Meet Our Team

Dr. Jackson joined our team in 2010 after earning her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from The Ohio State University. Her decision to pursue veterinary medicine as a career stemmed from her desire and ability to not only heal and help pets with medical needs but to help the people who love them.

With special interests in various pet species, her specialties include small mammals, reptiles, and exotic pet medicine. She attends annual conferences to stay current on the latest in veterinary medicine, with topics ranging from exotic pets to surgery to special procedures. She also maintains affiliations with the Ohio Veterinary Medical Association and American Veterinary Medical Association.

As one of the associate veterinarians at All Creatures Veterinary Clinic and Lodge in Rittman, OH, Dr. Jackson loves being able to save pets’ lives due to the advanced technology at the practice. She also relishes being on the cutting edge of veterinary medical advancement and improving the lives of pets and their people.

Dr. Jackson is married and has three cats named Buddy, Holly, and Gypsy; a golden retriever named Gabrielle; an English Bulldog named Lilla; and a red-footed tortoise named Bixby. In her spare time, she enjoys gardening and hiking.

Dr. Julie Fitzwater is one of the newest veterinarians at All Creatures Veterinary Clinic & Lodge. An Ohio native, she grew up in Tallmadge and attended Kent State University, where she received her undergraduate Bachelor of Science degree in zoology. Her decision to join the veterinary profession stemmed from her love of medicine and the bond between people and their pets. She has been active in the veterinary field since 2009.

In 2016, she graduated from The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine with honors as a Phi Zeta Honor Society member. While in veterinary school, she was the president of the Alpha Psi Veterinary Fraternity and was involved with many veterinary student organizations as well as volunteer efforts throughout central Ohio. She is currently a member of the Ohio Veterinary Medicine Association (OVMA) and American Veterinary Medicine Association (AVMA).

Dr. Fitzwater’s main areas of interest are emergency medicine and surgery. She first gained experience in these areas through various externship opportunities in emergency medicine and general practice throughout veterinary school. She has worked alongside board-certified orthopedic surgeons, gaining firsthand experience in orthopedic and soft tissue surgery as well as neurosurgery.

Her favorite part of working here is the diverse nature of the practice, where she can utilize new technology and procedures to help both pets and people. She also enjoys working alongside the highly trained staff that cares so much about the pets they treat and the communities they serve.
Dr. Fitzwater resides in Norton, OH, with her husband, Kevin, and her dog, Balto, who was adopted from the central Ohio prison program. She is a self-proclaimed ‘foodie’ and an avid hiker whose goal is to travel and hike all the national parks.

For Dr. Gerding, veterinary medicine is a second career. In 1996, she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Malone University in Ohio and worked as an intensive care and emergency veterinarian for 23 years in Virginia. In 2016, she returned to the university setting and graduated in 2020 with a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Virginia Tech. After graduating, Dr. Gerding and her husband moved back to Ohio to be closer to her parents.

Dr. Gerding began her career in general practice for two years and then spent two years in emergency medicine. Keeping current in veterinary medicine is extremely important to her, and she completes numerous hours of continuing education per year. After receiving her DVM, Dr. Gerding completed a two-year course that focused on caring for cats and dogs in general practice. She has also completed veterinary courses and continuing education on exotic pets.

Dr. Gerding is certified as a Fear-Free Practitioner and currently holds certificates in Basic and Advanced life support. She is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and the Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society (VECCS).

Her interests include complex case work-ups for sick animals, wound care, surgery, working with anxious pets, and ultrasound. She is also looking forward to learning about and treating the clinic’s exotic pet population. Dr. Gerding also really enjoys educating clients and helping with the human-animal bond, including working with therapy and service dogs. One of her dreams is to participate in a disaster relief organization.

Dr. Gerding is married and has six cats and one dog. She and her husband are very involved with Kitten Krazy, a non-profit organization in Medina, Ohio. Dr. Gerding is their volunteer veterinarian and sits on the Executive Board. In her spare time, she enjoys camping, gardening, and creating stained-glass window pieces.

Sara is a graduate of Kent State University, and we’re happy to have her as a part of the All Creatures Veterinary Clinic & Lodge family. When not assisting our clients, she loves cooking, baking, reading, and walking at local metro parks. Sara shares her home with a four-legged friend who means the world to her; her cat named BoBo Toulouse.

Alexis is an integral part of our boarding team and loves giving personalized attention to all the pets in her care any chance she gets. Alexis gets quite the warm greeting when she gets home from work. She has one dog (Gypsy) and two cats (Vodoo and Tig). In her spare time, Alexis loves horseback riding as well as spending time with her husband and two sisters.