We are extremely proud of our dedicated team. We hire only the best and most experienced employees to become a part of our team here at Auburn Animal Clinic. Our team is filled with highly dedicated animal lovers who are well trained at their jobs. They will do anything possible for their patients and the owners who love them.

Learning and education are very important here at Auburn Animal Clinic. We strive to have a state of the art hospital with a staff trained in the latest medical advances. Our patients deserve the very best veterinary care.

Basically, our team is full of animal lovers. They make it a goal to treat each patient like their own. They give each patient plenty of love and attention. They are prepared to discuss preventative medicine so that every pet can stay as healthy as possible. They will also do everything that they can to make a sick pet feel better as soon as possible.

If you would like to speak to someone on our team, don’t hesitate to contact us today at (815) 965-5586.


Dr. Patricia Jo Holm

DVM

Patricia was born in Clinton, Iowa. She grew up on a farm as the oldest of five girls and was the daughter that was always put in charge of the animal and livestock care. She attended Iowa State University and graduated in May 1982 with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Degree. Her first job as a Veterinarian was with Pines Meadow Veterinary Clinic in Oregon, Illinois, where she worked as a mixed animal doctor for 9 years. In 1991, she left that clinic to embark on a new career adventure as a relief veterinarian working under Holm Veterinary Service. She provided veterinary service for Iowa, Wisconsin, and Illinois veterinarians for 12 years. It was her relief veterinary business that brought her to Auburn Animal Clinic as a relief veterinarian for owner Dr. Ramon Medernach, who was very ill and hospitalized. She started at Auburn Animal Clinic on January 6th, 2003, and overtime made the decision to accept an offer from Dr. Medernach and his wife Sally. She took over October 1st, 2003, and has worked hard to expand the services offered and provide simplified yet thorough care to all clients and patients.

In the meantime, she met, fell in love, and married Harlan Holm in 1984. They have three children: Brad, who is a commissioned Naval Lieutenant 0-3 and Winged Pilot stationed at Whidby Island, Washington and is married to his wife Katie–they gave Dr. Holm the gift of her grandchild, Logan Eva, born July 29th, 2018. Rachel, who graduated from Monmouth College and lives in the Quad Cities, she now works for the State of Iowa Department of Corrections. Their youngest daughter, Halley, is a freshman at Wartburg College Weverly, Iowa and loves reading, music, and dance. She is a counselor at Luthern Outdoor Ministries Center Church Camp in Oregon, Illinois. Harlan, Patricia, and Harlan’s mother breed and raise beef cattle. In her spare time she relaxes by horseback riding and spending time with her horses. She also enjoys plants, gardening, and loves getting together with the family.


Julie Dzielak

Office Manager

Julie has been working at Auburn Animal Clinic for Dr. Holm since 2008 where “All Creatures, Great and Small” are welcome. Working at Auburn Animal Clinic is never the same from day to day. Everyday is different and that is what makes coming to work so exciting for Julie. Julie’s daughter, Jamie, works beside her in reception and has blessed Julie with five wonderful grandchildren. Julie owns a Rottweiler and a Poodle Mix and they keep her very busy when Julie isn’t at the clinic. After being raised in Byron Illinois, Julie has lived in Rockford for the past 10+ years. Julie is a huge sports fall of ALL sports! Nascar, Chicago Bears football, and the Chicago Cubs baseball.


Harlan Holm

Accounts Payable

Harlan was born in 1955 in Blue Island, Illinois and moved to Oregon, Illinois when he was two months old, and grew up there. He attended Kishwaukee College and graduated with an Agricultural Mechanic’s Degree and worked for an implement dealer in Polo, Illinois for 6 years, while farming with his parents part time.

He returned full time to the family farm in 1979 and worked with his parents raising crops, cattle, and operating a farrow to finish hog operation. He met Dr. Holm the fall of 1982 and started dating after driving the tractor for their church’s hayride! They dated and married March 3rd, 1984 and currently have three children together. He is still “Mr. Fix-it” and is responsible for “Keeping the clinic running” along with payroll and accounts payable. In the winter he plows the snow and after Thanksgiving he helps decorate for our West Side Business Association’s Christmas Lighting Display. He enjoys purchasing, fixing up and reselling tractors. He is very active with Freedom Lutheran Church and the Ogle County Fair Board. He doesn’t have any free time to get into trouble!


Jackie Hickey

Bookkeeper

Jackie was born in Arlington Heights, Illinois and lived there for 18 years before attending the University of Illinois. She graduated from Rock Valley College with an Associate’s degree in accounting. She worked as a bookkeeper for various accounting firms in Rockford before starting work with Dr. Holm in 2003, when Dr. Holm took over Auburn Animal Clinic from Dr. Ramone Medernach. Jackie loves animals and always had cats as well as one dog, Streeter, that she adopted from Auburn Animal Clinic in 2003 after he was hit by a car. She has two sons, six grandchildren, including a granddaughter (who is in college to become a veterinarian), two great granddaughters, and a variety of “grandpets.” She also has a love for photography, traveling, and the LA Chargers. Jackie finds that, Dr. Holm and all of the employees of Auburn Animal Clinic are truly the most caring and compassionate people she knows and that the years working with AAC have been a very special working experience.


Megan Waugh

Head Technician, Certified Veterinary Technician

Megan is a Certified Veterinary Technician that joined Auburn Animal Clinic in 2015. She started with Auburn Animal Clinic by working in reception while attending classes. She graduated from Rockford Career College’s Veterinary Technician Program in October 2017. Outside of the clinic she is a busy mom of two girls, along with being a home ‘zookeeper’ to her pets, including dogs, cats, ferrets, a tortoise, a Bearded Dragon, and a rabbit. Megan loves to work with the many different animals that come through the clinic and the never-ending learning opportunities that come with it.


Jessica Kluz

Certified Veterinary Technician

Jessica is a Certified Veterinary Technician. She graduated from Rockford Career College in October 2016 and received her technicians license in January 2017. She has been with Auburn Animal Clinic since July 2017.

She has been married to her husband, David, for 15 years. They have three wonderful children together. Jessica has 2 bull mastiffs’ “Bob” and “Hank.” Jessica is originally from the Janesville and Beloit/South Beloit area but moved to Rockford in 2001. Her favorite part about working at Auburn Animal Clinic is that it allows for her to care for all the different animal species and helps her constantly learn new things. She especially enjoys working with the big dogs and rabbits.


Regan Mead

Veterinary Technician

Regan has had a love for animals for as long as she can remember which encouraged her to pursue working in the field of Veterinary Medicine. She recently graduated from the Veterinary Technician Program at Rockford Career College.

At home, Regan has two dogs: a Chocolate Lab named Beans and a Border Collie mix named Kernel. She also shares her home with four cats: Gizmo, Gremlin, Jasper (who are all black and white kitties), and Jinx (who is only black.)


Amber Hollister

Veterinary Assistant

Amber Grew up in Byron, IL and is still a resident of the Byron area. As soon as she had her first pet, she knew she wanted to pursue a career in Veterinary Medicine. She started working with Auburn Animal Clinic as a volunteer in 2016. Starting in January 2017, Amber officially joined the team as a Veterinary Assistant. Amber has also taken on the position of inventory management; keeping the clinic well stocked on supplies and on medications. Realizing her passion for pharmaceuticals, Amber has decided to pursue a career in veterinary pharmaceutical sales. She is currently a full-time student at Northern Illinois University for her Bachelors in Communications.

Amber is the proud owner of “Sage” and “Scooter”, two 7 year-old adorable/crazy German Shepard mix rescues! Amber is a huge lover of the outdoors and spends most of her time out of the clinic with Sage–probably in a forest or on a lake somewhere! Amber’s favorite part about working at Auburn Animal Clinic is being given the opportunity to learn from Dr. Holm and to make a difference in the lives of as many animals as she can.


Ashley Russell

Receptionist/Veterinary Technician

Ashley was born and raised in Rockford Illinois. She has an associates degree as a Radiology Technician from Rock Valley College. However, she learned that it was not her passion. Ashley decided to go back to school and has recently graduated from Rockford Career Colleges’ Veterinary Technician program.

She has two dogs of her own: A Pit Bull named Jada and a German Shepard named Lilly. Her parents have three German Shepards named Nika, Ronos, and Norbert. They also share a Sulfur Crested Cokatoo named Ricco. Ashleys favorite animal is a Giraffe but of course she loves all sorts of animals! Being able to be the animals voice when they can’t tell us what is wrong is Ashley’s favorite part about working in the Veterinary field. She loves working at Auburn Animal Clinic because she is able to see all sorts of animals and she also thinks the staff is amazing! Ashley loves that Dr. Holm is so passionate about the animals and that she works so hard to see that all the animals in the clinic are healthy and happy!


Lidi Diaz-Johnson

Kennel Technician

Lidismay is currently enrolled in Rock Valley College working towards a fire science degree. She has three adopted dogs; a Rat Terrier mix named Scooby, a Maltese named Stevie, and a Chihuahua mix named Duke. Both Stevie and Duke were adopted from Auburn Animal Clinic. She also has a rescue cat named Leo that she found as a stray here in Rockford. Lidismay has two Hermit Crabs and 6+ Finches, and two lovebirds. In her free time, she loves to enjoy her hobbies of knitting and drawing.


Lixi Diaz-Johnson

Kennel Technician

Lixi was born and raised in Rockford, Illinois. She is currently enrolled in Rock Valley College to get her Fire Science/EMT degree along with her twin sister, Lidismay. She has three dogs. One named Scooby (a Jack Russell/Rat Terrier mix), Stevie (a Maltese), and Duke (a Chihuahua mix). She adopted Scooby from Winnebago County Animal Shelter and Stevie and Duke from Auburn Animal Clinic. Lixi also has a cat named Leo (an Orange Tabby) that was found as a stray here in Rockford. Lixi likes working at Auburn Animal Clinic because every day is never the same, it never gets boring and most of all, she likes the people who she works with. “It’s a very friendly environment!”


Jamie Harriott

Receptionist

Jamie has worked in reception for Auburn Animal Clinic since January 2015. She has loved animals her whole life. She has five amazing children that keep her busy. She also has a very supportive boyfriend, Jamar. She is the proud owner of a Pitbull named Lucy, who is loving and playful, and a cat named Batman and is a big cuddler and lap cat. Jamie is a die hard Chicago Bears fan; she never misses the game! “Da Bears!” She loves some good Chicago Cubs baseball. At home they also watch a lot of Golden State Warriors basketball. Outside of work at the clinic Jamie enjoys spending time with her family.


Estefani Belmontes

Kennel Technician/Certified Veterinary Assistant

Estefi graduated from Animal Behavior College in February 2018, she is planning to start school again to become a certified veterinary technician. She has two pet hamsters named Cheddar and Chapo, four Parakeets, and a bunny named Cocoa. The newest member of her family is a Bulldog and Beagle mix named Luna. Estfani’s favorite part about working at Auburn Animal Clinic is having new challenges on a daily basis and being able to help families with their fur babies. Estefi is also bilingual and can speak both English and Spanish.