Exceptional. Compassionate. Detail-Oriented. The team at Just Cats Clinic cares deeply about providing your precious feline with the best medical care possible.
Doctors
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Elizabeth ChapmanMedical Director
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Laura GoldenAssociate Veterinarian , Certified in Veterinary Acupuncture
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Amanda SmithAssociate Veterinarian
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Sarah TewAssociate Veterinarian
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Taylor QuinnAssociate Veterinarian
Elizabeth Chapman
Dr. Elizabeth graduated from Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine in Blacksburg, Virginia. Prior to becoming a veterinarian she received an undergraduate degree in Political Science and Economics from Wellesley College. Prior to starting her own practice, she spent four years working with Dr. Marcus Brown at NOVA Cat Clinic (formerly known as Capital Cat Clinic). She is grateful for his extraordinary mentorship and for the excellent staff that taught her about all things cat. She founded Just Cats Clinic in 2013.
Dr.Elizabeth has a special interest in geriatric feline medicine, feline dentistry and pathology.
She presently resides in Herndon, VA with her children Everett, Darin and Daphne, and her cat Simon. In her free time she enjoys trying new recipes, reading and spending time with her family.
Dr. Elizabeth is a member of the following professional organizations:
American Association of Feline Practitioners
The CATalyst Council
American Veterinary Medical Association
American Animal Hospital Association
International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management
Veterinary Information Network
National Animal Health Emergency Response Corps
Fairfax County Medical Reserves Corps – celebrating 8 years of service in 2019!
Laura Golden
Dr. Golden was born in Hampton, VA. She was raised in the Navy and has lived in Florida, Italy, Virginia, and Washington. She has been an associate at Just Cats since October 2014.
Dr. Laura got her Bachelor’s degree in Wildlife Science from Virginia Tech in 2004 and graduated from the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine with her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 2008. After graduation, she moved to Washington state and practiced there in Vancouver at a feline-only practice for 6 years.
Her professional interests include neurology, ophthalmology, and soft tissue surgery. She is a member of the American Association of Feline Practitioners, American Veterinary Medical Association, and the American Animal Hospital Association.
Dr. Laura completed her certification with The Chi Institute and is now offering acupuncture appointments and Chinese herbal therapy.
Dr. Laura lives in Herndon with her cat Duncan. In her free time, she enjoys reading (especially science fiction/fantasy), video games, running, making jewelry, and helping her mother run her cat toy business.
Dr. Laura is a member of the following professional organizations:
American Association of Feline Practitioners
American Veterinary Medical Association
Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association
American Animal Hospital Association
Veterinary Information Network
Amanda Smith
Dr. Amanda Smith grew up near Baltimore, Maryland with furry friends all around. She obtained a bachelor’s degree in Science from Washington College. Afterward she received her DVM from Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine. She completed a one year internship in emergency and specialty medicine in Gaithersburg, Maryland. She then practiced as an associate veterinarian in Northern Virginia, caring for dogs and cats.
Dr. Smith’s special interests include preventive medicine, mobile animal healthcare, infectious diseases and internal medicine. She is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association.
Currently, Dr. Smith resides in Oakton with her husband and two young children, and their two cats, Howie and Peaches. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends.
Dr. Smith is a member of the following professional organizations:
American Veterinary Medical Association
Veterinary Information Network
American Animal Hospital Association
American Association of Feline Practitioners
Sarah Tew
Dr. Sarah Tew proudly hails from the Midwest with roots in Missouri and Iowa. In 2006, she graduated with her DVM degree from the University of Missouri. Since then, she has practiced in both Kansas City and Northern Virginia. Dr. Tew’s practice interests are preventive medicine, internal medicine, and geriatric medicine.
Dr. Tew lives in Leesburg with her partner Adam, their dogs Stewart and Seeker, and their senior tabby cat, Emmitt. In her free time, she likes to read, garden, cook, and visit local restaurants and wineries with friends and family.
Taylor Quinn
Dr. Quinn grew up in Springfield, Virginia, surrounded by just cats (and the occasional fish). She earned her DVM from Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, where she focused her studies on small animal companion medicine. Prior to becoming a veterinarian, she graduated from the College of William & Mary with a BBA in accounting and psychology. Afterwards, she spent a year living in Seoul, South Korea, teaching English as a foreign language.
Dr. Quinn has special interests in cardiology, compassionate end-of-life care, internal medicine, and soft-tissue surgery. She is currently Fear Free(R) certified and has received advanced training in the art of gentle euthanasia through Companion Animal Euthanasia Training Academy.
In her free time, Dr. Quinn enjoys reading, baking, and running.
“Time spent with cats is never wasted.”
-Freud
Care Team
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CatClient Care Specialist
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ClaireClient Care Specialist
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KimClient Care Specialist
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MelanieClient Care Specialist
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MorganBoarding Assistant
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CaitlinBoarding Assistant
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AlinaBoarding Assistant
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AuraPatient Care Specialist
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EmmaPatient Care Specialist
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JessPatient Care Specialist
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SamPatient Care Specialist
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ZachPatient Care Specialist
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JeffLicensed Vet Tech
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MeganLicensed Vet Tech
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AnnaPatient Care Manager
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ChanningClient Care & Boarding Manager
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GenevievePractice Manager
Cat
“Cat— short for Catherine, has been working in the Veterinary field since 2013. She began working as a receptionist and shortly after realized she would like to be more hands on which began her training as a Veterinary Assistant. She is always sharing her love and knowledge of animals in and outside of work. Cat shares her home with her dog Abby and recently adopted cat, Cookie.
In her free time, you will find her somewhere outdoors either
gardening or skateboarding. When she’s not outside, she loves to care for her houseplants, spend time with her family, friends and furry babies.”
Claire
Claire has been an animal lover her whole life, having grown up with cats and a dog. Claire graduated from George Mason University with a bachelor’s in communication. After college, Claire found that she loved helping people and their pets, which led her to her role as a Client Care Specialist. She came to Just Cats Clinic with many years of office experience and two years of experience at an emergency vet practice.
When not at the clinic, she can be found spending time with her cats, Noona and Dimitri, baking, or playing video games.
Kim
Kim grew up on a dairy farm where she spent time with animals big and small. She could often be found with a garter snake in hand or saving chipmunks from the neighborhood cats. She’s always had the desire to save any animal she comes across.
Kim’s realization that she wanted to work with animals came from her experience in June 2017 when she found a two-week-old kitten she took home and named Gemma. Gemma was very sick with pneumonia and a severe eye infection. She was given a very poor prognosis. Kim felt helpless not knowing how to save her. Gemma was Kim’s motivation to get into this field and learn as much as she could. Kim worked for two years as a receptionist and vet assistant at another hospital before coming to Just Cats Clinic. Her passion is working with cats, especially the most vulnerable.
While not at work, Kim enjoys sculpting, reading, hiking, playing video games, and spending time with her cat Gemma, dog Merlin and husband Colin.
Melanie
Melanie has been working in the veterinary field since 2019. She has always loved and been around animals as long as she can remember. Melanie is currently in college studying for her degree in Business. Melanie shares her home with her four dogs Leo, Gabbana, Dolce, Chanel and her two cats Lulu and Kali.
In her free time you will find her visiting local restaurants, at the gym or at home lounging with her 6 furry babies
Morgan
With a grandfather who was a wildlife research biologist and her father raised on a wildlife preserve, it’s no wonder that Morgan landed in animal care; a fascination, love, and respect for animals has been a part of her life for as long as she can remember. Raised in Maryland, her childhood home had no shortage of animals.
Although Morgan attended community college for art history with the intent to teach, she eventually realized that academia wasn’t for her. After marrying and moving to Virginia, she began working for the Humane Society of Fairfax Country in 2012. There she discovered that her ability to connect with animals was an unusual gift. This started her on the path to being an avid student of feline behavior, and the next eight years of shelter work provided her with various techniques to help settle and reassure cats in unfamiliar situations. She also enjoys educating new owners on feline behavior so that undesirable behaviors can be avoided while enriching the lives of both cat and owner.
Now working as a boarding assistant for Just Cats Clinic, Morgan strives to provide the same level of attentive care and affection while maintaining the calm and comfortable environment that she would want for her own cats. She’s always willing to go the extra mile to help cats feel safe and settle in for the duration of their stay. When not busy with her beloved boarders, Morgan has dedicated her time to learning as much as possible about feline medical care.
Outside of work, Morgan lives with her husband and two cats, Jupiter and Maui. Her interests include reading, cooking and baking, various art forms, music, video games, gardening, and interacting with animals and nature as much as possible.
Caitlin
Caitlin grew up in Massachusetts in a household that was always bustling with the activity of her four sisters and a constant menagerie of pets large and small, furry, feathered, and scaly. She then lived in Connecticut for three years before moving to Virginia in 2017.
Though most of her professional experience before joining Just Cats Clinic was in the restaurant industry, caring for animals has always felt like second nature to her, so she was excited for the opportunity to transition to a field she felt better aligned with and supported her passions and desires. She felt at home immediately and takes great joy in spending her days tending to each cat that comes into boarding and getting well-acquainted with their unique needs and personalities, along with those of their human companions. She hopes to continue expanding her knowledge and experience through her work at Just Cats Clinic.
Outside of work, Caitlin enjoys spending time with her family, her two cats, Wolfgang and Tallula, and her dog, Cash, as well as expressing herself through various creative outlets, reading mysteries and historical fiction, and watching psychological thrillers
Alina
Alina has been a lifelong animal lover. Growing up with dogs and beta fish, she always had an interest in working with animals. Her first job was working in boarding and at the front desk of Montrose Pet Hotel and Animal Health Center, which she did for four years. In her personal time Alina has worked as a pet sitter for many years. After adopting her first cat, Kiwi, and soon after her second cat Clementine, Alina started to realize just how much she loved being around cats. She joined the Just Cats Clinic boarding team in 2021. One of Alina’s long term goals is to get involved in fostering cats and kittens in need of a home. When she isn’t working, Alina is hanging out with her cats, playing guitar, binge watching movies, and playing Minecraft.
Aura
Aura has always been a cat person. She graduated from West Virginia University with a B.S. in Biology 2018 and went on to work in the veterinary field the same year. At her previous hospital, Aura was the Fear Free Ambassador for the team and enacted new stress-reduction tactics to keep the vet experience as comfortable as possible for patients and owners alike. Aura is currently studying to get her technician’s license and is excited to be a part of a team of people who love cats as much as she does.
When she’s not working, Aura spends her time painting, gardening, reading, and hanging out with her cats Pitou and Drogon.
Emma
Emma has dreamed of working with animals her whole life. She loves all sorts of animals, which is why she studied Organismal Biology at Christopher Newport University and had minors in Leadership Studies and Environmental Studies. She has been working the veterinary field since 2020, and loves the chances she gets to further her knowledge. Emma would like to one day go to veterinary school!
In her free time, Emma loves to read, knit, watch anime, and hang out with her three dogs, Vixen, Lilly, and Poppy!
Jess
Jess started at Just Cats in October of 2022. Jess’s background in medicine was inspired by her mom who let her read her nursing text books growing up. She started loving animals when she was introduced to her childhood dog at the age of 9. After that point she decided to combine her two favorite things of medicine and animals together and started working in the veterinary field in 2018 as a veterinary assistant. She attended Virginia Tech where she graduated with a bachelors degree in Animal and Poultry Sciences with a focus in companion animals. Jess is planning to continue her education in the fall and attend a veterinary technology program in hopes to get her license.
After work you can find Jess at the gym, journaling, cooking, or giving her cat Jiji all her attention.
Jess is so excited to be a part of the Just Cats team and further her education to help more animals.
Sam
Sam grew up on a farm with multiple species of animals, big and small, and has always had a love for them. She started working as a volunteer in the animal care field when she was 12 years old. Once she turned 16, she began her career as a veterinary assistant. Sam joined the Just Cats Clinic team in 2021 and she is excited to continue increasing her feline knowledge.
Sam currently lives at home with her cat, Killian, and her dog, Jack. In her spare time, she enjoys lazy Sundays, hiking, and watching the show “Bones”.
Zach
Zach’s lifelong adventure with animals began when he was young, growing up in a family rooted in agriculture and animal husbandry. He began his studies at NVCC with the goal to become a physical therapist but discovered along the way that his true passion is the care of animals. Zach loves all types of animals and hopes to grow his career further into the medical field. In his free time away from work if he isn’t caring for his small animal collection at home or chasing his toddler, then he is either roaming the aisles of Target, hiking a trail, or dyeing his hair again.
Jeff
Jeff always felt a natural connection to cats when he was growing up, and when he started in the veterinary field as a kennel assistant in 2001, he knew he had found his calling. He continued to advance his career throughout the years and got his Veterinary Technician license in 2017. Jeff started at Just Cats Clinic in 2022 and ensures that our surgery patients are cared for according to the highest standards available. Additionally, he has had experience with exotic pets, oncology, and emergency/critical care. Outside of work, Jeff enjoys hiking, spending time outdoors, cooking, reading, gaming, and traveling. He is on a bowling team with other Just Cats team members as well!
Megan
Megan started working in the veterinary field in 2008 and has always had a lifelong love of cats. She attended the veterinary technology program at Northern Virginia Community College, graduating in 2011 to become an LVT. Since then she has worked in multiple hospitals and departments, including emergency and internal medicine.
Megan has always practiced stress free handling. After a lifetime of owning cats she has a good sense of how her patients are feeling and has been called a “cat whisperer” everywhere she has worked.
Outside of work, she spends her time hiking, playing games, enjoying live music, and spending time with her own cats, Butters and Popcorn.
Anna
Anna has always loved animals and has two cats, Adam and Momo, and occasional foster kittens. She joined the Just Cats Clinic team in 2014 when we first opened and has since worked her way up from Assistant to Patient Care Manager.
In her free time, she enjoys volunteering with Reston Community Players, assisting at TNR clinics, and spending time with family.
Channing
Channing has worked in the veterinary field for over a decade. He has been with Just Cats Clinic since 2014 and now manages the Client Care and Boarding departments. He has a Bachelor’s degrees in History and Political Science from George Mason University.
In his spare time, he enjoys reading, writing, running, playing video games, and spending time with his two cats, Misty and Mar.
Genevieve
Genevieve grew up in Northern Virginia in a family where animals often outnumbered humans. She earned her master’s degree in cultural anthropology from The George Washington University, assisted by her handsome orange tabby Recon.
She worked at a Virginia State Park for over ten years teaching visitors about local history, the awesomeness of nature and the importance of conservation.
Genevieve joined the Just Cats Clinic team in 2014 as a Client Care Specialist and was promoted to Practice Manager in 2020. Outside of work, Genevieve is passionate in her mission to save the bees and butterflies by gardening with native plants. Her other interests include dancing, baking, reading, camping, and gaming. Joining her in her adventures are her husband Chris and two cats, Oliver and Lillian.