Meet Our Skilled Veterinarians

Dr. Michele Drake had wanted to be a veterinarian since she was a little girl. She had Schnauzers while growing up and loved all animals. Dr.

Dr. Kathy Boehme received her doctor of veterinary medicine (DVM) degree from the University of Florida in 1989.

Dr. Keala Shotwell received her doctor of veterinary medicine (DVM) degree from Colorado State University in 1997 before joining the Drake Center the following year. Her special interests are soft tissue surgery, dentistry and dermatology.

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Dr. Heather Kovacevich (Kovac) received her doctor of veterinary medicine (DVM) degree from the University of Illinois in 2004.

Dr. Sarah Dilworth received her doctor of veterinary medicine (DVM) degree from the University of California, Davis in 2012.

Dr. Applegate received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Melbourne in 2015. She worked at All Creatures on Hoddle, a general practice in Melbourne, Australia. She joined The Drake Center for Veterinary Care in February of 2016. Dr.

Dr. Katie Tiglio received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree from Western University in 2014. In the following years, she completed a rotating small animal internship at San Diego’s Veterinary Specialty Hospital, and an additional specialty internship in ophthalmology. Dr.

Dr. Madison VanWorth received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Wisconsin in 2020. Prior to joining The Drake Center team, Dr. VanWorth completed an internship at VCA Emergency Animal Hospital and Referral Center in San Diego.

Dr. Kristi Leslie received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree at Western University of Health Sciences in 2022. She joined the veterinary staff at the Drake Center for Veterinary Care in June of that same year.

Dr. Janice Lee received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from UC Davis in 2020.

Growing up in a Navy family, Dr. Dowd was fortunate enough to have her father, naval aviator, and mother navy nurse retire in San Diego.

Originally from Tennessee, Dr. Nicholas Duke earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Tennessee.