Healthy Pets of Lewis Center

Aaron Buck grew up in Amlin, Ohio. From a young age he has always enjoyed being around animals and that lead him to volunteer at the Capital Area Humane Society, The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine and the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.

He graduated from The Ohio State University in 2010 with a bachelor’s degree in biology. He then went on to graduate from the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine in 2014. After graduation, he began practicing at a busy 24-hour emergency clinic in Chicago. There he developed a passion for emergency medicine, oncology and surgery, focusing on orthopedic procedures. He moved home to join the Healthy Pets team in 2016 where he has continued his orthopedic knowledge through continuing education to perform advanced orthopedic procedures in pets, specifically – the tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO).

Dr. Buck strongly believes in client relationships and strives to empower pet owners to make health decisions regarding their animals through education.

During his spare time, Dr. Buck enjoys spending time with his friends and family. He enjoys hiking and being outdoors. Dr. Buck lives with his wife – Katie and they share their home with their son – Bodhi, their daughter – Remi and their dogs – Harry and Marley.

Aubrey Birkhead grew up right around the corner in Hilliard, Ohio. She graduated from The Ohio State University in 2005 with a bachelor’s degree in Biology, and then went on to graduate from The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2009. After graduation she began practicing at an emergency hospital. During her four years there she focused on emergency medicine, internal medicine and exotic animal medicine. While Dr. Birkhead loved her work at the emergency facility she decided to change to general practice. She loves working more closely with her patients and forming a close, trusting bond with their families. Her interests include internal and exotic animal medicine. She enjoys seeing most exotics including small mammals, birds, and reptiles.

Dr. Birkhead lives in the Dublin area where she enjoys spending time with her husband, son, daughter, and her small zoo of animals. Her menagerie includes five dogs (Aspen, Rusty, Eddie George, Zeke, and Minnie), two cats (Olaf and Sven), a giant tortoise (Penny),and a bearded dragon (Pascal). She enjoys spending time with her family, going to the zoo, and cheering on her favorite teams, the Buckeye and Bengals.

Dr. Heather Kaplan grew up in central New Jersey. From a young age, she has had a passion for animals and nurturing the human-animal bond. Buckeye football drew her to The Ohio State University where she graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Animal Science in 2019. Dr. Kaplan spent her summers during her undergraduate career interning at the local humane society and traveling to Costa Rica to provide affordable veterinary care to underserved communities.

A Buckeye through and through, Dr. Kaplan continued on at The Ohio State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine where she graduated in 2023. During vet school, she worked as a veterinary assistant at a small animal general practice. She graduated a member of the veterinary honor society and with awards in general practice and oncology. Her interests include internal medicine, cardiology, ultrasonography, and dentistry. Dr. Kaplan is very excited to join the Healthy Pets of Lewis Center team where she hopes to be just a small part in keeping your beloved family members healthy and happy.

Dr. Kaplan lives in Hilliard with her boyfriend, Bailey, and their Newfoundland (Oakley) and two cats (Bristol and Sal). During her free time, she enjoys being outdoors, reading, exploring breweries throughout Columbus, and Buckeye football!

Jodie Valentino was born and raised in northwest Ohio. She graduated from The Ohio State University in 1996 with a bachelors of science degree in Zoology and then in 2003 when she earned her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine. After graduation she quickly found her niche in dentistry. She has received extensive training in dentistry and it continues to be the focus of her continuing education. She was selected by a large veterinary corporation to be part of a committee to provide education and training to other veterinary professionals. She is passionate about dentistry because she is confident it improves her patients’ quality of life which is ultimately why she became a veterinarian. Her other interests include dermatologic diseases including allergy related skin and ear infections, as well as pain management and behavior cases. Throughout her years of experience, her number one priority has always been to form meaningful and long-lasting relationships with her patients and clients.

She lives in Powell where she enjoys spending her time with her husband, two teenagers, and family pets including a Chihuahua-Beagle mix named Archie, a French Bulldog named Zeke, and an orange cat named Cheddar. She recharges in nature and likes to spend her time caring for her plants, admiring outdoor wildlife, and rooting for the Buckeyes.