Meet Our Team

Dr. I. Elizabeth Borgmann

Veterinary medicine is Dr. Borgmann’s second career! She started out in molecular biology (gene cloning) and was working for the National Research Council in Saskatoon when her beloved black lab escaped and was hit by a car. Devastated, Dr. Borgmann’s husband took their dog to the Western College of Veterinary Medicine for treatment. Only then did he find out it was Dr. Borgmann’s life long dream to become a veterinarian. With his encouragement & support she left her career and returned to school. Dr. Borgmann has never looked back!

While in Saskatoon Dr. Borgmann worked with the Zoological Society and the Forestry Farm Park and Zoo to develop their interpretive zoo programs and was integral in convincing the city to build an on site hospital for the care & treatment of the animals at the zoo. Dr. Borgmann's enjoyment of exotic animals continues in her practice today and in her home life. She shares her home and office with a bearded dragon (Anubis) and three birds (Christopher, Myst and Vegas).

Dr. Borgmann also shares her home with 3 cats and another black lab.  She has a son and a daughter who you will meet on the weekends when she joins her mother at the practice.

Degrees:
B.Sc. (Cell Biology and Genetics)
M.Sc (Genetics)   
D.V.M.

Dr. Borgmann is a member of the following associations:
College of Veterinarians of British Columbia
Canadian Veterinary Medical Association
Association of Avian Veterinarians
Association of Reptile and Amphibian Veterinarians
Association of Exotic Mammal Veterinarians

Dr. Ken Macquisten

Dr. Macquisten has been a practicing veterinarian in the Fraser Valley since 1980, and was Abbotsford's first full time small animal veterinarian. In addition to domestic pets, Dr. Macquisten has a keen interest in wildlife medicine & surgery, and shares his time as Director of the Grouse Mountain Refuge for Endangered Wildlife.

Dr.  Andrea Pechey

Dr. Pechey joined the Whatcom Road Veterinary Hospital in 2011.  She graduated from the Ontario Veterinary College in Guelph Ontario and also has a Bachelor of Medical Science degree specializing in Microbiology and Immunology.   Both of her degrees were awarded with distinction.  Dr. Pechey has broad experience working in a variety of  veterinary clinics and research centers.

Dr. Pechey was born in South Africa coming to Canada when she was 14. She has been interested in animals since she was young and was drawn to veterinary medicine as an undergraduate. At this stage in her career, she has developed interests in animal rehabilitation, ophthalmology and exotic pets.  She loves rabbits and small rodents.

Degrees:
B.M.Sc. (Microbiology & Immunology) 
D.V.M.

Dr. Pechey  is a member of the following associations:
College of Veterinarians of British Columbia
Canadian Veterinary Medical Association

Natalie - Veterinary Assistant
Natalie undertook a career change over six years ago, leaving the restaurant business to follow her heart and work with animals. She joined us after finishing her Veterinary Assistant diploma. You will recognize her from her upbeat energetic personality.
Married for seven years, Natalie and her husband share their home with two Mastiffs- Monty and Bueller. In her spare time Natalie enjoys training and showing her 2 registered paint geldings. She also is the vice-president of the BC Paint Horse Club and donates much of her time to volunteering and fundraising.

Amanda - Client Counselor/Veterinary Assistant

Amanda graduated from the Veterinary Assistant program at West Coast College of Healthcare in April of 2010. She shares her home with 2 cats- Nya and Remington, and a Cavalier King Charles named Lucy.

Fran - Receptionist/Project Coordinator

Fran has spent 38 years working with the human species as a medical technologist but she has always harboured a soft spot for the more furry animals. She started working part time with Dr. Borgmann in 2005 whenever she could get a few days off from her regular job. Now that she has retired, you will see her regularly on Fridays. She helps out in all areas of the hospital and is particularly good at keeping the place organized and tackling special projects. Married for 30 years, she shares her home with her husband and three rescued ‘special needs’ disabled cats. 

Lisa - Receptionist/Veterinary Assistant

Lisa is a wife, mother of two boys and a registered nurse. She worked previously as a veterinary assistant at Abbotsford Veterinary Hospital for 9 years and at the Greater Vancouver Zoo as a zoo keeper in charge of large carnivores and exotic birds.  After several years of Public Health Nursing Lisa decided to follow her heart and return to work in a Veterinary practise. Lisa hopes to someday attend vet school to obtain her DVM.    Lisa has trained dogs for years, runs a dog training business, owns Cahladen Kennels CKC Reg. and shows and breeds her own Standard Wirehaired Dachshunds.  Lisa‘s passions include spending quality time with her family and dogs, camping, fishing and reading a good book. Her favourite hobby is working with her dogs and competing in conformation shows, obedience trials and earth dog. Another one of her passions is writing. Lisa’s writing has been featured on the Dogs in Canada website as a web exclusive, and she has recently become a continuing columnist for Doxie Digest Magazine published in the USA. Lisa is a volunteer for St John’s Ambulance in the dog therapy program and visits Abbotsford Regional Hospital each week with her certified therapy dog Maybelle.

Crystal - Receptionist

Crystal is the newest member of Whatcom Vet !  She's pictured here in her favourite photo of herself and her two dogs

Alicia - Student Helper 

Alicia is Dr. Borgmann's daughter. She finds quality time with her mom by working on the weekends with her. She is quickly learning the ropes and is an eager student.  Alicia is in the late French Immersion program, enjoys reading books, playing piano and takes additional distance education in her free time.

We love Munchkin dearly. She came to us for placement into another home but we all fell in love with her. But beware, she is a smart cat and a bit intolerant!