Meet Our Team!
Meet the veterinarians and team of Northern Oak Animal Hospital! We’re pleased to provide exceptional vet care for your pets!
Get to Know Our Veterinary Team
DVM Owners
Dr. Carley Stewardson
Dr. Rachel Laird De Groot
Dr. Jamie McGill Worsley
DVM Associates
Dr. Melissa Davies
Dr. Shannon Luckham-Pickard
Management Team
Talia
Brooke
Wellness RVTs
Registered Veterinary Technicians with specialty training to provide preventative care and administer vaccinations
To learn more about what our Wellness RVTs do, click here.
Registered Veterinary Technicians
RVT in Training
Customer Service Representatives
Animal Care Attendants
Jess
ACA
Education/experience:
Jess attended the University of Guelph for the Zoology program. She also plans to attend Lambton College for the Sterile Processing Course in the near future!
Area of interest:
Jess enjoys helping with appointments, whether it’s assisting on surgery days or helping with diagnostics for appointments.
Outside of work, Jess enjoys reading and watching movies.
One interesting fact/comment/common quote:
Favourite quote: “Angry is Sad’s bodyguard.”
Maria-Teresa
CSR
Education/experience:
MT attended the veterinary technician program at Sheridan College.
Area of interest:
MT loves being able to see our clients’ familiar faces and being a part of helping patients feel better.
Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family, friends and her dog.
Interesting Fact:
An interesting fact about MT is that she is fluent in Italian and is a mom to twin boys!
Avah
CSR
Education/experience:
Avah attended Lambton College for the office administration program.
Area of interest:
Avah enjoys showing her quarter horse in events across Ontario.
Cari
CSR
Education/experience:
Cari attended Seneca College (King Campus) for the 911 Communications and Dispatching program. She is interested in pursuing the veterinary technician program in the future.
Area of interest:
At work, Cari enjoys seeing unwell patients come into the clinic to get care and start to feel better. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her friends and family!
Favourite Quote:
Life doesn’t require us to be the best, only that we try our best…Good things take time.
Sandy
CSR
Education/experience:
Sandy attended Fanshawe College for the Office Administration for Medical Services program.
Area of interest:
Sandy loves being active, whether that means swimming at the beach, kayaking, doing yoga or hiking.
Favourite Quote:
The more grateful you are, the more beauty you see.
Kira
ACA
Education/experience:
Kira just recently graduated high school and plans to go to post-secondary school to become a Veterinary Technician.
Area of interest:
Kira loves being able to form relationships with clients and their pets.
Outside of work, Kira enjoys rodeo riding with her horse and is a talented artist!
One interesting fact/comment/common quote:
Favourite quote: “A day without a friend is like a pot without a single drop of honey left inside.” – Winnie the Pooh
Suzanne
CSR
Education/experience:
Suz attended the University of Mount Allison in New Brunswick for Biology. She also attended the Agricultural College of Truro in Nova Scotia for Aquaculture. She has certificates in Canine Nutrition and Animal Welfare as well.
Area of interest:
Suz’s favourite part of working at a vet clinic is seeing familiar faces when clients and their pets come in, as well as getting to see a problem become diagnosed with a positive outcome.
Outside of work, Suz loves to spend time with her family and her French Bulldogs out by the pool and BBQ.
One interesting fact/comment/common quote:
Favourite quote: “I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship.”
Dianne
CSR
Education/experience:
Dianne just recently completed the Veterinary Assistant program through Lambton College.
Area of interest:
Dianne loves being able to see a patient that has been unwell leaving the clinic in brighter spirits after seeing our clinic staff.
Outside of work, Dianne loves to spend time with her grandson and go for walks.
One interesting fact/comment/common quote:
Favourite quote: You must tell yourself, no matter how hard it is, or how hard it gets, I’m going to make it.”
Christina
CSR
Education/experience:
Christina attended Lambton College for the Social Service Worker program.
Area of interest:
Christina loves animals and enjoys making connections with clients and their pets in the clinic!
Outside of work, Christina enjoys hanging out with her friends and family.
One interesting fact/comment/common quote:
Favourite quote: “The best way out is through.”
Taya
ACA
Education/experience:
Taya graduated from the University of Guelph with a Bachelor of Science in Zoology. Currently, Taya is enrolled in the Veterinary Technician program at the University of Guelph – Ridgetown Campus.
Area of interest:
Taya loves meeting all the clients and their pets in the clinic. She also loves that every day there is something new to learn and experience at work!
Outside of work, Taya likes to go for hikes and is an excellent baker!
One interesting fact/comment/common quote:
An interesting fact: Taya grew up on a small hobby farm in New Brunswick and she has a cat named Spider.
Sara
RVT Lead
Education/experience:
Sara attended Seneca College for the Veterinary Technician program.
Area of interest:
Sara’s favourite part of her job is getting to be in the exam rooms with clients and their pets, answering questions they may have, and providing a positive experience from the first interaction!
Outside of work, Sara loves to spend time with her kids and take care of all her furry friends!
One interesting fact/comment/common quote:
Favourite quote: “Just keep swimming.”
Lauren
RVT Lead
Education/experience:
Lauren attended the University of Guelph – Ridgetown Campus for the Veterinary Technician program.
Area of interest:
Lauren enjoys getting to focus on emergency medicine and rehabilitation within the clinic!
Outside of work, Lauren spends time being a hockey and skating mom! She also enjoys playing with her dogs and travelling.
One interesting fact/comment/common quote:
An interesting fact about Lauren: If she could have her own pack of wiener dogs, she 100% would!
Janilee
RVT
Education/experience:
Janilee attended the University of Guelph – Ridgetown Campus for the Veterinary Technician program.
Area of interest:
Janilee enjoys getting to assist on surgery days and doing laboratory work like blood collection.
Outside of work, Janilee likes to garden and spend time with her family.
One interesting fact/comment/common quote:
An interesting fact about Janilee is that she plays the piano and received the highest level you can get to without becoming a piano instructor!
Kylie
RVT
Education/experience:
Kylie attended the University of Guelph (Ridgetown Campus) for the veterinary technician program and graduated in 2024.
Area of interest:
Kylie loves all things horse related, such as trail riding and barrel racing, and enjoys spending time outdoors with her family and friends.
Interesting Fact:
An interesting fact about Kylie is that her family owns a hobby farm that includes four horses, over forty layer hens, four barn cats and one dog!
Brooke
RVT Lead
Education/experience:
Brooke attended St. Clair College for the Veterinary Technician program. She is also a member of the Rabies Response Program through the OAVT (Ontario Association of Veterinary Technicians).
Area of interest:
Brooke’s favourite part of working in a vet clinic is the pharmacology aspect of the job!
Outside of work, Brooke loves to watch baseball and hang out with her family.
One interesting fact/comment/common quote:
Favourite quote: “I took a deep breath and listened to the old brag of my heart. I am, I am, I am.”
Brianne
RVT
Education/experience:
Brianne attended the University of Guelph – Ridgetown Campus for the Veterinary Technician program.
Area of interest:
Brianne enjoys assisting on surgery days and getting to do blood draws in the lab!
Outside of work, Brianne enjoys playing sports such as hockey and baseball.
One interesting fact/comment/common quote:
Favourite quote: “Today you are you, that is truer than true, there is no one alive, that is youer than you!”
Anne
RVT
Education/experience (degrees/diplomas and year, doesn’t have to be veterinary related):
Anne attended St. Lawrence College for the Veterinary Technician program.
Area of interest (within vet med or out):
Anne enjoys assisting on surgery days the most!
Outside of work, Anne loves to hang out with her son and her family.
One interesting fact/comment/common quote:
Favourite quote: “You’re braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.”
Anna
RVT
Education/experience:
Anna attended the University of Guelph for her Bachelor’s Degree in Science and Animal Biology. She also attended the University of Guelph – Ridgetown Campus for the Veterinary Technician program.
Area of interest:
Anna enjoys learning about different animal behaviours and getting to take X-rays!
Outside of school, Anna likes to play video games and read!
One interesting fact/comment/common quote:
Favourite quote: “Problems are solved by those that see them.”
Abbie
RVT
Education/experience:
Abbie attended the University of Guelph – Ridgetown Campus for the Veterinary Technician program.
Area of interest:
Abbie loves to assist with surgery procedures and that she is always learning new things while working in the clinic!
Outside of work, Abbie loves to read and go horseback riding.
One interesting fact/comment/common quote:
Favourite quote: “Happiness is the key to life. It doesn’t matter how much you have, what you spend, make, drive or wear. It all means nothing if you are not happy within yourself. Happiness is the richest thing we will ever own.”
Brooke
Office Manager
Education/experience:
Brooke attended Lambton College for the Photography program. She also has a diploma in Freelance Writing and Literature through the International Career School of Canada.
Area of interest:
Brooke loves being able to learn new things at work every day! She loves getting to cuddle all the cute pets that come into the clinic and enjoys getting to assist with the behind-the-scenes tasks that help run the day-to-day operations!
Outside of work, Brooke loves going to horse shows and going on trail rides with her horse. She also is a big reader and loves spending time with her dogs.
One interesting fact/comment/common quote:
Favourite quote: “Some friends have to walk on four legs to carry around such big hearts.”
Talia
RVT, Practice Manager
Education/experience:
Talia graduated from the Veterinary Technology at Ridgetown College in 2014.
Area of interest:
Talia’s area of interest is emergency medicine.
One interesting fact/comment/common quote:
Favourite quote: “Easy peasy lemon squeezy” (usually used after explaining something very complicated).
Dr. Shannon Luckham-Pickard
Education/experience:
Dr. Shannon attended the Ontario Veterinary College (OVC) for her degree in Veterinary Medicine. She graduated in 2008.
Area of interest:
Dr. Shannon loves to be able to build relationships with clients and their furry friends.
Outside of work, Dr. Shannon loves hanging out at the barn and riding her horse, Penny.
One interesting fact/comment/common quote:
Favourite quote: “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”
Dr. Melissa Davies
Education/experience:
Dr. Davies attended Laurier University in Waterloo for an Undergrad Degree in Biology and then went on to Queen’s University to complete her Master’s Degree in Neuroscience. She attended the Ontario Veterinary College (OVC) for Veterinary Medicine and graduated with her degree in 2011.
Area of interest:
Dr. Davies’ favourite part of being a vet is getting to perform dental procedures! She loves that we focus on all areas of the body in our clinics, not just one area of expertise! She likes getting to build strong vet-client relationships and meeting all our cute patients!
Outside of work, Dr. Davies enjoys curling and spending time with her husband and pets!
One interesting fact/comment/common quote:
Favourite quote: “Attitude is the ‘little’ thing that makes a big difference.”
Dr. Jamie McGill Worsley
Education/experience:
Dr. Jamie attended the University of Guelph for a degree in Molecular Biology and the Ontario Veterinary College (OVC) for Veterinary Medicine. She graduated from OVC in 2007.
Area of interest:
Dr. Jamie enjoys spending time in the surgery suite, specifically performing orthopedic surgeries. She also is our resident small mammal veterinarian.
Outside of work, Dr. Jamie is an avid runner!
One interesting fact/comment/common quote:
Favourite quote: “Run when you can, walk if you have to, crawl if you must; just never give up.”
Dr. Rachel Laird De Groot
Education/experience:
Dr. Rachel attended the University of Guelph for her Undergrad in Science – Animal Biology and graduated in 2002. She also attended the Ontario Veterinary College (OVC) for Veterinary Medicine and graduated in 2006.
Area of interest:
Dr. Rachel has a special interest in imaging, especially non-invasive ultrasounds, which she performs here at our clinic. She also enjoys internal medicine.
Outside of work, Dr. Rachel loves to spend time with her boys!
One interesting fact/comment/common quote:
Favourite quote: “Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.”
Dr. Carley Stewardson
Education/experience:
Dr. Carley attended the University of Guelph for her BSc Honors in Animal Biology. She also attended the Ontario Veterinary College (OVC) and graduated in 2017.
Area of interest:
Dr. Carley’s favourite part of working in a vet clinic is the diversity of each day, but she especially loves getting to perform surgery and doing advanced dentistry procedures.
Outside of work, Dr. Carley loves all things equestrian!
One interesting fact/comment/common quote:
An interesting fact about Dr. Carley is: she graduated from vet school with a newborn and wrote her final exams while in labour!