Our Team

Debbi Brown, CVPM, FFCP

Hospital Administrator, Fear-Free Certified Professional

Debbi moved to Hagerstown when she was 13 and graduated from North Hagerstown High. She then moved to Florida and lived there for 11 years, eventually moving back to the area and joining our team as assistant practice manager in 2003.

Debbi earned her Certificate in Veterinary Hospital Management from St. Petersburg College and sat for the CVPM exam in 2008.

Her furry family includes a Great Dane named Finley who is scared of everything, a German wire-haired pointer mix named Murphy (a spoiled mama’s boy), a long-haired Dachshund mix named Luna (the queen of the house), a rescued DSH cat named Link, and Flemish giant rabbit named Jaxon.

When she’s not working, Debbi likes to spend time with her husband and two children and read science fiction and horror.

Erin Mills, RVT, Elite FFCP

Practice Manager, Elite Fear-Free Certified Professional

Erin joined our team in 1998 after graduating from Frostburg State University with a degree in Biology. She became a Registered Veterinary Technician in 2004.

She’s a proud dog mom to Canon (a boxer mix) and Kensi (mix breed). Canon and Kensi love to go for hikes and long car rides. When she’s not working, Erin loves photography, gardening, and being outside as much as possible.

Linda Nichols, FFCP

Customer Service Representative, Fear-Free Certified Professional

Hailing from Kensington, Linda has brought a wealth of joy and fun to our team since joining us in 2000. Growing up, she has always shared her life with dogs, a tradition she continues with the newest member of her family a golden retriever named Cooper. When Linda isn't assisting pet parents as a CSR, she finds joy in her hobbies of gardening, cooking delicious meals, and leisurely walks. With her compassionate nature and unwavering dedication, Linda embodies the spirit of care and kindness that defines our clinic's mission.

Denise McConnell, FFCP

Pharmacy Specialist, Fear-Free Certified Professional

A native of York, Pennsylvania, Denise joined our team in 2015.

She discovered her love of animals through her first dog, a German short-haired pointer named Hagen. She is currently proud dog mom to two more German short-hairs: Hemey, a social butterfly who loves swimming and doggie daycare, and Gabby, who’s super sweet, loves to cuddle, and hates birds!
 
When she’s not working, Denise can be found spending time with her dogs and her husband, Chris, and frequenting yard sales and flea markets, looking for bargains.

Kayla Hawbaker, FFCP

Customer Service Representative, Fear-Free Certified Professional

Kayla became a member of the Animal Health Clinic Clinic Family in 2022, bringing her warmth and dedication to our team. Alongside her role as CSR, Kayla finds immense pride in being a devoted mother of five. Her family also extends to include two beloved canine companions, a Bulldog mix and a Yorkie mix, who enrich her life with their playful antics and unwavering loyalty. As both a caregiver and a pet parent, Kayla exemplifies compassion and commitment in every aspect of her life, making her an invaluable addition to our clinic family.

Lauren Smith, Elite FFCP

Customer Service Representative, Elite Fear-Free Certified Professional

A native of Smithburg, Lauren always knew she wanted to help animals in any way she could. She got her start at a local shelter and in taking every agriculture class she could in high school. Over the years it became clear to her that animal welfare was her passion. This particularly hit home one night when a stray dog came to her house in a snowstorm. Her family adopted the dog and Lauren understood then and there that she would devote her working life to the health and happiness of pets.

She currently cares for four dogs, five peacocks, five ducks, and three chickens. Hoosier is the youngest of the family and loves to be with his humans all the time. Gunner and Roxi are his parents. Roxi enjoys cuddling and all three just have fun playing with toys and each other. Sadie hides in the blankets to get away from her siblings and the birds roam free throughout the day so that when night comes, they’re ready to go in their cage and store energy up for the next day.

In her free time, Lauren likes to spend time with her family. Together, they take the dogs for long walks in parks, battlefields, and abandoned places.

Megan Connors, RVT, FFCP

Lead Surgery Technician, Fear-Free Certified Professional

A native of Clear Spring and a graduate of Pittsburgh’s Vet Tech Institute, Megan did her externship here at our clinic in 2013. She then moved with her husband to South Dakota and worked as a vet tech there for six years. When she returned to Maryland, she rejoined our team in 2018.

Megan is proud cat mom to Buttercup, a domestic shorthair tortoiseshell who helped her get through the many challenges of moving 1,000 miles away from her family and friends as well as her husband’s deployment and becoming a mom and so much more. She also has two dogs – a black lab named Gunner who’s basically her shadow and a yellow lab named Gage that she got when her husband was deployed. Being a Mom to two daughters takes up most of her free time, but when she does have some to spare for herself, Megan enjoys hunting, hiking, and crafting. She also loves photography.

Candi Dillman, FFCP

Veterinary Assistant/Team trainer, Fear-Free Certified Professional

Candi grew up primarily in Washington and Frederick counties where she took every ag and animal science class she could. From the young age of 10, she planned to be a veterinarian, but working in a shelter convinced her that she’d rather be a technician, taking care of and loving on as many animals as she possibly can. Candi joined out team in 2014.

At home, Candi has her heart dog, JaPitaWhip Kool Aid, whom she adopted from the shelter where she was working. The pup was initially very scared and didn’t trust anyone until Candi won her over. She is now a licker and a lover. Candi is also mama to three Sulcata tortoises named Hulk (a social butterfly), Tori (friendly but less outgoing than Hulk), Bebop (shy but loves to eat).

When she’s not working, Candi can be found anywhere animal-related: zoos, aquariums, sanctuaries – really anywhere she can see, feed, pet, and/or admire different kinds of animals. She’s a huge nature lover and could sit outside doing nothing for hours and be perfectly happy. She also likes to go to the beach and swim in her free time.

Terri McGhee, FFCP

Veterinary Assistant, Fear-Free Certified Professional

Terri was born in Virginia but has lived in many places, including Australia, and now calls Martinsburg, WV home.  She grew up with all kinds of animals in the house-snakes, turtles, fish, sugar gliders, cats and dogs.  There was never any doubt that Terri would work with animals in some way or another, and has been doing just that since 2005, and joined our team in 2013.

She has fish and three cats. Loki who loves food and being on anyone’s lap, Isis, who loves to tell you when she wants to be loved, and Athena, who loves people but can still be shy at times.

When Terri isn’t working, she likes to craft, hike and camp— pretty much anything outdoors with her family.

Maggie Davis, RVT, FFCP

Registered Veterinary Technician, Fear-Free Certified Professional

Maggie first realized her love for animal care when she was eight years old and she and her mom had to rush the family cat, Socks, to the vet after he’d been shot in the eye by a BB gun. She loved watching the veterinarian work on Socks and then she herself devoted herself to nursing the cat back to health. She knew then that she wanted to work in the veterinary field.

Maggie earned her Regents Bachelor of Arts degree with a concentration in science from Shepherd University in 2018. She also took two semesters of classes through Penn Foster to sit for her VTNE.

At home, Maggie has a large furry family that consists of Lilo (a seven-pound dilute tortoiseshell who rules the roost), Sock Junior or SJ (a Seal Point Siamese and the most lovable cat she’s ever owned), Willow, a sensitive, happy, snuggly, and affectionate brindle Pit Bull who simply cannot contain her joie de vivre and will cover you in kisses, and latest addition, Duke, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel who loves to snuggle.

In her free time, Maggie enjoys exploring the outdoors with her son and teaching him everything she knows about animals. He’s already showing signs of following in his mom’s footsteps.

Brianna Eaton, FFCP

Veterinary Assistant, Fear-Free Certified Professional

Brianna was born in Martinsburg, West Virginia and grew up in Eldersburg. She went to Hagerstown Community College, planning to be a veterinarian but quickly decided that wasn’t the career path for her. She still wanted to work with animals. Brianna joined out team in 2016 as a kennel assistant, gradually working her way up to veterinary technician.

Brianna is proud dog mom to Jax, Sokka, and Entei, but she’s also a devoted cat lover. Her feline family includes Vegeta (more human than cat), Leo (gives everyone kisses), Min-Min (the fluffiest), Jiggly Puff (loves climbing shoulders), Onix (loves humans), Shadow (sweet and innocent), Sommer (loyal), and Yoshi (Brianna cut his umbilical cord and they have been together ever since).

When she’s not working, Brianna can be found taking care of her zoo, hiking with the dogs, and going to the beach.

Alison Dzienis, RVT, FFCP

Registered Veterinary Technician, Fear-Free Certified Professional

Ali grew up in Pennsylvania surrounded by animals including dogs, cats, horses, ferrets, and many others. It was in Pittsburgh at the Vet Tech Institute that she met her soon-to-be husband. They moved to West Virginia after graduation and got married a couple years later. Together, they have a son, as well a cat named Oliver – a Bernese Mountain Dog named Goose and a Labrador Retriever named Maverick. They also recently acquired a beta fish aptly named Fish.  Ali and her husband spend their free time together with family, enjoying the outdoors and waterskiing on the river.

Ali joined out team in 2021.

Heather Sgaggero, FFCP

Veterinary Assistant, Fear-Free Certified Professional

Heather joined our team as a kennel tech back in high school. Knowing she wanted to further her education and continue to work with animals, she enrolled in Texas’s Distance Education Veterinary Technician Program, eventually earning her Small Animal Veterinary Technician Assistant Certification.

Growing up, Heather thought she might want to be a veterinarian and she also has experience in management, but she quickly realized that she prefers the nursing and patient care part of the veterinary field and is happy to be part of our tech team.

Her furry family consists of Oliver, a small black mix who thinks he’s boss of the household and Kona, a large black shepherd/lab mix who loves squeaky toys.

Heather lives in Clear Spring with her husband, Steve, and son, Ben. She enjoys camping, hiking, gardening, and spending time with her family.

Katie Holcomb, RVT, FFCP

Registered Veterinary Technician, Fear-Free Certified Professional

Katie grew up in Frederick County and has always had a fondness for animals. She began her career in 2004 at a boarding kennel, but knew she wanted to learn more.  Katie began working as a veterinary assistant and CSR before going to school to be a veterinary technician.  Katie is a graduate of Penn Foster’s technician program. She joined our team in 2021.

Her furry family consists of two big, naughty, fluffy boy cats – Fat and Munch – and a tiny Chihuahua named Daisy. She loves her fur baby bunch!

In her free time, Katie enjoys live music – that’s her happy place – as well as traveling, trying new food, working on her green thumb, and being with family.

Sidney Williams, FFCP

Veterinary Assistant, Fear-Free Certified Professional

Sidney grew up in Northern Virginia (Sterling/Ashburn) and graduated from Martinsburg High School after moving to West Virginia. From a very young age, she loved animals and was fascinated by animal documentaries. She would draw animals or read anything about them. She is studying for a bachelor’s degree in natural science through American Public University and hopes to go to vet school one day. Sidney joined AHCF in 2022 after moving to the Hagerstown, MD, area. She shares her home with a 4-year-old Rottweiler named Layla, who is a cuddle bug and a very sweet baby that carries and sleeps with a little red pig every day.

Kelsey Moore, FFCP

Technician's Assistant, Fear-Free Certified Professional

Kelsey grew up in nearby Boonsboro and graduated in 2019. She has always loved animals and knew from an early age that she wanted to work with them. She started taking vet assistant courses at HCC in 2020 and joined our team in 2022. At home, Kelsey has 2 cats, Nermal and Phil. When she’s not caring for pets here at the clinic, Kelsey enjoys gardening, playing the guitar, and reading and taking long walks on the canal.