Meet Our Veterinary Team

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. David Appel

Dr. Appel is originally from New Jersey and received his undergraduate degree in Biology at Virginia Tech. After college, he worked for Johnson & Johnson in the Department of Skin Biology. He then received his doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine.

Dr. Appel lives in San Diego with his wife Caroline, dogs Maple and Huck, and cat, Fern. The natural world fascinates him and he enjoys exploring California with his family.

Dr. Appel’s professional interests include internal medicine, feline medicine, and dermatology.

Stephanie Leone

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.