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. Marcelo MeliviluDr. 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 live in Winchester, have two sons, Felipe and Esteban, one dogs "Felicia", and two cats "Lenny and Wilson". He is fluent in Spanish and is an active member of the Institutional Review Board (IRB) at Winchester Medical Center. |
R. Marcelo Melivilu, DVM,MS, Practice Owner
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Dr. Lesley H. SwisherDr. 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
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Dr. Romina J. Cohen
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Dr. Cohen is a native of Chile and a 2000 graduate of the University of Chile. After graduation, Dr. Cohen owned a veterinary practice in Chile until moving to the United States in 2008. She became a proud U.S. citizen in 2015. Since moving to the U.S., Dr. Cohen has practiced at different veterinary hospital locations throughout Virginia, Washington, D.C., and West Virginia.
Dr. Cohen’s special interests include ultrasonography, pain management, and small animal medicine. She is a Cat Friendly Veterinarian, certified by the American Association of Feline Practitioners. Dr. Cohen will soon finalize her certifications in Veterinary Acupuncture and Veterinary Tui-na (Chinese Medical Manipulation) Therapy. In her spare time, Dr. Cohen enjoys Pilates, biking, yoga, and going to Nationals baseball games with her family. She has seven cats and one spoiled dog, Spikey. |
Romina J. Cohen, DVM
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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 (in a part-time capacity) 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 grew up in Winchester and lives here with her husband, 2 children, 2 dogs, and 1 cat. She and her family enjoy art, history, road tripping, and RV 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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Brianna Curry, Veterinary assistantBri Curry was born and raised in VA, residing in the Winchester area most of her life. Bri developed a passion for animals at an early age and through her high school and college years volunteered at local animal shelters. Bri attended Radford University where she took a special interest in primates and graduated in 2015 with a degree in Psychology and Biology. She completed a Primate Internship at Zoo Atlanta after college and then began working at a small animal clinic in Atlanta. After a year away, she moved back to Winchester to continue as a Veterinary Assistant. She is now attending Blue Ridge Community College to become a Licensed Veterinary Technician by mid 2022. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, hanging with friends and family, hiking, kayaking, and most of all her Rocsi girl.
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Brianna Curry, Veterinary Assistant
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Skylar Sheppard, Veterinary assistant
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Skylar 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 loves hanging out with family, hiking, kayaking, and riding around with the top off her jeep with, her 3 dogs. |
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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Emily Rickman
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Emily was born and raised in Frederick County and currently resides in Stephens City with her fiancé Nicholas, 4 children and 6 cats. She attended LFCC and has an Associates degree in Administration of Justice. She has 8 years of receptionist experience with several of those years in the veterinary field. In her free time, Emily enjoys visiting friends and family, traveling out of state, swimming and hiking.
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Emily Rickman, Veterinary Receptionist
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