Meet
Our Veterinary Team!
Meet the Veterinarians & Team of Wilvet South 24 Hr. Urgent Care! We’re pleased to provide exceptional vet care for your pets!
Get to know our team!
Dr. Dan Lewer
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
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. Laura Couser Bennett
Dr. Laura Couser Bennett has been practicing emergency medicine since 2016 and has been at Willamette Veterinary Hospital in Corvallis from May 2018 until the opening of Wilvet South.
Dr. (Couser) Bennett grew up in Tennessee & Georgia and received her undergraduate degree in Biology at Georgia Tech. Craving a change of scenery, she moved to Pullman, WA, to attend veterinary school at Washington State University. She fell in love with the Pacific Northwest, and upon graduation, she moved to the Willamette Valley, where she has been ever since.
Her professional interests include feline medicine & low-stress handling, pain management & anesthesia, surgery, and wound management.
Outside of work, she enjoys reading, gardening, camping, and spending time outside with her husband, Tim. They live in Eugene with their cats Artie, Lonnie, & Diego.
Dr. Erica Harmon
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.
Dr. Amber Schofield
Dr. Schofield’s professional interests include point-of-care ultrasound and its application in triage and case management, as taught by Dr. Greg Lisciandro.
Maribel Martinez
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
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.
Dr. Alcántar
Dr. Craig Seyler
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.
Dr. Mallory Manes
Dr. Mallory Manes was born in Bend, Oregon and raised in La Pine, Oregon. She has always had a passion for animals and was involved in 4-H growing up. She graduated as Valedictorian of her high school and proceeded to receive her Bachelor’s degree in biology with a minor in chemistry from University of Oregon. Throughout her undergraduate degree she worked in the cattery at Greenhill Humane Society in Eugene, Oregon. After graduating U of O she attended Oregon State University and received her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in 2023. She is completing her intern year here at WilVet South to gain as much knowledge as she can in small animal emergency medicine.
Dr. Manes shares her home with her husband, their pup Gryphon, and two cats, Tri-Tip and Gimli. Outside of vet med she enjoys collecting houseplants, baking, reading as many books as possible, and going outdoors on adventures.
Dr. Natalie Jackson
Dr. Jackson loves exploring and living in Oregon with her husband, Dan-who is a small animal veterinarian. They share two great danes: Finn and Huck, three cats- James, Hippo, and Sprout, two rabbits- Cornbread and Pancakes, three goats- Bill, Carol and Steve, and too many chickens. In her free time, Dr. Jackson enjoys gardening, baking, practicing yoga, spending time on the coast, traveling, and frequently goes hiking, camping and paddle boarding on the lake.
Kaylah Tartaglio
Kaylah is excited to be immersed in the veterinary medicine world. She is a science student in college and loves to learn. She is the middle of five children and grew up with various pets. Kaylah is a dog mommy to her sassy and sweet 17-year-old childhood dog, Allie. Kaylah shares a home with Allie and her fiance, Tommy.
Sonya Curtis
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.
Hilary Garibay
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!
Rosie Bullock
Rosie joined Wilvet South as a Veterinary Nurse upon its opening in November 2022. She comes from a history of working in human emergency medicine, public health, and general practice animal medicine. Rosie has been enrolled in a Veterinary Nursing program for three years. She is drawn deeply to veterinary medicine’s ability to offer a meaningful reprieve of injury, discomfort and illness to our furred, scaled, and feathered friends. Rosie grew up in Boston and eventually headed north to Vermont to study environmental health issues and continue waiting for her acceptance letter to wizarding school, where she hoped to train in the care of magical creatures. Rosie then turned west to Oregon, where she has happily lived for ten years. She can usually be found close to a beast, a book, and a double bacon cheeseburger.
Sarah Pruett
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.
Katherine Wyatt-Lopez
Veterinary Nurse
Kat Wyatt-Lopez has had a life long love and fascination with animals of all types (furry, scaly, feathered, and everything in between!) Kat started her career in veterinary medicine in 2013 and it was then she knew she had found her calling. Since then, she strives to help provide the best care possible for every patient, every time. Kat enjoys doing veterinary charity work and has participated in World Vets spay and neuter clinic in Peru and also assisted in surgery for a Trap, Neuter, Release program in El Paso, Texas. Kat is feline friendly certified by the American Association of Feline Practitioners and has been trained in veterinary dental radiology and comprehensive oral health assessment and treatment by the Veterinary Dentistry and Oral Surgery specialty center in New Mexico.
Brooke Taliaferro
Marketing & Mental Health Director
Brooke is a psychology major who started as a nurse in veterinary medicine. She has worked day practice, specialty, and emergency medicine. She has a rottweiler, a chameleon, and a beta. In her free time, you can find Brooke exploring the mountains.
Brooke’s favorite quote is, I believe in ordinary acts of bravery; in the courage that drives one person to stand up for another.” – Veronica Rothe
Julie Preston-Sauter
Bio coming soon!
Jessica
Veterinary Nurse
Bio coming soon!
Ray
Ray is a recent graduate from Oregon State University from the college of Public Health and Human Sciences with an interest in human medicine, however has had a deep love of animals since childhood. They began working in the veterinary field in 2022 at Willamette Veterinary Hospital in general practice and emergency medicine, starting as a receptionist and slowly gaining skills with animal handling and care. Their love of variability has found joy in the diversity of emergency veterinary care and a passion for positive client interactions and experiences.
Lacy
CER
Bio coming soon!
Hayly
CER
Dani
CER
Riane
Born and raised in Texas, now living in Oregon enrolled in school to become a Vet Tech. Riane has always had a special place in her heart for animals, so much so she made the decision to stop eating them at the ripe age of eight. Currently a fur mom to two bunnies, Fern and Missy, and two kitties, Binx and Willow. She is the happiest when around animals from furry to scaly and everything in between.
Having a long history in customer-based jobs starting with traveling with her mum doing antique shows, Riane is excellent with clients and helps them feel as comfortable as possible. Even if it means calling other clinics and getting more information to get your pet the care they need. When not with animals, she loves crafting on her Cricut, getting out into nature, exploring Oregon, eating and spending time with loved ones.
Mary W.
Veterinary Nurse
Mary grew up always having pets in the house, she has had a love of taking care of animals since she can remember. Mary loves being a voice for those who can’t speak for themselves, and the field of veterinary medicine brings her great fulfillment and joy. She moved from the suburbs of southern California to the forest of Oregon in 2018. Mary is currently in school to become a Veterinary Technician and is looking to graduate the course in 2024. She’ll sit for the Veterinary Technician National Exam in 2025. You can find her gardening or hiking the beautiful forests with her husband and daughter in her free time.
Katie
Katie is thrilled to be part of the Wilvet team! She grew up in the LA area training agility dogs and riding horses before moving to Oregon in 2019. She earned a BS in marine biology from the University of Oregon, where she also studied the gut microbiome of African elephants. In her free time, Katie loves scuba diving, crocheting stuffed animals, and spending time with her childhood dog, Allie.
Gabby
Veterinary Assistant
Working with animals has been something I have wanted to pursue my entire life. About a year and a half ago, I was given the opportunity to start that journey at Banfield Burlingame in Portland, OR! I recently moved to Eugene, OR in July and continued my pursuit to find a job where I could once again do what I love. I was lucky enough to come across Wilvet South and have been so grateful for everyone here being so warm and welcoming. Every day is different but the family here stays the same. I can’t wait to see what else Wilvet has in store for me!
Sonia
Veterinary Assistant
Sonia joined the Wilvet team in May 2023 as a Saturday ER nurse. She’s worked in general practice vet med for over 3 years and wanted to further her education with emergency care. Sonia is also enrolled in the veterinary nurse certification program through Penn Foster. In her spare time Sonia loves to read, watch movies, scroll TikTok, travel, and try new restaurants with her soon to be husband, Troy. Sonia also enjoys spending time with her 6 cats of which she has 3 with fur and 3 hairless!
Shannon
Shannon has endless motivation for working with animals of all kinds from fur, feathers and fetlocks, dating back to when she was young. She entered the world of vet med in 2017 with her history based in general practice. Emergency medicine called her name in 2021 and she hasn’t looked back. Outside of the hospital she works as a Certified Dog Trainer, having graduated from the Victoria Stilwell Academy for positive training with a specialization in behavioral modification. She is Fear-Free Certified and has obtained a certificate in Pet Psychology, which she utilizes in her work both as a vet nurse and trainer. In her spare time Shannon can be found outdoors camping, hiking or kayaking with her two rescue herding mixes, Quest and Riften. Otherwise, she enjoys video games, photography, escaping into a fantasy book, writing and drawing
Tasha
Tasha was born and raised in Oregon. Her career as a general practice Veterinary Assistant began in 2012, shortly after graduating from high school. She graduated from Penn Foster College, obtaining her CVT in 2020. Tasha joined the WilVet South team in May 2023. She has 2 dogs (a terrier mix and a Golden Retriever), 3 cats (2 Burmese and 1 orange tabby), 2 chickens, and various tropical fish. With any spare time she has, she enjoys reading, baking, gardening, and camping.
Cassie
CVT
Cassie was born and raised in the beautiful Napa Valley, California where she first fell in love with veterinary medicine. She has always had a passion for animals and remembers being drawn to any animal she came across. Cassie became an RVT (Registered Veterinary Technician) in September of 2023 and just transferred her licensure to CVT (Certified Veterinary Technician) in Oregon. She moved to Oregon in October of 2023 and joined the Wilvet South team as a Veterinary Nurse, now CVT. She finds herself at home in the world of veterinary medicine because it combines her love for animals and passion for biology and medicine.
Cassie shares her home with her three cats, Tiki, Parsnip and Stevie. She loves exploring her new home in Oregon and spending time in the beautiful nature it has to offer.