About

Founded by two board-certified veterinary specialists, VETgirl is your source for online veterinary CE on the go.

We invite you to learn with us, as we find the practical information YOU need to know.

Become a Member

Veterinary Innovation Council Award Winners

In 2018, VETgirl received the Veterinary Innovation Council (VIC) Innovation Award. We could not have been more proud, recognized as an organization with a significant, positive impact on the veterinary profession and a catalyst for advancing that innovation in the profession.

The VETgirl Team

Leaders. Educators. Innovators.

Founder / Director of Medicine

Justine Lee, DVM, DACVECC, DABT

Dr. Justine Lee, DACVECC, DABT is the Founder and Director of Medicine at VETgirl. Back in 2011, Dr. Justine Lee came up with the idea of VETgirl. Years ago, while frantically studying for her board examination(s), she decided to take some time out to relieve some stress (aka “panic) by running. While pounding the pavement,

Founder / Director of Operations

Garret Pachtinger, VMD, DACVECC

Dr. Garret Pachtinger, DACVECC is the Director of Operations and Co-Founder of VETgirl and committed to veterinary education through technology. Dr. Pachtinger is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. Following veterinary school, he completed a one year internship in small animal medicine and surgery, a one year internship in emergency and critical care, and a

Director Marketing

Tracy Covert, Marketing

Tracy Covert is a veteran marketer and designer, bringing 20 years of experience to the team. She most recently owned and operated Details Creative, a boutique marketing agency focusing on taking small businesses to the next level. Tracy has held management roles at the Viticus Group (formerly WVC) organization over a span of nearly 12

Manager of Content Development

Amy Johnson, BS, LVT, RLATG, CVJ

Amy graduated from Bel-Rea Institute’s Veterinary Technician Program in 2000 after receiving her BS in biology from the University of Nebraska in 1996. Amy worked as a veterinary assistant and receptionist while going through school and after graduation she worked in small animal emergency and general practices and in university research labs. Amy realized very

Veterinary CE Coordinator

Tiffany Gendron, CVT, VTS (ECC)

Tiffany grew up in a small mill town in the White Mountains of northern New Hampshire. She attended Becker College in central Massachusetts and while there she had the opportunity to work at Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine where she recognized her desire to specialize in emergency and critical care medicine. She graduated with

Technology Program Manager

Stacy Calabretta, MSEd,

Stacy is an experienced product manager and technology professional. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education, Stacy most recently ran product and data analysis for Acelero Learning, a pioneer in early childhood education and family engagement services. Driven by a passion for educational equity, Stacy takes pride in developing technology products

VETgirl Support Coordinator

Michele Denaris, Operations

Mikki joined VETgirl in the summer of 2022 and brings with her over 20 years of executive administrative experience as well as a knack for whipping out random movie quotes and an enormous passion for animals. With a diverse background in industries such as corporate travel, government and non-profit, her focus is to assist in

Customer Service

Yarelie Hayes, Operations

Yarelie has over a decade of experience supporting customers across different industries. She also held management positions where she passionately drove her team to deliver an exceptional experience. Yarelie is committed to helping others and enjoys overcoming challenges. Yarelie previously worked for a tech software startup and has gained extensive knowledge and expertise with new

Veterinary Communications Coordinator

Felicia Leung, DVM

Dr. Felicia Leung is a Midwest native from Illinois. She attended veterinary school at the University of Illinois and graduated in 2003. Following veterinary school, she completed a one-year small animal and surgery rotating internship at Tufts University in North Grafton, MA. She moved back to Illinois and joined a general small animal practice in

Operations and Program Manager

Jason Kral, Operations

Jason grew up in a small farming community of Morgan, Minnesota. He obtained his Bachelor of Science degree from Minnesota State University – Mankato in Communications with minors in Business Administration and Technical Communications. Jason brings extensive professional experience in operations, project, and program management from the manufacturing, healthcare, and financial service industries to the

Site Content Coordinator

Corrie McCluskey, CE

Corrie graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in Sociocultural Anthropology and later earned a Masters in English (TESOL – Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) and a Certificate in Immigrant Literacies. She is an Adjunct Instructor at Santa Rosa Junior College and loves to teach literacy in Spanish and noncredit ESL. For many

Chief Happiness Officer

Jeannine Moga, MA, MSW, LCSW

Jeannine Moga, MA, MSW, LCSW, is a licensed clinical social worker and compassion fatigue specialist dedicated to the integration of human-animal relationships in social work practice. She has founded two veterinary social work programs (Veterinary Social Services at the University of Minnesota’s Veterinary Medical Center, and Family & Community Services at NC State University’s Veterinary

Head of Student Ambassador Program

Marie Bucko, DVM

Dr. Marie Bucko recently joined VETgirl as the Head of the VETgirl Student Ambassador Program. Marie is a 2021 graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison College of Veterinary Medicine and former Student American Veterinary Medical Association (SAVMA) president, focused on making veterinary school a better experience for all. Marie Bucko has spent her life using

Contributor / Webinar Moderator

Amy Kaplan, DVM, CVMA, DACVECC, MRCVS

Dr. Kaplan-Zattler is a New England native originally from Maine. Escaping the cold, she earned her DVM from the University of Florida. She then completed a small animal internship in Tampa, FL before moving back to New England to pursue a 3-year Emergency and Critical Care residency program at Angell Animal Medical Center in Boston,

Surgeon

Chris Ralphs, DVM, DACVS

Chris grew up in eastern Pennsylvania trying hard to avoid getting a Philadelphia accent. He graduated from Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine in 1998 and cannot believe that was more than 20 years ago. He did a one year internship at Darien Animal Hospital (now VREC) in Norwalk Connecticut. After discovering that an inability to

Contributor

Emily Coffey, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM)

Dr. Emily Coffey graduated from Northwestern University with a degree in English Literature prior to attending veterinary school at North Carolina State University. After graduation, she completed a small animal rotating internship at Colorado State University, followed by a small animal internal medicine residency at the University of Minnesota. She has a special interest in

Contributor

Shelby Reinstein, MS, DVM, DACVO

Dr. Shelby Reinstein, MS, DACVO is a board-certified ophthalmologist residing in the beautiful area of Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Dr. Reinstein obtained her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and Master of Science degrees from Kansas State University and completed her fellowship and residency in Ophthalmology at The Matthew J. Ryan Veterinary Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.

Contributor

Alberto Fernandez, DVM, DACVECC

Dr. Alberto L. Fernandez, DACVECC obtained his veterinary degree from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine in 2004 and graduated with honors. He completed a residency in emergency and critical care at Cape Cod Veterinary Specialists in 2011, and became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care (DACVECC) in 2012. Previously, Dr. Fernandez was on faculty at St.

Contributor

Brittany Stewart, DVM, DACVIM (Cardiology)

Brittany Stewart is an ACVIM boarded veterinary Cardiologist. She attended veterinary school at the University of Minnesota where she graduated in 2017. She then completed a small animal rotating internship at Ohio State University followed by a three-year Cardiology residency at the University of Minnesota. Dr. Stewart’s interests range from advanced management of heart failure

Upcoming Events We’re Attending

June 28-30, 2024

VETgirl U 2024

Dr. Justine Lee, Dr. Garret Pachtinger, Amy Johnson, Tiffany Gendron

July 26-28, 2024

International Veterinary Seminars, Mystic, CT

Dr. Justine Lee

5/16-18, 2025

International Veterinary Seminars, Monterey, CA

Dr. Justine Lee