Our Care Team
Rebecca Roos
Lead Veterinary Assistant
After moving from New York to Crossville in March 2022, Rebecca joined our PAH staff as a veterinary assistant in May. Currently enrolled in school to become a Licensed Veterinary Medical Technician, she has plenty of pets (besides those at our clinic) with which to supplement her medical training: four pugs, two bearded dragons, two tortoises, a crested gecko, a snake, and over 20 tarantulas.
Viki Avalos
Lead Receptionist
Viki joined the PAH family in October 2021 and has always had a big love for animals (her pup named Bucky and her cat named Oskar can readily attest to that!). She has experience in numerous jobs in the food service industry and especially enjoys working customer service. To our advantage, she brings to PAH an eagerness to be of help, as well as ability to speak two languages. Outside of work, she likes to try out new coffee shops and restaurants and enjoys baking, music, dancing and anything involving art. “I feel super blessed to be working in an environment where I truly feel appreciated.”
Liana Clark
Receptionist
Hailing from Connecticut, Liana moved to Tennessee the summer of 2024 and joined our staff the following December. Her caring attitude matches our goal of compassionate care toward all pets and pet parents during their visits to our hospital. She‘s a serious “Garfield” fan and even named her two dogs Pookie and Odie after characters in Jim Davis’ famous comic strip. Free-time hobbies include crocheting, baking, pet sitting for friends, and creating scrapbooks of “Garfield” features.
John Lombardo
Receptionist
John understands how emotional it can be when a beloved pet goes missing. After experiencing the fear and uncertainty of searching for his own lost dog, he became involved in rescue efforts focused on reuniting families with lost pets. That experience stayed with him and deepened the compassion he already had for both animals and the people who love them. Helping pet owners during stressful moments is now one of the parts of veterinary medicine he values most.
Before joining Plateau Animal Hospital in April 2026, John and his wife moved to Tennessee from Vermont. Originally from New York, John was drawn to Plateau Animal Hospital after seeing the level of attention and kindness the team showed toward both patients and pet owners while caring for their dog and two cats. The experience left a lasting impression and inspired him to become part of the hospital team himself.
As a Receptionist, John enjoys helping clients feel welcomed and supported from the moment they walk through the doors. His lifelong experience caring for birds, freshwater and saltwater fish, dogs, and cats helps him connect naturally with fellow animal lovers. He appreciates being able to support both pets and their owners while helping create a calm and caring environment inside the hospital.
Outside of work, John enjoys spending time outdoors fishing and running. He has also dedicated more than 35 years to training and teaching martial arts in Tae Kwon Do. Over the years, he has competed nationally and internationally and earned the title of United States national champion. That same discipline, patience, and commitment carry into the way he approaches both life and veterinary medicine.
At home, John and his wife share life with their two rescued cats, Brooklyn and Vinny. Brooklyn was rescued in Vermont but originally came from the same county in New York where John grew up, while Vinny was rescued from the same Vermont county where John’s wife grew up, giving both cats meaningful connections to their family’s history.
Melissa Jackson
Veterinary Assistant
Melissa’s love for animals has always been the inspirational factor for her career. Involved with veterinary medicine for over 12 years and a PAH staff member since May 2019, she is a mom to two children, two cats, four dogs (including a Great Dane named “Little Foot”), and many farm animals. “I love making people laugh, and I believe in living life to the fullest!”
Casey Aaron
Veterinary Assistant
Casey is a dedicated Veterinary Technician with over 20 years of experience in animal care and veterinary support. Her career began at the University of Georgia, where she honed her skills and deepened her passion for veterinary medicine. In 2014, after relocating her family to Tennessee, Casey joined Dr. Lisa and the team at Plateau Animal Hospital, where she has continued to provide compassionate and skilled care to patients of all shapes and sizes.
Known for her calm presence and deep love for animals, Casey is not only a professional in the field but also a devoted pet parent herself. Her home is filled with a beloved mix of fur babies—both large and small—as well as a few feathered friends.
With her decades of hands-on experience and heartfelt dedication, Casey is a valued member of the veterinary community and an advocate for the health and happiness of all animals.
Tiffany Jourdan
Veterinary Assistant
Tiffany never expected a dog she did not originally want would become one of the most important parts of her life. Bella, her red heeler mix affectionately known as Belly, quickly became far more than a family pet. Over time, Bella became a source of comfort, motivation, and emotional support during difficult moments. That bond helped Tiffany understand just how powerful the connection between people and animals can be and reinforced why she felt drawn toward veterinary medicine in the first place.
At Plateau Animal Hospital, Tiffany works as a Veterinary Assistant and enjoys combining her longtime interests in science, medicine, and animal care into meaningful work each day. After moving to Crossville, Tennessee, she was eager to return to the veterinary field and joined the Plateau Animal Hospital team in September 2025. Her experience in veterinary medicine began shortly after high school when she completed a veterinary internship at Riverside Hospital in Louisiana. The fast-paced environment, hands-on learning, and opportunity to care for animals confirmed that she had found the career path she truly loved.
One of Tiffany’s favorite parts of the job is watching sick animals recover and return home feeling better. She also enjoys surgery preparation and appreciates the precision and attention to detail involved in surgical procedures. Client interaction is another part of veterinary medicine she values deeply because she enjoys seeing how much people genuinely care for their pets and the trust they place in the veterinary team.
Outside the clinic, Tiffany enjoys spending time fishing and relaxing outdoors in nature. She is also proud of graduating high school and college with honors while earning recognition on the Dean’s List. At home, Tiffany shares life with her husband Wallace, daughter Nicole, Bella, and several ducks, including one appropriately named Eggroll, who helps keep life entertaining.
Candy Godlewski
Veterinary Assistant
Candy still remembers the energy inside the hospital during an open house event she helped organize during her first year as a hospital manager. Every room gave clients the chance to see veterinary medicine from a different perspective. One station explained surgery preparation while another walked families through dental procedures. Staff members discussed prevention and bloodwork while X-rays challenged visitors to guess how many puppies could be seen on the screen. Children gathered in a special learning area to practice how to safely approach animals. For Candy, the event represented something much bigger than a fun community gathering. It reflected her passion for education, teamwork, and helping people feel more connected to the care their pets receive.
Candy first entered veterinary medicine in 2005 while completing hours for her Certified Medical Assistant program. She originally applied for a receptionist position at an animal hospital in Illinois, but the doctor instead brought her into the treatment area to work as a technician. By the end of her first day, Candy realized she had found the environment where she truly belonged. That experience shaped the direction of her career and strengthened her desire to continue growing within veterinary medicine.
At Plateau Animal Hospital, Candy brings that same hands-on energy into every part of her work as a Veterinarian. Surgery remains one of her favorite areas of veterinary medicine, especially the opportunity to continue learning and expanding her knowledge. Throughout her career, Candy has worked alongside doctors performing procedures ranging from dentistry to anterior cruciate ligament repairs and chemotherapy treatments. She enjoys the challenge of learning new skills and believes continued education helps her better support both patients and clients.
Outside of work, Candy is most proud of raising her son while building a demanding career as a single mother. She also shares her home with a lively crew of pets, including three dogs and two cats, all with personalities strong enough to keep life entertaining every single day.
Wendy Parham
Kennel Manager
As a staff member and kennel manager at PAH since November 2015, Wendy manifests an amazing rapport with all our patients and their “parents.” When she’s not giving great care to our clinic pets, she keeps busy with her own family, composed of her husband, three adult children, daughter-in-law, four grandsons, one granddaughter, and a dog named Thunder. She also enjoys cycling, hiking, and cheering on her son and husband in dirt bike competitions.
Helen Roos
Kennel Assistant
Originally from England, Helen first came to the US in 1987, then moved with her husband and two children from New York to Crossville. Her love of animals is too extensive for just the six dogs at home, so she joined our staff as kennel assistant in May of 2024 to add to the compassionate care patients and boarders receive at PAH. Family (including her pets!), hiking, camping and reading top her list of hobbies.
Carolyn Smith
Kennel Assistant
After bringing her cherished pets to PAH for several years, Carolyn joined our team in June 2022. Retiring from several years in restaurant management, she turned her love of animals into a second career and now enjoys caring for pets in our kennel. She is married and has a son and daughter-in-law. A 16-yearold dog named Prissy and three cats (Pepper, Max and Roxy) complete the family. Her free time is dedicated to hiking, crocheting, and road trips.
Jane Opatrny
Clinic Volunteer
Originally from Chicago, Jane moved to Crossville after spending 20+ years working with an accounting firm. She was initially drawn to our clinic for veterinary care of her dog and two cats; but with an Associate of Science Degree in Medical Assisting and a compulsion to stay busy, it was only natural for her to offer volunteer hours alongside our staff. Ever since August 2019, she has supported PAH‘s success in providing high quality care for clients’ pets. “The staff is fun to be around, and I truly believe they get my Midwestern sense of humor.” Her additional interests include working on stained glass projects.
Victor LoGiudice
Clinic Volunteer
Victor LoGiudice’s life has always centered around one thing: caring for others.
For over two decades, Victor served as a New York State Licensed Funeral Director, guiding families through some of the most difficult moments of their lives. His work required compassion, patience, and the ability to listen with empathy—qualities that became second nature to him. After 24 years in that role, Victor knew he wasn’t ready to stop helping people. He simply wanted to do it in a new way.
That next chapter began after his retirement and relocation from New York to Tennessee in 2025. Having built a connection with Dr. Lisa over the years through mutual friends and multiple pet adoptions, Victor already trusted Plateau Animal Hospital with the care of his own animals. When the opportunity arose to volunteer, it felt like a natural continuation of the life he had always lived—supporting families, now alongside the animals they love.
Victor’s connection to animals is deeply personal. Over the years, he and his partner, Steve, have opened their home to several rescue dogs, each with their own story. One that stands out is Serenity, a Catahoula mix who had been abandoned after being hit by a car. Serenity came into Victor’s life and taught him something lasting: healing takes time, patience, and trust. She lived to be 15, and every year with her reinforced his belief in giving animals the second chances they deserve.
That belief continues today with June, a gentle and affectionate senior, and Archie, a young Cairn Terrier mix still learning what it means to feel safe and loved. Watching Archie grow into that sense of security has been one of Victor’s greatest joys.
At the clinic, Victor brings the same steady presence that defined his previous career. He enjoys connecting with clients, offering a calm voice, and creating a welcoming environment for the team. For him, it’s not just about volunteering—it’s about continuing a lifelong purpose to offer compassion to those who need it.