SARAH KIRK, DVM, MS – PRESIDENT

Sarah received her DVM from Michigan State University in 1977 and her MS in Veterinary Medical Sciences (Shelter Medicine) from the University of Florida in 2017. Although she has had brief stints in private small animal practice, zoo medicine, and research, the majority of her career has been spent in shelter medicine and surgery while residing in the US. She has held positions at private humane societies, was the Medical Director of the ASPCA’s Field Investigation and Response team (large-scale natural and man-made disaster response) and was Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor with the Maddie’s Shelter Medicine program at UF. She is grateful to be living in the beautiful country of Canada (dual US-Canada citizenship) and looks forward to giving back to her new country of residence.

MICHELLE MECKELBORG, DVM, CCRP – VICE-PRESIDENT & VICE-TREASURER

Dr. Michelle Meckelborg spent several years in private practice following graduation from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in 2003. During her private practice stint, Michelle nurtured her interest in exotic animal medicine and surgery and obtained her Certificate in Canine Rehabilitation Therapy in 2016. Michelle joined the shelter veterinarian community in 2017 as a casual surgeon at the Edmonton Humane Society. She found her love for shelter medicine and moved into the role of Director of Animal Health in 2021.

LINDA JACOBSON, BVSC, MMEDVET, PHD – PAST PRESIDENT & TREASURER

Linda received her veterinary degree in Pretoria, South Africa, in 1986 and subsequently completed a residency in small animal internal medicine and a PhD on the pathophysiology of virulent canine babesiosis. She completed the University of Florida Online Graduate Certificate in Shelter Medicine in 2015. She served on the CVO Practice Advisory and Standard of Care Panels, and is a member of the editorial board of Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery and the new journal, Journal of Shelter Medicine and Community Animal Health. She joined the Toronto Humane Society in 2010, where she is currently Director, Science and Advancement.

SARAH LOKAISINGH, DVM – SECRETARY

Dr. Sarah Lokaisingh graduated from the Ontario Veterinary College in 2024. Following graduation, Dr. Lokaisingh went on to pursue an Internship in Community and Shelter Medicine with the Kim and Stu Lang Community Healthcare Partnership Program. She is committed to strengthening the human-animal bond by providing accessible veterinary care. She is passionate about communication and education, and currently serves as a coach with the OVC Clinical Communication Program.

ELISSA BESSONETTE, DVM Dr. Elissa Bessonette received her veterinary degree from Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island in 1999.  She worked in private practice in Fryeburg, Maine and Halifax, Nova Scotia before completing a short internship at the Wildlife Center of Virginia.  She worked with Toronto Wildlife Center and volunteered with the Fatal Light Awareness (FLAP) Program until  2005. In 2006, Elissa began working for Calgary Humane Society. She completed the University of Florida Online Graduate Certificate in Shelter Medicine in 2014 and has been an adjunct clinical instructor for the University of Calgary Distributed Veterinary Learning Community since 2011.

HANNAH WEITZENFELD, DVM Dr. Hannah graduated from Ontario Veterinary College in 2008. After graduation, she moved to the west coast. During her 15 years of mixed private practice and shelter experience both in Canada and the United States, Hannah has consistently volunteered in outreach and TNR projects, both locally and internationally. Hannah is now the Director or Shelter Medicine for the San Francisco Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SF SPCA). Her passions include infectious disease prevention and management, TNR and veterinary outreach.

LAURALEE DORST, RVT

Lauralee’s passion for animal welfare and vast industry knowledge has allowed her to understand the challenges faced by communities when accessing veterinary care. Lauralee joined Toronto Humane Society in 2012 as a frontline Registered Veterinary Technician, bringing with her experience varied skill-sets from the veterinary industry. Throughout her years with us, she’s achieved success and has held many positions, gaining knowledge in our Foster Program, Rescue Transport, and Admissions. In 2023, she became the Director of Community Animal Welfare where she continues to use her expertise to support and educate the public while providing quality veterinary services to animals in our care.

JILL KIRK, DVM, MS

Dr. Jill Kirk graduated from the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine in 2014 with a Certificate in Shelter Medicine earned at the same time. She has spent almost all of her career in Shelter Medicine, and earned her Masters of Science in Shelter Medicine with a Certificate in Veterinary Forensics in 2020. Jill has worked for private non-profits as well as large municipal shelters. In 2022 she left Florida to move to Ontario and started work at the Ontario SPCA and Humane Society. She is currently their Chief Veterinary Officer over their 13 adoption centres. Jill is passionate about pediatric spay/neuter, equal representation for cats and dogs, FIP treatment, and the keeping the human/animal bond intact. In her free time, Jill takes care of her four rescue horses on her farm in the Niagara region.

QUINN RAUSCH, PHD, BSCH

Dr. Quinn Rausch is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Ontario Veterinary College. Their current research focuses on how Canadian organizations are addressing intersecting barriers to accessing animal healthcare, evaluating the impacts of their programs, and engaging made-vulnerable communities. They are the founder of Canadian Veterinary Access Strategy, a community of practice working to advance a national strategy in access to veterinary care in Canada. They completed a PhD in epidemiology and companion animal behaviour and welfare with a focus on puppy behavioural development in the Department of Population Medicine at the Ontario Veterinary College in 2023 and a Certificate in Knowledge Mobilization from the University of Guelph in 2025. Their overall goal is to generate and effectively mobilize knowledge about companion animals in human society to inform community partnership in animal care, improve companion animal welfare, human wellbeing, and the human-companion bond.

RAJINDER SINGH, DVM

Rajinder (“Raj”) Singh, is Director and Veterinarian of the Niagara SPCA Community Outreach Wellness Clinic, where he leads accessible primary care, vaccination initiatives, and shelter-clinic integration across multiple facilities in the Niagara region. With four years of small-animal clinical experience and current graduate studies in Shelter Medicine at the University of Florida, Dr. Raj focuses on practical frameworks that link animal welfare outcomes with operational realities. Raj’s interests include capacity-for-care, LOS reduction, portalized feline housing, and equitable access to veterinary care. He collaborates with regional partners on outreach clinics, preventive care, and data-driven quality improvement. 

JESSICA MURPHY, RVT

Jessica Murphy is a Registered Veterinary Technician with 17 years of experience in veterinary medicine and animal welfare. Raised in a rural farming community, her early exposure to animals sparked a lifelong passion for veterinary care, with a particular focus on advocacy and welfare. She has been a valued member of the SPCA management team for the past 10 years and, most recently, transitioned from Shelter Manager to Hospital Manager, while continuing to support the shelter with medical consultations and guidance.

SARAH THOMPSON, DVM

Dr. Sarah Thompson is a dedicated veterinarian with over 20 years of experience advancing animal health in both general practice and shelter medicine. As Medical Director at the Humane Society of Kitchener Waterloo & Stratford Perth, she has led medical and surgical programs that improve outcomes for unhoused and surrendered animals, expanded access to veterinary care, and supported hands-on learning for future veterinarians. As a former Councillor and current Discipline Committee member of the College of Veterinarians of Ontario, she brings strong leadership, governance, and regulatory experience to her work. 

CAITLIN MCLAGAN, DVM

Caitlin received her veterinary degree from Oregon State University in 2015 and completed a small animal rotating internship with the University of Calgary in 2016. With a special interest in emergency care, she has worked primarily in this area whilst pursuing significant learning and work opportunities in shelter and community medicine. Caitlin has been fortunate to participate in the provision of veterinary care in underserved communities both locally and internationally through various organizations including the BCSPCA, Community Veterinary Outreach, Rural Area Veterinary Services (RAVS), and the Canadian Animal Assistance Team. With a passion for contextualized care within urgent and emergency veterinary care in particular, Caitlin is working to establish a model which increases accessibility of these types of services to families within our communities.