Dr. Michael Kirkpatrick

Dr. Michael Kirkpatrick received his Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine at the Royal School of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery in Edinburgh, Scotland. He was born and raised in Germany and received his undergraduate degree in sociology from the University of San Diego.

His love for animals was instilled in him at a young age by his parents, who always set a good example of caring and being advocates for animals. Dr. Kirkpatrick feels as though veterinary medicine is the perfect situation that allows him to help animals and people alike.

His special interests in veterinary medicine include surgery, pain management, dentistry, and dermatology. He is passionate about treating every pet as though it were his own, giving the best medical care possible by applying his training and knowledge in educating owners on preventative medicine.

Dr. Kirkpatrick is married with two young daughters and has a miniature Dachshund named Sami and an English Cocker Spaniel named Bea. He enjoys spending his free time with his family and likes traveling to different countries. He has a great passion for the outdoors, where he enjoys hiking, fishing, and wildlife photography (some of which you can see around the clinic). Dr. Kirkpatrick is an avid sports fan and former college and professional basketball player who loves staying active.

Dr. Courtney Dixon

Dr. Courtney Dixon received her Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign. She was born and raised in Maine and completed her undergraduate degree in biology at Northeastern University in Boston. After vet school, Dr. Dixon moved west and completed a small animal rotating internship at Pet Emergency and Specialty Center in La Mesa, CA.

Dr. Dixon is passionate about building relationships with owners and their pets and honoring the human-animal bond. Her special interests include oncology, geriatric medicine, and chronic disease management. Dr. Dixon feels incredibly honored to work in a field where we help both pets and their families and feels that every pet deserves quality care.

Outside of veterinary medicine, Dr. Dixon has a love for all things plants and you’ll find her caring for her houseplants, gardening, or spending time with her cat, Mojito. She feels lucky to call San Diego home and enjoys hiking, swimming, kayaking, and traveling.

Dr. Janine Wettergren

Dr. Janine Wettergren received her Doctorate and Master’s of Public Health from St. George’s University, completing her clinical rotations at Oregon State University. Dr. Wettergren was born and raised in Miami, Florida as a first-generation American with her mother from Germany and father from Sweden.

Growing up she would always seek opportunities for travel and adventure. Her love for animals started as a young FFA member, summer jobs at the Zoo, jetting off to South Africa for wildlife conservation outreach, and many others. In her free time, she enjoys the beach, playing volleyball, and scuba diving. Dr. Wettergren takes a special interest in surgery, chronic disease management, and preventative medicine. She is passionate about animal welfare, providing a positive experience for both the patient and the client, and is grateful to be working in an environment that promotes advocating for animal wellbeing.

Dr. Savanna Yager

Dr. Savanna Yager earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Western University of Health Sciences, graduating in the top 5% of her class. She has five years of experience in general practice and emergency medicine and is Fear Free certified, CPR certified, and has advanced training in ER/ICU and ultrasound AFAST/TFAST.

Her passion for veterinary medicine began in childhood, her family bred English Cocker Spaniels. She is dedicated to building lasting connections with pets and their families and her clinical interests include reproduction, behavior, and internal medicine.

Outside of work, Dr. Yager enjoys training her dogs for obedience competitions and outdoor activities such as paddle boarding, kayaking, and camping. She shares her home with an English Cocker Spaniel, a Great Dane, a Cane Corso, and a Siberian Husky, and has a special fondness for all giant breeds!

Dr. Samantha Bacong

Dr. Samantha Bacong earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Midwestern University and has several years of experience in small animal general practice.

Dr. Bacong was drawn to veterinary medicine through her experience growing up with pets, where she developed a deep appreciation for the bond between animals and their owners.

Outside of the clinic, she enjoys spending time outdoors with her husband and dog, often hiking, camping, and visiting national parks.

Stephanie Leone

Hospital Director

Stephanie prides herself on bringing experience in emergency and specialty medicine to Jamacha. Her goal is to ensure smooth clinic operations, support the incredible team here, and provide the best experience for both pets and their owners. She and her boyfriend, Scott, have two dogs named Rigatoni and Callie, one special needs tortoise named Colonel Shellington, and nine chickens she is slightly obsessed with.