Above all, I want to be a positive force on my community and surroundings. The way that I am most comfortable being this force is by helping animals and helping their people understand how best to take care of them. I believe that the more a pet owner knows about pet-related diseases and how to prevent them, the better that person will be equipped to provide their furry family member a longer and better life. And the longer a pet is around, the longer it provides stress relief and an outlet for the love each of us has within us. It’s a wonderful cycle!

Education

• Graduate of Avon High School, 2002
• BS in animal science, Purdue University (Highest Distinction), 2006
• DVM Purdue College of Veterinary Medicine, 2010
• Certified Feline Practitioner, 2014
• Vet-Stem: Regenerative Stem Cell Introduction and Orthopedic Use Credentialing Course, 2015
• Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner (CCRP), University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine, 2015

Dr. Jennifer Quammen’s veterinary career started as a licensed technician. She worked alongside many doctors in her technician career, helping with routine wellness care to emergency services to orthopedic (bone and joint) surgeries. Dr. Jen found throughout her time as a technician that she really enjoyed the challenge and reward of surgery. After attending and graduating from The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine, she started working as a veterinarian in Kentucky. Within a couple of years of graduation, she was the medical director of a two-location, seven-doctor practice where she had formerly been a technician. During that time, she also began training and competing in Kettlebell Sport Competitions. Feeling the pull of wanting to be more involved in the direction of veterinary medicine, she joined the executive board of the Kentucky Veterinary Medical Association and the American Veterinary Medical Association’s Council on Veterinary Services. Dr. Quammen is currently the President of the Kentucky Veterinary Medical Association and Chairwoman of the AVMA Council.

Dr. Quammen is a lifelong learner and strives for constant improvement in her personal and professional lives. She was looking for ways to share her success and help her colleagues. Dr. Jen and her partner Coach Ryan created a business that helps those in the veterinary profession thrive in life, love, and career. Veterinarian Coaching focuses on helping The Modern Veterinarian™ reach their fullest potential. One of the common themes of their coaching work is “self care is NOT selfish.”

Dr. Jen will often say that she is a better doctor when she’s practicing three or four days a week and not six or seven days a week. Finding balance with developing business, family life, and the care for veterinary patients can be challenging, and she’s always working to keep it all in check.

Dr. Hedges is a native of Indianapolis; she moved to Lebanon in 2007 while in veterinary school. She and her husband fell in love with the community and quickly decided to make it their home. Since graduating from Purdue, Dr. Hedges has spent the last three years at a busy four-doctor small animal practice in Lafayette. Her goal has always been to open her own practice in Lebanon and become a closer part of the community. Dr. Hedges’s interests include preventative care, stress-free handling, human-animal bond, cancer, and cancer pain management. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, hiking with her dogs, and traveling. Dr. Hedges lives in town with her husband, three dogs named Arti, Brie, & Emmy, and three cats named Olive, Whiskers, & Arya.

My passion has always revolved around animals of all shapes and sizes. Growing up, I knew I wanted to dedicate my life to helping animals and helping people help animals. Studying animal sciences with a concentration in behavior and well-being at Purdue University opened my eyes to the fantastic field of veterinary medicine. I love working with animals hands-on, but I have also discovered a love for educating others on animal behavior, connecting with our community at events, and creating a veterinary practice that both animals and people enjoy coming to. At the end of the day, if I have shown a dog that was previously scared of visiting us that we are here to help calmly and lovingly, and they walk out with a tummy full of treats and a wag in their tail, I know I have made a difference. 

I believe that the human-animal bond can play such a significant role in one’s life. Whether it is getting a group together to walk with their dogs or creating fun enrichment items for our feline friends, having a good relationship with your furry companions is extremely valuable in life. 

“Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.” ― Anatole France

Alexa is a Registered Veterinary Technician. She graduated in 2015 from Harrison College. She then joined our team after completing her externship with us. Alexa has a special interest in anesthesia, surgery, and dentistry. She loves helping animals and their people. She currently has a golden retriever named Maizy and a Yorkie named Rosebud.

Danielle is a Registered Veterinary Technician. She attended the Vet Tech Institute at the International Business College. Danielle considers herself lucky that she found Community Pet Healthcare for her externship and continued her career with the CPH family. She loves working in the veterinary field because she gets to help animals every day while making it a positive experience for them. In her free time, she likes to spend time with her husband and two dogs (Wrigley and Diesel).. and of course, her princess Zala (the clinic cat).

Pets: Dr. Hobson, John Carter, Gichin Funakoshi, Nizy Ichinose, Chihiro Ichinose, Sōsuke Ichinose, Kodama Kusakabe, Mae Kusakabe, Tatsuo Kusabake

Growing up I always had a love for animals. Bringing home stray cats was a normal summer past time for me. After deciding I needed a career change, I went to the Vet Tech Institute in 2015 and finally found my calling. I love working here at CPH with Dr. Cantrell and the rest of the team because helping animals and their humans truly bring me joy and fulfillment that I was missing. Getting to help nervous animals experience better visits with fear-free handling has been my most favorite part about being a part of the CPH team. In my free time away from the clinic, I love to spend my time hiking with my best furry friend Minnie, my lab-pitty mix, and enjoying kitty snuggles with my cats Jasmine and Miley. You can often find me cracking jokes in and outside of the clinic and trying to make everyone that I meet smile and laugh. Laughter is the best medicine for people and kindness goes a long way with our furry friends. Spread the word.

Kelsey grew up in Noblesville, Indiana, taking care of her family animals. Since then, she has worked in almost every aspect of the veterinary industry. From kennels (during her college days) to handling research samples, specialty practice, nonprofit practice, sales, and wildlife work, Kelsey has done it all. Her interests include animal behavior, nutrition, and enhancing client education.

Kelsey lives with her husband, dogs, horses, and goats on the south side of Indianapolis. When she’s not working, she enjoys painting, volunteering, and spending time with her family.

I am currently a senior at Noblesville High School. In the fall, I will be attending Purdue University majoring in animal sciences. Throughout my high school career, I have had the opportunity to be an intern at the Indianapolis Zoo, working with marine mammals, and have been fortunate enough to be an intern at Community Pet Healthcare. I have also enjoyed being able to volunteer at local animal shelters and rescues. As an advocate for animals, I started a club at Noblesville High School called Lend a Paw. Operating in association with the Hamilton County Humane Society, the club strives to morph young minds into advocate volunteers in the community and to instill a strong sense of community involvement that the students can build on in the future. After completing my undergraduate studies, I aspire to attend Purdue University’s College of Veterinary Medicine and then specialize in small animal neurology. My dream is to pair small animal surgery of neurological diseases and trauma with rehabilitation in order to combine different fields of veterinary medicine to provide exceptional care. I am always excited to learn more about veterinary medicine and Fear Free care while working at Community Pet Healthcare.

I will be starting my third year of veterinary school at Purdue in the fall and have been working as an assistant at CPH for five years! All of the doctors and nurses here have taught me so much about fear free handling and creating the best client and patient experience. Working and learning here at CPH has shown me what the highest standard of care looks like. After vet school, I would like to specialize in oncology and improve cancer outcomes for our furry family members. I have a feisty tortie named Rue and I love adventuring with my black lab Finn!

Alissa is a native of Darlington and has always had a passion for animals. She graduated from the Vet Tech Institute at the International Business College of Indianapolis in 2011. Alissa has two years of prior experience working as a veterinary assistant. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, reading, spending time with her family and friends, and helping her parents on the family farm.

The opportunity to enter the veterinary profession presented itself more than 30 years ago. Learning about advances in veterinary medicine as they happened between then and now has been very fulfilling.

As a child, I always looked forward to “Doc Slavic,” one of the few veterinarians in the county, coming to our farm to care for the livestock. (I never questioned what he did.)

This was the best opportunity for vaccines or medicines to be administered to our cats and dogs. There were always lots of cats, and we had three barns and 80 acres. The dogs were always by our sides when we were available. Neighbors were not close, so the “pets” were true companions.

One spring, I had 21 kittens to play with. I can hear Dad stating, “Ole Tom must have come around”. Another spring, I had 100 chicks!

Being part of Community Pet Healthcare is a privilege. Dr. Cantrell and Dr Quammen, being respected industry leaders, have elevated their already superb staff to levels rarely seen. Our standards of service are exceptional, and every effort is made to care for patients as well as their families.

My dear husband Rick and I are proud of our sweet and loving daughter Natalie, who lives in Montana. She is happily married, and she and John have given us two precious…grand-dogs!

So that being said, our pet family, Monaco, Ocho, and Cricket, are really our kids!

Keadron recently moved back to Indiana after spending 15 years in Rhode Island and currently resides in Linden with her little fur family. She has a strong love for helping animals and many of her summers were spent volunteering at the local barns and animal shelters. She hopes to continue her knowledge and education of the veterinary world in the near future. She loves going on adventures and spending time outside, her bucket list of places to see is forever growing.

Melissa has been grooming dogs for 14 years. When she first moved to Kansas City, she found a job at a pet store by chance — it was one of the few places in the city she knew how to find! Melissa quickly realized that she had a natural talent for making pets beautiful. She started out as a grooming assistant and earned the opportunity to study at a Michigan grooming school. While there, she had the privilege of working with and learning from some of the country’s top groomers. Melissa is still happily grooming since returning to Indiana and is excited to expand into more creative styles of grooming.