Meet The Team
Dr. Karen Mackerer, DVM
Owner and Veterinarian
Karen grew up in New Jersey and by the third grade knew she wanted to be a veterinarian. She attended Cornell and while obtaining her undergraduate degree in Animal Physiology also worked extensively with the wildlife and zoologic medicine department at the vet school. After graduation Karen spent four years in Panama with the Peace Corps gaining valuable field experience managing endangered wildlife. When she returned to Cornell for veterinary school, Karen thought she was going to continue to pursue her interest in wildlife and zoologic medicine, but after working as a milker in the tie-stall dairy teaching barn, she found she had an affinity for cattle and shifted her focus to farm animals. Moreover, she also found she had an affection for and connection with the hard-working farm families she met. Since her graduation in 2010, Dr. Karen has worked tirelessly to support the farming families and food supply in and around Columbia, Greene, Berkshire and Litchfield counties, first as an associate veterinarian, then in the summer of 2022 by buying the farm animal portion of the practice she worked for to form Columbia Veterinary Services. She values and respects the diversity of farms this region offers and enjoys working with farms small to large, conventional to organic, multigeneration farms, and budding new farmers. When not working, Dr. Karen enjoys visiting the Adirondacks and Jersey Shore with her husband and daughter. They share their home with a blue heeler, a rabbit and eight chickens.
Karen grew up in New Jersey and by the third grade knew she wanted to be a veterinarian. She attended Cornell and while obtaining her undergraduate degree in Animal Physiology also worked extensively with the wildlife and zoologic medicine department at the vet school. After graduation Karen spent four years in Panama with the Peace Corps gaining valuable field experience managing endangered wildlife. When she returned to Cornell for veterinary school, Karen thought she was going to continue to pursue her interest in wildlife and zoologic medicine, but after working as a milker in the tie-stall dairy teaching barn, she found she had an affinity for cattle and shifted her focus to farm animals. Moreover, she also found she had an affection for and connection with the hard-working farm families she met. Since her graduation in 2010, Dr. Karen has worked tirelessly to support the farming families and food supply in and around Columbia, Greene, Berkshire and Litchfield counties, first as an associate veterinarian, then in the summer of 2022 by buying the farm animal portion of the practice she worked for to form Columbia Veterinary Services. She values and respects the diversity of farms this region offers and enjoys working with farms small to large, conventional to organic, multigeneration farms, and budding new farmers. When not working, Dr. Karen enjoys visiting the Adirondacks and Jersey Shore with her husband and daughter. They share their home with a blue heeler, a rabbit and eight chickens.
Dr. Molly Hunt, DVM
Associate Veterinarian
Molly is thrilled to be part of the team at Columbia Veterinary Services where she enjoys working with local farms of all shapes and sizes. Cattle, goats, sheep, pigs or alpacas, Molly loves helping all animals and their owners in the Hudson Valley area. Originally from Pittsfield, MA, she earned an undergraduate degree in Wildlife Ecology from the University of New Hampshire. She received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree at Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine and began her career as an equine practitioner, as well as practicing small animal and mixed animal medicine. The diversity in her early career has helped Molly recognize her true passion for farm animal medicine as well as being an active participant in the local agricultural community. In her free time you can find Molly hiking with her dogs Copper and Wrangler, playing cards on Sunday with her Gram, drawing/painting or baking sourdough bread!
Molly is thrilled to be part of the team at Columbia Veterinary Services where she enjoys working with local farms of all shapes and sizes. Cattle, goats, sheep, pigs or alpacas, Molly loves helping all animals and their owners in the Hudson Valley area. Originally from Pittsfield, MA, she earned an undergraduate degree in Wildlife Ecology from the University of New Hampshire. She received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree at Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine and began her career as an equine practitioner, as well as practicing small animal and mixed animal medicine. The diversity in her early career has helped Molly recognize her true passion for farm animal medicine as well as being an active participant in the local agricultural community. In her free time you can find Molly hiking with her dogs Copper and Wrangler, playing cards on Sunday with her Gram, drawing/painting or baking sourdough bread!
Dr. Dayna Locitzer, DVM
Associate Veterinarian
Dayna is excited to be back in the Hudson Valley after leaving for veterinary school in 2016. Dayna was first introduced to the area when she worked on dairy farms in Columbia County. It was during that time that she became passionate about herd health and decided to go to veterinary school. To prepare she rode around with Dr. Shelly and Dr. Karen, who did a great job preparing her for the future of being a farm animal veterinarian. Dayna graduated from Cornell Veterinary School in 2020 and worked at a mixed large animal practice in the Brattleboro, Vermont area. Family, friends, and Columbia Vet Services brought Dayna back to the area. Dayna loves working with farms of all sizes. She has a special interest in managing livestock on pasture, alternative medicine, and small ruminant preventative care. When not on the road in the vet truck, Dayna can be found on local trails with her two dogs or cooking and crafting at her house in Catskill.
Dayna is excited to be back in the Hudson Valley after leaving for veterinary school in 2016. Dayna was first introduced to the area when she worked on dairy farms in Columbia County. It was during that time that she became passionate about herd health and decided to go to veterinary school. To prepare she rode around with Dr. Shelly and Dr. Karen, who did a great job preparing her for the future of being a farm animal veterinarian. Dayna graduated from Cornell Veterinary School in 2020 and worked at a mixed large animal practice in the Brattleboro, Vermont area. Family, friends, and Columbia Vet Services brought Dayna back to the area. Dayna loves working with farms of all sizes. She has a special interest in managing livestock on pasture, alternative medicine, and small ruminant preventative care. When not on the road in the vet truck, Dayna can be found on local trails with her two dogs or cooking and crafting at her house in Catskill.
Ashley Stupplebeen
Office Manager and Veterinary Assistant
Ashley grew up in central New York on her family’s horse farm which included a menagerie of animals. She attended the University of Findlay in Ohio where she majored in animal science. After receiving her bachelor’s degree, she returned home to work on a dairy farm as assistant herdsman. After meeting her husband, she moved to the Hudson Valley and began working as a small and large animal veterinary assistant. With her passion being agriculture, she loves helping and getting to know the farmers in the community, so when presented with the opportunity to do that full-time, she jumped on it! When she’s not working she likes to spend her time riding her horse, hiking, gardening and baking. Her furry family includes chickens, an English Cocker Spaniel named Teddy and the whole house is managed by her border collie Cheyenne.
Ashley grew up in central New York on her family’s horse farm which included a menagerie of animals. She attended the University of Findlay in Ohio where she majored in animal science. After receiving her bachelor’s degree, she returned home to work on a dairy farm as assistant herdsman. After meeting her husband, she moved to the Hudson Valley and began working as a small and large animal veterinary assistant. With her passion being agriculture, she loves helping and getting to know the farmers in the community, so when presented with the opportunity to do that full-time, she jumped on it! When she’s not working she likes to spend her time riding her horse, hiking, gardening and baking. Her furry family includes chickens, an English Cocker Spaniel named Teddy and the whole house is managed by her border collie Cheyenne.