Our Team

Thank you for trusting us with your pet’s care.

APPOINTMENT

Get to know us!

At Highlands Pet Hospital, we treat your family as if they were our own. We consider it a privilege to be entrusted with the care of your pets and are committed to providing a welcoming experience tailored to you and your pet’s specific needs and lifestyle.

DR. KRISTEN GIBSON

Owner / Veterinarian
Dr. Gibson's Bio

Why did you become a veterinarian?

I have always loved animals, but it was really two things that sparked my dream of becoming a vet when I was younger. The first was my family dog, Max. He taught me so much about compassion, unconditional love, trust, and patience. The second was a documentary by a veterinary college. Watching the veterinarians, veterinary technicians and students work together to save the lives of animals solidified that dream for me. From then on, I knew that I would spend my life caring for the health and well-being of animals.

What do you love most about your profession?

There are so many things that I love about this profession. I love being an advocate for the welfare of our pets. I love the challenge of figuring out what each patient needs to help them live the best quality of life possible. I love helping to nurture and strengthen the human-animal bond between pets and their families. And I especially love the relationships that I get to form with my patients and their families year after year.

What are your goals when you meet clients and patients?

Whether I am meeting a patient and their family for the first time, or we’ve known each other for years, I strive to create a caring and trusting relationship with both patient and client. At every visit, I aim to ensure that my patients feel safe and comfortable and that their families leave with the knowledge, tools, and confidence to care for their pet’s every need.

I know how important and loved each patient is to their families. My goal is to work together with clients to develop a health plan that fits their lifestyle and allows their pet to live the best and healthiest life possible.

Do you have any pets?

I currently have one amazing fur-child. Her name is Phyllis – an adorable and energetic Old English Sheepdog!

What does life look like outside of veterinary medicine?

When I’m not at the clinic, you’ll find me chasing after my two young kids, Emily and Zachary, alongside my husband, Kyle. We spend as much time as we can with friends and family and enjoy getting outside as much as possible.

Dr. Heather burnett

DR. HEATHER BURNETT

Veterinarian

Dr. Burnett's Bio

Why did you become a veterinarian?

I have wanted to be a veterinarian ever since I was a child. When asked in kindergarten what I wanted to be when I grew up, I wrote “veterinarian”. I grew up around animals and that’s where my love for them started. I watched many veterinary TV shows when I was growing up and loved the mystery of medical cases. The veterinarians were able to figure out the diagnoses to get the pets feeling better and home with their families. Veterinarians combine medicine and compassion which allows us to have a positive impact on both the pets we treat and their human family. 

What do you love most about your profession?

I love forming bonds with clients so that we can work together on keeping their pets healthy throughout their lives. I have the opportunity to alleviate suffering, promote healing and strengthen the human animal bond. Whether it’s diagnosing a medical condition, performing surgery or providing guidance on preventative care, I find satisfaction in knowing I’ve made a positive difference. 

What are your goals when you meet clients and patients?

My goals are to work with clients to ensure the health and well-being of the animals under my care. I aim to build trust and maintain open communication with clients. Through a strong partnership, I want them to feel confident in the care their pets receive and educated about treatment options. 

Do you have any pets?

I have 2 furry family members! I adopted my cat Percy in 2023, he is both feisty and extremely cuddly. My rescue dog Arthur was added to the family in 2024 and he keeps me on my toes with his antics!

What does life look like outside of veterinary medicine?

I’ve been going to Waterton every year since I was a child and now I spend as much time there as I can. Plus I spend a lot of time outside walking my dog.
I am also an avid reader and spend a lot of time curled up with a good book. 

MICHELLE COOK

Office Manager

Ms. Cook's Bio
Michelle has been working at Highlands since 2007, starting as a receptionist but moving into the role of office manager in 2015. While most of her days are now spent behind the scenes, you’ll still see her sneak up front to fill in for the reception team or to come up to chat with clients. She loves all aspects of this job, but client care is her passion and she loves getting to know people, hearing their stories, and making them feel like family. Outside of work, Michelle runs a busy household alongside her husband Shaun but loves everything about being a mom to their three sons, Seth, Eli, and Cohen, and fur kids: Myrtle, the old English sheepdog, and Holly, her orange tabby rescue kitty. Michelle loves to read, bake/cook, watch movies, work out, and spend time in the beautiful Lethbridge coulees.

JAYCEE COOK

Registered Veterinary Technologist

Ms. Cook's Bio
Jaycee joined our team in January 2022 and has been the perfect addition to our Highlands Pet Hospital family. Jaycee graduated from Lakeland College in 2012 and has spent the last 9 ½ years working at a mixed animal practice in Lloydminster before making the move here to Lethbridge. Jaycee’s favourite part about being an RVT is nutrition! She especially loves using proper nutrition to help our patients reach their weight loss goals! Jaycee also enjoys dentistry – the before and after transformations, both the appearance of the teeth and the pet’s quality of life post-dental procedure, make it incredibly rewarding! When she’s not working, Jaycee is home spending time with her family and their dog Ivy. They love to go camping together and travel as often as they can to go visit family. Jaycee also loves to spend time outdoors in her garden, or knitting in the cooler months!
Julie

JULIE EPP

Registered Veterinary Technologist

Ms. Epp's Bio

Julie graduated from the Animal Health Technology Program at Olds College in 2022 and joined our Highlands Pet Hospital team in October 2022. Her favourite thing about being a RVT is the surgical aspect of it because she loves seeing up close how all of the anatomy works together. Anesthesia is one of her favourite duties that she gets to perform daily. Julie is a huge extrovert and loves getting to meet and know our amazing clients! She loves that this job is always changing and that we are always learning new techniques and more ways to improve the care of pets, so no day is ever the same! When she is not at work, Julie loves spending time with her husband Christian and their animals. Their golden retriever Theodore and one-eyed kitty named Tinkerbell. She enjoys being outdoors and being active, whether it is going on a hike, camping, snowboarding or rollerblading with the dogs! If there are people (and pets) around, Julie is in her happy place! Give her a good game of volleyball or basketball and a room full of fun, competitive people and she will flourish!

Madison Korethoski

Registered Veterinary Technologist

Ms. Korethoski's Bio

Madison joined our Highlands Pet Hospital team in May of 2023. She graduated from the Animal Health Technology program at Olds College in 2021. Before she became a RVT, Madison spent six years working in various boarding and shelter facilities which is a testament to her dedication and love of animals. Madison’s favorite part of being a RVT is providing quality care to our patients and support for our clients. She loves that there are constant opportunities to learn new skills and gain more knowledge. When she’s not at work, Madison loves spending time with her husband Hayden, their cat Cleo and their two rescue dogs: Frankie (a Shar Pei/Border Collie X) and Tchai (a Chihuahua/Border Collie X). She also enjoys photography, reading and baking.

Erin Buck

Registered Veterinary Technologist

Ms. Erin Buck's Bio
Erin graduated from the Veterinary Technology program at Olds College in 2025. She joined the Highlands team in November 2025. Before becoming an RVT, Erin worked with pets in Lethbridge as a dog walker and pet sitter. Erin chose to be an RVT to make a positive impact in the lives of pets and their families by connecting over a shared love of animals. She is excited to keep learning new skills, especially in dentistry and anesthesia. When she is not working, Erin enjoys spending time with her family, friends, and partner, Carter. While they don’t currently have any pets of their own, Erin is hoping that she can add a dog (or two!) to the family soon! In the meantime, she enjoys spending time with her parents’ rescue Border Collie x, Max. Her hobbies include watching movies, painting, crocheting, and participating in community music ensembles.

MARIE HARA

Technician Assistant

Ms. Hara's Bio
Marie joined our Highlands Pet Hospital team as our technician assistant in the summer of 2021. She moved here from the US in 2019, having worked in veterinary hospitals for the past 10 years in both the New York City and San Francisco bay area. Marie’s favorite part of veterinary medicine is getting to spend time with a variety of animals every day! She’s amazing at holding and calming our more fractious feline patients. Marie is a pet mom to a couple different critters! A feisty feline named Archibald, who was rescued from the Lethbridge Animal Shelter and another kitty named Fredrick who was found with traumatic injuries and surrendered to the clinic and then adopted by Marie. The two of them keep her busy!! In her downtime Marie loves PC gaming with her husband – she especially loves survival games! She’s also amazing at drawing! If you’ve been the recipient of one of our puppy/kitten packs, many of the pictures in the informational handouts are courtesy of Marie’s incredible talent!!

Brenna Malchow

Administrative Assistant

Ms. Malchow's Bio
Brenna joined our Highlands Pet Hospital family in September of 2021, and we appreciate her soft-spoken, calm, and compassionate disposition. Brenna grew up surrounded by all types of pets, and her passion for animals led her to graduate from the Veterinary Medical Receptionist program at Olds College in 2014. Since graduating, she has gained many years of experience working in both small and mixed animal practices, and she always looks forward to helping pets and their people every day. When she’s not at the clinic, she can be found shopping for plants to add to her collection, out running – training for races, planning her next trip to New York to see her beloved broadway shows, or spending time with her new addition, a pomeranian named Copper!
Cierra Kohls

Cierra Kohls

Administrative Assistant

Ms. Kohls's Bio

Cierra became a part of the Highlands Pet Hospital team in July 2025. Before joining us, she worked on the emergency side of veterinary medicine as a receptionist, after completing the Veterinary Office Assistant program at Bow Valley College in Calgary. Born and raised in Saskatchewan, Cierra has since settled in town with her boyfriend and sister. She completed her studies online while working and caring for her two rescue dogs — Aqua, a Heeler, Collie, Husky mix, and Sadie, a German Shepherd, Husky mix. While her pups love the snow and cooler weather, Cierra enjoys traveling to warmer destinations around the world. Having grown up surrounded by animals of all kinds — from snakes, frogs, and geckos to rabbits, cows, and everything in between — Cierra has always had a deep appreciation for animals big and small. Her favorite part of her role is interacting with patients, though her warm and approachable customer service skills make for a great welcoming to the clinic.

KEVIN (BACON)

Clinic Angel (2009-2025)

Kevin's Bio
Kevin became part of our Highlands family in March 2017. He was surrendered to us as “Abby” because of recurring health concerns that his elderly owner could no longer manage. Initially, we had planned to get Kevin’s health issues under control and then find a new family for him. It wasn’t long, though, before Kevin worked his way into the hearts of all staff members, and parting with him was no longer an option.

Kevin spent almost nine wonderful years with our Highlands team, passing away in December 2025. His endearing and quirky personality will be remembered and missed by all the team members and clients who loved him over the years.

ARIANNA

Clinic Angel (1999-2017)
Arianna's Bio
This beautiful girl came to us from the Lethbridge and District Humane Society shortly after Highlands Pet Hospital opened in 1999. Sadly, Arianna passed away during the summer of 2017, but we know her sweet spirit will be a part of Highlands Pet Hospital forever.