Meadow Branch Animal Hospital was founded in 2018 by local veterinarians incredibly passionate in providing quality and advanced care for canine and feline patients. We look forward to meeting you and your loved ones!
Our Team
Dr. R. Marcelo Melivilu, DVM, MSDr. Melivilu is a native of Chile and a 1993 graduate of Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia. He served one year as an intern at the veterinary teaching hospital and the topic of his thesis was ultrasonography. After graduation, Dr. Melivilu practiced veterinary medicine and surgery at one of the top veterinary hospitals in Chile for four years. He and his family moved to Winchester, Virginia in 1997 and in 2000 he became a proud U.S. citizen.
After successfully completing the Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates (ECFVG) program, he began working as small animal practitioner at a local veterinary hospital in 2002. He was promoted to Medical Director in 2008, where he remained until his departure in 2017. Dr. Melivilu completed his Master’s in Biomedical Sciences with the University of Missouri in 2017. In 2018 he decided to create Meadow Branch Animal Hospital with the purpose of offering the most complete veterinary care for a general veterinary practice in the Winchester area. Dr. Melivilu has experience and special interest in soft tissue surgery (abdominal procedures), knee surgery (TPLO and extra capsular technique), dental and oral surgery, endoscopy, abdominal ultrasonography and recently laparoscopic procedures. Dr. Melivilu lives in Winchester, has two sons, Felipe and Esteban, and two cats Lenny and Wilson. He is fluent in Spanish and he served as a member for 10 years at the Institutional Review Board (IRB) at Winchester Medical Center until July 2022. |
R. Marcelo Melivilu, DVM,MS, Practice Owner
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Dr. Lesley H. Swisher, DVMDr. Swisher is a Winchester native, and grew up in nearby West Virginia. She attended Shepherd University for undergraduate studies and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. For veterinary school, she attended Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine and graduated in 2016. She worked with Dr. Melivilu as a veterinary student during an externship. Since graduation, she has worked in both primary care and emergency and critical care in the Winchester area. This has allowed her to experience an extensive variety of medical and surgical cases.
In the realm of veterinary medicine, Dr. Swisher’s interests include ultrasonography, endocrine diseases, infectious disease, emergency medicine, and soft tissue surgery. She strongly believes in well-rounded, high quality primary care for veterinary patients. She is excited to be working with Dr. Melivilu again, and for the launch of Meadow Branch Animal Hospital, where they share the same standard of care and love of the profession. Dr. Swisher thoroughly enjoys traveling to the coast, good food, reading, family and friends. |
Lesley Swisher, DVM, Urgent Care Director
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Amanda D. Házy, DVM, PhDDr. Házy traveled around the United States with her family as a child before settling in the eastern panhandle of West Virginia. She received a B.S. in Cell and Molecular Biology from Liberty University before going to Virginia Tech to enter the dual DVM-PhD program in 2015. She studied traumatic brain injury at VT and earned a PhD in Biomedical and Veterinary Sciences in 2019, publishing ten papers related to her work. After completing her DVM degree in 2022, Dr. Házy worked as an Associate Veterinarian at Valley Equine in Ranson, WV, for a year. This gave her experience in both routine and emergency equine medicine, and she is excited to apply her knowledge and experience to small animal medicine.
Dr. Házy enjoys all aspects of veterinary work including medicine and surgery. She prioritizes excellent patient care and is excited to join the team at Meadow Branch. Dr. Házy enjoys riding horses, reading, running, and spending time with her family. |
Amanda D. Házy, DVM, PhD
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Emily Corrigan, Assistant ManagerEmily joined Meadow Branch Animal Hospital upon opening in 2019 as a part-time receptionist. She brings with her over 15 years of experience in various roles within veterinary medicine. Over time, Emily's position has evolved to an assistant manager role to assist Dr. Melivilu in the basic management of the practice.
Emily's primary goal at MBAH is to enable and enforce policies and protocols that allow our veterinarians to practice the highest quality of veterinary care possible. Patient care is the number one focus at MBAH! Emily moved to the Winchester area as a child and is raising her family here. She has 2 children, 2 dogs, and 2 cats. They enjoy art, history, road tripping, and RV and beach camping. Emily is pictured here with her "heart-dog", Tonka, who passed away in 2019. |
Emily Corrigan, Assistant Manager
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Tiffany Herndon, LVT
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Tiffany was born and raised in Winchester. She comes to us with 15 years experience in the veterinary field, the last 5 of which she has been licensed. She is a graduate from Northern Virginia Community College Licensed Veterinary Technician Program. Her interests include anesthesia, pain management, and emergency medicine. She is certified in basic and advanced life support by RECOVER. Tiffany lives in Winchester with her two Great Danes and a cat.
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Tiffany Herndon, Licensed Veterinary Technician
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McKenna Hubsch, LVTMcKenna has lived in the northern Virginia area all her life. She inherited her love of animals from her parents who rescued and fostered dogs throughout her childhood. She started working in the veterinary field about 16 years ago and earned her technician license in 2013. She takes a special interest in emergency medicine and patient care. She currently lives in Luray with her family and their two dogs and two cats.
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McKenna Hubsch, Licensed Veterinary Technician
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Megan Renner, LVTMegan grew up and currently resides in Hardy County, West Virginia. She graduated from Pierpont Community & Technical College in Fairmont, West Virginia with her Associates Degree in Veterinary Technology. Megan has worked in the veterinary field and has been licensed since June of 2017, but has had compassion and a love for animals since childhood. Her areas of interest include emergency medicine and patient care. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with friends and family, and participating in outdoor activities that can be shared with her dog, Leo. coming soon.
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Megan Renner, Licensed Veterinary Technician.
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Holly Morris, LVT - Head Veterinary TechnicianHolly grew up near Williamsburg, VA. She graduated from San Juan College with an Associates of Veterinary Technology and earned her license in 2016. She enjoys dentistry and strengthening the Human-Animal bond through client education. Holly resides in Winchester with her husband, children and two Great Danes.
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Holly Morris, Licensed Veterinary Technician
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Skylar Sheppard, Veterinary AssistantSkylar comes to us from Inwood, WV. She graduated high school and went straight into working with animals, as a Veterinarian Assistant. Skylar has 4 years’ experience and is currently in school to become a Veterinarian Technician. She loves all animals. Her welcome mat even says, “Welcome to our Zoo”. Skylar has 3 dogs Tinsel, Coraline and Holly. She also has a snake, hedgehog, guinea pig and a gar shark. In her spare time she loves hanging out with family, hiking, kayaking, and riding around with the top off her Jeep with her 3 dogs.
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Skylar Sheppard, Veterinary Assistant
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Tracy Combs, Veterinary AssistantTracy brings with her 25 years of experience in the veterinary field. She started out involved with animal control and shelter medicine. Tracy then transitioned to general practice and emergency medicine. In 1999, Tracy and friends founded Hampshire County Pet Adoption Program, a non-profit dog rescue organization. She is most interested in patient care, emergency medicine, client communication, and rescuing senior dogs, who frequently become permanent residents!
Tracy lives on a farm in West Virginia and loves life with horses, chickens, and the rest of the zoo! She also enjoys reading a good book and spending time with her grandchildren. |
Tracy Combs, Veterinary Assistant
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Mary Ann Velez-Cortes, Veterinary AssistantMary Ann was born and raised in Puerto Rico, where she graduated in 2019 with a Bachelor of Sciences with Major in Biology - Emphasis in Biomedics from the University of Puerto Rico, Aguadilla. She began her career as a veterinary assistant at The Pet Vet for 2 years, before moving to Winchester, VA in 2020 with her husband and two dogs, Mary Lu and Pelusa. Since she was little she said she would be a veterinarian and now she is on that path to becoming one. She is planning to go to vet school and would like to open her own veterinarian clinic to keep doing what she loves, helping animals in need.
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Mary Ann Velez-Cortes, Veterinary Assistant
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Hannah Plazyk, Veterinary AssistantHannah joined the Meadow Branch Animal Hospital team in April 2023. Although she is new to us, Hannah is no stranger to the field. Shes comes to us with six years of mixed veterinary experience. She is currently enrolled in Penn Foster's Licensed Veterinary Technician program, working toward her goal of becoming an LVT. She is native to Northern Virginia, but currently resides in Ranson, West Virginia with her family and their dog, a Shih Tzu named Daisy. Hannah is an avid horseback rider, in her spare time, you'll find her at the barn or competing at local shows.
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Hannah Plazyk, Veterinary Assistant
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Matthew Velasquez, Veterinary Assistant
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Matt grew up in the Winchester area and while in high school and just after graduation, he worked in the restaurant industry. In 2021, Matt decided to pursue a career in the veterinary field and began working as Veterinary Assistant. He joined the MBAH team in February 2023 and enjoys watching the progress of pets in our care. In his time off, Matt likes to travel and try new foods. He shares his home with his dog, Bruno, picture here.
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Matthew Velasquez, Veterinary Assistant
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Client Service Representative
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Corinne Czaja, Client Service RepresentativeCorinne was born and raised in Berkeley County, West Virginia where she currently resides with her four little dogs. Corinne has one year of experience working as veterinary support staff. In her spare time she enjoys reading, listening to music, jewelry design, caring for her houseplants, and spending time with family. Corinne also keeps and breeds geckos as a hobby.
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Corinne Czaja, Client Service Representative
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