Our Team

“Alone we can do so little.  Together we can do so much.”
Helen Keller

Our team is hands down what makes us most different.  

I walk through our back door daily at peace, knowing that no matter what is on the day’s platter, I have a support network in place that not only has my back on tough days but can also celebrate anything anytime.  They are salt of the Earth, talented, and confident in what they do and do not know. Our hiring process is tedious, our employees are in charge and are fiercely protective of our practice culture, working diligently to ensure that new team members have the right personality for our clients and our team.  Staff then patiently train new hires, instilling into them what it means to “exceed expectations”. While the veterinarian is often the primary focus for clients, they are nothing without a strong team to support them. I could go on indefinitely bragging shamelessly about our team of veterinary care providers.  But truly, if you really want to understand their impact, read their reviews as time and time again the team is mentioned in them. That is when I know we are doing something right.

Meet Our Team

Dr. Karen Burgess

Dr. Karen Burgess

Head Veterinarian

James Herriot, 4H, and a cat named Cicero all made Dr. Burgess who she is today. Born and raised in Kansas City to high school teachers, summer driving trips were spent listening to All Creatures Great and Small on the car radio. An interest in veterinary medicine and a determination to embrace all things animal was born. Volunteering for the local vet at fourteen turned into a high school job and taught her the ropes of the profession from kennel cleaning to answering phones.

READ FULL BIO


Dr. Erika Gibbs

Dr. Erika Gibbs

Associate Veterinarian

Over the last twenty plus years, Dr. Erica Gibbs has practiced small animal medicine, large animal medicine, and been a practice owner. More recently she has dedicated herself to relief veterinary medicine. Relief veterinarians work independently and “fill in” for practice owners as needed. Since March of 2018, Dr. Gibbs has been our semi-permanent Wednesday doctor. Dr. Gibbs lives in Lake Geneva, WI with her husband and two Labrador retrievers, Chelios and Diamond. During her free time she enjoys cooking, traveling and playing golf.

From Dr. Burgess….

Ensuring that our patients and clients receive the same experience every time they visit Healthy Paws while personally balancing work and family time can be challenging in a single doctor practice. I would choose to close for a day before having the wrong person treat my patients or work with my team. Meeting Dr. Gibbs four years ago was a sigh of relief for me. Her practice style, medical knowledge and respect for our team fall right in line with our practice culture. Dr. Gibbs’ years of experience and calm compassion allow our practice to grow gracefully. Dr Gibbs has become an integral part of our team allowing us to expand our service hours while continuing to provide an amazing and reliable veterinary experience.


Dr. Megan Mosier

Dr. Megan Mosier

Associate Veterinarian

Dr. Megan Mosier graduated from Kansas State University in 1999 and then completed a small animal internship at Hollywood Animal Hospital, a large specialty/referral hospital in Florida. Since then she has practiced small animal medicine in a variety of practices as an associate and then as a relief veterinarian. Dr. Mosier relocated to the Chicagoland area where she lives with her son and twin daughters.  In her free time she enjoys horseback riding, taking care of her myriad of pets (rabbits, dog, cats, gecko, and horses) and traveling.

From Dr. Burgess….

Rare do you meet a person like Dr. Mosier. Exuberant, bubbly, just plain joyous are how I would start to describe her, but this only scratches the surface. A talented veterinarian with a fierce dedication to her patients, Dr. Mosier is a balance of compassion, knowledge, and reality that is truly essential to thrive in our profession. I have known Dr. Mosier since veterinary school and we have had very similar paths over the years.  Personally she has provided me support and been a cheerleader through thick and thin; professionally she leaves me feeling confident and at peace when caring for our patients. 


Dr. Tracey Haslitt

Dr. Tracey Haslitt

Associate Veterinarian

Dr. Tracy Haslitt graduated from Michigan State University in 2005 and joined the Healthy Paws family in March of 2022. Over her career Dr. Haslitt has received additional certifications in acupuncture, chiropractors, and rehabilitation; Emergency medicine has been her focus for the last twelve years. Dr. Haslitt offers both a Western/traditional medical approach to patient care, along with an integrative view. In her free time, Dr. Haslitt adores her feline friends Sybil, Yinzer, Jose & Lily in addition to her horses Rosie, Jezebel, and Jewel; horseback riding (Dressage) and reading are her passions.

From Dr. Burgess……

Finding an associate veterinarian is one of the biggest challenges in our profession. Trying  to find someone with similar values and communication skills who practices strong medicine and can get along with team members and clients alike is tough enough. Combine this with an overwhelming lack of veterinarians and it often feels like finding a unicorn might be a better bet. When my good veterinarian friend brought Dr. Haslitt to my attention, I literally stalked her (in a non creepy way) in an effort to show her our little piece of heaven here at Healthy Paws. Over the last year Dr. Haslitt has become an endearing part of our culture. She is not only generous, kind and patient, but as important, she practices exceptional medicine. Dr. Haslitt pushes me to be a better doctor, which is a double blessing.


Brooke Burger

Brooke Burger

Certified Veterinary Technician

Starting as an extern in January 2016, Brooke officially joined our Healthy Paws team in March 2016 after graduating with her Certified Veterinary Technician degree from Rockford College. Brooke lives with her basset hound mix Annabelle, her husband Eric, three year old daughter Kennedy, and eighteen year old stepson Ian. Between a home in Belvidere, a toddler and close family ties, Brooke thrives balancing a full platter.

From Dr. Burgess...

I first heard about Brooke from a previous coworker that I greatly respected. She suggested Brooke as a potential extern. While I was not sure we were ready to support a student, I knew there must be something special about Brooke for her to come so highly recommended. I have been grateful ever since that we said yes. Since then we have seen Brooke grow from a green new grad to a confident veterinary care provider. Brooke is a go-getter, always willing to take on new tasks and challenges. Her work is impeccable while her love of animals is endless. Brooke’s husband is a tattoo artist and while I myself do not have any tattoos, I love seeing the beautiful artwork he creates. Even more beautiful is seeing Brooke in the role of mother. While initially a bit shy, Brooke very quickly blossomed into a very talented technician, leader and source of knowledge for our team.


Cheri Eckdhal

Cheri Eckdhal

Veterinary Technician, B.S. Animal Science

Cheri joined the Healthy Paws team in 2012. She has over 20 years of animal hospital experience with various specialties including surgery, diagnostic imaging, emergency and critical care. Cheri has a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science from Andrews University and an Associate in Sciences and Arts degree from College of DuPage. Cheri's son, Vaughn, is the apple of her eye and favorite person on this earth. Cheri enjoys spending her time off with Vaughn, their dog Max, and her mother. Hiking, listening to inspirational podcasts and exploring are all favorite pastimes.

From Dr. Burgess...

Cheri and I worked together at a specialty hospital in Downers Grove. When John and I were planning Healthy Paws, I told Cheri there would always be a spot for her working with me, just say the word. I still remember the call two years later and my joy at being reunited with this amazing person. Cheri has a spirit that is pervasive. Those that meet her immediately experience her exuberance for life. She is one of the toughest people I know with one of the best attitudes you can imagine. With her mix of emotional support and reflective wisdom, she is who you want to be around when things are tough. Cheri helps us all lead not just a "half-full" life, but an “overflowing” one.


Liz Hartzheim

Liz Hartzheim

Certified Veterinary Technician

Liz had years of experience as a Certified Veterinary Technician before joining our team in March of 2016. She earned an Associates degree in Veterinary Technology at Madison Area Technical College in 2004 and has practiced in both Illinois and Wisconsin. In her free time, Liz enjoys spending time with her husband, son Jack, daughter Addie, and extended family. Her hobbies include reading, cooking, watching her kid’s sporting events, and walking her best furry Labrador mix friend, Indy.

From Dr. Burgess...

The words that best describe Liz to me are quiet grace, spice and confidence. Her personality is such a fun mix of these three qualities that it is always fun to hear what she is going to say next. Getting a rise out of Liz is nearly impossible, which is so valuable in our often tumultuous world. While one may think that Liz is shy, she has a spark that makes us laugh on a daily basis. And when it comes to skills and experience, she is wise beyond her years. I am blessed working with so many moms. Being able to share parenting trials and tribulations knowing I am not alone or crazy is always reassuring. On a regular basis Liz is an amazing “Mom sounding board” for all of us. Having Liz join us has given us a stability I could only have dreamed of from a team member.


Amanda Schwarz

Amanda Schwarz

Certified Veterinary Technician

Amanda received her Bachelors in Animal Science from Southern IL and her Veterinary Technician Certification from Joliet Junior College. Her experience began in high school at a large and small animal practice and has included an exotic animal practice, a large multi doctor practice, and a holistic-focused practice before joining Healthy Paws in early 2021.  Amanda has a busy home life, spreading her time between husband Nick and three sons (Chuck, Adam, and Edison) all under the age of four. Horseback riding, sewing and hiking are Amanda’s hobbies away from work. Amanda’s furry friends include dogs Clark and Rogue, guinea pigs Jane and Curly Fry, bearded dragon Reptar, and horses Tammy Fay and Maynard.

From Dr. Burgess…

I quite honestly do not even remember when we hired Amanda because I cannot remember a time without her contagious spirit being in our treatment room. Amanda’s spirit is absolutely overflowing and pervasive. Whether it be completing a work task, talking about bad reality TV shows, coming up with ideas for a birthday party, or lamenting a child’s illness, Amanda finds a way to be all-in and stay positive. Balancing home and work is a talent, and having young children, twins nonetheless, has given Amanda a run for her money. Yet she comes in laughing constantly, amazing us with her creativity. I often feel like I get to live vicariously through her sewing and cricuting, passions of mine also. To have all of this and a love and talent with animals is unbelievable.


Heather Sullivan

Heather Sullivan

Certified Veterinary Technician

Heather attended Rockford Career College for her Certified Veterinary Technician degree. Prior to joining Healthy Paws Animal Hospital in 2021, Heather was able to work with a holistic veterinarian. Away from work Heather enjoys spending time with her husband Chris and their dogs Sharpie and Scotty. Free time is spent gardening, creating stained glass, sewing, camping, hiking and kayaking.

From Dr. Burgess…..

I have a good friend that I call my Bonsai tree. She was a friend of a friend originally, but over the last ten years, slowly and steadily our friendship grew roots that are so solid and reliable that they seem timeless. Heather reminds me of this friend in how, without pomp and circumstance, she has established herself within our practice and team. Getting to know the layers of her personality and see the depth of her skills has been like unwrapping a new gift every month. And even better is when you get Heather going, and you see her silly side, coming out of nowhere. Makes everybody’s day more enjoyable.


Eryn Czarnik

Eryn Czarnik

Certified Veterinary Technician

Eryn received her Veterinary Technician degree from Rockford Career College and immediately entered the world of emergency medicine. Healthy Paws became her home in January 2022. Eryn and her husband, Kevin, welcomed their first child, Sage, born February 2, 2023. In her free time, Eryn enjoys spending time with family and friends, hiking, traveling and crafting. Furry housemates include dogs Charlie, Shiloh, and Chloe.

From Dr. Burgess…

I am chuckling as I think of Eryn, she could not have been more custom made for our team. In total Eryn style, you may not know her for long, yet she packs so much energy and sincerity into everything she does, it feels like a long-term relationship from day one. Eryn takes the world in stride and, in the process, she brings those around her up. And, rest assured, if you need a laugh, you can rely on Eryn to come up with some random comment that out of the blue has everyone giggling. Eryn, while pregnant with her first child, kept us in stitches with her dry and blunt observations on her and our world alike.


Kadee Palmquist

Kadee Palmquist

Care Coordinator

Kadee joined Healthy Paws Animal Hospital in 2011, just celebrating her eleven year anniversary! Her favorite part of working at the hospital is building relationships with clients and their pets. She lives in Cary with her husband Jim and two cats while her son Robbie lives in Chicago and is pursuing a postgraduate health care degree and her daughter Ashlee attends Illinois State. In her free time, Kadee can be found reading a good book, taking a walk, or trying new community restaurants with her husband.

From Dr. Burgess...

I had the pleasure of meeting Kadee as a child care provider years ago at our local YMCA. Kadee’s openness, welcoming personality and sincerity immediately caught my eye as someone I wanted to be around and work with someday. It has been a pleasure experiencing Healthy Paws and our families grow with Kadee over the years. We often say “remember when” we only used two exam rooms, “remember when” the kids were all in diapers or grade school. Kadee is an integral part of our team, always eager to learn and explore new solutions. In particular, she takes pride in her ability to wrestle a schedule, allowing us to help as many pets as possible, yet still give the time that everyone deserves.  More than anything, you can hear Kadee's smile through the phone, providing ease and comfort for countless people daily. Kadee is a true leader and teacher in all she does.


Carol Pietsch

Carol Pietsch

Care Coordinator

Carol officially joined our Care Coordinator team in May 2019, but really she joined our Healthy Paws family back in 2010 as one of our first clients (client number 149 to be exact). Carol previously worked as a pharmacy assistant and as a homemaker. We were very excited when she approached us about an opening we had, as we already knew we loved her as a client. Outside of work Carol enjoys spending time with her husband Chris and sweet 5# doggy friend, Bodie.

From Dr. Burgess

Hiring is a very emotional time for us. We are excited to have a new “friend,” but always a little apprehensive about how everyone will get along real time. It is an art finding the right fit and our team is fiercely protective of our culture. When Carol expressed interest in a Care Coordinator role, we were nearly giddy. Having taken care of her dog Lilly for years, we knew that Carol was compassionate, dedicated, reliable, resilient and an advocate from the get go. Carol is a hard worker beyond comparison, always pushing herself to be better, always her toughest critic. While Carol shines at customer service, it is equally fun to see her tenacity, fighting for not only the rights of our clients, but also of our practice. I am super excited to have had Carol now as not only a client, but a coworker.


Brenda Czarnecki

Brenda Czarnecki

Care Coordinator

Brenda came to Healthy Paws in July 2020 from the airline industry working at United in customer service. With prior experience as a swim coach and full time mom, Brenda understands juggling individual needs while keeping a team together. Brenda lives with her husband Mark and four dogs, Gracie, LT (Little Trouble), Buddy and Tallulah. In her free time Brenda shares one of my favorite kitchen tools as a passion…sous vide cooking!

From Dr. Burgess...

Brenda just has it together. Done. She reminds me of the poles that you see stoplights on, always present and reliable, and able to withstand the worst of storms while looking simple but elegant. And then, below the surface, Brenda is one of the nicest human beings you will ever meet. Brenda feels things deeply, which is one of her gifts. When her son adopted a dog that was infected with heartworm disease, it nearly broke Brenda’s heart. Scarlet recovered and Brenda found a passion. She took her experience and basically vowed to be “that person” for every client going through a similar situation. Her advocacy is stunning. I truly love seeing the tenacity with which Brenda makes things her own.


Kristen Koske

Kristen Koske

Care Coordinator

Kristen is another client convert for our team who previously worked in radio marketing, nonprofit fundraising and education. Client number 797, Kristen’s cat Fred is known by all.  Similar to Carol, we were so excited when she expressed interest in joining our team, even willing to wait several months until we had the proper opening for her. At home, Kristen is mother to Austin and wife of Kevin. In her spare time, Kristen enjoys reading, singing along with Broadway shows, spending quality time with her family, and traveling, especially to her home state of Colorado for hiking and skiing.

From Dr. Burgess...

I am not sure what sold us more on Kristen, knowing her for years as a client, her interview, her application, her cover letter, her thank you card. Quite honestly any one of them was enough for us to say “yes please” - the combination blew us away. Kristen fits in with our team beautifully. I would argue that every one of my coworkers is overqualified for their role bringing experience and professionalism to our work environment that is priceless, Kristen is no exception. So much of our Healthy Paws world is about selflessly making someone else’s life easier, whether it be a coworker, client, or patient. Kristen, on day one, saved me by just helping to modify a Zoom account issue I was having. It may seem small, but it is the small things that add up, and I cannot wait to see all of the small and big things Kristen has to offer.


Evan Schwarz

Evan Schwarz

Veterinary Assistant

Evan first came to Healthy Paws Animal Hospital following his junior year of high school as an assistant. He graduated from Iowa State and is currently attending the University of Illinois School of Veterinary Medicine. While Evan is now busy with school and not technically working at Healthy Paws currently, I consider him an honorary employee nonetheless. In his free time Evan enjoys spending time with friends, family dog, and parachuting.

From Dr. Burgess...

Many people will tell you “they want to be a vet.” After working with Evan, it was apparent very early on he “would be a vet.” As a team we have had the pleasure of watching Evan grow up over the years, much to his chagrin as we often reminisce. Not only is he smart and driven, but he is also what I would call “salt of the earth.” Equal parts inquisitive, asking questions as I practiced medicine, and a team player bringing french toast casserole to a brunch potluck, Evan brought a breath of fresh air to our team. For any little girl or boy that dreams of being a vet someday, Evan’s story is the one they should follow.


Jean-Marie Brickey

Jean-Marie Brickey

Accountant

Jean-Marie has been with Healthy Paws since our opening in 2010. She has a degree in Animal Ecology from Iowa State University and second degree in Operations Management and Information Systems from Northern Illinois. Jean was a stay at home mom after leaving her previous role in audit with Sears. A lifelong resident of Crystal Lake, Jean-Marie lives with her husband and has four children. In her free time, Jean-Marie enjoys sports as a fan and coach, reading, volunteering and, in general, having fun. You can often find her on a kayak, paddle board or boat on our lovely Crystal Lake.

From Dr. Burgess...

Jean-Marie wears many hats. She is not only our bookkeeper, but also my sister-in-law, an amazing mother, aunt, Godmother, and friend. Owning a small business is not always easy and managing the books and day-in/day-out random operations is no exception. I remember clearly the day I called Jean as I was going for a run. I had a huge favor to ask of her: Would she take over our books? My practice manager husband (her brother) and I had been “sharing” this job and it was a terrible idea. To know you have infinite trust in someone as your bookkeeper is such a peace of mind. Jean-Marie keeps us in line while still making sure we are having fun. Recently even more exciting is seeing her spread her wings into other areas of our business. Jean also shares a special bond with our clinic cat Eleanor who on a regular basis keeps her company and bites her toes.


John Ferrero

John Ferrero

Practice Manager

John, co-owner and Practice Manager of Healthy Paws, is Dr. Burgess’ husband and proud father to four beautiful girls, pet dogs Elsa and Willow and pet cats Clue and Yahtzee. Prior to developing Healthy Paws, John spent almost two decades at Motorola in finance, business development, and operations management. The Ferrero family loves outdoor activities, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.

From Dr. Burgess...

My rock and partner. It was not without much thought that we started this practice. It was a dream for years, but without John's support, guidance, and business experience it would have never come to fruition. I am proud of what we have developed, but even more so proud to have John as our team leader.


Clinic Cats

Clinic Cats

Masters of Mischief

April 2016 brought feline friends to Healthy Paws Animal Hospital, Gus Gus (orange longhaired) and Eleanor (gray shorthaired). They have learned the ropes of being clinic cats, sauntering around in spite of barking, vacuums, and at times mayhem. Be sure to pet our friendly mischievous felines on your next visit!


Gus Gus

Gus Gus

Gus Gus has a more regal presence and is ever the socialite making sure everyone receives a proper welcome. Gus is down to earth and a hanging out kind of guy. While he does not seek adults out, he has a special place in his heart for kids. And if you see a paw under your exam room door someday, it is his! Gus’ favorite past times are playing with his Turbo Scratcher toy, eating food from his SlimCat Toy, and carrying around his favorite mouse.  


Eleanor

Eleanor

Eleanor could be described as goofy and presumptuous. A real queen bee, she demands attention and solitude based on her mood and is known for “putting herself to bed” in a variety of cabinets, drawers, and rooms. And oh the look if you interrupt her beauty sleep! Her favorite pastime is being in people's business and sitting in laps.