“Driven. Talented. And deeply compassionate. The Doctors of Gilbertsville are diverse in their skillsets and united in their cause: to protect and celebrate the bond you share with your pet.”
Doctors
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John A. Coniglario, DVMVeterinarian
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Katelyn E. Reist, DVMVeterinarian
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Amy J. Alivernini, VMDMedical Director
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Nicole M. Arms, VMDVeterinarian
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Yiannis Sotiropoulos, DVMVeterinarian
John A. Coniglario, DVM
John A. Coniglario, DVM graduated in 1985 from Cook College of Rutgers University. After working for several years, Dr. Coniglario chose to pursue a veterinary degree. In 1993, he graduated from the University of Florida and began in private practice. Dr. “C” has more than 20 years of experience in veterinary medicine with a special interest in exotics medicine.
Katelyn E. Reist, DVM
Dr. Katelyn Reist originally grew up on a farm in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Her love for veterinary medicine started at a young age when she would help foal Belgian mares and bottle feed kittens on her family’s farm. She graduated from the University of Findlay in Ohio with a degree in pre-veterinary medicine and animal science and her twin sister, Heather. During the summer months and over college breaks, she gained more experience in the veterinary field through working at a veterinary clinic’s pet resort department and shadowing veterinarians in the area.
Dr. Reist recently obtained her veterinary degree from Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona, California. She enjoys many aspects of veterinary medicine, including animal behavior, preventative medicine, feline medicine, and soft tissue surgery.
When she is not working, Dr. Reist spends time outside on her family’s farm, gardening, hiking with her family’s dog (Marina, an English golden retriever), creating DIY projects, visiting local museums, and exploring the local area. She has a black and white cat named Patches whose favorite hobby is sleeping! Dr. Reist looks forward to meeting you and your furry friend!
Amy J. Alivernini, VMD
After working for a few years in the pharmaceutical industry, decided to pursue a career working with animals. She worked for 2 years as a veterinary technician at a busy emergency and specialty referral practice prior to vet school. She obtained a Masters in Laboratory Animal Science from Drexel University and then obtained her veterinary degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 2011.
After graduation, she completed a small animal rotating medicine/surgery internship at Red Bank Veterinary Hospital in Tinton Falls, NJ and then joined a busy general practice in Pennsylvania. Dr. Alivernini comes to GVH with 9 years of clinical experience Her interests are internal medicine, cardiology and soft tissue surgery.
Outside of work she enjoys watching the Philadelphia Flyers, trying new restaurants and traveling. She has 2 dogs and enjoys spending time with her husband and 2 daughters.
Nicole M. Arms, VMD
Dr. Arms obtained her undergraduate degree in Psychobiology from Arcadia University. She was able to expand her animal experience with both a London Zoo Internship and a conservation trip to Africa. Dr. Arms graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine in 2005.
After graduation Dr. Arms joined a busy emergency, referral and general practice. With more than 10 years of experience, Dr. Arms is excited to come back home and join the GVH team where she looks forward to building strong doctor-patient-client bonds with her patients and their families.
Yiannis Sotiropoulos, DVM
Dr. Yiannis Sotiropoulos is a graduate from the Ohio State University and Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine. His special interests include dental care, ultrasonography, and soft tissue surgery. He has a life-long passion for small animals and believes that educating owners about proper pet care is one of the most important services that a veterinarian can provide, which is one of the best ways to help strengthen the human-animal bond. In his personal time, Dr. Yiannis enjoys staying active, exploring the outdoors, collecting and playing board games, and caring for his long-haired cat, Penguin. He is enthusiastic about traveling (stemming from living in Shanghai, China for four years) and reading (both for leisure and for his profession).
“I aim to help our patients live long and healthy lives while connecting to their families to ultimately strengthen the human-animal bond.” – Dr. Yiannis Sotiropoulos
Management Team
Amanda Brensinger, BA
Amanda joined Gilbertsville Veterinary Hospital as a Client Care Specialist in 2012. She enjoyed this role because she was able to form strong relationships with our clients and patients. Amanda enjoys learning and increased her knowledge in the veterinary industry, by completing multiple continuing education courses. She was promoted in 2013 to the Client Care Specialist Team Leader. Amanda enjoyed this leadership role, because of the opportunity to challenge herself and her team. While working as a Team Leader, Amanda discovered her passion for Human Resources. Amanda enrolled in college in 2014 to further her education in Human Resources and Management. In 2017, Amanda was promoted to our full-time Human Resources Assistant. Amanda graduated from American Public University in 2018, with a Bachelor’s of Management with a Human Resources concentration. Most recently Amanda was promoted to the Human Resources Manager for GVH. She feels lucky to work each day in a role she thoroughly enjoys. Although Amanda does not regularly work at the front desk in her HR role, she still loves to visit and socialize with our clients and patients. Amanda shares her life outside of work with her husband, Ryan, and her two dogs, Cammi and Bella. Amanda has found enjoyment traveling with her husband and also loves downtime with friends/family and bonding with Cammi and Bella.
Todd Metrision, BS
Todd Metrision, BA joined the GVH team in 2010 as a veterinary technician. With his experience and strong work ethic, Todd quickly became a valuable member of the GVH team and was promoted to Director of Operations, where he handles daily operations of the hospital. Before joining our team, Todd spent ten years working and gaining valuable experience in the pet industry and veterinary fields in San Diego, California. He discovered his passion for pets at an early age and while in San Diego was given the opportunity to work with many exotic pets and is excited to share that knowledge with his teammates. Todd is a proud United States Marine Corps veteran and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from California Coast University. Todd has been married to his wife Suzanne for over 20 years, and they share their home with a beautiful Alapaha Blue Blood bulldog named Logan, who keeps their two cats Murphy Bananas and Cadillac Jack “on their toes.”
Department Leaders
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Maddie WidmannClient Service Department Leader
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Madysyn Heacock, CVTSurgery
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Brianne Quigg, CVTTreatment
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Shannon HoffmannPharmacy
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Joanna Sidorick, BAInventory Manager
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Nicholle Thomas, CVTExam Rooms
Maddie Widmann
Maddie graduated from Montgomery County Community College with an Associate of Arts in Liberal Studies after attending high school at Boyertown Area School district. She has lived in the area her whole life and has always had a passion for animals. At home, she cares for her two dogs, Buster and Grace, while also enjoying the nearby horse farm next to her house. In her free time, Maddie enjoys spending time with family and friends. She plans to continue her education in the veterinary field in the future.
Madysyn Heacock, CVT
Madysyn has lived in the area her whole life and is a graduate of Upper Perkiomen High School. She graduated from Manor College where she studied to become a veterinary technician. After graduation, Madysyn sat for her boards to become a Certified Veterinary Technician. In her free time, she enjoys reading, spending time with friends and family, kayaking, and hiking with her dog Roxxy. She is excited to start building her career at Gilbertsville Veterinary Hospital and helping animals.
Brianne Quigg, CVT
Brianne graduated from Wyomissing Area High School and currently attends Harcum College enrolled in their Veterinary Nursing Program. Brianne has always had a love for animals and helps every animal she comes across. Brianne has rescued four cats – Kitty, Pumpkin, Peanut, and Pancake – and a turtle named Squirt. Brianne has decided to turn her passion into her career and is happy to be a part of the Gilbertsville Veterinary Hospital team. She looks forward to learning and growing the in the veterinary field.
Shannon Hoffmann
Shannon comes to us with a deep love for animals which has driven her to explore a career in the veterinary science field! A graduate of Salem Christian School, she has a passion for helping others and making the world a better place. Shannon has spent many summers caring for and milking dairy goats for a local farmer. She loves spending time with her black Labrador, Sir Lancelot and in her free time, enjoys camping, slacklining, and going to concerts.
Joanna Sidorick, BA
Joanna has always had a passion for animals and grew up with family dogs and small pets. This experience led her to her first job as a veterinarian technician at a small practice outside of Philadelphia. While working, she graduated with honors from Arcadia University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Healthcare Administration. After she graduated she worked as a pet sitter and dog walker. Joanna then moved to Berks County and began working at GVH. She loves meeting new pets and helping to care for them throughout their lives. In her free time she loves spending time with family and friends, listening to music, cooking, and enjoying good food.
Nicholle Thomas, CVT
Nicholle is an Emmaus High School graduate and has lived in Emmaus her whole life. She has always had a strong passion for animals and knew from a young age that she wanted to work with them. As a young child, Nicholle grew up saving baby birds and bunnies and has a huge heart for wildlife. She is currently enrolled in the Veterinary Technician program at Harcum College. During her free time, she enjoys traveling and spending time with her family, friends, her cat, Daisy, and her bunny, Bun Bun. She is excited to be apart of the Gilbertsville team and can’t wait to expand her knowledge.
Technician Team
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Jess Lentini, BA, ASVeterinary Technician
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Jade A. Membrino, CVTVeterinary Technician
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Alexis VanEvery, CVTVeterinary Technician
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Ariel Swanson, CVTVeterinary Technician
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Jennifer DiPompeoVeterinary Technician
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Gordon RussellTechnician Assistant
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Brenda MurphyVeterinary Technician
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Sienna DeaneVeterinary Technician
Jess Lentini, BA, AS
Jess grew up in Harleysville, Pennsylvania and graduated from Souderton Area High School. She went on to attend Kutztown University, where she graduated in 2003 with a degree in Bachelor of Arts in Professional Writing. Jess owned and managed her own pet sitting business called PAWS Patrol, LLC from 2006 – 2014. She then decided to further her education and love of animals at Manor College where she graduated in 2013 with an AS in Veterinary Science. Jess joined the GVH team in 2015 as a veterinary technician. In addition to her education, Jess was also a volunteer for Stray Cat Blues, Inc. and helped to adopt out over 100 cats.
In her spare time, Jess enjoys cooking, gardening, and spending time with her husband Ron, and two boys, Dominic and Luca. She has a dog Penny, 3 cats: Mystery, Meatball and Milo, a turtle named Rocky and chickens.
Jade A. Membrino, CVT
Jade grew up in the area and graduated from Upper Perkiomen High School. She went on to pursue her love of working with animals and their families. She attended Harcum College where she received her degree in Veterinary Technology. She is a Certified Veterinary Technician with a special interest in anesthesia and surgery. When she is not at work she enjoys biking, DIY projects around the house, exploring new places, baking, and spending time with her cats and her dog Paisley – specifically dressing her up in cute clothes.
Alexis VanEvery, CVT
Alexis graduated from Daniel Boone Area High School and currently attends Harcum College. Alexis is enrolled in the Veterinary Nursing Program.
Ariel Swanson, CVT
Ariel grew up with a love for animals that led her to Pennsylvania State University, where she earned an Animal & Equine Science degree. Ariel is currently studying Veterinary Nursing at Harcum College. Her hobbies are spending time with horses, hiking, and being with her two cats at home.
Jennifer DiPompeo
Jenn has always adored animals and is just starting her veterinary journey. She is driven by helping animals and is excited to get involved in the veterinary industry. Jenn is attending Montgomery County Community College for business and completing a veterinary assistant program through Animal Behavior College. She hopes to build up her career starting at Gilbertsville vet.
In Jenn’s free time, she loves to spend time with her family (including her two cats and two dogs) and friends, listen to music, travel, and create different art types.
Gordon Russell
Gordon is a graduate of the Cocalico School District near Lancaster County. He is currently attending Harcum College and enrolled in their Veterinary Nursing Program. He grew up with animals and always had a passion for helping them. Gordon likes to spend his time hiking outdoors with his dog.
Brenda Murphy
Brenda grew up in Limerick and after relocating, graduated from Perkiomen Valley. She grew up loving animals and knew from a young age that she wanted to work with them. Brenda started in the field as a kennel assistant and worked her way up to a Veterinary Technician position. In her free time, she likes to spend time with family, her boyfriend and 2 kids, and friends. She also enjoys playing with their dog Arnie and cat Luna.
Sienna Deane
Sienna has always had a deep passion for animals and grew up volunteering and spending time with animals. This passion guided her in her education to pursue veterinary medicine. Since graduating high school, Sienna has attended Rowan University and is currently studying biology. She loves interacting with all types of animals and enjoys learning more about them every day. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with friends and family, trying new hobbies, and spending time with her pets.
Client Service Team
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Kyle BakerClient Care Specialist
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Bev LittleClient Care Specialist
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Ally Thomas, BSClient Care Specialist
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Denise LeamanClient Care Specialist
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Arielle KalmanClient Care Specialist
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Amber BirgensmithClient Care Specialist
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Layla DrummondClient Care Specialist
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Shannon GamboneClient Care Specialist
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Alex HainesClient Care Specialist
Kyle Baker
Kyle was born in Red Bank, NJ where she developed a passion for animals and her family pets. She moved to Pennsylvania in 2006 and is excited to begin working in the veterinary industry
Bev Little
Beverly, a Client Care Specialist, began working for Gilbertsville Veterinary Hospital in 1997! She enjoys her job of more than 19 years and loves the relationships she has built with our clients and their pets. Bev was born in New York State and relocated to Pennsylvania when she was 14 years old. Bev has been married to husband, Tom, for 30 years. They enjoy traveling, especially to the Caribbean, and spending time with their two cats, Leroy and Maltese. Tom and Bev have 3 children and 6 grandchildren between them.Client Care Specialist
Ally Thomas, BS
Ally grew up in the area and graduated from Upper Perkiomen High School. She went on to further her education and graduated from Cabrini University with a Bachelor’s in Political Science. She is currently attending Drexel University to obtain a Master’s Degree in Legal Studies with concentrations in Criminal Law and Higher Education Compliance. She loves spending time with her 2 dogs – Zoie and Maisie, a cat named Sven, 6 chickens, as well as her sister’s dog, Finley. In her free time she enjoys shopping, baking, and spending time with friends. She has always had a love for animals and is looking forward to expanding her knowledge in the veterinary field.
Denise Leaman
Denise grew up in Bucks County and now resides in Lower Pottsgrove with her husband and two daughters. Her daughters are both in High School and very active in soccer and basketball. She has two Shih Tzus, Molly and Maisie. Through the years she has had dogs, guinea pigs, hermit crabs and fish. She absolutely loves animals and is looking forward to meeting new furry friends here at Gilbertsville Veterinary Hospital.
Arielle Kalman
Arielle graduated from Perkiomen Valley School District and is currently attending Montgomery County Community College for a degree in life science, then transferring to Delaware Valley University for a degree in animal science. She has grown up surrounded by animals and currently has four dogs, two cats, two rabbits, and a bearded dragon. In her free time, she loves traveling, reading, and spending time with friends and family. Her passion is animals and hopes to continue her education working alongside animals.
Amber Birgensmith
Amber was born and raised in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. She has been surrounded by all types of animals for the majority of her life. She attended animal care courses in high school, which led her to start her journey here at GVH and she looks forward to furthering her education, and helping to provide the best care to our animal friends. Amber is also a single mother to her son that recently moved to Gilbertsville.
Layla Drummond
Layla grew up in Philadelphia and moved to Gilbertsville in 2022. She is currently enrolled in the nursing program at Montgomery Community College and hopes to then go on and get her BSN. Layla loves animals and has grown up with them her whole life. In her free time, she likes to go shopping, cook, and spend time with friends and family.
Shannon Gambone
Shannon loves to be at the beach spending time with her family in Cape May. Shannon tries to get to Italy each year with her family to visit relatives there and thinks it is one of the most beautiful countries to see. On weekends, Shannon loves to take hikes to different places with her family dog, Jake.
Alex Haines
Alex is a passionate animal lover and is looking forward to expanding her knowledge in the veterinary field. Alex has two beloved dogs, a loyal German Shepherd and a playful Golden Retriever. In her free time, Alex enjoys exploring the great outdoors with her two dogs and husband, nurturing her green thumb through gardening and spending time with family and friends.