MEET OUR CARING TEAM OF PROFESSIONAL VETERINARIANS & MANAGEMENT
WEST PARK ANIMAL HOSPITAL PARTNERS
BORYS PAKUSH, DVM
Partner Veterinarian
As a partner of West Park Animal Hospital, Dr. Pakush concentrates on the daily operations of the practice and takes pride in providing excellent service to all of his patients. Dr. Pakush and his wife, Leslie, have two children, Maksym and Natalia.
R. KANE HENDERSON, DVM
Partner Veterinarian
Dr. Henderson is married with two children, Alexys and Brayden, and lives in Medina. He has a yellow lab, a chocolate lab and a cat. In his off time, he enjoys spending time with his family, doing yard work, and enjoying the outdoors.
KARI SWEDENBORG, DVM
Partner Veterinarian
She currently resides in Rocky River with her two children. In her free time, she enjoys time at the lake, volunteering for JDRF, gardening, watching hockey, and lacrosse, reading, Broadway shows, and playing piano!
MEGAN CULLER, DVM
Partner Veterinarian
She currently resides in Olmsted Falls with her husband, Tom, and her daughters Claire, Caitlin, and Caroline. She also has one dog named Bodhi and two cats named Coogee and Calvin. In her free time, she enjoys camping, spending time with her family, and enjoying the outdoors.
SCOTT ZIELINSKI, DVM
Partner Veterinarian
He lives in Solon with his wife, Kathleen; son, Kelan; two daughters, Hazel and Josie; dogs, Pedro and Edward; and cat, Pearl. In his free time, he enjoys boating, fishing, and golfing.
ASSOCIATE DOCTORS
NICOLE PLANTNER, DVM
Associate Veterinarian
ELIZABETH LORENZ, DVM
Associate Veterinarian
Dr. Beth Lorenz was born and raised in Northeast Ohio. She graduated from The University of Findlay with a Bachelor of Science degree in 2007 and from The Ohio State University with her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in 2011. Her interests include internal medicine, dermatology, and feline behavior issues.
Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two children as well as hiking, visiting National Parks, gardening and reading. Their four-legged kids include one dog, one cat, two tortoises, two geckos, and four hermit crabs.
Kristie Thompson, DVM
Associate Veterinarian
Dr. Kristie Thompson grew up in northeast Ohio, received her Bachelor of Science in biology from The Pennsylvania State University in 2000 and her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from The Ohio State University in 2006. Dr. Thompson worked at West Park Animal Hospital her first year out of veterinary school and then moved to the Kruger National Park in South Africa with her husband where she lived for thirteen years before moving back to Ohio in 2020. Dr. Thompson received her registration to practice in South Africa in 2008 and while there, practiced in mixed animal clinics and practiced wildlife medicine.
Dr. Thompson is excited to be back at West Park Animal Hospital. She currently resides on the east side of Cleveland with her husband, Charles, their three children Andrew, Zoe and Kyle and two cats Poppy and Turtle. In her free time, Dr. Thompson enjoys traveling, exercising, baking and spending time with her family.
Michelle Leathem, DVM
Associate Veterinarian
Outside of work Dr. Leathem enjoys baking, gardening, and traveling along with spending time with her husband, new baby boy, 4 cats, and 1 dog.
KRISTEN MIERZWIAK, DVM
Associate Veterinarian
She currently lives in Medina with her husband Aaron and three sons. They also share their home with two dogs, Max and Owen; and three cats, Mo, Toby, and Sage. In her spare time she enjoys cooking, campfires, and hiking in Northeast Ohio.
Rebecca Lazarus, DVM
Associate Veterinarian
Before joining West Park Animal Hospital in 2019, Dr Lazarus practiced in Springfield, Ohio and South Euclid, Ohio. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her dog Truly and 3 cats Lucie, Vinnie, and Peepers. She also enjoys spending time outdoors, traveling, cooking, and cheering on the Cleveland Indians in the summer.
Anna Miller, DVM
Associate Veterinarian
Currently, she resides in Ohio City with her husband and her dog named Limerick. In her free time, she enjoys traveling and spending time with family and friends.
Natalie Sywyj, DVM
Associate Veterinarian
Dr. Natalie is happy to return home to northeast Ohio with her dog Sadie and her cats Delilah and Darcy. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, working out, reading, and watching Browns football in the fall.
MELISSA ROHRS, DVM
Associate Veterinarian
In her free time, she enjoys various artistic endeavors, sewing clothes with mixed success, and starting (but rarely completing) home improvement projects. She shares a home with her husband, two German shepherds (Panzer and Louie), three bunnies (Ingrid and Biggest Bunny, and Humphrey), and an assortment of goldfish.
Elayne Dombroski, DVM
Associate Veterinarian
Dr. Elayne Dombroski grew up in Poughkeepsie, New York. She graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Animal Science from Cornell University and then went on to obtain her Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from Tufts University in 2018. Immediately after graduation, she completed a small animal rotating internship in Long Island, New York.
Prior to moving to Ohio, Dr. Dombroski has worked in general practice in New York and Pennsylvania. She recently received her certification in veterinary acupuncture from the Chi Institute in Reddick, Florida. Her special interests include feline medicine, veterinary acupuncture, and dermatology.
Melissa Gugliotti, DVM
Associate Veterinarian
Dr. Melissa Gugliotti was born in Cleveland and grew up on the east side. After graduating from The Ohio State University with her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in 2010, she moved back and has lived in Lakewood since. Dr. Melissa has worked in Cleveland for the past 14 years with special veterinary interests in feline medicine, dermatology, and internal medicine.
Outside of work she enjoys running, biking, reading, and spending time with her family and friends. Dr. Melissa, her husband Dave and 9 year old son share their home with 4 very spoiled cats that are quite entertaining. As a family, they like to head out for adventures together in the metroparks, explore museums, play tennis, board games, and love watching football together! They also really enjoy gardening, cooking and traveling!
Nancy Cross, DVM
Associate Veterinarian
Dr. Nancy Cross grew up in Shaker Heights before earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from Miami University and a Juris Doctor degree from Arizona State University. After practicing law for a few years, she became a stay-at-home mother to her two sons. While her boys were growing up, she founded and co-managed an animal shelter in Shaker Heights. When her younger son went to college and she was ready to reenter the work force, Dr. Cross decided that she would rather be a veterinarian than a lawyer, so she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from the University of Akron and a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Cornell University in 2020. Dr. Cross’s special interests include feline medicine, pain management and preventative medicine.
Dr. Cross currently resides in Boston Heights with her husband, Jeffery, son, Alexander, daughter-in-law, Xiaojing, four cats, Thumbelina, Athena, Mulan, Yin Yang and one dog, Tucker. In her free time, she enjoys reading, spending time with her family and is an avid gardener.
McKenzie Hallof, DVM
Associate Veterinarian
Dr. McKenzie Hallof was born and raised in Medina, Ohio. She graduated from the University of Findlay in 2019 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Pre-Veterinary Medicine with minors in both Biology and Chemistry. She then attended The Ohio State University and earned her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in 2024. Although she is a new doctor, she has been part of the West Park Animal Hospital team for over 10 years.
Dr. Hallof’s veterinary interests include surgery, dentistry, and preventative medicine including guidance on proper pet care practices and training.
She resides in Medina, Ohio with her husband Andrew and their whippet Lennox. Outside of the office, Dr. Hallof enjoys having fun with family and friends, horseback riding, skiing, dog shows and competitive dog sports.
Cassie Knoll, DVM
Associate Veterinarian
Dr. Cassie Knoll was born and raised on a sixty-head farrow-to-finish hog farm in rural Seneca County, nestled between Willard and Tiffin. In high school she worked part-time and summers at her local animal hospital in Willard.
In 2008, Dr. Cassie earned her Bachelor of Science from the University of Findlay and ventured south to pursue her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine at Mississippi State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. After four years of dedicated study, she graduated and returned to Ohio in 2012, and has been in the greater Cleveland area since.
She enjoys staying in to read books and watching movies with her husband Patrick and 2 furry felines (Norm and Cliff) as well as getting out and touching grass with her step children and friends, especially around our Great Lake and the big CLE.
Dr. Cassie is very excited to join the WPAH team and can’t wait to help with the care of your furry (or bald) family. These days she sticks with dogs and cats, but has been known to see the occasional small mammal from time to time.
Cheers!
Jordan Dawson, DVM
Associate Veterinarian
Dr. Jordan Dawson was born and raised in Copley and Akron, Ohio. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science and Marine Science from Wittenberg University in 2020. She went on to earn her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from St. George’s University in 2025, completing her clinical training year at Michigan State University.
Dr. Jordan has a passion for providing compassionate care to her patients, with special interests in emergency medicine, neurology, rehabilitation, anesthesia and analgesia, and hospice/palliative care.
Now residing in Cleveland, Ohio, Dr. Jordan enjoys spending her free time with loved ones, exploring new cultures through travel, and diving into a good book. She also has a talent for baking sweet treats and unwinding with her favorite Netflix shows. An avid water enthusiast, she loves activities like scuba diving and sailing whenever she gets the chance.
EMERGENCY DOCTORS
Yesenia Garcia-Vega, DVM
Emergency Veterinarian
Dr. Yesenia Garcia-Vega was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. She graduated from Cal Poly Pomona with a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science and went on to earn her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from The Ohio State University in 2022. Her veterinary interests include preventative medicine, emergency medicine, neurology, dermatology and soft tissue surgery.
Dr. Yesenia is excited to make the move to the Cleveland area along with her husband, their basset hound Droopy and their cat Pirata. In her spare time, she enjoys binge watching Disney movies, exploring local restaurants and hosting game nights with family and friends.
Nicole Sypert, DVM
Emergency Veterinarian
Dr. Nicole Sypert was born and raised in North Olmsted, Ohio. She graduated from The Ohio State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Sciences with a minor in Pharmaceutical Sciences and from Midwestern University in Arizona with her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in 2022. Her interests include emergency and feline medicine, neurology, and anesthesiology.
Currently, she resides in the Cleveland area with her husband. They have a one-eyed rescue dachshund mix named Copper as well two rescue cats named Spooky and Stout. In her spare time, Dr. Sypert enjoys crafting, baking, and traveling.
Sophie Cressman, DVM
Emergency Veterinarian
Dr. Sophie Cressman grew up in Ohio and went on to received her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from The Ohio State University in 2022. Her interests include emergency and shelter medicine with a special interest in international volunteerism.
In her free time, she enjoys traveling the globe to explore different cultures (and food), spending time with loved ones, and going on outdoor adventures!
Allison Wise, MVB
Emergency Veterinarian
Dr. Allison Wise was born and raised in Westlake, Ohio. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Sciences from The Ohio State University. She went on to earn a veterinary degree from University College Dublin (Ireland) in 2022. Her veterinary interests include emergency medicine and surgery. She enjoys spending time on the lake, cheering on Cleveland sports, and traveling in her spare time.
Santiago Bustamante, DVM
Emergency Veterinarian
Dr. Santiago Bustamante was born and raised in Colombia, which allows him to provide fluent care to Spanish speaking clients. He is a graduate of The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine Class of 2022. Prior to attending veterinary school, he worked as a dog trainer and then a veterinary technician, allowing him to gain insight of the diverse facets involved in pet care.
Dr. Bustamante enjoys the varied challenges presented by the unpredictable nature of emergency medicine, though he has a special interest in pain/stress management and behavior modification. When not working, he enjoys going for nature hikes, playing video games and trying out new food recipes.
Part-time / Relief EMERGENCY DOCTORS
KIMBERLY PARKER, DVM
Emergency Veterinarian
Dr. Kimberly Parker was born and raised in Northeastern Ohio. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree from Albion College in 2000 and her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from The Ohio State University in 2006. She joined West Park Animal Hospital as an emergency veterinarian in 2008. She relocated to beautiful Arizona for 1.5 years, but returned home in 2018 to rejoin the emergency staff.
Dr. Parker is passionate about hospice and end-of-life care for companion animals. In October 2017, she became the first veterinarian in Ohio to become certified in Animal Hospice and Palliative Care (CHPV) through the International Association for Animal Hospice and Palliative Care (IAAHPC). Dr. Parker resides in Wellington, Ohio with her husband James. They share their home with many critters including 6 dogs, 3 cats, 2 cockatoos, and a lizard. In her spare time, she enjoys attending live music events and traveling.
JENNIFER KINNEY, DVM
Emergency Veterinarian
Preventative care and Emergency Medicine are Dr. Kinney’s primary passion in this practice. Outside of the work, Dr. Kinney’s husband and five children keep her busy with after school activities and a doodle named Coconut.
Christine Danish, DVM
Emergency Veterinarian
She has a Cavalier King Charles spaniel named Charlotte and a black cat named Sable both rescued. When she is not at work, she enjoys being outdoors, live music and spending time with her family.
Management Team
Callan | Hospital Administrator
Hospital Administrator
Jason | Human Resources Manager
HR Manager
Lacey | Customer Service Representative Manager
CSR Manager
Brittney | Pharmacy Manager
Pharmacy Manager
Katie | Head Daytime Registered Veterinary Technician
Daytime Head RVT
Lexy | Head Emergency Registered Veterinary Technician
ER Head RVT
EMILY | Head Daytime Veterinary Assistant
Head Daytime Vet Assistant
Faith | Head Emergency Veterinary Assistant
Head ER Vet Assistant
Julio | Animal Care Team Manager
ACT Manager
Colleen | Housekeeping Manager
Housekeeping Manager
Tiffany | Marketing & Media Manager
Marketing & Media Manager
Heather, RVT | Inventory Manager
Inventory Manager
Andrea | Diagnostics Manager
Diagnostics Manager
Sam | Medical Records & Rescue Coordinator
Medical Records & Rescue Coordinator
ABOUT US
Thank you for your Cleveland Hot List votes. We were voted #1 again for the 5th year in a row! We are happy to continue to serve the community and appreciate your support.
