Meet Our Veterinarians and Staff
Dr. Ransome Weis, DVM
Dr. Weis graduated from Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1996 and has since been in small animal practice, first in Virginia and then in Bucks County. Dr. Weis and his wife, Dr. Laura Weis, bought Doylestown Veterinary Hospital, formerly Animal Clinic Doylestown, in 2002. His particular interests include surgery, endocrinology, and the rapidly evolving science connecting diet, the gut biome and health. Dr. Weis completed his undergraduate degrees with majors in biology, chemistry, and mathematics at Dickinson College in 1977. Before attending veterinary school, he worked as a teacher. He enjoys skiing, working on his older farm house and spending time with his wife and sons.
Dr. Laura Weis, DVM
Dr. Laura Weis focuses her practice on homeopathy and nutritional counseling. She is serving as a Board member with the Academy of Veterinary Homeopathy, and a faculty member with the Pitcairn Institute of Veterinary Homeopathy. Dr. Weis graduated from the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine in 1998 with the highest combined standing in both clinical and classroom work. She then moved to Bucks County and has worked since that time in small animal medicine and surgery. She is also passionate about human homeopathy and nutrition. She enjoys tending her chickens, bees, and goats. Dr. Weis lives with her husband, Dr. Randy Weis, their three boys, three cats, and three dogs—a French Bulldog and two Maremmas.
Dr. Weis is also a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association (AHVMA), the Academy of Veterinary Homeopathy (AVH), the Pennsylvania Veterinary Medical Association (PVMA), and the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP).
Dr. Lois Palin, VMD
Dr. Palin has practiced veterinary medicine in Bucks County for 29 years. She joined our staff in June, 2001. Dr. Palin is dedicated to developing lasting relationships and providing the best care for her patients and their families. Dr. Palin is a 1991 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine, and graduated with honors from the College of Wooster with a B.A. in chemistry in 1987. Dr. Palin and her husband, Jim, live in Upper Makefield with two fun-loving dogs and one very handsome cat. They are proud parents of college students, Monica and Jim. In her spare time, Dr. Palin enjoys paddling on a dragon boat team, skiing, and traveling with her family.
Dr. David MacDonald, DVM, CVA, CVSMT
Dr. David MacDonald joined our medical team in July 2014. He has the unique opportunity to blend modern medicine with the practice of Chinese herbal medicine and other holistic modalities to offer a fully integrative approach to pet healthcare. He is a certified veterinary acupuncturist (CVA) and a certified veterinary spinal manipulative therapist (CVSMT). Originally from Eastern Canada, he is a graduate of Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island. Dr. MacDonald has been practicing veterinary medicine in Pennsylvania for over 20 years with extensive experience in surgical procedures and dental care. Dr. MacDonald and his wife have 2 children, Oliver and Edie-Rose, and their family includes a Pointer mix, Lendri, and two cats, Nougat and Harper.
He is member of the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society, the AHVMA, the AVMA and the PVMA.
Dr. Brittany Sembler, VMD
Dr. Brittany Sembler joined the hospital team as a full-time associate veterinarian in June of 2019. Dr. Sembler is a graduate from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine and received her undergraduate degree from Franklin & Marshall College. Her areas of focus include dentistry, dermatology and behavior. Dr. Sembler enjoys partnering with pet parents to provide care that can make a difference in the overall health of the pet or resolve a stressful family situation. She likes teaching pet parents about how routine dental care at home can help avoid serious medical problems.
Dr. Sembler is a Bucks County native from Washington Crossing, PA. She and her fiancé have three cats: Gideon, Gamma & Beta. When Dr. Sembler is not caring for clients, she enjoys hiking, and creating jewelry. She also paints masquerade masks, a hobby that began as an art class project in high school.
Dr. Jerica Lugo,
VMD
Dr. Jerica Lugo, VMD, discovered her passion for animal advocacy as an undergraduate at Drexel University prior to earning her degree at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine.
Specializing in soft tissue surgery and education, she is grateful to play a role in strengthening the bond between owner and pet. She also loves to help pets put aside their fears and realize that the veterinary office is not such a scary place, after all.
Raised in Connecticut (where she was surrounded by animals), Dr. Lugo and her husband previously lived in Philadelphia, before a friend introduced her to Bucks County and the Doylestown area.
When she is not practicing veterinary medicine, Dr. Lugo enjoys spending time with her husband and the couple’s three senior animals: cats Panda and Storm, and a Boston Terrier mix named Annabelle. She enjoys hiking, knitting, and watching great films.
Dr. Mimi Fitchett, DVM
Dr. Fitchett joined our staff in November, 2020. She is a 1990 graduate of Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine and earned her undergraduate degree from Duke University. Dr. Fitchett enjoys general practice with an interest in acupuncture after completing courses with the Chi Institute in 2019.
After veterinary school, Dr. Fitchett completed an internship at The Animal Medical Center in NY, NY. She was on the staff of the North Shore Animal League and served as the shelter medical director from 1996 to 1998. Dr. Fitchett has practiced at a few veterinary hospitals in the region since moving to Bucks County.
Originally from Maryland, Dr. Fitchett and her husband settled in Bucks County in 1998. The couple have a son and daughter as well as two dogs—a pug and a doodle (pictured with Atticus on his adoption day)—cats, chickens, and Guinea hens. The family also raised peacocks at one time.
Caroline, Nurse
Caroline is a certified veterinary technician and joined our staff in October, 2008. She graduated from Harcum College in 1986 and completed an internship at the University of Pennsylvania Veterinary Hospital. Caroline loves being in the veterinary profession and has been working in private practice for over 30 years. Caroline lives in New Britain with her husband John and their 2 children, John and Olivia. Her family also includes Yoda, a lab/shepard mix and 2 cats, Harley and Sparkles. In addition to spending time with her family, you can find her reading a good book or exercising her green thumb in the garden.
Julie, Nurse
Julie started at Doylestown Veterinary Hospital in June 2012. She graduated from Manor College in 2006 with a degree in veterinary technology. She also has a passion for dog behavior and training and has been leading dog training classes since 2007. She raised two Seeing Eye puppies and has fostered many rescue dogs and puppies over the years. Julie lives with her husband Josh, two adopted dogs Daisy and Geordi, and her adopted cat Wash. When she is not surrounded by animals—which is not often—Julie enjoys hiking, cooking, reading, and working on art projects.
Danielle, Nurse
Danielle joined the Doylestown Veterinary Hospital staff in September, 2012, after being at Holiday House Pet Resort & Training Center for four years. Danielle graduated from the veterinary technician program at Penn Foster, and she studied life sciences at Penn State University. In her free time, she enjoys spending time and walking in the park with her dogs Kona, Jane, and Rufio. Her cat Sasha completes her furry family.
Rhea, Nurse
Rhea has been with Doylestown Veterinary Hospital since 2007. She took a few years away from caring for pets in 2012 to raise her two children and returned to the hospital in 2015. Rhea has an associate’s degree in radiologic technology from Indian Valley Community College in Ogelsby, IL. She loves caring for all pets, but kittens hold a special place in her heart. Rhea’s family includes her two cats Chutney and Quincy. When she’s not at the hospital, Rhea enjoys spending time with her family, gardening or exercising.
Justine, Veterinary Assistant
Justine joined the Doylestown Veterinary Hospital family in 2003. In 2007, she decided to take a break from working to study Veterinary Technology at Harcum College. In July 2015, Justine returned to the hospital team. She loves all aspects of veterinary medicine but providing care and comfort for the geriatric patients is what she enjoys most. Justine enjoys snowboarding, writing, and being at home with her new baby boy Eli, her husband Scott, their dog Bandit, and 3 unruly cats.
Saarah, Veterinary Assistant
Saarah joined the hospital team in February 2019. She is a 2019 graduate of Delaware Valley University (DVU) with a B.S. in Small Animal Science. Saarah is training to be a veterinary nurse and is enrolled in the veterinary technician certification program with Penn Foster. Saarah volunteered for the Lehigh County Humane Society, and the Thailand Veterinary Service during a study-abroad program at DVU. A favorite part of her job is being in the operating room on surgery days because she knows the care given is going to make her patients feel better. When she’s not at the veterinary hospital, Saarah enjoys spending time hiking, camping, snowboarding, and painting. She is a pet parent to her cat Corona.
Michelle, Veterinary Assistant
Michelle started with Doylestown Veterinary Hospital in June 2019. She is a 2019 graduate of The University of Delaware with a B.S. in Animal Science. Michelle completed an internship with Elmwood Park Zoo. She enjoys getting to know our clients and their pets, and loves helping others. Away from work, Michelle likes attending music festivals, swimming and cooking. She has four cats: a calico Holly, a torti Mocha and her domestic short-haired mixes Midnight and Boo.
Lora, Business Manager
Lora Leone joined the DVH staff as business manager in September 2013 after managing front desk operations for Holiday House Pet Resort & Training Center. Her business experience includes running a successful trucking company with her husband for the last 33 years. When she’s not working diligently to manage two businesses, Lora shares a passion for physical fitness with her two adult daughters by running in races and participating in Spartan obstacle racing. She completed the “Mother of all Spartan Races”—The Beast Race in Killington, VT. She also loves taking quiet walks through Tyler State Park with Ash, the family’s German Shepard. Lora lives in Bucks County with her husband of 37 years.
Rachael, Customer Care Specialist
Rachael joined the veterinary staff in early 2015. She has always worked in a customer service position because she enjoys making people happy and loves helping animals. Being at DVH gives Rachael the opportunity to do both! She added that one of the best things about coming to work is her coworkers, saying they are the “most genuinely good-hearted people she has ever met.” Rachael is the proud parent of two labradoodle girls, Jewel and Charlie, who love peanut butter treats and playing all day. Rachael has a degree in business management, and in her free time enjoys spending time outside or working on an arts and craft project.
Nicole, Customer Care Specialist
Nicole has been welcoming clients to the veterinary hospital since April 2018. She says helping the clients and being around the pets makes her really happy. She attended Wissahickon High School and graduated with a vocational certification in baking/pastry arts. Nicole’s favorite season is autumn and she has been volunteering at haunted attractions for many years including Lulu Shriners and Valley of Fear. Away from work, Nicole and her husband enjoy camping, nature walks, attending concerts, and going to the movies. Nicole and her husband are pet parents to their cats Carl, Sly Cooper, and Henry and their dogs Sonny, a black Labrador-Beagle mix, and Sosa, a Pitbull.
Paige, Customer Care Specialist
Paige joined our customer care team in September 2018. She graduated from the Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program at Central Montco Technical High School with certification from the American Red Cross. Prior to joining us, she worked as a CNA specializing in Alzheimer’s and dementia. Paige feels the training has given her a greater understanding urgent medical needs, patience, and compassion as part of her role with the veterinary hospital. Her love of animals and caring for others is demonstrated daily as she welcomes clients and enjoys hearing how the pets and parents are doing. Paige has also volunteered at the Elmwood Park Zoo. Paige loves spending time with her pets, yellow Labrador Bella and her cat Leo, as well as family and friends while being outdoors or relaxing at home watching a good movie.