
Pat received her B.Sc. in Biology with Distinction from the University of Guelph in 1980 and her DVM with Honours from the Ontario Veterinary College in 1986. Pat's first 5 years of her professional career were spent in Toronto working with a variety of strange creatures at an exotic pet practice as well as at the Toronto Zoo in their Zoo Medicine & Pathology Program.
However, it was working at the Calgary Zoo during the summers as a veterinary student that had her hooked on the mountains so she moved to Calgary in 1991.
Pat came to the Country Hills Veterinary Clinic in 1998 and became co-owner with AVC in 2001. Although she still sees a few birds, ferrets, rabbits and "pocket pets" she now devotes most of her practice time to dogs & cats - and now most of her patients actually like her! Pat enjoys most aspects of "family" medicine including but not limited to the human-pet bond, behaviour, dermatology, internal medicine and soft-tissue surgery.
Pat is usually escorted to work by her 5 lb. Pomeranian Bear Dog (yes, he has chased bears off twice now!) Pinata. In their off time they like to relax at their cabin in the West Kootenays. Pat's other passions include photography and gardening with native wildflowers.
Dr. Marta Alguacil - Veterinarian
Marta first decided she wanted to be a veterinarian when she was 7 years old and her grade 2 class read a story about a doctor for animals. From that day on she never wavered in her decision and worked hard to achieve her goal. In 1999 she moved from her hometown of Winnipeg, MB to Saskatoon, SK to attend veterinary school and in 2003 her childhood dream became a reality when she proudly graduated from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine. Marta first came to Country Hills Veterinary Clinic in the summer of 2004 when she briefly worked as a locum. However, she liked it so much here that she couldn’t stay away and came back as a full time member of the team in early 2006. Currently Marta’s furry family consists of her two cats, Milo and Kobe, and 2 rabbits, Hazel and Fiver and she looks forward to adding a canine companion to the clan in the future.
Dr. Jill Johnson - Veterinarian
Jill graduated from the Royal Veterinary College, London England in 1999 and worked in small animal practice in the south of England for the next 8 years gaining experience in surgery, medicine, small furry exotics and emergency medicine. She obtained a GP certificate in surgery in 2006. The pull of skiing on weekends rather than having to wait all year for the 2 week ski holiday brought her, her husband, 2 bikes, 3 cats and a whole house full of furniture to Calgary in May 2007. She worked in emergency at the Calgary North Veterinary Hospital and occasionally at the C.A.R.E. Centre for a few months before joining the Country Hills team. Jill has come to Country Hills with a keen interest in expanding the surgical offerings of the practice while still having an interest in all areas of general practice. Jill has 3 cats, Rosie - rescued in the United Kingdom with a broken leg which she then proceded to break again when she was declared free to go out again (not impressed!). Buzz, another adopted stray and Tequila - a ragdoll. They look forward to summers sunbathing on the deck.
Dr. Melissa Huet - Veterinarian
Dr. Huet is a new employee at the Country Hills Veterinary Clinic. She graduated in March 2007 from Szent Istvan Veterinary University in Budapest. She is originally from Cochrane, Alberta and first went to Europe when she was 18 to train Reining horses. While in Europe a friend recommended that she apply to the Veterinary University in Budapest where they have an International program. She did and the rest is history.
Melissa has two Appaloosa horses that she has had since they were babies. She used to show in the Appaloosa circuit. In her spare time Melissa loves to take them to the mountains trail riding. She is happy to be back in Calgary and close to the mountains.
Janet Murray - Practice Manager
Jan joined the team at the Country Hills Veterinary Clinic in February 2001. Jan is a registered Animal Health Technologist completing the program at N.A.I.T. in 1987. She has also completed the Veterinary Management Certificate Program and currently practices her management role. Jan is married with one child and brings her dog Sandy to work on a daily basis. You may see him when you come to visit the clinic, if he isn't sleeping, which is what he does best.
Catherine Browning - Animal Health Technologist
Catherine graduated in 2005 from Olds College as an Animal Health Technologist, however she joined the team as a student in the summer of 2004 and contined in a registered technical role upon completion of her diploma. Catherine has a special interest in behavior and nutrition. She is currently running our in clinic Weight Management program, so feel free to bring your chubby companions to visit her. Catherine is accompanied at work daily by her very agile dog Bender - come visit our clinic and see his tricks!
Sharon Pickering - Client Care Specialist
Sharon joined the Country Hills team in January 2006. She has a strong background in customer service and has become an asset to the company. Sharon has traveled the world with her husband and daughter Sarah originating in Bradford on Avon, England (Orlando Bloom's birthplace) When Sharon started she only had one cat but has since inherited another orphan that was brought into the clinic some time ago. Come visit Sharon’s smiling face soon.
Rosemary Young - Client Care Specialist
Rose chose a career change after the birth of her first child and joined the Country Hills Veterinary Clinic in February 2004 as a part-time client care specialist. For the past 14 years Rose and her husband have actively shown, sled and bred Siberian Huskies and most recently have started lure-coursing with their Ibizan Hound. Rose has completed a certificate program in Canine Whelping and Puppy Intensive Care. She is currently studying equine sports massage therapy. Rose will continue her education in Canine sports massage therapy in 2008.
Laura Weckman - Client Care Specialist
Laura entered the veterinary scene in April 2005 at the Calgary North Veterinary Hospital and excepted a position at the Country Hills Veterinary Clinic in August 2005. She is currently finishing a BSc in Kinesiology at the University of Calgary and has not decided yet if she will continue into veterinary school. Recently, Laura had the opportunity to work with, and study capuchin monkeys in Costa Rica for 4 months. Laura has two cats “Cleo and Prince” and usually brings her dog “Lexy” with her to work. You will experience Laura’s love for animals and strong people skills at the clinic on evenings and weekends were she works along side her co-workers and sister Heather.
Heather Weckman - Client Care Specialist
Heather joined the animated client care team at the Country Hills Veterinary Clinic on the request of her sister Laura in April 2006. Heather is returning to the University of Calgary in the fall of 2007 to complete her BSc in Kinesiology and hopes to continue from there with a masters of teaching program. Heather usually brings her parent’s dog Ruby ( a very goofy yellow lab) to the clinic with her although throughout the summer brings a variety of dogs with her as she does a lot of housesitting. The rest of Heather's spare time is spent working at a local pool where she is a swim instructor and lifeguard. Heather and her sister Laura work side by side and make an enthusiastic evening team at the clinic.
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