Team - Vet in Akron | Veterinary Wellness Center of Green

Dr. Troy Larson

DVM

Meet Dr. Larson! He is the owner of The Veterinary Wellness Center of Green, The Cat Clinic and Spa, and The Veterinary Wellness Center of North Canton. He always had a love for animals and feels that God was continually leading him towards being a veterinarian.

In 1994, with multiple scholarships in hand, he began his journey by attending the University of Akron. After three years, he was accepted directly into The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine, where he graduated in 2001.

After graduation, Dr. Larson spent his first couple of years in a mixed animal practice. He then returned home to Canton, where he worked with a large variety of animals, including exotics. During this time, he pursued continuing education and training in the area of orthopedics. Although he is not a specialist, he discovered that he enjoys the challenge of these more involved procedures and looks to continue expanding his abilities! In 2013, Dr. Larson purchased the Veterinary Wellness Center of North Canton. In 2019, he founded The Veterinary Wellness Center of Green (a dog only clinic) and The Cat Clinic and Spa (a cat only clinic).

Dr. Troy Larson is married to his amazing wife, Rachel, and they are currently raising their four boys: Isaac, Levi, Seth, and Elijah. These boys, along with their Whippet Chase, certainly know how to keep home life entertaining! Dr. Troy and Rachel are very involved in their church and in international mission’s work, traveling to Africa, Asia, and South America for over 25 years sharing the love of Jesus.

Dr. Sylvia Hart

DVM

Growing up in Europe, Dr. Hart remembers being the little girl who always cared for every stray dog or cat she came across. This love for animals continued when her family moved back to the USA when she was a teen. Following her passion for animals, she attended The Ohio State University, where she obtained her bachelor’s degree in Animal Science and then transitioned into the Veterinary program, graduating in 2007. After graduation, she began working at a local veterinary practice, where she worked for 12 years. During this time period, she realized that developing strong client/patient relationships is what she truly loves. Since joining our North Canton/Green family this year, that continues to be a strong focus for Dr. Hart.

Dr. Hart lives in Akron with her husband of 3 years. They have a Pit Bull named Cross and a cat named Fergie. In their leisure time, they enjoy hiking the metro parks and international travel.

Dr. Mark Funk

DVM

Meet Dr. Mark Funk! Dr. Funk works at all of our clinics; The Vet Wellness Center of North Canton, The Vet Wellness Center of Green and The Cat clinic and Spa. At a young age, Dr. Mark felt that pets responded to him in a special way.

Pets seemed to just be drawn to him, and they knew he was there to help. He allowed this unique quality to guide him into the field of Veterinary Medicine. He graduated in 1991 with a Bachelor of Science from The Ohio State University. He then continued on to become a graduate from Ross University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2002. Altogether, he has been working in the veterinary field since 1986. He loves internal medicine, and now feels he relates to his patients as much as they do to him.

He and his wife Dianna (also a DVM) have 2 sons Braeden and Xander. Their family owns 3 Cavaliers, a one-legged cat, saltwater aquarium fish, a gecko, and a corn snake. In Dr. Funk’s spare time, he enjoys woodworking

Dr. Nancy Cross

DVM

Meet Dr. Nancy Cross. Dr. Cross is our newest member of the Vet Wellness family. Doctor of Veterinary Medicine is Dr. Cross’ third career! Her first career was an attorney, and her second was a stay-at-home mom. During this time, she co-founded an animal shelter in Shaker Heights where she enjoyed working with the shelter animals. Once her sons John and Alexander were grown, she received her undergrad at The University of Akron where she received her BS in Biology with a minor in Chemistry. With the love and support of her husband Jeff, she continued her education at Cornell University, where she earned her DVM. She is a huge cat lover, and has 4 of her own, Thumbelina, Yin yang, Mulan, Athena.

Michelle Brooks

Practice Manager

Meet Michelle! Michelle is one of our amazing practice managers. She brings 21 years of veterinary experience to our team. Her hours of continuing education, hands-on experience and quality leadership have proven to be invaluable to our growing practice. Michelle is in love with the veterinary field! The field has provided her so much knowledge and continues to teach her something new daily. Her passion is behavior, especially cat behavior.

She lives in Wadsworth with Jeremy, her husband of 20 years, and their 13-year-old daughter Olivia. Michelle is a self-proclaimed “crazy cat lady”, having 6 of her own: Allison, Tallulah, Spooky, Momma, Ashes and Snowy. Along with her clowder of cats, she also has 3 goats: Hershey, Pumpkin, and Ellie and 2 ponies: Willow and Caramel and last but not least, 6 ducks.

Arora Givens

Registered Veterinary Technician

Meet Arora! She is one of our outstanding RVT’s and has been with us since 2019. She loves to learn and has taken classes in behavior, grooming and massage therapy. Growing up, her family fostered and saved approximately 11 dogs. Seeing some of the conditions these pets came from solidified her desire to choose a career that would enable her to help.In 2017, she did exactly that, attending Bradford School – Vet Tech Institute where she graduated with honors. She completed a 2-month externship in Columbus before moving back to her hometown of Green in March 2019. She loves to learn and is currently taking classes in behavior, grooming and massage therapy. We hired her in April 2019 as a Customer Service Representative and since passing her boards, she has transitioned into a full-time technician.

Arora has a dog named Moxie. When not working or in school, she coaches soccer, sews and volunteers with Camp Quality.

Victoria Gardner

Registered Veterinary Technician

Meet Victoria! She is another one of our supreme RVT’s and has been with us since 2019. Victoria can’t remember a time when she didn’t want to work with animals. She has always appreciated the things that pets do for us, both physically and emotionally. Aside from being companions, she has witnessed how they help with PTSD, depression, and other medical disorders. With this appreciation, she wanted to give back. She attended Bradford School – Vet Tech Institute and graduated in 2019. She completed a 2-month externship at a local small animal clinic before being hired at the Vet Wellness Center of Green. Victoria has a sassy cat named Pearl and a goldfish named Violet.

Amy Moore

RVT – Practice Manager

Meet Amy! Amy is our lead RVT and one of our amazing practice managers. This is actually Amy’s second career. She spent about 14 years as a Senior Business Manager at a local Advertising agency prior to heading back to college in 2006 to become a Vet Tech. Along with management experience, she brings approximately 12 years of veterinary knowledge to our clinic. After passing her boards, she began working for a local specialty clinic in Internal Medicine, Surgery and Emergency for approximately 10 years. In 2017, she left her comfort zone to pursue a veterinary management position for a general practice group. She then found Dr. Larson in March 2019 and has never been happier.

Amy loves to educate, mentor and make people laugh. Client service and team building are her passion. In fact, with the help of her co-manager Michelle, they are successfully implementing a “team first and no gossip” agreement at our clinic. Both are very proud of this accomplishment. Amy feels that all of her life experiences,even from early age, have led her to be doing exactly what she is doing today.

Amy grew up (and still lives) in North Akron. She is owned by 2 cats and a dog; a 7-year-old black and white tabby named Bug, a 1-year-old buff colored tabby named Fig Newton, and a 5-year-old pug named Lamont.

Amanda

Front Desk

Meet Amanda! Amanda is one of our receptionists/CSR. Amanda has always loved people and animals. She is a true people person. She was originally with our North Canton family for 2 years, but now is with Green since 2020. She is currently working on a degree towards health services and human resources. In her spare time, she likes to paint, work with resin art, gaming on her Occulus and going for rides on her motorcycle. She currently has 4 dogs and 4 cats.

Kylee

Registered Veterinary Technician

Kylee is one of our amazing Registered Vet Techs! Growing up on a farm, all animals seemed to find their way to Kylee. She would always bring the strays home, whether they be sick, injured or just lonely. This passion for animals is what led her to obtaining her Associates in Animal Science, then to passing her national boards to become a Registered Veterinary Technician. She is a self-proclaimed “crazy cat lady” who is obsessed with her 3 cats: Puddin, Kit and Mimosa. To keep life interesting, she also has a hamster named Squish.