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, preventative 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 pets. Some of his hobbies include racquetball, wood-working, biking, walks/hikes, and most other outdoor activities.

Julia Moore - DVM, Certified Canine Rehabilitation Therapist

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.  Lily and Louie, two retired bookstore kitties, complete 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-venemous reptiles.  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.

Vicki Hesse – Office Manager

Vicki joined West Hills Animal Hospital in the fall of 2007 as our Office Manager.  She brings her diverse experience in business and information systems management to our practice, supporting our team’s efficiency and effectiveness in business affairs.  Her family pets while growing up included dogs, cats, horses, rabbits, goats and even a wallaby!  She loves all outdoor activities including hiking, biking, snowshoeing and marathon running. 

Katrina (Trina) Scharlau – Certified Veterinary Technician / Certified Canine Rehabilitation Assistant (pending) / Inzone Supervisor

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, Patsy and Bailey.  She also enjoys the company of her sister and brother-in-law and their four children who live in Corvallis.  Hiking, camping, cooking, and gardening are Trina’s main interests outside of work. 

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.

Sheree Bittner – Patient Care Coordinator

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.

Heather Kuhta- Patient Care Coordinator

Heather Kuhta’s love of animals brought her to West Hills Animal Hospital in October 2007, after graduating from Oregon State University with a degree in finance.  Heather has lived in Corvallis with her husband, Nicholas, and their beloved pug Ethel for the past three years. In her free time, Heather enjoys playing with her pug, trivia and playing guitar.

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. Pam and her husband, Wendell, have two dogs, Duke and Mully (Mulligan), who complete the family.

Erica Zaworski – Patient Care Coordinator

Erica actually began her career at West Hills as a volunteer in May of 2005 and became an employee in July of the same year. She is currently completing her B.S. in Animal Sciences. She and her fiancée enjoy all outdoor activities especially hiking and backpacking in the Oregon wilderness.

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 and her husband, Gary, share their home with Teddy, a senior cattle dog, two Chihuahuas (Cindy and Mitzi) and Tony and Ilene, the cats who rule.  Sue is also founder and director of Senior Dog Rescue of Oregon.  In her spare time she likes to read, work in her garden, walk and spend time with her pets. 

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.

Lindsay Carroll – Certified Veterinary Technician

Lindsay Carroll recently joined the West Hills team in November of 2007 to continue the love and care of animals. She has been gaining experience as a Veterinary Assistant for the past two years. Lindsay graduated from Oregon State University with a bachelor’s degree in Animal Science and a minor in Agricultural Business in June 2007. Growing up on a small farm inspired Lindsay in one day becoming a Veterinary Technician. Outside of work Lindsay likes to scrapbook, play volleyball, partake in any outdoor activity, spend time with the family cat named Bosleigh and hang out with family and friends.

Nancy Chilla-Smith – Veterinary Assistant

Nancy began at West Hills in November of 2006 as a Patient Care Coordinator.  She came from Bozeman, Montana where she had experience in animal nutrition, pet sitting, and volunteering at Montana Raptor Rehabilitation Center.  Nancy is going to OSU in hopes of one day becoming a veterinarian.  Outside of work, she enjoys reading, crafts, biking, gardening, and remodeling her new home.  She also enjoys spending time with her husband and their five year old chinchilla, Chewy.   He is “the greatest pet in the world.”

Kim Elliott – Certified Veterinary Technician

Kim joined the West Hills Team in 2002. Kim’s love of animals and devotion to patient advocacy makes her an excellent Veterinary Assistant. Kim’s special interest in avian and special species makes her the perfect fit as Dr. Vickstom’s assistant. She and her husband share their lives with Bandit (a blue heeler mix) and Marley (a domestic medium hair cat). Bandit loves to participate in Frisbee competitions, so Kim ensures he gets plenty of time for practice. Kim enjoys music, camping, fishing, BBQing, baking, trips to the coast, and spending time with her family and friends.

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, her dog Desi, cat Boone and beta Binki. In her spare time Penny enjoys being outdoors, discovering new things, basketball, beading & spending time with friends and family.

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 two family member felines, gardening, painting, snowboarding and fishing. Stop in and see the wonderful mural Courtney created in our special species room!

Patrick Ramsing – Hospital Care Taker

Patrick joined West Hills Animal Hospital in 2003 and works as a technician assistant and hospital care taker.  In addition, Patrick manages the practice safety program. As a student at OSU, he is currently working toward a degree in Chemistry.   Patrick shares his life with his fiancée as well as his family pet members, dog Oscar, cats Beatrice and Ambrosia, four goats and a flock of chickens. He is an avid rock climber and enjoys backpacking and beekeeping.

Corey Giessinger – Hospital Care Taker

Corey’s experience as a pet sitter made him a wonderful fit as a Hospital Care Taker. His dedication to the animals boarding with West Hills Animal Hospital is awe-inspiring and he enjoys playing with them and finding ways to keep them occupied and happy. He plans to attend college and open a pie shop. Corey shares his life with his dog Desi, his cat Boone, and his beta named Binki. Corey’s off time is spent playing guitar and with family.