Meet Our Staff

Dr. De Waal is a 1982 graduate of The Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine. He loves all sports and is currently riding his mountain and road bikes as well as playing tennis.

He has been married to Merrilee for over thirty years; she is a residential Real Estate Agent. Their son, Kyle, loves sports and entertainment, still plays hockey and works for a software company in San Francisco. Currently his animal family consists of 3 energetic dogs and two lazy cats.

Dr. De Waal's goal is to be devoted and passionate about his family, friends, work, spirituality, and life in general.

Dr. Dye came to Westside Animal Hospital in the summer of 2006 from Oklahoma, where he earned degrees from The University of Oklahoma, Southwestern Oklahoma State University, and Oklahoma State University for Veterinary Health Sciences.

Dr. Dye and his wife, Deanna, have two adorable sons, Dylan and Lennon, who keep them both busy at home. They are also proud parents of two dogs, Squiggie and Charlie, and two cats, Skippy and Marley.

Deanna regularly bakes wonderful goodies for the Westside staff, which everyone looks forward to. They enjoy spending their spare time with family and friends. 

Dr. Geist moved to Colorado Springs in 2014 with his wife and 1-year old daughter with the intention of raising their daughter and retiring here.  He joined the Westside Animal Hospital family in September, 2014.  Dr. Geist was raised in the state of Washington, attended vet school at Washington State University, and graduated in 1996.  He worked for many years at practices in Washington and Oregon.  For the last 10 years Dr. Geist operated his own veterinary surgery business, also working in emergency medicine.

Dr. Geist brings with him many years of experience in some areas of complicated surgeries, as well as the prevention and long-term management associated with them.  These include TPLO (for cranial cruciate ligament injuries), fracture repair, corrective orthopedic surgery, minimally-invasive surgery (endoscopy, laparoscopy, arthroscopy, etc.), reconstructive surgery, and major abdominal surgeries.  He is currently in the process of getting certification for PennHIP screening (for early identification and intervention of canine hip dysplasia).

Dr. Geist’s other areas of practice interest include pain management, wound healing, and helping to build the human-animal bond.  Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his family and friends, hiking, climbing, biking, and fly-fishing. 

Dr. Abby Parrent is a recent graduate from Oklahoma State University, where she received her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine. She was born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma, but always dreamed of living in Colorado. Dr. Parrent attended Austin College in Sherman, TX where she played Division III soccer and received a Bachelor of Science in Biology.

Dr. Parrent married her college boyfriend, Alan, in a beautiful ceremony in Breckenridge, Colorado in June 2019. They have two boxers named Roo and Breck. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking with her dogs, traveling, skiing, and spending time with her family and dogs.

Dr. Parrent’s veterinary interests include wellness and preventive medicine, soft tissue surgery, and ultrasound. She comes to us from a very busy small animal practice in Oklahoma and is excited to be a member of the Westside family.

Dr. Jesse Hand grew up in the Colorado Springs area, and is a Manitou Springs High School graduate. He then went on to graduate from Colorado State University in 2010 with a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine, as well as a Bachelor's degree in Zoology.

During his time at CSU, Dr. Hand spent countless hours living/working/volunteering at a Wolf and Wolfdog Sanctuary. Dr. Hand also worked in CSU's Veterinary Ophthalmology department as a student technician. To this day, Dr. Hand still retains a special interest in eyes.

Dr. Hand has one very spoiled Great Pyrenees mix dog at home. In his spare time, he enjoys collecting and restoring vintage toys, as well as tinkering with his classic VW's.

Dr. Cecilia Gustafson graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2023 with her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree. She was born and raised in Fairfax, Virginia prior to moving to Minnesota for her undergraduate degree and doctorate. Dr. Gustafson attended Carleton College in Northfield, MN where she played Division III basketball, and received a Bachelor of Science of Biology, and met her husband Andy.

Dr. Gustafson stayed in Minnesota for her Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine, and shortly after made the move to Colorado Springs with her husband.

Dr. Gustafson has five fur babies; two dogs named Rainey and Dexter, and three cats named Duck, Squish, and Beans. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking with her dogs, skiing, spending time with friends and family, and off-roading in the mountains.

Dr. Gustafson has a special interest in surgery, internal medicine, and client education. She is very excited to bring her love of animals and passion for veterinary medicine to the Westside Animal Hospital team.

Caley joined the Westside team in 2019. She has worked in the veterinary field since 2012. She enjoys getting to know the clients of Westside Animal Hospital and their fur babies!

Caley and her husband followed a dream to move to Colorado in 2017, after living on the Oregon coast their whole lives. They love Colorado and all the amazing outdoor adventures that this state provides. They currently share their lives with 5 pets; Frida, a Pug, Jack, a Papillion mix, Boris, a Pug, Pickle a Pug and a rescue kitty, Marlo.

I moved to Colorado with my husband in the summer of 2000 and enjoy all the outdoor activities this state has to offer.

After several years as a Travel Agent and many more in customer service related jobs, I decided to pursue a career in Veterinary Medicine.

I graduated from Bel-Rea Institute of Animal Technology in 2005 and cannot imagine doing anything other than helping animals and their families.

Since moving to Colorado, my husband and I have taken full advantage of the outdoor life.   We enjoy hiking and backpacking the many trails available.  Recently we have taken up rock and ice climbing. On my lazy days I enjoy reading and even sewing.

Currently we are down to one four legged child. Her name is Señorita (Rita for short) and we adopted her from the Puerto Vallarta SPCA in May 2014. Rita looks like a black lab mix but DNA testing says she is Mastiff/Bassett hound mix. Either way she is a bundle of energy that fits into our active life. 

Courtney grew up in a small town just north of Boston, Massachusetts. While attending the medical occupations program during high school, she met her husband, Anthony. He joined the military shortly after graduating and they have been traveling and moving ever since. Through all the moves, she found a love for the veterinary medicine world. Courtney began her career as a kennel attendant in Fayetteville, NC. During her time at that clinic, she was trained to monitor surgical procedures, run laboratory tests, assist doctors in rooms, client services, and much more.

Courtney and Anthony moved to Colorado Springs in 2018 with their 2 dogs, Charlie and Mac. Soon after that, she decided to go to technician school to become an RVT and further her knowledge. Courtney graduated from Colorado Academy of Veterinary Technology cum laude, obtaining an Associate of Applied Science in Veterinary Technology in 2021. While in school, she took special interest in rehabilitation. Courtney joined the Westside family in September 2021, completing her internship and restoring the rehabilitation program with Dr. Parrent.

During her free time, Courtney enjoys reading, training their new German Shepherd Dog Rukia, and spending time with friends and family.

 She looks forward to helping your fur babies feel their best!

I'm a Colorado native and can't imagine living anywhere else.  I have especially fallen in love with Colorado Springs.

After many years working in accounting and customer service I decided to pursue my dream of a career working with animals.  I completed my studies and graduated from Bel Rea Institute of Animal Technology in 1999.  I became a member of the Westside family in 2011 and love the people I work with and the very special clients who trust us with their four legged family members.

My husband Mike and I fulfilled our dreams of living in the mountains and enjoy spending time in the home we built and the challenges of mountain living.  We enjoy continuing to work on our home and trying to garden at high altitude.  We also enjoy camping and fishing.

In my spare time my passions include NASCAR racing and racing of all kinds, hiking, biking and stitching.  I also love music and my new challenge is learning to play the guitar.

My family consists of our 2 rescue dogs - Ellie Mae and Samantha.

I grew up in western New York and joined the Army right after high school. I was stationed in Germany, Colorado and Iraq. After the Army, I moved to Indiana where I worked on a horse-breeding farm for six years. I decided to move back to Colorado Springs to attend school at Colorado Academy of Veterinary Technology, which I have graduated from and became a Certified Veterinary Technician.

Of all the places I have been Colorado Springs is one of my favorites, which is why I have decided to make this place my home. In my free time, I enjoy hiking in the mountains, gardening and horseback riding.

I have two “children,” Shrek who is a three-year-old English bulldog/beagle mix and is quite the character. He loves sleeping in, going for car rides and going on hikes with me. Ash is a one and a half year old mastiff mix who just recently joined my family. He loves to play with Shrek and is quite the couch potato.

I am proud to be a part of Westside Animal Hospital’s team and love my new career working with animals every day.

I am a native to California and in early 2020 moved to Colorado Springs with my husband. The COVID-19 situation made it difficult at first to find a job, yet then Westside Animal Hospital hired me, and I couldn’t be happier.

I attended and graduated Carrington College in 2016, earning my Associates degree in Veterinary Technology. In my free time, I enjoy crocheting, walks along the bike trail, and baking sweets. I have three cats: Minx, Shu, and Kitten who are my precious babies. They act like brothers and their favorite activity is cuddling with my husband and I whenever they can.

Savanah was born and raised in Pueblo, CO and grew up with a large family. Her love of animals started at a young age as she was always surrounded by the many fur babies, and has wanted to be in vet med for as long as she could remember. Savanah graduated from Colorado Academy of Veterinary Technology in 2023 earning an Associate of Applied Science in Veterinary Technology. She worked as a veterinary assistant throughout school, where her love for the veterinary field grew.

In her free time, Savanah loves spending time with family and friends. You can find her in the mountains with her dog, a German Shepherd named Korra, and a camera looking for their next adventure.

She is very excited to be a part of the Westside team, and help keep your loving family pets happy and healthy.

Maryann grew up just outside of Nashville, Tn. She graduated from the University of Tennessee with a degree in Animal Science. She also met and married the love of her life. After graduation she worked as an Oncology Technician for four years. She learned a great deal about veterinary medicine and the unconditional love that is the human and animal bond.

She and her family moved to Colorado in 2023 to persue their vigorous love of the outdoors. And a desire to live in a place that looks like a storybook picture.

She is thrilled to be a part of the team here at Westside Animal Hospital. She is excited to grow her veterinary knowledge. In her spare time she is busy biking, hiking, and taking her two cats on walks.

Mikel grew up in a military family and has lived in seven states. Growing up, she lived in Colorado Springs for nine years nonconsecutively and attended The Vanguard School for high school before graduating in 2019. Afterward, she attended the University of California-Berkeley and graduated in May 2022.

While studying at Berkeley for those three years she earned her B.S. in Molecular Environmental Biology, specializing in Animal Heath and Behavior.

Her reason for persuing veterinary medicine stems from her overwhelming love for her Labradoodle named Parker, who passed in 2021, and her desire to keep other pets healthy and with their families for as long as possible. In her free time, Mikel enjoys skiing, hiking, camping, and spending time with family.

Cheyenne was raised in Michigan until her family moved to Tennessee as a teen. She found her love for horses and and rodeos while in Tennessee. Cheyenne graduated high school and entered college while still in Tennessee. Cheyenne then met her husband and together they moved to Georgia and that is where her veterinary career began in 2018. She fell in love with veterinary medicine and has been doing it ever since. She and her husband together have three dogs and one horse. In her spare time she enjoys riding her horse, going to the gym and spending time with friends. Cheyenne joined the Westside Animal Hospital team in 2023.

Alicia grew up near San Jose, California but has lived in Colorado for 17 years. She cares for a shy, but very loving shih-tzu mix named Pluto, as well as a sassy orange tabby cat named Nami and an even sassier Siamese named Gizmo. In her spare time, Alicia loves baking, hiking, and taking advantage of the gorgeous landscape Colorado has to offer.

She found her passion for animals while working at a pet-based retail shop, and shortly after started to branch out into veterinary medicine and shelter work. She adores working alongside knowledgeable veterinary professionals who strive to help animals feel better at their most vulnerable points. In the future, she wishes to continue to utilize her education and experience to work with organizations that strive to help animals in need.

Jasmine was born and raised in Astoria, Queens, New York City. She moved to Colorado Springs in 1983 and settled near her sister, Dr. De Waal's wife, Merrilee.

With her lifelong love of animals, Jasmine adopted a cat, Cindy and a dog, Nifty. They both lived good long lives and passed away when they were very old.

Jasmine's most recent addition is a cat named Skittles who came to her through adoption from the Humane Society. He has a very unique personality and provides Jasmine with many hours of companionship and enjoyment. Some of his playful antics include chasing his tail and playing with his toys.

Bethany moved from Cleveland Ohio to Colorado in 2019. Bethany's love for veterinary medicine started when she previously worked for an animal clinic in Ohio. She is passionate about providing care to all animals and looks forward to adding a fur baby to her home in the future.

In her spare time, she enjoys being outdoors, reading, and playing board games.

Bethany started with Westside Animal Hospital in 2022 and is excited to help in the care of your pets!

Eva grew up in a small town in North Carolina before moving to Colorado in 2020 to pursue her education in veterinary medicine. She plans to expand her knowledge and gain a degree as a Veterinary Technician. Her ultimate goal is to get her VTS (vet tech specialty) and become a surgical assistant. 
For now, she is enjoying the amazing learning opportunities and knowledge she has gained from working here at Westside Animal Hospital.
In her personal time, she enjoys camping, creating multimedia art, and spending time with her two cats, Ziggy and Sky.
Eva is happy to be a part of the team here at Westside Animal Hospital and strives to provide the very best care for your pets!

Veronica fell in love with dogs when her first pet, Bernice, jumped in her lap as a puppy in 2011. Since then, she has pursued a career caring for pets of all sizes and ages, first with a dog walking business started in her hometown of Fayetteville, AR, then moving to Colorado Springs and growing her business as well as working for a boarding kennel. Veronica has two dogs, a beagle mix named Zooey and a pomeranian mix, Bernice, as well as two cats, Sabriel and Judy. She joined the Westside Animal Hospital team in 2022 and is committed to providing excellent service to our clients. 

Megan moved to Colorado Springs from Los Angeles in the spring of 2007 to enjoy the beautiful mountains and be closer to family.

She holds a B.A. in Graphic Design yet her passion has always been to work with animals. Megan has been a Veterinary Technician as well as receptionist since 2002 and finds it very rewarding.

Together with her husband, Keith, they share their home with 3 rescue dogs, Winnie, a Saluki mix, Emma, a greyhound mix, and Ivy, a Borzoi, along with 4 rescue cats, Coda, Kinsey, Sawyer, and Quinn. They love spending time with their “spoiled” kids; hiking with the dogs, and exploring all that Colorado has to offer. 

Taylor moved from Austin, Texas to Colorado Springs in September of 2017, & joined the Westside Animal Hospital team in September of 2021. In her spare time, Taylor is a pet portrait artist; & she & her husband, Antonio, love to cook & spend time together in the kitchen. Taylor loves all kinds of animals, she grew up with dogs, cats, snakes & reptiles of all kinds. However, cats (big or small) are definitely her favorite. Taylor & Antonio, share 2 cats; 1 perfect angel girl, Salem & 1 menace to society, Minerva, who are the loves of their lives. 

Michelle grew up in Frederick, Maryland and then attended the University of Central Florida in Orlando to study Sociology. She later moved to Los Angeles and managed a high volume pet sitting company there for 6 years until moving to Colorado Springs with her two cats, Remy & Sybil, in 2021 to join the Westside Team. She later adopted a mini schnauzer mix when he found his way into our hospital as a stray and named him Barnabe.

In her spare time, Michelle enjoys painting & crafting, going on scenic drives, and cuddling her 3 precious fur babies!

Brenda is a Colorado native who grew up in a small town and eventually moved to Colorado Springs in 2015. Growing up in the country surrounded by farm animals, she has always had a love of animals big and small and knew she wanted a career working with them.

She joined the Westside team in 2022 and is currently in school to become a dog groomer. Her dream is to move to the PNW and open a mobile dog grooming business.

Brenda and her husband Allen have 3 amazing fur babies. A sweet senior rescue Doberman named Parmesan, a wild child Doberman named Aries and their newest addition is a lovable rescue kitty named Tomato.

Emily is a native of Colorado and has been around animals her whole life. She started as a kennel technician at a boarding facility, and after spending time in the communications sector she is thrilled to be working with animals again.

Emily lives with her husband Eric, Beagle mix Spencer, and three cats, Batman, Turtle, and Ladybug. In her free time she likes to ride her horse Jack and spend time at the barn, reading, and creating art.

Emily started with Westside Animal Hospital in 2023. She is excited to be a part of the team and help keep your pets happy and healthy.

Nathalia was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois and moved to Colorado Springs in 2015. Her love of caring for animals stemmed from witnessing so many neglected street dogs when she lived in Puerto Rico for a short time as a child. She has spent much of her time since then volunteering at animal shelters, creating her own dog treat business, working with rescues, and collecting all of the misfit pets. Her dream is to acquire many acres of land and start her own rescue/ hospice for animals. 

She currently has four dogs (named Sugar, Daisy, Coco, and Moe), three cats (named Cheeto, Alfie, and Noir), a bearded dragon (named Mushu), a bearded man (named Mathew), and two human children (named Luna and Sonny). Needless to say, her pack keeps her very busy. They enjoy going camping, paddle boarding, snowboarding, and exploring Colorado in search of good food.

She rejoined the Westside team in 2023 as a client service coordinator, and is thrilled to be able to help take care of your fur babies and help guide owners as best as she can.