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Our Team

Meet our caring and compassionate veterinary care team!

Meet the Veterinarians & Team of Cave Springs Pet Hospital in St. Peters, MO! We’re pleased to provide exceptional vet care for your pets!

Please call us at (636) 928-9500 to speak to one of our caring veterinary staff members!

Dr. Kelly Brister DVM — Medical Director

Dr. Kelly Brister graduated from the school of Veterinary Medicine at Mississippi State University. She is a member of various local, state, and national veterinary associations. She has been at the Cave Springs location for over 20 years. Although Dr. Brister loves everything from the puppy and kitten visits all the way through the many challenges of our pets’ older years, she has a special interest in dermatology and endocrinology. Dr. Brister lives in St. Charles County with her husband. She has 2 grown sons.  Her family pets include a Jack Russell terrier, named Chief, and her English shepherd mix Clover. Her time away from Cave Springs is spent with church activities, walking dogs, gardening, reading, and most recently competing in triathlons.

Dr. Cynthia Rizzolo

Dr. Cynthia Rizzolo graduated from the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine in 2013. She received a B.S. Degree in Biology from the University of Missouri-St. Louis in 2006 and studied Equestrian Science at William Woods University.

Dr. Rizzolo is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association and the American Animal Hospital Association. Her special interests include cardiology, nutrition, and radiology.

In her free time Cindy loves to spend as much time outdoors as she can. This usually means taking her four lovable pit bull mixes, Payton, Max, DJ and Eli swimming and hiking.

Dr. Alexandria Donoho

Dr. Alexandria Donoho joined Cave Springs Pet Hospital in April 2016. She is a graduate of Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine in St. Kitts, West Indies. After completing clinical rotations at the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine, she worked in mixed animal practice in rural Missouri before relocating to the St. Louis area. She is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association. She enjoys the variety that can come in any given day in general practice, but has a special interest in radiology. Dr. Donoho resides in St. Peters with her husband, children, and pets. In her leisure time, she enjoys all kinds of outdoor activities and is an avid fan of Chicago Cubs baseball.

Dr. Jamie Smith

Dr. Jamie smith graduated from the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine in 2015. She received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology from the University of South Florida in 2011. She started out as an emergency veterinarian before transitioning to general practice. Dr. Smith lives in O’Fallon with her husband, two children, two dogs, and cat. Her special interests include surgery, dermatology, and ophthalmology. Outside of veterinary medicine, she enjoys reading, horseback riding, hiking with her dogs, and spending time with her family.

Stephanie, RVT — Practice Manager

Stephanie graduated from the Vet Tech Institute at Hickey College in 2012 and has been working at Cave Springs Pet Hospital as a Registered Veterinary Technician since 2013. She enjoys working with both the clients and their furry friends! In her free time, she enjoys reading, shopping, and spending time with her friends and family. She has four dogs, Delilah, Benny, Riley, and Flynn along with her three cats, Jackie, Duckie, and Meredith.

Julie — Lead CSR/social media manager

Julie has been a receptionist at Cave Springs Pet Hospital since 2019. She has returned to veterinary medicine after working in the field for several years in the 90s. She moved back to the Midwest after 14 years of raising her kids in the suburbs of Salt Lake City.   She has a special love for the Boxer breed and that whole body wiggle! She has two French Bulldogs. The Frenchie’s are her constant companions and spend many days at our office with the resident pack. She also enjoys hiking, snow skiing, home renovation, biking on the Katy, helping with dog rescue organizations, and spending time with family and friends. Julie loves all aspects of the client/practice relationship and feels lucky and blessed to be part of a great staff.

Tami — CSR

Tami has worked at this office as a receptionist for over 23 years! She enjoys being the first person to greet the clients and their pets. She strives to make it a pleasant experience here, letting them know we truly care about their pet’s health. In her free-time she enjoys photography, making Shutterfly books, reading, cycling, swimming, hiking, and traveling. She has a passion for the elderly and is the director of the Homebound Ministry at Waypoint Church in St. Charles. She also enjoys spending time with her husband, two children, and their spouses.

She has one very spoiled whippet named Comet. He is very special to her!

BRENNA-VETERINARY ASSISTANT

Brenna graduated from Northwest Missouri State University with a bachelor’s in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation. She has been working with exotic animals at various places throughout the St. Louis area for the past 6 years, but came to Cave Springs Pet Hospital to try her hand in the medical side of animals. Because of her love and connection to animals, she has always wanted to work with them. Throughout her life she has owned and grown up with various types of animals, all influencing her career choices. If she’s not doing something with animals, she’s outside enjoying nature or keeping busy being creative through cooking or crafts. She is always excited to see what the future holds.

Brittany — Veterinary Assistant/Rescue coordinator/CSR

Brittany graduated from Francis Howell North High School in 2013. She has worked in the Veterinary field for 4 years working as receptionist. Her desire to work directly with the animals has allowed her to cross train as an assistant. She began working for CSPH in 2021. She has a huge heart for animals and works directly with local rescue Diamonds in the Ruff on behalf of our office. In her free time, she enjoys time with her husband and son and attends dirt track races. She has a tuxedo cat named Boots.

ASHLEY J.-VETERINARY TECHNICIAN

Ashley graduated from Fort Zumwalt South in 2020. She attended University of Central Missouri for 2 years before finding Midwest institute to pursue a career as an RVT. She grew up with 2 Siberian Huskies and was part of the Gateway Sled Dog team with her family. She loves to do events with the sled dog club in her free time. She also enjoys Target runs, photography, and hanging out with her friends and family.

BEN- VETERINARY TECHNICIAN

I was born and raised in Missouri and graduated from Ladue Horton Watkins High School in 2018. I spent two years at St. Louis community college trying to figure out what career I wanted to pursue. I eventually was recommended by a career counselor to look into Midwest Institute and pursue a career in Veterinary medicine. I attended Midwest’s Vet tech program to follow my love of animals and animal care, and I have a special fondness for exotic animals (especially small mammals). I spend my free time reading, playing video games, and taking care of my two guinea pigs (Patches and Peach) and my two mice (Sonic and Shadow).

Megan — Lead Veterinary Technician

Megan graduated from Midwest in July of 2021. She is currently pursuing her lifelong dream of working in the Veterinary field. She is excited to come to work knowing she gets to help clients with their pets both young and old. In her free time, she likes to spend time with her husband and their pets. She loves long walks and bike rides.

Alexis- Veterinarian in Training

Alexis graduated from the University of Kansas and received her bachelor’s in biology and will be attending Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine in St. Kitts and Nevis to pursue her DVM degree. In her free time, she loves spending time with friends and family, shopping, and walking her three dogs Max, Jake, and Pheobe.

JOY-CSR

Joy has worked in veterinary reception for over 2 years. She enjoys the relationships she gets to build with the clients and their pets. In her free time, she’s home with her husband, daughter, and 3 dogs. She tends to favorite the hound breeds. On the weekends you can find her with church groups or volunteering with her favorite rescues.

Bethany-CSR

Bethany has always had a strong connection with animals and is excited to be a new member of the Cave Springs Pet Hospital team! She works our front desk and would like to become a veterinary technician giving her the chance to be more hands on with the animals. Bethany has a lab mix named Theo who was adopted from a rescue while she was attending college. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, playing with Theo, and spending time with friends and family.

KARA-CSR

Kara joined the CSPH team as a veterinary receptionist in 2024.Kara has a total of 13 years of experience in the animal industry, she got her start at just 16 years old working at a local boarding and training facility where she worked as a kennel attendant. Kara knew from a young age that she wanted to work with animals and has dedicated her career to doing so.
While she doesn’t mind helping out in the treatment area, she prefers to be in reception, interacting with our clients and making sure they feel at home when they come to visit us at our hospital.
Joining Kara at home are her two Labrador Retrievers, Nala and Mila; two cats, Coda and Tehya; and one human child who at only 7 years old, has already decided she wants to be a veterinarian herself.

KENNEDY-CSR

Kennedy joined the team at Cave Springs Pet Hosptial in 2022. Being a proud owner of two cats, Kennedy has a special place for all the feline friends that visit our office.  She is also a loving sister to her family dog Samson. In her time away from Cave Springs Pet Hospital she likes to spend time reading, shopping, or spending quality time with friends or family.

SOMMER- VETERINARY   TECHNICIAN

Sommer graduated from Midwest Institute College in October of 2021 – she’s got a real thing for creatures, big and small!  With a passion for paws and purrs, outside of work, she is a proud cat mom of two mischievous cats, named Chance and Whiskers, you’ll probably find her hanging out with her two adorable feline buddies, making unforgettable memories in nature.

ALEX- VETERINARY ASSISTANT

Alex started working for Cave Springs in September of 2024. She graduated from the Academy of Pet Careers in 2022. She has two rescue dogs named Gunnar and Sterling.  In her free time, she enjoys spending quality time with her fiancée and her dogs. She enjoys many aspects of the patient experience but especially loves to see all the different types of dogs that come through our doors.