Our Feline-Focused Team
At Uniquely Cats Veterinary Center, we believe that a strong, unified, educated and passionate team is key to a successful practice! Every member of our team is equally important, equally responsible for, and passionately committed to making sure that we do the best job possible at every stage of feline medical care, from the moment you make an appointment to the time you return home with your kitty.
Our team members are all cat lovers, and want nothing more than to help your cat be as healthy as possible, and to make sure that your needs are met!
We understand that every cat, cat parent, and cat home dynamic is unique. There are no universal solutions to any medical problem. Healthcare choices differ in risk, benefits, cost, and comfort level. Our doctors and staff will work with you as a team, providing the information you need to be comfortable and confident that you are making the best healthcare decisions for your cat, and the most sensible choices for you.
Veterinarians
Fern Slack, DVM
Medical Director
Dr. Fern was born in Georgia and raised all over the world in an Army family. She drove her mother crazy by adopting cats everywhere they went. Dr. Fern graduated from the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine in 1982. She went into Emergency Medicine and became the first Secretary of what is now the Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society. In 1993, she realized a lifelong dream when she entered feline-exclusive medicine, operating a successful feline practice in the Washington, DC area for many years. Dr. Fern has served two terms on the Board of the American Association of Feline Practitioners, and remains an active member. Her primary interests are Feline Wellness, Feline Nutrition, and Feline Internal Medicine.
Dr. Fern moved to Boulder, CO in 2015 to open a Feline-Exclusive veterinary practice and to become part of a vibrant, progressive, and active community. She rejoices in a most wonderful family: husband Marc, two non-furry children, Glenn and Cory, and two feline children, Malcolm and Kaylee.. When not practicing medicine (or being a wife and mom), she loves to read (especially science fiction, mysteries and the Crooked Media), solve crosswords, collect rocks (and make jewelry out of them), listen to prog rock, bicycle, hike and write stuff about cats.
Dr. Fern is a member of:
The American Association of Feline Practitioners
The American Veterinary Medical Association
The Colorado Veterinary Medical Association
The Veterinary Information Network
Jessica Fine, DVM, MS
Feline Veterinarian
Feline medicine has always been Dr. Jessica Fine's passion. As a young adult, she read the book “All my Patients are Under the Bed – Memoirs of a Cat Doctor” by Dr. Louis J. Camuti, and a dream was born. Being an integral part of the Uniquely Cats team is her dream come true. She has high hopes of continuing to push the boundaries of conventional veterinary medicine and nutrition.
In Dr. Fine's early career as a vet technician, she had the good fortune to work with Dr. Sally Haddock, a pioneer among women veterinarians and author of “The Making of A Woman Vet.” Working in Dr. Haddock’s clinic, the St. Marks Veterinary Hospital in Manhattan, gave the not-yet-Doctor Fine five years of rich experience with diverse pets—and their families—and crystallized her desire to become a full-fledged veterinarian.
In 1996, Dr. Fine moved to Fort Collins, Colorado, to pursue a degree in Veterinary Medicine at Colorado State University's College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. She received her Master's Degree in Anatomy and Neuroscience in 1999, then went on to earn a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine in 2003.
Dr. Fine has been practicing small animal medicine, surgery, and dentistry since 2003, collecting the best practices and honing her expertise in feline medicine along the way.
Dr. Fine is owned by her three cats: a Cornish Rex named Kashi, a Sphynx named Squidward (thank you, SpongeBob!), and her newest addition, a Sphynx named Fleur whose middle name is ‘gravity’!
When she is not working, Dr. Fine enjoys spending time with friends, entertaining her cats, running, hiking, doing yoga, camping, reading, watching movies, biohacking and longevity research.
Weronika Gajowniczek, DVM
Feline Veterinarian
Dr. Weronika was born in Poland, but her family came to the United States when she was two years old. She grew up in a Chicago suburb, where there was always a cat or two in the house. Dr. Weronika earned her BA in Biochemistry at Lawrence University in Appleton, WI and later graduated from the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine in 2019. Before moving to Boulder, Dr. Weronika spent a year working in Mt Prospect, IL. There she developed a love for dentistry.
Dr. Weronika has held a special place in her heart for cats throughout her whole life. At vet school, she was the president of the Feline Club. During her last year of vet school, she happened upon Uniquely Cats and set up a short internship. She enjoyed her experience at the clinic so much, that she decided to eventually move to Boulder and join the veterinary team!
Dr. Weronika loves the typical Colorado activities of hiking, biking, and trying craft beers. She has also been working on expanding her cooking and crafting repertoires while listening to a variety of podcasts. She lives with three cats, Bennie, Ziggy Stardust, and Jolene.
Aimee Vasse, DVM
Feline Veterinarian
Dr. Aimee is an unlikely feline veterinarian, growing up in a family that shunned cats in favor of
dogs. She is also highly allergic to cats, but thanks to Zyrtec, she doesn’t develop sneezing fits and watery eyes whenever a cat is in her midst. In fact, Dr. Aimee was not a cat enthusiast until
her internship, when she discovered she had a unique talent and affinity for working with the
more aggressive members of the species. All her intern mates found this and happily
turfed her the feisty felines.
With a very multifaceted set of interests, upon graduation from Williams College, Dr. Aimee first
pursued professional cycling, scientific journalism, and biochemistry research, before settling in
to become a veterinarian. She graduated from Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine in 2013 and then completed a post-graduate surgical and medical internship at the Veterinary
Specialty Center of Tucson. Dr. Aimee has worked all over the US as a vet at small animal
general practice clinics, a cat-specific clinic, and a veterinary hospice/palliative care service.
During this time, she completed acupuncture training at the Chi Institute and later, various
courses in infectious diseases and epidemiology at Johns Hopkins School of Public Health.
Dr. Aimee is delighted to finally have found Boulder, the place that truly feels like home, and
Uniquely Cats, which is a perfect fit for her obsession with cats and her belief that veterinary
medicine must not relegate feline patients to “small dogs,” as many clinics tend to do. Within the cat realm, Dr. Aimee’s specific interests include holistic medicine (particularly the combination of Eastern and Western medicine), antibiotic resistance, feline nutrition, and the uncanny ability of nursing home cats to predict death and provide comfort for humans imminently in its grasp.
In her spare time, Dr. Aimee enjoys spending time with her husband and young cat-loving little
girl. She also continues to race bikes, focusing on the genre of long-distance gravel racing. Her
home is dominated by 5 rescue cats: Thelma (velcro cat), Louise (brilliant and aloof), Emmy Lou
(terrified of her shadow, but finally accepting affection), Mr. Butters (always so starving, he must
open drawers - and even the refrigerator - to satisfy his appetite!), and Orange Julius (Mr.
Butters’ best friend and professional sidekick).
Jossette Velazquez, DVM
Feline Veterinarian
Staff
Nicole
Hospital Manager
Nicole was born in Orange County, California, and raised in central Indiana where she discovered her love for animals. Due in part to her mother’s kindhearted spirit, Nicole never turned away a stray animal and spent much of her youth caring for countless cats and dogs that found their way to her doorstep.
After graduating from Butler University with a degree in Arts Administration, Nicole moved back to California to see what her home state had to offer. With a non-profit background and a desire to help animals, she soon realized her dream of one day starting her own animal rescue. She moved to Boulder in Summer 2020 to finally put down roots and begin the journey of making her dream a reality. She was fortunate enough to find a place at UCVC and is excited to learn and grow with a team of altruistic individuals.
Outside of work, Nicole enjoys reading, baking, knitting, taking photos of the great outdoors, and snuggling with her cats Boba and Bindi.
Ash
Client Care Director
Ashley grew up in Arkansas with her parents and two younger sisters. After never being allowed to have a cat growing up due to her own and her mother’s allergies, Ash threw caution to the wind as soon as she moved into her first apartment that allowed cats and got 2 from the humane society. Emily Lickenson and Purrmione have been by Ash’s side for the past 9 years, 7 apartments, and 3 states.
In her free time, Ash enjoys cooking under the kitties’ supervision – making pasta noodles from scratch, as well as snuggle parties and Netflix nights.
Casey
Patient Care Director
Casey was born and raised here in Boulder County, Colorado. She grew up in a family that opened up their heart and home to any person or animal in need. From a young age, she learned to love and care for each animal they brought into their family. This has made her very passionate about animals every day since.
It was her dream job to work with animals. In 2021 she wanted to make her dream come true, so she did and she was fortunate enough to find a place here at Uniquely Cats and is excited to learn and grow with us.
Outside of work, Casey enjoys relaxing at home, cooking, and spending time with the three who are most important in her life: Her boyfriend, Mike, and their cats, Fia and Zoe.
Kirsten H.
Veterinary Technician
Kirsten is a Colorado native and has been an animal lover her entire life. Her parents let her keep several animals as a child, but she learned how much she loved cats in her 20’s after her roommate brought home an adorable, fluffy kitten. Once Kirsten moved on from her roommate and their cat, she decided she had to have one of her own and loves her kitty, Princess Zelda Von Fluffybutt, with all her heart.
Kirsten graduated with a degree in Graphic Design, but instead rediscovered her passion for animals and jumped at the opportunity to work with such an amazing team of fellow feline fanatics. In her spare time, she cuddles with Zelda and plays video and board games with her friends, or she may also pick up another fantasy novel.
Juniper
Patient Care Specialist
Juniper was born and raised in Boulder, Colorado. She grew up with two amazing cats, one who just turned 20! She has loved animals her entire life and has had an assortment of pets growing up including frogs, hamsters, and a mouse. She currently has two rabbits and two cats that she shares with her boyfriend. In her free time, she enjoys baking, gardening, and befriending feral cats that reside in a colony right outside her backyard.
Mika
Patient Care Specialist
Mika is a proud Ryūkyūan and was born and raised in a quiet valley in Maui, Hawai\\\'i. Growing up in a secluded area, Mika spent a lot of her time caring for her pets, including a pit bull mix named Hero, two cats named Piko and Hime, and many stray cats that wandered onto the property.
Before moving from Maryland, Mika was an intern for a veterinary hospital on the weekends and worked full-time during the week. She and her husband adopted two rescue kittens from Kuwait, Kirara and Umbreon, who are now a year old! The four embarked on a 1,662-mile journey over four days before settling down again.
Currently, Mika is in the online pre-veterinary medicine biology program at Arizona State University. Her other interests include reading, climbing, free diving, dancing, playing video games, and anything that involves connecting with Mother Nature.
Cailin
Patient Care Specialist
With a deep passion and understanding for animals and nature, Cailin is dedicated to learning all there is to know about the natural world. At home, she is surrounded by her beloved pitbull Kayla May, who brings endless joy and companionship into her life.
Driven by a love of helping animals, she actively seeks out opportunities to advocate for their well-being and support conservation efforts. Whether volunteering at local animal shelters or participating in wildlife preservation initiatives, Cailin is committed to making a positive impact on the lives of animals in need.
When she’s not immersed in the wonders of the animal kingdom, you can find Cailin expressing her creativity through drawing, exploring the great outdoors, going to concerts, reading and playing in her garden. These experiences fuel her love for nature and inspire her to continue learning and growing.
Cailin is deeply passionate about science and the discoveries it unveils about our world. She is committed to expanding her knowledge and understanding of the intricate workings of life and is eager to contribute to the advancement of scientific knowledge.
Jill
Client Care Specialist
Jill grew up in upstate New York. She traveled west to study at CU Boulder then continued west to San Francisco where she worked in the special events industry. San Francisco is a special place, but the lure of the mountains was too strong, and she and her family moved to Boulder in 2004. Jill and her family love spending time in the mountains camping, hiking, adventuring and bagging the occasional 14er.
After an extended stint as a stay-at-home mom of three, Jill is excited to be working in a fun and caring environment that promotes the health and well-being of all cats. Jill has always loved cats and has never not had at least one cat in the house. She currently has two adorable rescue cats, Tikka and Peanut.
Madison
Client Care Specialist
Madison was born in San Diego, California, and moved to Broomfield, Colorado in 2008. Growing up, she has always had a love for animals and has spent a lot of her free time volunteering at humane societies. The more she learned about animals, the more she realized the crucial role zoologists play in understanding, protecting, and conserving our planet's biodiversity. Now she's pursuing a degree in Zoology and dreams of becoming a renowned zoologist and wildlife conservationist. She aspires to work closely with endangered species, playing an active role in their conservation efforts and advocating for the preservation of their natural habitats.
In her free time, she loves to read, play video games, crochet, indulge in music, and take care of her many plants. Sadly at this time she doesn’t have any fur balls of her own, but instead has a family dog.
Myrra
Client Care Specialist
Myrra was born in Colorado Springs, Colorado and raised in Boulder, Colorado. She grew up with cats and dogs her whole life, and has a deep love for all animals. She currently has two beautiful tuxedo Pit Bulls, Lily and Heidi, who have been all over the country with her from Maine to California and everywhere in between!
In her free time, Myrra enjoys cooking and baking with her doggos help of course! As well as reading, watching movies, and going on hikes to explore all the beauty Colorado has to offer!
Shae
Client Care Specialist, Marketing & Community Outreach Coordinator
Originally from the Hudson Valley, Shae spent 6 years in the Adirondacks for school and work, occasionally hiking and exploring the mountains. She graduated from SUNY Plattsburgh with a degree in Environmental Studies and double minored in Environmental Science and Biology. Shae and her family have always had a passion for animals, rescuing strays of all kinds since she was a child. Shae recently worked as a park ranger in North Dakota where she rescued 3 feral kittens. She decided to continue her journey west and has settled down in Colorado.
Shae is accompanied by her creamsicle cat Leonardo DiCattio and her array of potted plants. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, exploring, and watching moves/shows with her best friend on the east coast.
Megan
Records Specialist
Join Team Feline!
Could This Be You?
Uniquely Cats Veterinary Center is interviewing for Feline Focused Veterinarians, Client Care Specialists, Patient Care Specialists, and Veterinary Technicians to join our team!
Do you have a passion for cats, to personal excellence, love to learn, and want to be part of a team? Please click here to complete our online employment application — we want to hear from you!