Our Team

Dr. Walker is a 2006 graduate of North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine and earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from the University of Richmond. Originally from upstate New York, she has called North Carolina home for over 20 years, 14 of which have been serving the Rocky Mount community at CVH.  Dr. Walker knew she wanted to be a veterinarian at an early age, and vividly remembers creating a time capsule in 2nd grade with a photo of her and a pet rabbit that said “Future vet in Virginia”.  She has always had a subconscious draw to the South after visiting Virginia and North Carolina regularly while growing up.  She spent most of her childhood outside catching frogs, toads and insects in the woods near her home.  Her professional interests include palliative care and client education.  Dr. Walker had the honor of working with and learning from Dr. Coats for over six years. Dr. Walker purchased Coats Veterinary Hospital in January of 2013 and works to preserve Dr. Coats’ vision of a long lasting small business that serves for the good of the whole–our patients, our clients, our team, and our community. Dr. Walker lives in Wake Forest with her husband, Tommy, her three young children, their English Lab, Peppa, their Cavanese, Ollie, and their Maine Coon cat, Cub.

Melissa is a North Carolina native who received her Bachelor of Science in Business Management with a Minor in Professional Communication from Meredith College.  Melissa has led the Coats Veterinary Hospital team since 1997 and, in 2013, earned her Certified Veterinary Practice Manager designation.  In an effort to nurture both an exceptional experience for our clients and their pets as well as a thriving work culture for our team members, she also became a Certified Compassion Fatigue Professional in 2019.  Melissa’s passion for service is not reserved solely for growing leaders within the CVH family but also extends to our local community where she is active in her church’s outreach programs.  To decompress, she loves to craft and decorate, hunt for thrift store treasures and relax at the beach.  Melissa lives in Nashville with her husband, their two teenage children, their cats, Ophelia and Oompa, and their Golden Retrievers, Amos and Ripken.

Dr. Lehnberg earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Davidson College and obtained her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from North Carolina State. Dr. Lehnberg joined the Coats team in 2013. A North Carolina native, Dr. Lehnberg currently lives in Zebulon with her husband, Anthony; their yellow Labrador retriever, Cappy; their cat, Woodstock; and their guinea pigs, Sqwheeky and Hagrid. Dr. Lehnberg is a member of the AVMA and AAHA. Dr. Lehnberg has a special interest in dermatology and dentistry.

Dr. Kwiatkowski obtained her Bachelor of Science from Appalachian State University and earned her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Auburn University. She joined the Coats team in 2018. Dr. Kwiatkowski is a North Carolina native and currently lives in Wake Forest with her dogs Sasha, Joey and Carson, and her cat Russell. She is a member of AVMA and AAHA. Dr. Kwiatkowski has a strong interest in internal medicine, soft tissue surgery, radiology and cardiology.

Dr. Vall earned her Bachelor of Science in Organismal Biology from Christopher Newport University in Virginia and obtained her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from St. George’s University School of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Vall joined the Coats Team in 2019. Dr. Vall relocated to Rocky Mount from Florida. and lives with her kitties, Dahlia and Toasty. She is a member of the AVMA and AAHA. She obtained her Veterinary Dental Certification from the University of Illinois and is Fear Free Certified.

Carmen, one of our Records Administrators, began working with Dr. Coats in September of 2000 and continues to be a part of Dr. Walker’s CVH team. She was born in Roswell, New Mexico and grew up as an Air Force dependent and calls Alabama home. Carmen has two adult daughters, five out of this world grandchildren, a husband, one dog, and two cats. Carmen enjoys reading, golfing, and spending time with her family. Carmen is also a 30+ year member of the First Baptist Church in Rocky Mount where she sings soprano in the Sanctuary choir.

Meet our Office Manager, Stephanie! Stephanie has been a valued member of the CVH team since 2010. She lives at home with her husband Chris, their 2 daughters, and their dog Gunner. Her days are joyfully consumed by keeping up with her little ones. Outside of work, Stephanie loves thrifting, decorating, and embracing any opportunity to be creative.

Meet our Hospital Relations Manager, Taylor! Taylor joined our team in 2015 and has been a vital part of our operations ever since. As our Hospital Relations Manager, she plays a key role in keeping everything running smoothly. She lives in Rocky Mount with her boyfriend and their beloved pets, Dani Grace, Gerti, and Mae. Known for her warm and friendly approach, Taylor truly is our “Girl Friday.” Taylor loves spending quality time with her family, fur babies, and enjoying beach days. We are incredibly fortunate to have her as part of the CVH team!

Mandy earned her Associates of Science at Baker College in Jackson, MI and got her Veterinary Technician License in 2007. She has overall 24 years experience in the veterinary field. Originally from Michigan, she has moved to several states before landing in Rocky Mount with her husband Jon and her two dogs, Beau and Annie. Mandy likes to spend her free time crafting and camping when she can.

Kayla joined the CVH team in 2017 and has been passionate about working with small animals ever since. She finds great joy in client education, radiology, and building long lasting relationships with fur babies and their families. Kayla is married to her high school sweetheart, Rob, and together they have two children.  Their family is completed by their three dogs, – Thor, Sadie and Zoey – and two cats, Pele and Dolly.

Every veterinary hospital needs its resident cat lady and, for us, that’s Pamela! She joined our team in 2018, bringing with her an unparalleled passion for cats.  Known affectionately as the “cat whisperer,” Pamela’s talents with our feline friends makes us incredibly proud. Pamela lives in Rocky Mount with her husband and their six feline kids – Ambrose, Eve, Foxy, Kringle, Nicholas, and Prancer.

Jenna became a member of the CVH family in 2019, while she was enrolled in the Nash Community College Veterinary Technician program.  She continues to work toward completing her education to become a Registered Veterinary Technician.

Joanna joined the CVH family in 2021 and takes great care of our clients as one of our Customer Service Representatives.  Joanna lives with her big baby, Bentley, her rescued bearded dragon, Crippy, and her cat, Batata.  When she’s not here working or loving on our patients, Jo likes to garden, cook, play music and spend time with her friends, family and, of course, her four-legged babies.  We are so grateful to have her as part of our team!

Mercedes recently joined the CVH team in 2020 as a veterinary assistant. She has a Batchelor of Science degree in Animal Science from North Carolina Agriculture and Technical State University. She is extremely passionate and has a deep love for her furry friends. Her 2 dogs were Diamond and Mojo.  She loves being part of the CVH family. In her spare time she enjoys going to the movies and hanging with family and friends.

Taylor joined the CVH family in 2023.  She lives in Rocky Mount with her family and her two labs, Charlie and Harley. In her free time, Taylor enjoys spending time with family and friends.

Leah joined the CVH family the Summer of 2024.

Ann lives in Battleboro, North Carolina and has been part of the CVH team since 2005. In her previous life, she was a hair stylist but decided to make a transition and channel her love of animals. She has one daughter and two granddaughters, who are the light of her life! In her free time, you will find Ann spending time with her family.

Lindsey joined our team as both a CSR and as a Resort Assistant in 2024. She lives in Rocky Mount with her two dogs, Mary Jane and Whiskey. When she is not at work loving on animals, Lindsey enjoys going to the beach, playing tennis, and shopping with friends. Lindsey plans to further her education to be a Veterinary Technician in the future.

Kristen joined our friendly CSR team in 2022 and comes with several years of customer service experience. She lives in Rocky Mount with her husband, two children and their dog, Milo. When she is away from work, Kristen loves to spend her free time shopping with her mom, doing fun activities with her children and cooking out with her family on the weekends.

Johnna grew up in Whitakers and always dreamed of working with animals in some way. She joined CVH in 2003 and for many years, has used her vast knowledge and skills serving our doctors as a Veterinary Assistant. She now leads our Resort, overseeing our boarding cottages and our bathing spa.

Johnna is a champion barrel racer and thoroughly enjoys anything to do with horses or any type of livestock but her happy place is the beach, where she hopes to retire one day. Johnna lives in Louisburg with her husband and son, five dogs, two cats, four guinea pigs, one rabbit, one goat, three horses, two ducks, eight chickens, one hamster and several pet fish. Her vast menagerie, which are too many to name, leaves no question about her love for animals!

Hunter joined our team in 2020, and lives in Louisburg with his family while attending Bunn High School. He has a diverse range of pets at home, including horses, dogs, goats, and pocket pets. In his free time, Hunter enjoys attending concerts, exploring the outdoors, and showing livestock in 4-H. We’re glad to have him as part of our team!

Kielyn joined the CVH family Summer of 2024.  

Kathy joined our team in 2007, as our groomer. Growing up in Maryland, she began working in a doggie daycare business in 1998, where her curiosity about dog grooming first sparked. She later worked as a groomer’s assistant, allowing her passion to blossom as she completed grooming school. Kathy takes pride in her commitment to continuing education, regularly attending grooming trade shows, classes, seminars and webinars. Her specialty lies in working closely with clients who have pets with special needs, showcasing her creativity through hairstyles. In her free time, Kathy enjoys baking and sewing, and she loves spending time outdoors, especially at the beach. She resides in Rocky Mount with her husband and their dog, Gunner.