Meet the VetERINARIANs

Dr. Kelly Hackett Coderre is a native of Woodstock. Growing up on her family’s small farm, she learned the ways of animals from her father, Dr. Greg Hackett, who owned Woodstock Veterinary Clinic for more than 25 years. After earning her bachelor’s degree from the University of Richmond, she attended Tufts Veterinary School, where she earned a Masters Degree in Public Health along with her DVM. Following six years of mixed animal practice in New Hampshire, she moved back to her family's farm in her hometown. Now she enjoys managing the farm with her husband, family and their menagerie of animals. 

Dr. Molly Pastorello recently comes from RI, where she was an associate veterinarian at a private practice for over 5 years.  

She grew up in Missouri and graduated from LSU Vet School in 2013. Becoming a veterinarian has been a dream come true for her and she is grateful every day that she gets to practice this wonderful profession. 

Dr. Pastorello had many careers prior to becoming a veterinarian, including veterinary technician and dolphin trainer. Her favorite position, before becoming a veterinarian, was at Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota, FL, where she was an animal caretaker specializing in sea turtle rehabilitation and conservation. 

Dr. Pastorello’s main passion outside of work is kickboxing, which she has participated in for about 10 years. She has recently taken up the new sport of Spartan OCR and hopes to compete in several races this year, some of which are out of country. Dr. Pastorello also loves to travel. Dr. Pastorello shares her home with her Greyhound and kitty. She also has a flock of chickens that she enjoys very much. 

Dr. Shannon Gregoire is a native of Central Massachusetts. She grew up on her family farm that has fostered her love for many different animals over the years. Her first job was raising chickens and selling their eggs to family and friends when she was eight years old.

 After earning her bachelor’s degree from UMass Amherst, she attended Western University of Health Sciences in Southern California to complete her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. 

Dr. Gregoire is an avid equestrian, and rides in local Dressage competitions. She also loves bringing great information to pet parents through her podcast “Simply Pets” available on any podcast streaming service. She taught spin classes while in college and loves staying active. She grew up with multiple Doberman Pinschers, a breed she still loves, as well as helping her family raise honeybees, making maple syrup, gardening and caring for two horses and an orange tabby cats.

Dr. Roger Mitterling has 35 years of experience as a practicing veterinarian. He is a graduate of The University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. He practiced in PA and NH before moving to CT with his wife and children, where he owned a practice for 19 years. After selling his practice, he worked a few years at WVC before starting a fully equipped mobile practice for three years. His passions and experience lay in surgery, soft tissue and orthopedic, diagnostic medicine and in the relationship he has with his clients and their pets. He lives in Storrs with his family that includes his dogs, Rosie and Annie-Mae. 

At the ripe old age of three, Dr. Nielsen stood on tiptoes and peered over the edge of the kitchen table to watch her dad do surgery on a tortoise. Ever since, she knew she wanted to heal animals. Her path began with an undergraduate degree in Studio Art at Colgate University. She then completed her veterinary degree at Tuft’s University. After veterinary school, she completed a rotating internship in Emergency Medicine and Surgery. Dr. Nielsen had the unique and fun opportunity to work as a Clinical Instructor in Wildlife Medicine at Tufts before returning to Emergency Medicine, where she has spent most of her career. 

Dr. Nielsen’s greatest clinical interest is the magical human-animal bond. Each and every day, she feels honored and blessed to witness the love between people and their pets. Most of all, she loves our geriatric pets

Dr. Nielsen lives with her husband and their five awesome kids. Her “extended family” includes a dog, two cats, a lizard, two hermit crabs, chickens, ducks and one very naughty goat named “Goatee”.