Our Veterinarian Team!

Originally from St. Paul, MN, Dr. Daniel Lewer earned his B.A. in Biology from Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, MN. After undergraduate schooling, Daniel followed a lifelong passion for studying marine mammals. He did so for almost three years, where his main job was to photograph and assist in the deployment of tracking devices on great whales, seals, and sea lions. His passion for marine mammals and cats and dogs carried him into veterinary school, where he obtained his doctorate in veterinary medicine at Oregon State University in 2008. Upon graduating from OSU, Dr. Lewer practiced both within a mixed animal practice on the beautiful Oregon Coast and provided veterinary care for all the animals at the Oregon Coast Aquarium. Dr. Lewer has subsequently treated and published on how to treat species of all varieties, including but not limited to cats, dogs, seals, sea lions, sea otters, and various avian and reptilian species. He is a member of the Oregon Veterinary Medical Association, the American Veterinary Medical Association, the International Association for Aquatic Animal Medicine, the Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society, and the American Animal Hospital Association.

Dr. Emily Kalenius is a lifelong Oregonian. She graduated first in her class from Oregon State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2008. She has lived in the Corvallis area since moving with her husband to start veterinary school in 2004. She has two daughters, a dog, a cat, and a hamster. Dr. Kalenius’ areas of interest include emergency and critical care, internal medicine, cardiology, and ultrasound. Dr. Kalenius started at Willamette Veterinary Hospital in Corvallis in 2013 and continues in her capacity as Medical Director there. She was thrilled to be part of the Wilvet expansion into Salem. As an owner and Chief Medical Officer at Wilvet Salem, Dr. Kalenius enjoys working as an ER clinician, training interns, coordinating continuing education, and working to continuously improve Wilvet’s high standards of medicine – every patient, every chart, every time! When not at work, you might find Dr. Kalenius enjoying the great outdoors — running in the McDonald Forest, downhill skiing, and hiking with her family.

Dr. Erica Harmon was born on Kodiak Island in Alaska but was raised in Prescott, Arizona. She received a Bachelor of Science degree from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff. She worked as a veterinary technician throughout her undergraduate and doctorate programs. She received her Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from Oregon State University in 2013. She then returned to Arizona for nearly five years, working at a small animal practice in Glendale. After this, she returned to Oregon and has been practicing emergency medicine. She is excited to take on the role of an owner and medical director at Wilvet South, where she can further her goals of supporting a healthy, compassionate veterinary care team to provide emergency and urgent care needs to the pets of the greater Springfield area.

Dr. Harmon shares her home with her partner (he is also a veterinarian) and their three dogs and three cats. She knew from a young age that she had a passion for animals. She enjoys many forms of crafting in her free time, such as crocheting, scrapbooking, and jewelry making/beading. She also enjoys spending time outside with her dogs, fishing, gardening, camping, and lounging around her house with her cats and plants.

Maribel joined our team in June 2010. She was born and raised in Las Vegas, NV. She graduated from Oregon State University with a degree in Zoology. She is the youngest of five children and has had many pets. She is currently sharing her home with her fiancé, Nick, her three cats: Azriel, Booties, and Mau Mau, and her spunky Jack Russell Terrier, Biter.

Dr. Melissa Wilberger was born and raised in Springfield, Oregon, and started her veterinary career as a veterinary assistant after high school. She received her Bachelor of Science from Pacific University in 2006 and completed her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine at Oregon State University in 2012. She soon returned to Springfield and worked in a small animal practice for nine years. There she developed her interests in ultrasound diagnostics, Veterinary Orthopedic Manipulation, and surgery. She has since decided to join Wilvet South to immerse in emergency and urgent care medicine.

Dr. Wilberger and her husband enjoy the antics of 3 children, and their modest zoo consists of dogs, a cat, horses, cows, a turtle, and even a few fish. She enjoys horse riding, playing musical instruments, reading, wakeboarding, and enjoying life with her family.

Bio Coming Soon!

Outside of work, he enjoys biking (dirt and road), hiking, and rock climbing. The most important work he does is doing his best to raise three fun and crazy kids with the help of his tuxedo cat Benji, and his wonderful wife.

CVT

Sonya was born and raised in California. She has worked in numerous clinics all over the United States, but is more than happy to call Oregon her home. She obtained her CVT status in 1987, and has been working as a CVT ever since then. She did take a couple of years off to serve in the United States Navy. She has had multiple pets over the years and they were all rescues. She currently has only 1 four legged kid, her name is Magic. She loves going to the coast during the summer and walking on the beach. In the winter she loves going to the mountains and snowmobiling. When not doing that, she loves doing woodworking.

My name is Hilary Garibay. I am a relief ER/ICU nurse. I’ve been an ER veterinary nurse for the past six years. I am married to my high school sweetheart of 29 years. Have two human kids and one fur child named Ripley. I love veterinary medicine and fur babies!

Sarah is a vet assistant who loves dogs. She has two dogs of her own; a bull terrier Tucker and a German shepherd border collie mix, Cooper. She loves vet med because she loves all the animals she sees. She also loves learning how to help them.

Customer Experience Representative

Sam is new to vet med and started exploring the field last year in Medford, OR. She enjoys the atmosphere of Wilvet South and how everyone is so willing to teach her new things. Her favorite thing so far in vet med is that she gets to see real cases and actually help out with the care of the patients.

Sam is originally from Southern Oregon but moved to Eugene mid-July of this year with her wife Kelci. They have two dogs of their own, a 13-year old McNab and a 7-year old Bullmastiff mix that love camping and exploring the Eugene/Springfield area.

Brooke has worked emergency, speciality, and day practice medicine. Her love for ER medicine has won. Brooke has a horse named Pheonix & a rottweiler named Maive. She is a psychology major. In her free time she loves serving the community by volunteering through shelters and the parks department. In addition she enjoys backpacking, marketing, hiking, and horseback riding. Brooke is also running our blood program, social media, and mental health program!

Veterinary Nurse

Mackenzie Hancock is an animal lover at heart. She grew up in the Eugene area while raising her lab puppy Alice. Seeing Alice grow up ignited her love of all animals. Mackenzie has been in Veterinary Medicine for 3 years and is currently studying to become a Vet nurse. When she isn’t caring for animals, Mackenzie likes hanging out with friends, walking her dog Alice, and traveling. She loves the process of being in a fast-paced environment with animals and seeing the joy on their faces when leaving the clinic.

Bio coming soon!