Jonesville Animal Hospital was founded in December 2003 by Dr. Jill Lerman and Dr. Kathy Vliet, who have more than 35 years of combined experience in the Alachua County veterinary community. Our highly trained staff members offer expert treatment and compassionate care to each and every pet patient they serve.

Dr. Jill Lerman

Originally from Providence, Rhode Island, Dr. Jill Lerman graduated from the University of Connecticut with a Bachelor of Science degree. She went on to earn her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree from Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1990. Dr. Lerman then relocated to Gainesville, where she practiced small animal medicine and surgery as an associate for 13 years. In 2003, she founded Jonesville Animal Hospital with Dr. Vliet.

When Dr. Lerman is not serving patients, she enjoys spending time with her husband, Ray, her children, Jenna and Ryan, and her kitties, TJ and Blaze. Dr. Lerman is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), Florida Veterinary Medical Association (FVMA) and the Alachua Veterinary Medical Association.

Dr. Kathleen Vliet

Dr. Kathy Vliet graduated from the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine in 1996. In 1997, she completed her internship at The Animal Medical Center in Manhattan, New York.

After her internship, Dr. Vliet returned to the Gainesville area to practice small animal medicine and surgery. She is one of the few PennHIP certified veterinarians in Central Florida. In 2003, she founded Jonesville Animal Hospital with Dr. Lerman.

Dr. Vliet is married to Kent Vliet, a biologist at the University of Florida who specializes in the study of alligators. They have one horse and three dogs. Dr. Vliet is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), Florida Veterinary Medical Association (FVMA), and the Alachua Veterinary Medical Association.

Heather Office Manager As the office manager of Jonesville Animal Hospital, Heather has more than 20 years of experience in the veterinary field. She has worked at Jonesville Animal Hospital since it opened in 2003. In her spare time, Heather enjoys spending time with her husband, Ric, their two horses, three dogs and cat. Her hobbies include dressage, cooking, reading and gardening.		Emily Assistant Office Manager Emily began working with Dr. Lerman and Dr. Vliet in 2000 after moving to Florida from Athens, Georgia. She was excited to become part of the Jonesville family in 2004. She helps manage the office and works as a receptionist and technician. She's pictured with her dogs Meghan and Mara.		Melanie Receptionist Melanie joined the Jonesville Animal Hospital team as a receptionist in March 2008. She enjoys spending time with her husband, their daughter, Faith, and their son, Devyn. She has two dogs, a Chihuahua named Tater-Tot and a Papillion named Gracie-Mae, and two cats, Arwen and Nugget. In her spare time, Melanie enjoys playing games and doing arts and crafts with her kids.
Kelly Veterinary Technician Originally from Pennsylvania, Kelly moved to Gainesville in 2007. She joined the Jonesville Animal Hospital staff in June 2007 and is currently working toward her Veterinary Technician Certification. Kelly loves animals, and she has rescued quite a few stray dogs and cats. She and her husband, Arturo, have two dogs and three cats at home.		Lindsay Veterinary Technician and Receptionist Lindsay began working at Jonesville Animal Hospital in 2006 and has since become a veterinary technician, as well as a receptionist. She currently attends Santa Fe College where she is majoring in education. She plans on transferring to the University of Florida to complete her bachelor's degree. When Lindsay is not at work or school, she enjoys baking, going to the gym, and spending time with family and friends. She has two "fur kids," Romeo and Juliet, both of which are rescued pit bull mixes with great personalities.		Katy Veterinary Technician Katy joined the Jonesville Animal Hospital staff in April 2009. She has worked as a veterinary technician since 2000. Originally from Loxahatchee, Florida, Katy currently resides in Lake Butler with her husband and daughter. They have three dogs and a horse. When she's not at work, Katy enjoys horseback riding, cooking, outdoor activities and spending time with her family and friends.
Kim Veterinary Technician Kim has been a veterinary technician since 2002, working mostly in emergency medicine. She graduated from the University of Florida in 2005 with degrees in Zoology and Classical Studies. Kim is currently a student at the UF College of Veterinary Medicine. She is passionate about improving the lives of the people in her community by caring for their pets. She has three cats at home.		Cari Veterinary Technician Cari joined the Jonesville Animal Hospital team in May 2010 as a veterinary technician. She is originally from Seffner, Florida, near Tampa. She moved to Gainesville to attend Santa Fe College. She plans to transfer to the University of Florida to continue her Agricultural Communications degree, and hopes to ultimately work as a large animal nutrition specialist. When Cari is not working, she enjoys showing dogs, riding horses and fishing		Billy Veterinary Technician Billy joined our health care team in May of 2011. He comes to us with over 11 years of technical experience, most of which have been in emergency medicine. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his wife, Kim, a veterinary student at the University of Florida, and his three cats. He also enjoys golfing, playing hockey, and attending sporting and concert events.
Brittney Veterinary Assistant Brittney joined the Jonesville Animal Hospital staff in the Spring of 2011 as a Veterinary Assistant. She moved to Gainesville from Dunellon, FL and is currently attending Santa Fe College. She is working towards her associates degree in Biology and is planning to transfer to the University of Florida to pursue a bachelor's degree in Animal Science. When she's not working, Brittney enjoys fishing, hunting, working cows, and spending time her family and friends.		Nikki Veterinary Assistant Nikki joined the Jonesville Animal Hospital team in May 2011 as a veterinary assistant. She currently attends the University of Florida, majoring in Biology, and hopes to attend veterinary school after finishing her Bachelor's degree. In her free time, she volunteers at the UF College of Veterinary Medicine and spends time with her two dogs, Chasco and Kali.		Erin Veterinary Technician Erin joined the Jonesville Animal Hospital staff early in 2011. After a summer hiatus, she returned to us in the Fall of 2011. She is a Public Relations major at the University of Florida and has been working in veterinary hospitals for about four years. In her free time, Erin enjoys spending time with her two kittens.