Staff

Veterinarians

Steve Amsberry – DVM and Practice Owner

Dr Amsberry completed his undergraduate work here at Oregon State University. He completed his veterinary degree at Iowa State University Veterinary School in 1979. He and his wife Kristi moved to the southern coast of Oregon started their family and operated a veterinary practice there until a family-centered move brought them (a family of four children and pets) back to Corvallis in 1997. He made the comment upon his return “I feel like I was coming back home.” He purchased West Hills Animal Hospital in 1998.  Dr Amsberry particularly enjoys surgery, dentistry, preventive care, client interactions, and business leadership in his professional work. He has been very active in several community, professional, and church-related activities over the years.  In his personal life he enjoys any activities with his wife, children, grandchildren and Twig, a 2-year-old Border Terrier. Some of his hobbies include racquetball, wood-working, biking, walks/hikes, and most other outdoor activities.

Julia Moore – DVM, Certified Canine Rehabilitation Therapist, Certified Veterinary Chiropractitioner 

Dr. Moore graduated from Oregon State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine in 1994 and has been with West Hills Animal Hospital since January of 2000.  She has special interests in animal physical rehabilitation, sports medicine, and animal behavior.  Dr. Moore is the first veterinarian in the state of Oregon to receive recognition as a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Therapist (CCRT) from The Canine Rehabilitation Institute. She shares her life with her family, as well as several family pet members.  These include a Labrador-Airedale Terrier mix named Sparky Goose, a Portuguese Water Dog named Muddy Waters, a Great Dane named Sunny Jim and two very brave kitties, Owl and Climby.  Her joys in life are her family, reading, hiking, and sports, including agility and dog scootering.

Candace Remcho – DVM

An associate veterinarian at West Hills since 1998, Candace graduated from the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech in 1992. She has a strong interest in feline care, internal medicine and dentistry.  Away from the practice, she enjoys travel, biking, and being outdoors with her husband Vince and their three children.  Eddy, an active Border Collie, rounds out the family.

Julianne Vickstrom – DVM

Dr. Vickstrom graduated from Oregon State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine in 1993.  She has been practicing in the area since 1994, and joined WHAH in 2005.  Dr. Vickstrom has a special interest in special (“exotic”) species, which include birds, rabbits, rodents, chinchillas, guinea pigs, ferrets, and non-venomous reptiles. She is a member of the AAV, AEMV, and ARAV. Dr. Vickstrom has been a member of the Corvallis chapter of Soroptmist International since October of 2005. She will begin her second term as vice president of SI Corvallis in June of 2010. Soroptimist International is a women’s service organization, striving to help women and children worldwide. In addition to her work at West Hills and with Soroptimist International, Dr. Vickstrom is also a part-time faculty member at Linn-Benton Community College.  Dr. Vickstrom and her family share their lives with an African grey parrot, a very patient cat, and two fish.  They enjoy camping and other family activities in their spare time.

Managers and Supervisors

Katrina Scharlau – Certified Veterinary Technician, Practice Manager, and Certified Canine Rehabilitation Assistant

Trina has been with West Hills Animal Hospital since August 1998, and before that she worked as a veterinary assistant and volunteered at Chintimini Wildlife Refuge.  Her professional interests include Animal Physical Rehabilitation for dogs and cats, renal disease, and feline behavior.  Trina lives with her significant other and her two cats, Kramer and Bailey.  Hiking, camping, cooking, and gardening are Trina’s main interests outside of work.

Kim Elliott – Certified Veterinary Technician and Inzone Supervisor

Kim joined the West Hills Team in June 2002 after receiving an Associate Degree from Linn-Benton Community College. Kim has a special interest in anesthesia along with avian, small mammal, and reptile medicine. She and her husband share their lives with two rescued pets: Bandit (an Australian Cattle Dog mix) and Apples (a domestic medium-haired cat).  Kim enjoys playing frisbee with Bandit, music, camping, BBQing, badminton, being outdoors, traveling to the coast, and spending time with her family and friends.

Kristi Amsberry – Bookkeeper

Kristi Amsberry has been doing veterinary bookkeeping for 20 years.  She is originally from the East Coast and received a bachelor’s degree in communications from Cornell University.  She was lured to Oregon when she met Steve while doing graduate work in nutrition at Iowa State University.  Her previous career was in clinical dietetics.  Married to Steve, grandmother of two, and the mother of four children and numerous pets, she was accused of preferring her pets to her children (not really true, but…). Kristi completed her certificate in accounting from Oregon State in 2000 and enjoys the challenges of her current position.

Patient Care Coordinators

Pam Ward – Patient Care Coordinator

In August 2005 Pam moved to the Corvallis area and by November 2005 she had joined the West Hills Animal Hospital team as a Patient Care Coordinator. She says she pursued working at West Hills Animal Hospital because she knew that’s where she wanted to be.  Pam discovered her love of working in the veterinary field when she spent six years working part-time at a veterinary hospital prior to moving.  Pam’s other passion is quilting although she enjoys all forms of social activities both in and out of doors.

Sue Faria – Patient Care Coordinator

Sue joined West Hills as a Patient Care Coordinator in January of 2008.  She has over four years experience in a veterinary clinic as well as a genuine love of people and their companion pets.  She believes strongly in the human-animal bond; her daily wish is “please let me be the person my dog thinks I am.”  Sue shares her home with Teddy, a senior cattle dog, two Chihuahuas (Cindy and Mitzi) and Tony and Ilene, the cats who rule.  Sue has also provided many years of compassionate volunteer work by founding the Senior Dog Rescue of Oregon.  In her spare time she likes to read, work in her garden, walk and spend time with her pets.

Certified Veterinary Technicians

Carey Blake – Certified Veterinary Technician

Carey began her career as a Veterinary Technician in 1989 while living on the coast of Oregon.  She has been with the West Hills team since moving to Corvallis in 1998.  Her background includes training English Setters for field work, being a horse show mom, involvement with the Guide Dog puppy program and being a 4-H dog leader. She is always anxious to further her passion learning about canine behavior and various topics in the veterinary field. Carey and her husband share their lives with Jenni and Emma (their black lab family members), two grown daughters, and 5 grandchildren.  She enjoys spending time with family, dog related activities, reading, fishing, video games, being outdoors and movies. West Hills was extremely excited  and proud when Carey won the Oregon Technician of the Year Award in 2011.

Laurie Flood – Registered Veterinary Technician

Laurie joined the West Hills team as a Certified Veterinary Technician in May of 2008. Laurie moved to Oregon from Southern California, where she began working in the veterinary field in 1980. Laurie became a Certified Vet Tech in 1986. With her well-rounded of the field, Laurie’s interests include: feline medicine, senior pets, behavior issues and rehabilitation. Laurie shares her life with her husband, Steve, and their two children, Melissa and Matt. The family enjoys spending time with their dog, Dodger, and their four cats. In her spare time, Laurie enjoys painting, scapbooking, gardening and travel.

Courtney Marchesi – Certified Veterinary Technician

In 2001 West Hills was privileged to have Courtney join the team as a Veterinary Assistant. Courtney previously was employed at a veterinary clinic in Bend, Oregon and she also volunteers for the Feral Cat Coalition. The experience of having a family member feline test positive for Feline Leukemia (FeLV) stimulated her to become very knowledgeable of both FeLV and Feline Aids (FIV) diseases and then she became West Hills FeLV/FIV Awareness Advocate. In 2006 Courtney proved once again her dedication to animal wellness by passing the National Certified Veterinary Technician exam. Courtney, her husband, and their daughter enjoy spending time with their their dog, Juneau, and three cats, Cooney, Lola, and Roux. Courtney also enjoys gardening, painting, snowboarding and fishing. Stop in and see the wonderful mural Courtney created in our special species room!

Veterinary Assistants

Penny Jones – Veterinary Assistant

Penny began her career with West Hills Animal Hospital as a Patient Care Coordinator in 2006 and has since become a Veterinary Assistant. Her deep love of animals and her desire to help people yields a warm, caring, well-versed patient advocate. Supporting those dealing with cancer in a family member pet, senior pets, and special species round out her professional interests. She shares her life with her two sons and her cat, Boone. In her spare time Penny enjoys being outdoors, discovering new things, basketball, beading & spending time with friends and family.

Sheree Bittner – Veterinary Assistant

Sheree was a pre-vet student when she came to work at West Hills Animal Hospital as a hospital caretaker.  When an opening for Veterinary Assistant became available, she transitioned into that position.  Although, she ultimately chose not to continue the path to becoming a veterinarian, she could not work in a profession that did not include animals.  Sheree’s thirst for travel has initiated her change into a more casual position but she continues to provide excellent patient advocacy and client service whenever she is at West Hills Animal Hospital.  She enjoys traveling to exotic places, Frisbee golf, tennis, and sharing her life with her husband.

Ester Boals – Veterinary Assistant

Ester came to West Hills Animal Hospital as a volunteer in January of 2010. At that time she was a pre-vet student seeking experience before applying to veterinary school. When a position for a Veterinary Assistant became available in May 2010 she accepted gladly. Ester’s love of all types of animals leads her to focus on patient advocacy and special species. She also has a special place in her heart for rescued animals. Ester enjoys playing piano, traveling to the coast, and spending time with her family and friends. Her dream is to one day live in a house surrounded by animals and wide open spaces.

Volunteers

Susan Hyne – Volunteer Cuddler

Susan has been volunteering at West Hills one day a week since March 2006. She visits patients before and after surgery, using Reiki and Healing Touch on animals to promote relaxation. Working closely with the staff, she contributes to the “high tech/high touch” balance in the hospital. Susan also fosters cats and kittens for Heartland Humane Society. She lives at CoHo Ecovillage, where she is delighted that dozens of her neighbors (including kids and canines) help socialize her foster animals.