Meet our staff

• Veterinarians
• Management
• Technicians
• Receptionists

Veterinarians

 

Dr. James O'Leary, President of Wexford Veterinary Hospital

Dr. O'Leary is a graduate of the University of Dayton and then he received his V.M.D. degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1973. He has practiced at WVH since then. He and Marie have been married for 35 years and they have two grown children (Susan and Patrick) and three grandsons (Brendan, Keegan, and Aidan). His passions include missionary veterinary herd work in Mali, West Africa where he has ministered 7 times, golf, teaching adult Sunday School, and spending time with his grandsons. In August of 2004, Dr. O'Leary purchased WVH with the late Dr. Dermot Foran.

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DR. BENJAMIN BLAKE, HOSPITAL DIRECTOR

Dr. Blake attended the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, earning his DVM with honors in 1995. Previously he graduated from Bucknell University in 1991 with a duel degree in Biology and Psychology. Dr. Blake was born and raised in the Washington, D.C. area and spent the last decade practicing veterinary medicine in Arlington, VA. The desire to be closer to family brought Dr. Blake and his wife Jennifer back to Pittsburgh. They have three young children, two boys and a girl. Dr. Blake leads a busy life away from the hospital including coaching in several of the youth sports associations and pursuing outdoor family activities like golf, softball, skiing and backpacking. He has taken an active role in the management of the practice and is excited to contribute his experience towards shapingthe future direction of Wexford Veterinary Hospital.

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DR. JAMES CHILDRESS, FOUNDER OF WEXFORD VETERINARY HOSPITAL

Dr. Childress is a graduate of the Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine in 1955. He served time after graduation in the United States Air Force where he was commissioned as a First Lieutenant. Dr. Childress and his wife Barbara founded WVH in 1958. The Childress’s have two grown children and five grandchildren. He is active in local politics, enjoys bicycling and swimming, and still practices two days a week. At WVH his gift is the sharing of his more than 50 years of veterinary experience with our entire staff.

 

 

Dr. TED VAUGHAN, VETERINARIAN

Dr. Vaughan received his veterinary degree from the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2004. His father is also a veterinarian practicing in Livingston, Alabama and his wife is Dr. Rachel Keller, a board certified veterinary ophthalmologist. His hobbies include hiking, snow skiing, sporting activities, reading, watching movies, and attending music concerts of all types. At WVH his special interests are pediatric and geriatric diseases. He especially enjoys educating clients on the importance of nutrition and pain management. We are excited to have Dr. Vaughan join our staff and we hope you will enjoy his unique accent and mannerisms.

 

DR. KATELYN EWALD, VETERINARIAN

Dr. Kate Ewald is originally from Connecticut, but relocated to the Pittsburgh area after completing her training at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine in 2006. Dr. Ewald's professional interests include small animal medicine, surgery, neurolgy, and behavior. Her personal interests include horseback riding, hiking, snow skiing, camping, movies, her “furry” family, and food! Dr. Ewald married in September of 2009. She is thrilled to be spending more time horseback riding and has begun competing again. Dr. Ewald is passionate about veterinary medicine and excited to bring her dedication and optimism to WVH.

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DR. LAUREN SIGG, VETERINARIAN

Veterinarian, Lauren Sigg, graduated from Penn State Universitywith her BS in Animal Bio Science and then attended Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine.  Following graduation in May 2008, Lauren, her husband and their furry children (Rocky, Sierra, Rhiannon, Stevie Nicks, Tippy Canoe and Tyler too!) returned to Pennsylvania to be close to their family. Her hobbies include hiking, running/lifting weights, watching movies, and spending time with friends and family. Her special interests include radiology/ultrasonography, dentistry and overall practicing good medicine.

Management

Christine Kubicky

Christine has been at WVH since 2001. In 2004 she accepted the position of Hospital Administrator. Should you have a question or concern relative to any area of WVH, Christine would be your contact. She is married with two small children. Her interests include activities with her husband and children, leading her daughters Girl Scout Troop, reading, cooking, and attending plays and musicals with her parents and family.

Pamela FLYNN

Pamela handles the daily tasks of bookkeeping, paying bills, and overseeing our inventory. She has been in this role since 2004. Pamela recently remarried and along with her three children, she and husband Tim just had a brand new baby. Her special interest is traveling with her family to fun places creating great and special memories.

Technicians

Stacey Oden

Stacey has been employed as a Certified Animal Health Technician at WVH since 1986. Stacey is married with two teenage children. She enjoys shopping, camping, hula hooping and eating chocolate. Stacey is responsible for the hospitals inventory of drugs and supplies in addition to her technician duties.

Diane Everette

Diane is married with two elementary aged children. Her hobbies include camping with the family, gardening, sewing, and crafting. Diane has been with us as an Animal Health Technician for fourteen years. Her areas of interest in the practice include anesthesia administration and monitoring, as well as dental care.

Trish Fleishauer

Trish is an Animal Health Technician and has been at WVH for twelve years. Her interests include snow skiing, travel, and ballroom dancing with her husband. She especially enjoys performing dental prophylaxis on dogs and cats.

Amanda Robinson

 Amanda has been with us for eight years as a Certified Animal Health Technician. All of her activities are outdoors (horseback riding, mountain biking, kayaking, and backpacking). She is recently married and most involved with the ongoing care of our hospitalized patients.

Genna Kumnik

Genna was hired in 2005 and is an Animal Health Technician. She is an outdoor girl who loves hockey (Go Pens!!!), horseback riding, camping, hiking and hanging out with her friends. Her furry family includes Buck, Daisy, Beans and her horse, Sheeza. She serves on the Advisory Board to the Veterinary Tech Institute in Pittsburgh. Her interests at WVH include performing dentals, administering anesthesia, IV's, assisting in surgery.

Jody Cardimen

Jody has been employed as an Animal Health Technician for almost a year. She has a teenage son and most of her activities are centered on him (video games, laser tag, paint ball, and fishing). She loves every aspect of her career, especially the interaction with the pets.

 

MANDY SEIDEL

Mandy graduated from the Median School of Allied Health Careers in October 2004. She began working at WVH in September of 2004. In 2007, Mandy moved to San Francisco and worked for a busy Vet Hospital as the Assistant Head Technician. Fortunately for WVH, Mandy moved back to Pittsburgh to be close to family and friends and was rehired in September 2008. Mandy enjoys playing with her niece, watching movies and hanging out with her friends at WVH.

 

KATHY KRUPA

Kathy has been with WVH since May

of 2009 as a Certified Animal Health Technician.

Her family have been clients of WVH for 37 years.

Kathy graduated from IUP in 2005 with a BS in Biology.Kathy has a labmix named Onyx and a nephew that keeps her busy most days. Kathy's interests include animal behavior and training as well as surgery and radiography.

 

Receptionists

Lynne Frishkorn

Lynne has been a Receptionist at WVH for eighteen years. She is married with a grown daughter and a teenage grandson who she centers her activities around. These include horseback riding, sports activities, and travel. She also volunteers with the 3 H Ranch Therapy Riding Program in Mercer. Lynne is very involved with our staff and is responsible for our good rapport behind the scenes.

 

Cathy Boyd

Cathy joined the WVH staff in 2001. She has four children and two granddaughters. Cathy is very involved in adult literacy, tutoring children, and church service projects. She loves the aspect of client education and support and is excellent in answering your many questions.

 

Heather McCoy

Heather has been a Receptionist at WVH since January of 2002. She and her husband enjoy spending time with their son who was born in 2006. Her interests include lots of family time, being with friends and paticipating in various outdoor activities with both. Heather is very thankful for the quality clients we have at WVH. So many are kind and thoughtful to our staff.

 

 

 

Leslie Sprague

Leslie joined WVH as a part time employee in 2006. Just this year she began working full time. She is married with two children. Her interests include spending time with friends and family and volunteering at her children’s schools. She enjoys interacting with both the clients and the staff at WVH.

 

Erin Baltzell

Erin joined the WVH Staff in August of 2008. When not working Erin enjoys spending her time with family and friends. She also enjoys watching sports, reading and playing with her dog, Zoe. Erin's favorite aspect of her job is interacting with clients and getting to know their pets.