Meet Our Team

Dr. Hart graduated from Washington State University in 2002. Upon graduation, he practiced as an associate at Ocean Beach Veterinary Hospital in Longview, WA for four years and became Medical Director during his last year there. He joined the Fairwood Animal Hospital team in 2006 as an associate before purchasing the clinic from Dr. Vic Perger in January of 2009. His special interests include ultrasound, endoscopy, canine reproduction and surgery including orthopedic, laser, and minimally invasive surgeries.

Dr. Hart grew up in East Wenatchee, WA, and is an avid outdoorsman. He enjoys fishing, bird hunting, spending time with friends and family, and most of all being a dad. Dr. Hart and his wife, Jen, have two children. They also share their home with two cats – Bro and Olivia and two dogs – Duke and Lulu.

Dr. Hanson joined our team in 2008 as a hospital assistant and returned in 2018 as a veterinarian after graduating from Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Prior to that, she graduated from Riverside High School and received a Bachelors degree from Whitworth University. Dr. Hanson shares her home with her husband (Kwinn) and her three children (Anson, Monroe and Kashious). Before joining FAH, she coached soccer. When asked what she likes most about working at FAH, Dr Hanson said, "The staff are like family. I love the level of care and broad spectrum of medicine that we offer." We are so excited to have Dr. Hanson on our team!

Mataya originally joined the Fairwood Family in 2019 as a Veterinary Assistant. She came to us already having a Bachelor Degree in Animal Science. Soon thereafter, she was accepted into the WSU Veterinary program and went off to school. We are so thrilled that she rejoined our team in July 2024 as one of our talented and compassionate Veterinarians! Dr. Beal has a husband, Nolan. Together, they have two dogs (Pip and Liko) and two cats (Chester and Luna). Before joining FAH, Dr. Beal was an undergrad student. When asked what she likes most about working at FAH, Dr. Beal said, "Helping take care of all of the pets that come in!" We are so excited to have Dr. Beal on our team of exceptional Veterinarians!

Dr. Feist joined the Fairwood family as one of our Associate Veterinarians in January of 2021. Dr. Feist did her undergraduate studies at Gonzaga University where she earned a Bachelors of Science in Biology. During that time, she had the privilege of playing on the Gonzaga Women's Soccer team, which also taught her invaluable lessons in teamwork, time management and work ethic. From there, she moved to Pullman, WA to complete her veterinary studies at Washington State University of Veterinary Medicine. When she is not working, her hobbies include soccer, camping, and hiking. Dr. Feist plays in a co-ed adult indoor and outdoor soccer league year round. She would also like to get into backpacking. Dr. Feist loves house projects - anything from paint to small construction and remodeling. Family is extremely important to Dr. Feist and she can never get enough family time. She comes from a family of 7 kids and they all love spending time together. Whether that's socializing over dinner, competing in cornhole, Nertz or Spikeball, or participating in TikTok challenges that they're probably too old to be attempting (her words, not ours!). No matter the scene, they always have a great time together. Dr. Feist shares a home in Deer Park with her husband, Ryan. They hope to expand their family soon with a Mastiff and a Great Dane! They have plans to expand their human family in the future, as well. Prior to veterinary school, she started in a small animal hospital as a Boarding Caregiver. She was new to the profession and trying to get her first "real" experience in the field. Over the course of a few months, she worked her way into a receptionist position. She got to know many families and their furry friends over the course of three years. After graduating from WSU VTH, she joined a busy small animal VCA hospital as an Associate Veterinarian. They served the community as an urgent care and general care provider. They worked long hours and were available 7 days a week. It was a steep learning curve but provided her with invaluable experience in surgery and advanced diagnostics. Dr. Feist has a soft spot for giant breed dogs. She also takes a personal interest in dermatology and nutrition. When asked what she likes most about working at FAH, Dr. Feist said, "My favorite think about FAH is our amazing team. My support staff makes work fun and they genuinely care. They strive to serve every single client. They advocate for each pet to overcome scheduling challenges or to simply make the visit less stressful. Most importantly to me, they work hard. No matter how many extra appointments we take, how late we stay, or the number of lunches they miss, they show up the next day ready to do it all over again. It shouldn't be so rigorous, but they endure and continue to make my job doable." We love Dr. Feist and are so grateful to have her on our team!

Dr. Sullivan started with Fairwood in November 2019. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science from Tennessee Tech University, a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from Middle Tennessee State University and received his DVM degree from University of Tennessee in 1996! In his spare time, he enjoys biking, kayaking, canoeing, hiking and climbing. Before joining FAH, he worked in Small Animal Emergency Medicine. Dr. Sullivan and his wife Marni met in Vet school! They don't have children but do have many fur babies - they have 2 dogs (Boone and Trixie - one from Panhandle Shelter and the other was found by a client on the street) and 3 cats (Gator, Bama and Skittles - all found as kittens in the barn). When asked what he likes most about working at FAH, Dr. Sullivan said, "The staff. Everyone working to do the best they can in that moment for the animal, client and each other." We are so grateful to have Dr. Sullivan on our team!

Amanda joined our team as a Boarding Caregiver in February 2011. Her hard work and dedication allowed her to gain experience in multiple positions. Now, she fills in wherever she is needed most! In her free time, Amanda enjoys crafting and kayaking. Before joining the FAH family, she worked at Fred Meyer. Amanda and her husband, Jason, share two daughters (Willow and Ivy), one dog (Olaf) and chickens! When asked what she likes most about working at FAH, Amanda said, "The environment and my co-workers!" We are so happy to have Amanda on our team!

Amber joined the Fairwood Family in January 2021. She initially started as one of our Boarding Caregivers but is now one of our amazing Veterinary Assistants! Amber has a Bachelor degree in Animal Science from WSU. In her spare time, she likes to go kayaking, fishing and camping! Amber has 4 dogs - Remmi (Chocolate Lab), Emma (German Shepherd), Paisley (Aussie Doodle) and Marshall (Pomchi Doodle). She also has 2 cats named Waffles and Moana. Before joining FAH, Amber worked as a CNA and attended school to obtain her degree. When asked what she likes most about working at FAH, Amber said, "the adorable patients, my co-workers, and constantly learning new things!" We are ecstatic to have Amber on our team!

Ayla joined the Fairwood Family in July 2022 as one of our awesome Boarding Caregivers! Ayla is a senior at Mt. Spokane High School and will graduate this year. She is also doing Running Start at Spokane Falls Community College. She will be moving to Ellengsburg in January 2025 to attend Central Washington University and pursue a Bachelor's Degree in Biology! Ayla's hobbies include snowboarding in winter and hiking and going to the lake in the summer. Ayla has two family dogs - Ruger (a 12 year old Labrador) and Kash (a 7 year old German Shorthaired Pointer). When asked what she likes most about working at FAH, Ayla said, "I love the people - everyone is super sweet and fun. I also like getting to meet new pets everyday! I enjoy how many new things I learn everyday!" We are happy to have you on the team!

Bethany joined our team in April 2022 as a Veterinary Assistant but has since moved to the position of Client Service Representative and enjoys that much more. Bethany graduated from East Valley High School and attended some college classes at Eastern. In her free time, Bethany loves spending time with her fur babies and cuddling up to watch tv or a good movie. Bethany has 5 pets - 2 cats and 3 dogs. The cats are a little over 1 year old and are black siblings named Beauty and Beast. The dogs consist of Bosco (a 9 year old chihuahua), Lucky (a 10 year old miniature poodle) and Fluffy (a 10 year old lab mix). Before joining FAH, Bethany had a lot of previous customer service and retail positions. When asked what she likes most about working at FAH, Bethany said, "I love the closeness of all of the staff, as well as, the consideration and kindness everyone has. And, of course, the fur babies!" We are so thankful to have Bethany on our team!

Carissa joined the Fairwood Family in July 2024 as one of our awesome Veterinary Assistant's. Before joining FAH, she worked as a Real Estate Agent and also as a Bartender. She has a Bachelor's Degree in Visual Communication. Carissa and her partner, Brent, share 3 dogs (Zucchini, Frank and Hatchet) and 2 cats (Markie and Aslan). We are thankful to have Carissa on our team!

Casidi joined the Fairwood Family in June 2024 as one of our friendly Client Service Representatives. Before joining FAH, she graduated from Mead High School and then attended Paul Mitchell School of Cosmetology. Her and her husband Jesse have three daughters: Braelyn, Kalayna and Monroe. She was most recently a stay at home mom. In her free time, she enjoys hiking and traveling. When asked what she likes most about working at FAH, Casidi said, "Everyone is so friendly!". We are happy to have Casidi on our team!

Delaney joined our team in March 2021 as a Veterinary Assistant. Delaney took a special interest in the reproductive side of things and eventually took over the role of Breeding Coordinator, as well. Before joining the FAH team, Delaney was a stay-at-home mom to her son, Dakota. In her free time, Delaney enjoys shooting guns, watching movies and online shopping. She has 2 dogs (both St. Bernards) and 1 cat. When asked what she likes most about working at FAH, Delaney said, "The relationships you build - both professional and personal!" We are so thankful to have Delaney on our team!

Devon joined our team in June 2019, while she was finishing High School. She is one of our amazing Boarding Caregivers and also works as a Client Service Specialist, as needed! When she is not working, she enjoys hiking, reading and drawing. Devon has a boyfriend of 9 years, Nathaniel. Together, they have 3 cats - Stewie (a 16 year old rescue), Salem (a foster fail) and Chickpea (also a rescue). FAH was Devon's first job and coincidentally, the career she dreamed of having! When asked what she likes most about working at FAH, Devon said, "I love the opportunity for growth that I'm given and of course, seeing all the cute furry friends I get to take care of." We are so grateful to have Devon on our team!

Emily joined the Fairwood Family in September 2020 as one of our amazing Client Service Specialists. When we started looking for a Customer Service Manager, Emily's hard work and dedication made her the perfect candidate! While you will still see Emily filling in at the front desk or hear her friendly voice on the other end of the telephone - being part of our management team is where she truly excels! Emily graduated with a Bachelors degree in English Lit and Writing. Before joining the FAH team, Emily worked at Whitworth College, Starbucks, a climbing wall and in publishing (on campus). Emily and her husband (Pedro) have two cats (Morty and Summer). When asked what she likes most about working at FAH, Emily said, "Making connections with pets and clients and applying my own skillset." We are lucky to have Emily on our team!

Erica joined our team in October 2020 as a boarding caregiver before moving to Veterinary/Hospital Assistant in March 2021. She has a Bachelor degree in Biology from Whitworth University. Before joining FAH she was a student at Whitworth University and also played tennis while attending there. She worked at Starbucks. In her free time, Erica enjoys hiking, playing tennis, reading and drawing. Erica has a dog, Jessie, a 7-year-old Wheaten Terrier that she adopted a few months ago. Erica is currently finishing up an online Veterinary Technician program and will be applying to Veterinary school. Her time outside of the clinic is usually spent on court as the Whitworth assistant tennis coach. When asked what she likes most about working at FAH, Erica said, "I love there are always opportunities to learn and broaden my understanding of the field and the animals we work with!" We are lucky to have Erica on our team!

Grace joined the FAH team in May 2022 as a Boarding Caregiver, before moving into the role of Client Service Representative. She has a general AA degree. Her hobbies include camping, reading, hiking and spending time with her animals. She loves camping and camp fires. She also LOVES the snow and taking her dog for walks in the snow. Grace has a dog named Bonnie and two cats named Ember and Pinky. Before joining FAH, Grace worked at Safeway. When asked what she likes most about working at Fairwood, Grace said, "the people and animals!" We are so lucky to have Grace on our team!

Heather joined the Fairwood Family in 2004 as a Veterinary Assistant. In her spare time, Heather enjoys spending time with family, playing games and fishing. Heather and her husband, Nik, have 3 children (Wyatt is 5 years old, Ziva is 3 years old and she just gave birth to Jamison in July 2022!). They also share a 13 year old rescue dog - Cassie, a Catahoula/Aussie mix! When asked what she likes most about working at FAH, Heather said, "The family atmosphere - not only as a staff, but also with the patients and clients that I have gotten to know over the last 18 years!" We are so grateful that we have Heather on our team!

Jennifer joined our team in February 2020 as one of our Boarding Caregivers before quickly settling in to the role of Client Service Representative. Before joining our team, she worked at Hobby Lobby for 10 years! Jennifer and her husband have three daughters and two dogs. In her free time, Jennifer likes journaling and scrapbooking. When asked what she likes most about working at FAH, Jennifer said, "They are my family. I always feel welcome". We are fortunate to have Jennifer on our team of rock stars!

Kara joined the Fairwood family in June 2019 as one of our Veterinary Assistant's. She has a Bachelors degree in Anthrozoology from Carroll College and is working on her Bachelors degree in Animal Behavior from Virginia Tech. In her spare time, she enjoys DIY projects, crafting, video games and cycling. Kara and her husband, Blake, have two dogs (Charlie and Hiccup - both Border Collies) and two cats (Dora and Ninamich). Before joining FAH, Kara worked at a doggy daycare. When asked what she likes most about working at FAH, Kara said, "Caring for the animals and my co-workers!" We are so grateful to have Kara on our team!

Kelsey joined our team in July 2017 as a Boarding Caregiver. She is currently a Veterinary and Treatment Assistant. Kelsey graduated from Mead High School in 2019. She has taken some college classes at both WSU and Penn Foster. In her free time, Kelsey enjoys photography and painting. This is Kelsey's first (and hopefully only) job! Kelsey has two dogs - Pearl (a Heeler) and Isis (a German Shepherd mix). She also has a Bearded Dragon (Marlowe) and Leopard Gecko (Echo). Kelsey, sadly, has recently lost two sweet pups - Mariposa and Bumblebee - both French Bulldogs. When asked what she likes most about working at FAH, Kelsey said, "Helping animals in need and the energy and atmosphere of teamwork with my co-workers." We are so lucky to have Kelsey on our team of rock stars!

Kiylo joined our team on June 10, 2021 as one of our talented Client Service Representatives. Kiylo has an AA degree in the Arts. In his free time, he enjoys drawing, reading, writing, cooking and baking. Kiylo has one family dog - a pitbull named Zeus. Before coming to FAH, he worked as a store supervisor at Starbucks. When asked what he likes most about working at Fairwood, Kiylo said, "It's wonderful that I get to see so many pets that I can enjoy and help. It's hard not to adore each personality and quirk that they possess, and Fairwood gives me such a great opportunity to do that." We are so happy to have Kiylo as one of our smiling faces behind the front desk!

Kylie originally joined our team in 2009 as a Boarding Caregiver. She went away to Veterinary Technician school at Yakima Valley Community College. After school, she worked at University of Washington Medical Research Center as a Veterinary Technician for 2 years. She rejoined our team in October 2014. Kylie has a son named Ellis. She also has 2 dogs (Lady and Maggie) and 1 cat (Cookie). In her free time, Kylie enjoys doing yoga. When asked what she likes most about working at FAH, Kylie said, "The animals and people I work with."

Laurie is our Hospital Administrator. She is also a licensed Veterinary Technician and has been with Fairwood for over 17 years. Laurie and her husband Jay have two grown children, Cami & Jason and have 1 dog, Mick.

Lindsey joined our team in July 2023 as one of our Boarding Caregivers and Treatment Assistants. Lindsey is in high school and will be graduating in 2026. Her hobbies include playing basketball and soccer. Lindsey has 1 brother, Nate. Her family has 4 pets - Lulu and Duke are dogs and Bro and Dashi are cats. When asked what she likes most about working at FAH, Lindsey said, "Getting to work with animals!" We are thrilled to have her on our team!

Megan is currently enrolled in Mead High School and works at FAH after school and on weekends. Her hobbies include playing basketball and reading. Her and her parents have one dog, a chocolate lab named Rui. When asked what she likes most (so far) about working at FAH, Megan said, "I really enjoy the atmosphere, everybody is so great!" We are happy to have you on our team, Megan!"

Melody joined the Fairwood Family in June 2012 as one of our Licensed Veterinary Technicians. She is also now our Technical Team Manager. Prior to joining FAH, Melody graduated from Northwest Christian School in 2010 before going to Yakima Valley Community College where she received her Veterinary Technician license in 2012. She worked at Burger King and mowed lawns for jobs prior to receiving her license. Her hobbies include anything outdoors - riding the side-by-side, horseback riding, lake/river days, boating and fishing. Her and her husband, Cameron, have been married since July 2015! They have two children together - Caden and Peyton. They also have 3 dogs, 2 cats, 2 horses and goats! When asked what she likes most about working at FAH, Melody said, "The family environment and the love we share for taking care of everyone's pets!" We are so thankful to have Melody on our team of rockstars!

Nyla came to Fairwood in May 2021 as one of our amazing Client Service Representatives. It wasn't long before she worked her way to the role of Boarding Supervisor. You may still see her filling in as a CSR on occasion but her primary role is to keep our Boarding department running smoothly. Nyla graduated from Mead High School in 2018. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, out door adventures and playing with her fur babies. Nyla and her boyfriend (Joziah) share 1 dog (Annie, a Retriever mix) and 4 rescue cats (Junebug, Tanjiro and a mother/son duo - Jupiter and Nebula). When asked what she likes most about working at FAH, Nyla said, "I love our sense of community here and how much fun we have. We all love getting to take care of our patients!"

Paisley joined the Fairwood Family in September 2024 as one of our amazing Licensed Veterinary Technicians. Paisley has received her AAS in Pharmacology, AAS in Veterinary Technology and is currently working on her Bachelors Degree in Veterinary Technology. Before joining FAH, she worked as a Veterinary Assistant for 7 years and was a Pharmacy Technician previous to that. In her free time, she enjoys going to the gym, reading, art, hiking, swimming and spending time with her boyfriend (Dylan) and her two sons (Luke and Archer). When asked what she likes best about working at FAH, Paisley said, "Getting to do something new everyday!". We are happy to welcome Paisley to our wonderful team of Veterinary professionals!

Paiton joined the Fairwood Family in January 2017. She started as a Boarding Caregiver, then trained as one of our Client Service Representatives and is now one of our rockstar Veterinary Assistants. Paiton was just 16 years old when she joined our team! Paiton graduated from Deer Park High School. Paiton and her husband, Dakota, share 3 dogs - a Bernadoodle named Bella, a Miniature Pinscher named Polson and a French Bulldog named Tugboat. In her spare time, she enjoys gardening, boating, spending time with friends and family, fishing, hiking and playing with her dogs! When asked what she likes most about working at FAH, Paiton said, "Being able to help people and their furbabies, family-like coworkers and working environment." We are grateful to have Paiton on our team!

Paityn joined the Fairwood Family in June of 2024 as one of our awesome Boarding Caregivers. She is in high school currently and will help take care of your fur babies in boarding during her free time. Her hobbies include soccer and going for walks. Paityn has 3 pets and 1 sister. When asked what she likes most about working at FAH, she said that she is excited to get to work with animals! We are happy to have Paityn on our team!

Rachel joined our team in January 2025 as one of our awesome Boarding Caregivers. She is a Junior at Mead High School. Rachel and her family have two French Bulldog mixes, Maggie and Sophie. In her free time she enjoys reading, spending time with friends, volunteering at the animal sanctuary and being in the great outdoors. Before joining the FAH family, Rachel was focused on her schooling and spent time volunteering at River's Wish Animal Sanctuary. When asked what she likes most about working at FAH, Rachel said, "The people! Everyone is very accepting and welcoming. Overall just a great place to be!" We are thrilled to have Rachel on our team!

Shasta joined our team in September 2016 as a Boarding Caregiver. She quickly moved into the role of Client Service Representative before moving her way to Boarding Supervisor and now, Office Manager. Shasta and her husband, Travis, share 5 dogs - 2 Pitbulls (Chance and Kraken), 1 Pug (Hennessy), 1 French Bulldog (Pirate) and 1 Miniature Schnauzer (Holly). They also have 1 Chinchilla - Bubbles. In her free time, Shasta enjoys spending time with her husband - they enjoy attending concerts together, going bowling and going to the movies. Shasta and Travis are involved in animal rescue and frequently foster dogs while they wait for their perfect home. When time allows, she loves to travel - recently going to California and Mexico for the first time. When asked what she likes most about working at FAH, Shasta said, "We have the best staff and clients around!"

Stephani joined our team in August 2020 as a Boarding Caregiver. She left for a few months to start her own cleaning business. She came back as our Hospital Custodian in November 2021! Stephani graduated from Mt Spokane High School in 2004 and from Apollo College in 2007 from their Medical Assistant Program. Prior to joining the FAH team, Stephani was a stay-at-home mom for 12 years! She loved being able to stay home and raise her boys! Stephani and her husband, Ryan, have been married for 20 years. They share 3 boys - ages 20, 18 and 16! They also have a new daughter-in-law and are welcoming their first grandchild in May 2024! They have 2 dogs (Maverick and Snowball) and 2 cats (Gracie and Tuesday). In her free time, Stephani enjoys going to comedy shows, camping, boating, spending time with family. When asked what she likes most about working at FAH, she said, "I love the amazing people who work here and I'm so glad I get to help give them a clean environment to work in." Thank you, Stephani, for keeping our facilities clean for our staff and patients! We are so happy to have you on our team.

Sydney joined our team in January 2023 as one of our stellar Veterinary Assistants. She received her Bachelors degree from WSU Major Animal Science in December 2022. Prior to that, she graduated from Lakeside High School and attended Running Start at Spokane Falls Community College. Before joining FAH, she also worked at WSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Sydney and her fiancé (Branson) are getting married in September 2024! They share one dog, a black lab mix, named Luna. When asked what she likes most about working at FAH, Sydney said, "The staff!" We are happy to have Sydney on our team!

Sydney joined us in July 2024 as one of our awesome Veterinary Assistants. Before joining our team she attended WSU and graduated with her Bachelor's in Neuroscience. She hopes to apply to the veterinary program eventually! In her free time, she enjoys reading and rock climbing. We are excited to have Sydney on our team!

Taimith joined our team in November 2011 as a Boarding Caregiver. She is now one of our amazing Veterinary Assistants. She works in the hospital assisting doctors with their surgeries, filling medications, completing vaccinations and blood draws for tech appointments and ensuring the overall comfort of our hospitalized patients. Taimith has a daughter. Sadly, her best furry friend passed away in 2021 but she is hoping to rescue a dog sometime in the future. In her spare time, she likes going to the gym (she considers working out a form of therapy and calls herself a gym addict), spending time with family, listening to growth mindset podcasts, traveling and doing outdoor activities during summer. She is not a fan of the winters in Spokane. Taimith also hopes to one day travel to different countries to volunteer her time to rescue homeless dogs and cats. When asked what she likes most about working at Fairwood, Taimith said, "Since I don't have any pets I love seeing all of the cute faces, tail wags and smiles. Animals truly fill my heart with joy. I really appreciate all of the pet parents that go that extra mile for their pets. I love that FAH takes care of us by giving us the tools we need to expand our skills." We are so appreciative for Taimith and the amazing skills that she brings to our team!

Travis has been a part of our team since December 2020. He is "Mister Fix-It" and is our go-to person for maintenance requests. He helps keep everything running properly. Travis has an AA degree in Customer Service from Spokane Community College. In his free time, Travis enjoys playing golf, building models and going to the gym. His wife, Shasta, is our Office Manager. Together, they share 5 dogs and 1 chinchilla. Most of Travis' jobs have been in Customer Service and/or Sales. When asked what he likes most about working at FAH, Travis said, "Getting to see the interesting cases and being able to repay Dr. Hart for everything he does for the clinic - his clients and staff, alike." We are happy to have Travis as part of our team!

Troy joined our team in August 2021 as a Boarding Caregiver before moving into a Veterinary Assistant role. He graduated from Mead High School in 2013. Before joining the FAH team, Troy installed and maintained satellite internet systems. In his spare time, he enjoys playing disc golf, longboarding, snowboarding and playing computer games. Troy has 1 cat named Beerus. When asked what he likes most about working at FAH, Troy said, "Feeling like what we do everyday matters - and the people!" We are so lucky to have Troy on our team!