Meet the Veterinary Team at Companion Care Veterinary Hospital
From our veterinarians to our client care staff, every team member shares a commitment to compassionate, personalized care for dogs and cats. Get to know the friendly faces who make our hospital feel like home — for you and your pet.
Meet Our Veterinarians in Mechanicsville
At Companion Care Veterinary Hospital, our team isn’t just passionate about pets — we’re part of the local community. Most of us live right here in St. Mary’s County, and we’re proud to serve the neighbors and animals we’ve grown up alongside.
Meet Our Mechanicsville Veterinary Team
Teresa L.
Practice Manager
Teresa has been with Companion Care since May 2014. Her passion for animals led her to this career. She enjoys traveling, pet sitting, and spending time with her sons, their wives, and her grandchildren.
Chloe F.
Customer Service Representative Supervisor
Chloe joined Companion Care in 2020 and has been collecting cats ever since. She enjoys hiking, biking, and spending time with her fur babies — Cinder, Dorito, Cheeto, Colby Jack, Queso, Pringle, and Mozzarella. Chloe is also a Cat Advocate.
Rose B.
Veterinary Assistant Supervisor
Rose is a St. Mary’s County native with a lifelong passion for animals. She is currently pursuing a veterinary technician degree and is a proud Frenchie mom to Macaroon and Cosmo. Outside of work, she enjoys time with her husband, Ronnie, family, and close friends.
Fun Fact: It’s been her dream to meet and hold a sloth!
Braden B.
Veterinary Assistant
Braden moved from Washington State to Maryland three years ago and transitioned to veterinary medicine after nearly a decade in human healthcare. He’s worked in various hospital departments and sought a new path post-COVID. He has always loved animals, and now shares his life with a German Shepherd named Dolly. They enjoy hiking, running, and outdoor adventures.
Maggie D.
Veterinary Assistant
Maggie was born in Prince George’s County and now lives in St. Mary’s County. She holds a veterinary assistant certificate from CSM and is a proud parent to 11 animals — including horses, goats, dogs, cats, and a rabbit. In her free time, she enjoys horseback riding, fishing, and teaching her goats tricks.
Jennifer W.
Veterinary Assistant
Jennifer is a Southern Maryland native who loves nature, shark tooth hunting, and time with loved ones. She shares her home with three cats, two sugar gliders, and some fish.
Sydney H.
Veterinary Assistant
Sydney graduated from Frostburg State University in 2023 with a degree in biology. She has always had a deep love for animals and dreams of becoming a veterinarian. She currently shares her life with Jaxson the Lab and Kiley the Golden Retriever. Sydney is also one of our Cat Advocates.
Jillian R.
Veterinary Assistant
Jillian was born in South Carolina and moved to St. Mary’s County as a child. She enjoys being on the water, hiking, shopping, and spending time with friends and family. She has a 15-year-old cat named Socks and is part of our Cat Advocate team.
Lillian H.
Veterinary Assistant
Lillian — also known as Lilly — is a dedicated mom with a passion for veterinary care. She’s always dreamed of becoming a veterinarian and thrives in hands-on, team-focused environments. She loves all animals, big and small, and brings heart and hard work to everything she does.
Marie G.
Veterinary Assistant
Marie joined the team in April 2025 with a decade of experience in veterinary hospitality. She’s passionate about animal behavior, training, and sports medicine. A Coastal Carolina alumna, she enjoys camping, kayaking, reading, and competing in canine sports. She lives with three dogs, a cat, and many aquatic pets.
Wendy D.
Customer Service Representative
Wendy joined Companion Care in April 2019 after 16 years in human healthcare. She enjoys reading and quality time with her family. She lives with two cats — Lexus and Dinky.
Megan S.
Customer Service Representative
Originally from Tennessee, Megan has worked with animals since 2020. She shares her life with three dogs — Bear, Keymoni, and Keylila — and two cats, Bella and Buddy. She enjoys hiking, sunsets, and spending time outdoors and spending time with her family.
Trinity H.
Customer Service Representative
Trinity has always loved animals and grew up with Dobermans. She currently has three — Jake, Molly, and Luna — plus one Yorkie named Stanley who rules the household.
Kim R.
Groomer
Kim grew up in Charles County and moved to St. Mary’s County in 2004. She began grooming in 1997 at Anchors Kennels and has worked in grooming full-time and part-time ever since. After a brief time in the human medical field, she returned to her true passion — pet grooming. Kim is the proud mom of four children and two stepsons.
Alicia B.
Customer Service Representative
Alicia grew up in Southern Maryland and first fell in love with animals when her family adopted 2 cats and 2 Shar Pei puppies. She is happy to be serving other pet families at Companion Care.
Dr. Melanie Donis, DVM
Veterinarian
Born in Cheverly, Maryland, and raised in Orlando, Florida, Dr. Donis has always had a deep-rooted love for animals. From rescuing stray dogs and cats to caring for orphaned wildlife — including once bringing home a screech owl — her passion for veterinary medicine began early. Before entering veterinary school, she volunteered at the Audubon Society’s Birds of Prey Center in Maitland, Florida, gaining hands-on experience with avian patients.
Dr. Donis earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Florida and graduated from veterinary school in 1997. She completed a one-year rotating internship in medicine and surgery at South Shore Animal Hospital in South Weymouth, Massachusetts. After relocating to Southern Maryland, she spent 11 years at St. Mary’s Veterinary Hospital before co-founding Companion Care Veterinary Hospital.
Her professional interests include breed-specific medicine, especially greyhounds and brachycephalic breeds like French Bulldogs. As the proud owner of six Frenchies, Dr. Donis is active in AKC conformation shows and is an OFA-certified Respiratory Function Grading Scheme (RFGS) evaluator.
Outside of work, she enjoys traveling to dog shows, trail riding with her horses, and spending weekends with her husband and two adult children.
Dr. Brittany Gilbert, DVM
Veterinarian
Dr. Gilbert joined Companion Care in 2017. A lifelong local, she grew up in St. Mary’s County and graduated from Chopticon High School in 2009. She earned dual Bachelor of Science degrees in Dairy Sciences and Animal & Poultry Sciences from Virginia Tech in 2013 and received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the Virginia Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine in 2017.
She has always wanted to be a veterinarian. On weekends, Dr. Gilbert enjoys spending time with her family, playing disc golf, reading, and watching Hokie sports. She lives with her husband, Russell, and their rescue dog, Leia.
Dr. Masako Spruill, DVM
Veterinarian
Dr. Spruill earned her DVM degree from Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine in 2006. She worked in several hospitals around the DC area before joining Companion Care in 2014.
Her professional focus includes feline medicine, geriatric care, and client education. She holds a Cat Friendly Veterinarian certificate and is a proud Cat Advocate. Dr. Spruill lives with her husband and their three cats — Thor, Mocha, and Yoshi. In her spare time, she enjoys jogging, hiking, gardening, cooking, and music.