Hospital Director
Since 2004*
Ken Aldrich
Ken began his career in veterinary medicine as a kennel worker and continued on to work in multiple technician roles. He graduated from Syracuse University with degrees in Communications and Management. Ken has overseen up to 34 veterinary practices for a veterinary corporation and has consulted nationally on veterinary practice management. He is a founding member and a continuing Board Member of the New Haven County Veterinary Medical Association as well as a founder, past president and current Board Member of the Veterinary Management Council of Connecticut. Ken realized his vision for Central Hospital in building our new North Haven facility in 2013 and greatly expanding our medical capabilities.
Human Resources Director
Since 2006
Lisa Wiecki, SHRM-CP – Human Resources Director
Lisa graduated from the University of Connecticut with a Bachelors Degree in Animal Science. Lisa worked as a hospital manager in West Hartford, CT after graduation. She brought her extensive knowledge of veterinary practice management with her when she became the hospital manager at Central Hospital in May 2006. Lisa also serves as the Program Coordinator for the New Haven County Veterinary Medicine and has done so since it’s inception in 2008.
Hospital Manager
Since 1983
Melinda Connors, CVT – Hospital Manager
Melinda graduated from Becker College in Massachusetts with a degree in Veterinary Technology. Melinda began working as a veterinary technician at Central Hospital in 1983 and became the supervisor of the daytime technician staff soon after. Melinda has extensive experience in radiology and surgical assisting. She is one of the main auditors at the hospital in addition to being a member of the hospital management team.
Management
Lynn Acquarulo – Accounts Payable Manager
Lynn worked as a receptionist at Central Hospital while she was in high school and while pursuing a degree in Biology from Southern Connecticut State University. She assisted with our bookkeeping and office management for several years before leaving to raise a family. Lynn returned full-time to Central in 2007 as our accounts payable manager and is very active in the overall management of our practice.
Emily Carveth, LMSW (she/they) – Veterinary Social Worker
Emily is Central’s full-time Veterinary Social Worker. She earned her Master’s of Social Work from Fairfield University, and is currently enrolled in the Veterinary Social Work Certificate Program through the University of Tennesee Knoxville. She previously worked in veterinary medicine as a veterinary assistant and client liaison. She is dedicated to supporting the wellbeing of both clients and staff. Her other clinical interests include trauma-informed therapies, yoga, LGBTQ+ mental health, and the intersection of spirituality and therapy. She lives in Orange with her partner and her 17 year-old cat Rowland.
Since 1985
Kathy Cavanagh, CVT – Client Care Coordinator
Kathy graduated from Becker College with a degree in Veterinary Technology. She joined the Central Hospital staff in 1985 as a trauma and emergency technician. She has worked in many different capacities at the hospital over the years including Head Radiology Technician. Kathy has participated for many years in community outreach programs at Central working with local schools and civic groups. She took on the role of Client Care Coordinator in 2005. In addition to her position at Central Hospital, Kathy has served as the Event Coordinator for the New Haven County Veterinary Association since it’s inception in 2008.
Dorothy Dutelle – Special Projects Manager
Dorrie graduated from the University of Connecticut with a Bachelor’s degree in Animal Science, and then received her post-baccalaureate degree in Veterinary Practice Management from the St. Petersburg College. She has worked in the veterinary field since she was 15 and was a Veterinary Technician for 7 years . After being a technician Dorrie was a Veterinary Hospital Manager from 2012 until joining our team as the Manager of Special Projects in 2018. Dorrie is also a founder, past president, and current board member of the Veterinary Management Council of Connecticut.
Since 1995
Joseph Jasiorkowski, Veterinary Technician – Safety Training Manager
Joe worked for several years at veterinary hospitals in Bethany and Orange before joining Central Hospital as a trauma emergency technician in 1995. Joe has extensive knowledge of emergency medicine and animal nursing. He became the supervisor of the Evening Technician staff in 1998. Joe serves as our safety coordinator, managing all aspects of OSHA training and is the Audio-Visual Coordinator for the New Haven County Veterinary Medical Association.
Since 2015*
Michele Papero, CVT – Referral Manager
Michele graduated from Quinnipiac University and began working as Emergency Room Technician at Central Hospital from 1985 to 1988. Michele then went on to pursue a variety of positions in veterinary medicine at Yale School of Medicine in Neurobiology and Vector Borne Diseases. She earned her Master’s Degree in Laboratory Science from Quinnipiac University. Michele was the patient coordinator for the Veterinary Cardiology service for 7 years at VCA- Shoreline under the direction of Dr. Nat Fenollosa. Michele joined our practice in 2015 as the Referring Veterinarian Coordinator.
Since 2006
Siobhan Purser-Blackman, Veterinary Technician – Head Auditor/Inventory Manager Siobhan has worked in many different capacities in the veterinary industry for many years. She has held positions in several progressive veterinary hospitals in the area. Most notably as an ICU/Surgery/Neurology/MRI technician and an Internal Medicine Liaison at the Referral and Emergency Center in Norwalk, CT. She joined the management team at Central Hospital as a supervisor in 2006.
Since 2003
Tina Vitelli – Accounts Receivable Manager
Supervisors
Ashley Ivanac, CVT – Technician Supervisor
Ashley graduated from Becker College in 2008 with a BS in Business Management. Ashley first started her technician career in 2000 as a kennel attendant working at Pieper Olson Veterinary Hospital. Ashley joined our team in 2010 as our first internal medicine technician with Dr. Harley. In 2016 Ashley joined Cornell University Veterinary Specialists as an oncology technician. Ashley returned to Central Hospital in 2017 as our specialty technician supervisor. In October 2019 Ashley became the technician supervisor and oversee’s all of our emergency, ICU and specialty technicians at both our North Haven and Guilford location.
Since 2014
Vicki Landau, BS, CVT – Lead HBOT Operator
Vicki Landau graduated from Misericordia University in 1996 with a BS in Biology. She worked with a VMD who had a special interest in veterinary dentistry and oral surgery for over 3 years. Following that she worked at VREC in Norwalk, CT rotating through various departments eventually becoming the surgical technician supervisor for the last 2 of her 5 years there. She worked as the surgical technician supervisor for over 6 years at Cheshire Animal Hospital and then 2 years at Newtown Veterinary Specialists. Vicki joined us at Central Hospital in 2014 as our Technician Training Coordinator. Pain management and anesthesia are her primary interests, but she also loves working closely with doctors during critical cases.
Dorothy Moore, AS, CVT – Technician Assistant Supervisor
Dorothy has been working in the veterinary field since 2011. She graduated from NCCC in 2013 with an associate’s degree in veterinary technology. She worked at Pieper Memorial as a triage coordinator. In 2014 she joined Shoreline Veterinary Hospital in Clinton. Dorothy joined Central Hospital in 2016 as an ER and ICU technician. Since then, she has worked in Central’s cardiology and emergency surgery departments. She is a member of our training team and enjoys teaching incoming technicians and assistants. In 2019 Dorothy became the Technician Assistant Supervisor.
Riki Pinho – Client Liaison and Discharge Nurse Supervisor/Staff Relations ManagerRon Ruzicka, CVT – Floor Supervisor/Trainer/ICU/Emergency
