OUR TEAM
Dedicated to equine medicine for over 48 years
MEET OUR TEAM OF
PROFESSIONALS
VETERINARIANS
Kirby Penttila, DVM
Dr. Kirby Penttila has a veterinary focus in podiatry and performance horse care. She is one of the partners in Burwash Equine, and purchased the practice from Dr. Wayne Burwash in 2013. She graduated from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in 2008, and completed an internship at Idaho Equine Hospital in 2009 before starting practice at Burwash Equine. Dr. Penttila competes in barrel racing in the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association.
Dr. Crystal Lee, DVM, DACVS
Dr. Crystal Lee is the sole surgeon at Burwash Equine, and also enjoys the variety of performance horse care, general practice, and emergency medicine. She is one of the partners in Burwash Equine. She graduated from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in 2009, and completed an internship at the University of Missouri in 2010 and a residency in equine surgery at Oklahoma State University in 2013 before starting practice at Burwash Equine. She became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons in 2015.
Dr. Katy White, DVM
Dr. Katy White has a veterinary focus in sports medicine, performance horse care, gastroscopy, and ultrasound. She graduated from the University of Calgary in 2019, and completed an internship in Colorado at Littleton Equine Medical Center in 2020. She practiced in BC for several years before joining Burwash Equine in 2022.
Dr. Sarah Thomas, DVM
Dr. Sarah Thomas has a veterinary focus on both advanced dentistry and reproduction. She graduated from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in 2022, and completed an internship at Burwash Equine in 2023 before joining the practice as an associate veterinarian.
Dr. Olivia Cotnam, DVM
Dr. Olivia Cotnam is a 2024-2025 intern veterinarian at Burwash Equine. She graduated from the Ontario Veterinary College in spring 2024, and has a special interest in ophthalmology and working with geriatric horses.
Dr. Alexane Harvey, DMV
Dr. Alexane Harvey is a 2024-2025 intern veterinarian at Burwash Equine. She graduated from the Université de Montréal in spring 2024, and has a special interest in sports medicine and reproductive work.
CONSULTING VETERINARIANS
Dr. Marie-France Roy, DMV, DACVIM
Dr. Roy received her DMV from the Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, University of Montreal. She then completed an Equine internship at the same institution, before doing a large animal internal medicine residency at New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Roy obtained the status of diplomate from the American College of Veterinary Medicine in the specialty of Large Animal Internal Medicine (Equine) in 2001. Dr. Roy has been on faculty at the University of Calgary since 2006.
Dr. Kelli Ramey, DVM, DACVO
Dr. Kelli Combs Ramey graduated from Oklahoma State University, where she was also a member of the three-time National Championship OSU Varsity Women’s Equestrian Team. She completed an internship in the Kansas City area, and then a residency in comparative veterinary ophthalmology at Eye Care for Animals in Pasadena, California. Upon completion of her residency program in 2009 Dr. Ramey continued to practice in Pasadena and Palm Desert, California and served as a consultant for the Los Angeles Zoo prior to her move to Calgary in 2011. As a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists, Dr. Ramey owns and consults through Calgary Animal Eye Care, an ophthalmology focused speciality veterinary centre.
TEAM
Sherry Payne
Sherry has been the Breeding Manager is Burwash Equine since 2021. She organizes everything to do with the many mares and stallions coming through Burwash in the busy breeding season. She also works closely with Dr. Thomas, and is currently pursuing her veterinary technology credentials through Penn Foster’s online vet tech program. Prior to starting at Burwash Equine, Sherry took the Racehorse Groom and Farrier Science programs at Olds College and ran her own farrier business for over 10 years.
Meagan Toth
Meagan has been Dr. White’s veterinary assistant since 2022. She completed two years in Equine Science at Olds College, before pursuing an Associate Degree as a Veterinary Technician through Penn Foster College.
Céline Piche, RVT
Céline is originally from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and moved to Calgary after completing her Veterinary Technology Diploma at Saskatchewan Polytechnic. She works closely with Dr. Lee.
Kaycee Lane, RVT
Kaycee is from Hillmond, Saskatchewan. She completed her Veterinary Technician Diploma at Lakeland College in 2022 and she joined the Burwash Equine team at the start of 2025. She has a passion for performance horses and has experience in a variety of equine sports.
Shealyn Isted
Shealyn has been working as a veterinary assistant and managing the barn at Burwash Equine since 2023. She has served as a working student at a cross country stable, a dressage stable, and most recently worked with competition horses in the Netherlands.
ADMIN TEAM
Heather Lewis
Heather has been practice manager at Burwash Equine since 2022. She grew up in Calgary, then moved to Vancouver Island. She has a Bachelors degree in Political Science from the University of Victoria and completed several veterinary technician courses while working at veterinary clinics in BC before moving back to Calgary and becoming a key part of Burwash.
Sarah Cluney
Sarah is the receptionist at Burwash Equine. She has a diploma in Hospitality Business Management, and has worked in various industries while maintaining her equestrian knowledge and skills as a horse owner.
Dana Lipka
Dana is the Administrative Assistant at Burwash Equine Services. She graduated from Nait and has spent her career in a multitude of roles focused around animal care and stewardship such as veterinary clinics and wildlife rehabilitation centers.
Opportunities Available
Please email office@burwashequine.ca with your resume and cover letter!