Call: 250-947-9364

 

Our Team

GET TO KNOW OUR

Veterinary Hospital Team

Dr. Alastair Westcott

Dr. Alastair Westcott received his Veterinary Medical degree from the University of Guelph in 1997. He spent over 20 years practicing on Bowen Island after creating Bowen Veterinary Services in 2001. He was also the founder and Medical Director at Mountainside Animal Hospital in Vancouver starting in 2014.
​
His most recent experience is in emergency medicine, ultrasonography, and diagnostic/interventional endoscopy.  He enjoys orthopedic surgery, and is especially excited to provide a local option for TPLO surgeries. 

Dr. Chris Milligan

A native of Robin Hood country in the UK, Chris graduated from the University of Cambridge in 2010 and returned several years later to undertake research into blood clotting disorders. Since then he has worked mostly in emergency and critical care medicine and has particular interests in ultrasonography, endoscopy and interventional radiology, as well as a love of exotic pets.

Chris and his wife Hannah fell in love with Vancouver Island after visiting on holiday and moved to Nanaimo to enjoy everything the BC Coast has to offer. An avid wildlife photographer, outside of work he is usually found in a kayak or walking the stunning beaches the island has to offer looking for whales and bears. He has three cats; Nimpkish, Tsitika and Skookumchuck who braved the crossing from England and now divide their time equally between charging through the house and sleeping.

Nena Henriksen

Nena joined the Coombs Vet family in the fall of 2021. She has experience in the human medical world, having worked for 10 years in the cardiology department at Foothills Hospital in Calgary, Alberta. Nena is originally from New West Minister, but is happy to have relocated to the Island. 

Nena has 3 grown children, and multiple fur grand-children. She currently lives in Qualicum with her partner Kyle and their 2 boisterous kitties (BB8 and Boba Fett).

Lindsey Gilbert

Lindsey has been in the veterinary industry for over 13 years, working on the Island and across the Country. She is currently upgrading her skills and knowledge through the Penn Foster veterinary technician program, and plans to become a registered technician.

Her main hobby outside of work is spending time with her husband and 2 adorable children. They enjoy being outdoors in almost any way including hiking, fishing, camping, and biking.

Noelle Eddington, RVT

Noelle is a Registered Veterinary Technician. She graduated from Grande Prairie Regional College in 2021 before deciding to move to Vancouver Island.  Noelle has been working in the veterinary field since 2017 and her favourite part of her job is running diagnostic tests to find out what’s wrong, so we can help your pet get on the road to recovery as soon as possible.

When not working, Noelle can most often be found on her mountain bike hitting the trails, hiking, skiing, or reading a good book near lakes and rivers.

Emily Rathbone

Emily, a Vancouver Island native, is currently preparing to pursue her RVT certification at TRU. Her passion for animal care was ignited during an internship at a farm animal sanctuary in California, where she developed a deep appreciation for both farm animals and animal rescue. Emily enjoys engaging with the diverse personalities of pets at the hospital, finding joy in every interaction.

Outside of work, Emily cherishes time spent with her partner, Daniel, and their lively household of pets: Tofu the cat, Maybe the dog, and their three tarantulas—Flinch, Kitty, and Gohma. And finally their cockatiel family including Romeo, Aloy, Toto, Aria, Beaker, and Granny, each adding their own unique charm to their home.

Laurie Andrews

​Laurie has been working in the veterinary field since 2018 and brings a wealth of experience and compassion to her role at i-Care Veterinary Hospital. In 2024, she and her husband moved to the island with their two dogs, Hodor and Kruger, and three cats, Fresa, Pepperoni, and Nymeria. Laurie is currently pursuing a degree to become a Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT), furthering her commitment to animal care. When she’s not working or studying, Laurie enjoys spending time with friends, hosting game nights and murder mystery evenings.

Natasha Morse
Chandra Cutforth

Chandra resides just outside the small town of Qualicum Beach with her two fur kids, Nina and Rue. She began her journey in the veterinary field in 2022 as a receptionist. Through her passion and dedication to helping animals, Chandra has advanced to become a veterinary assistant, a role she finds deeply rewarding. Outside of work, she enjoys exploring nature through hikes, reading books, playing video games and spending quality time with her dog and cat.

Faith Hiersemann

Residing in the community of Coombs, Faith is a dedicated Veterinary Assistant. With two beloved cats at home, Faith has a deep-seated passion for working with animals and is excited to further her career by pursuing a Veterinary Technician program in the near future. Outside of her professional aspirations, Faith treasures quality time spent with family and friends, making the most of life’s moments in her close-knit community.

i-Care Veterinary Hospital

Is With You Every Step of the Way

The i-Care team prides ourselves on the compassionate and friendly atmosphere that we have created within our clinic. We know that visits to the veterinary hospital can be stressful, especially when your animal is sick, and we try to minimize this stress as much as possible. We are a locally owned clinic that strives to deliver a caring and personalized experience for both our clients and patients.

Serving Vancouver Island

Communities served by our urgent care program:

Coombs & Parksville

Qualicum Beach

Port Alberni & Tofino/Ucluelet

Lantzille & Nanaimo

Victoria

Hours of Operation

We are open weekdays as well as on the weekend to help you and your pet. Contact us today.

Monday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

8 AM – 6 PM

8 AM – 6 PM

8 AM – 6 PM

8 AM – 5 PM

Please Be Aware

Animal Health Care is in High Demand

Please remember that every member of our team (as well as all veterinary staff across the province) are doing our best to keep up with the incredible demand for animal health care. We want nothing but the best for every patient we see, as well as their loving human counterparts. We ask that you understand how hard we are working, and please treat all team members with respect and patience, even during stressful times.

 

~Thank you! From the i-Care Staff

Is your pet in need of veterinary care?

Contact i-Care Veterinary Hospital