Meet Our Team
Dr. Elizabeth Vander Broek
Medical Director
Dr. Elizabeth Vander Broek is thrilled to step into her role as medical director of Cotner and Superior of Carevet locations, and excited to spend time seeing patients at each location. She has been working with a partner hospital for the past 5 years, as an associate at Belmont Vet Center. She is originally from Lincoln, and was a student of the UNL 2+2 professional program in veterinary medicine, graduating from Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2016.
When she's not at work, Dr. Vander Broek enjoys spending time with her husband Jeremy, and their two little boys, Trin and Asher. Their household of geriatric pets includes Tig (a 17 year old blind cat), Nala (a 16 year old deaf Border collie mix), and Cooper (a neurotic 10 year old Doberman). They've recently added two male guinea pigs, Chewie and Sugar Rush to the menagerie. In her free time, you can probably find Dr. Vander Broek working in her garden, reading, or watching episodes of Dateline.
Dr. Vander Broek looks forward to serving you and your pets, and providing the highest quality of medical care with kindness and compassion.
Dr. Meredith Cruse
Veterinarian
Dr. Meredith Cruse is originally from Omaha, NE, and is a 2011 graduate of Kansas State Veterinary University. She has special interests in preventative care, dermatology and internal medicine. Outside of work, she volunteers as a track and field coach at the Malone Center. She also enjoys reading, watching movies and spending time with her family.
Dr. Elizabeth Farrington
Veterinarian
Dr. Farrington will soon be Dr. Miciunas!
Ashley P.
Veterinary Assistant
Ashley a veterinary assistant and our former Practice Manager. She came to us with an extensive background in management, HR, and doggie daycare experience, as well as a love and passion for rescue animals. She is most excited to work with behavioral cases and works tirelessly to help make the clinic fear free. She currently has a house full of dogs, Max, Luna, Dominic and Ruby, as well as two cats, Cricket and Kitty. Free time, outside of work, school and being a mom to two little girls is scarce, but live music or around a bonfire with good friends is where you will find her.
Madalyn B.
Veterinary Assistant
Canine CPR Certified Professional / Dog Trainer
Madalyn is the dog mom of three very spoiled boys, all rescues coming from neglectful owners. She was born and raised here in Lincoln, NE. She spent a lot of her time growing up in Fairbury, NE, working with her grandfather at his veterinary clinic. Helping and learning anyway she could while growing her love for animals. Madalyn is still following her dream and passion of working with animals. Most of her free time is spent with her family and boyfriend outdoors, either hunting, fishing, or camping. She also enjoys training with her dogs, experiencing dog expos, or enjoying the trails with her three fur babies.
Brooklyn A.
Veterinary Assistant
Brooklyn grew up on a farm in Weeping Water, Nebraska. She showed pigs for 4-H, and currently goes to UNL to study veterinary science, with the hopes of becoming a mixed animal veterinarian. She spends her free time with her family and friends, and enjoys going home to play with her dog, Nala.
Shay
Veterinary Assistant
Shay is a full-time student at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, where she’s majoring in Fisheries and Wildlife on the Pre-Veterinary track. She’s passionate about animals and conservation, with the goal of becoming a wildlife veterinarian. In her free time, Shay enjoys reading, drawing, painting, and traveling. She also loves spending time with her family, friends, and her Great Dane, Dusty!
Helena H.
Veterinary Assistant
Bio coming soon!
Allie K.
Veterinary Assistant
Bio coming soon!
Heather T.
Licensed Veterinary Technician
Heather attended school for veterinary technology at Curtis College, and graduated in 1997. Her background is in show cattle, particularly Angus cattle! Heather has been an advisor for the Nebraska Junior Angus Association, and is involved in the National Angus Auxiliary Association. In her free time, Heather spends time with her two children and three grandchildren, and is thrilled to be helping provide gold standard veterinary medicine!
Kara
Receptionist
Kara is our fabulous receptionist at Cotner Pet Care! She has lived in Lincoln all her life. She prides herself as being a great pet mom who adores her fur babies, and regularly watches her parents' dogs that she considers furry siblings. She enjoys spending time with friends and family, reading, as well as crafting any ideas her friends and coworkers come up with. She is excited to be the first person to greet you and your pet when you come to visit us!
Madyson W.
Hospital Manager
Trupanion Certified Professional / Fear Free Certified Professional / VHMA Member
Madyson recently became a Lincoln, NE, resident after living her entire life in Des Moines, Iowa! There, she studied Veterinary Technology and Animal Science at a local college and has been a veterinary assistant for the last few years. She married a UNL grad student in May 2023 and made the big move! Her dog, Bella, is a cancer survivor as of July 2023, though Bella continues treatment in Iowa. Madyson and her husband have a spunky tuxedo cat named Zuko, a little black kitty named Be'lakor that they rescued from their apartment dumpster, and are expecting their first non-fur child, Wilma, in April of 2024! Madyson’s hobbies include painting, keeping her house plants alive, educating clients on veterinary medicine, and seeing Broadway musicals!
Jodi B.
Receptionist
Trupanion Certified Professional
Jodi is one of our client care specialists, she grew up in Columbus NE, married her high school sweetheart 33 years ago. She has 3 children, Rachael, Sarah and Joelle and 2 dogs, Shadow a Cuban Havanese and Ginger a German Shepherd. Jodi enjoys crocheting, reading and travelling, especially seeing the mountains which reminds her how magnificent the creator of the universe is. She has a servant heart for helping people and animals, it is her passion.
Momma Ellis Cotner
Clinic Ambassador
Momma Ellis is one of our three clinic ambassadors! She takes her job very seriously of alerting the staff to any creature comfort issues. She is famous for her laid back and can nap attitude. She can be found spending her free time making others aware that diets are overrated, throwing her mane around to garner votes on Instagram, and pondering deep thoughts on how to avoid any treat supply chain issues.
Meredith Cotner
Clinic Ambassador
Meredith is one of our three clinic ambassadors! She and her sister Cristina first applied to work for us when they decided they would prefer a better home than a cold local trash compactor. She takes her job very seriously and just loves to greet ALL our clients and patients. She can be found spending her free time socializing with anyone who asks her too, cleaning up any extra fear free treats, and catching up on Grey’s Anatomy.
Cristina Cotner
Clinic Ambassador
Cristina is one of our three clinic ambassadors! She and her sister Meredith first applied to work for us when they decided they would prefer a better home than a cold local trash compactor. She takes her job very seriously, but prefers to do her work behind the scenes so she may not always be up front to say hello. She is famous for her ability to give cuddles and extra attention to the staff. She can be found spending her free time searching for leftover Churro, working on her personal self-care, discussing cases in depth with Dr. Breinin, and catching up on Grey’s Anatomy.
