Featured Doctors

Growing up with what he calls, “a menagerie in my room,” Dr. Scott Barnard knew early on that he wanted to be a veterinarian. Fond of everything from pocket pets like ferrets, mice, rabbits, and hamsters, to cats and dogs, Dr. Barnard’s eagerness to gain hands-on experience led him to volunteer at his local Ohio humane society at the age of 12. Two years later they gave him his first real job, assisting veterinarians and shelter staff in caring for homeless animals, and he has been caring for four-legged patients ever since.

“Always do your best and everything else will follow.” That’s the advice that Dr. Amanda Simonson was given when she first started practicing veterinary medicine and has been following successfully ever since. As one of two veterinarians at Norterra Animal Hospital in North Phoenix, Dr. Simonson’s practice is guided by her desire to give her patients the best possible care, treating them the same as she would her own pets. “Education and communication are the keys to empowering clients to make informed decisions about their pet’s care,” she stated.

Dinosaurs completely fascinated Dr. Mike Kiedrowski as a young boy and he dreamed of devoting his life to the study of these “Great Lizards.” You can only imagine his utter devastation when he found out, at age seven, that dinosaurs were dead. After overcoming the devastating news) Dr. Kiedrowski emerged with a new vision: to study the current reptiles and amphibians of today as a herpetologist or to become a veterinarian. Those two aspirations led him to become the first “reptile and amphibian nut” veterinarian in the Greater Phoenix area, with an interest in exotic pets as well.

Dr. Mark Ketcham launched the Fletcher Heights Animal Hospital in the year 2000, fulfilling his lifelong dream of owning his own veterinary practice. Awarded his Bachelor of Science degree from Arizona State University, Dr. Ketcham received his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Illinois and went on to practice as a veterinarian in central Phoenix for several years before opening his own practice. Fueled by a passion for helping animals, Dr. Ketcham enjoys providing people with the information and advice they need to prevent illnesses, treat health issues, and make informed choices about their pets.