Meet Our Team

Veterinarians Veterinary Staff

Dr. Katie Samples

DVM

Dr. Samples was born and raised in Woodstock, Georgia, however, she has called Athens home since 2001. She knew from an early age that she wanted to practice veterinary medicine.

She started working as a kennel assistant in high school and worked her way up to veterinary assistant over time. She received her undergraduate degree in Biological Sciences from the University of Georgia in 2005, and went on to graduate from the UGA College of Veterinary Medicine in 2008. She found her place at Winder Corners Animal Clinic in 2008 where she practices internal medicine with a special interest in Ultrasound diagnostics. Dr. Samples strives to be the voice for animals that do not have one, and to nurture the bond between owners and their pets for as long as possible. The one thing she wishes owners knew more about is the importance of yearly preventative care for their pets, and planning ahead for the unexpected illness and accidents that can happen.

She is married to Brandon Samples, a math professor at GCSU in Milledgeville. They have two lovely daughters, Peyton and Nora, as well as three four-legged children: two dogs, “Lily Phoenix”, and 'Hazel June' and one cat, “Shelly”. When life slows down, Dr. Samples enjoys spending time with the family, cooking, swimming and taking her dogs to the park. Her guilty pleasure is a good romantic comedy, and come fall, she is one of the Bulldogs’ biggest fans!

Dr. Heather Fields

DVM

Bio coming soon!

Dr. Kathy Kero

DVM

Dr. Kathy Kero is a native Californian who received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Ohio State University in 1993. Following graduation, she left the Big 10 but not her love for Buckeye football, moving to SEC territory where she completed a year of post-graduate training at Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine. There she developed her love of teaching clients and students. The road from Starkville, MS took Dr. Kero to Memphis, TN where she spent 8 years in general practice and emergency medicine. In 2002, her passion for teaching students led Dr. Kero to Athens, GA and a faculty position at The University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine (Go Dawgs!). Dr. Kero devoted the next 9 years of her veterinary career to training veterinary students how to develop the technical and communication skills necessary to become the best general practitioners they could be. In 2011, Dr. Kero left academia and returned to emergency medicine and general practice in the Atlanta area. Dr. Kero is thrilled to be joining the team at Winder Corners Animal Cinic and is looking forward to sharing her passion for education and patient care through communication and collaboration with the people of Winder and Barrow County.

When Dr. Kero is not at the hospital she is spending time with her wife of 18 years and her 3 beautiful daughters. In her free time, Dr. Kero loves to relax with home improvement projects, yard work, coaching her twins beginner soccer team and traveling to Feis' (Irish Dance Competitions) to cheer on her oldest daughter and, of course watching Buckeye and Dawgs football.

Dr. Rosa Denning

DVM

Dr. Denning Contreras grew up in an Army family and lived in Texas, New Jersey and Florida as a kid. She earned her veterinary degree from the University of Florida. After graduation, she worked in Florida, Hawaii and New York before moving to Georgia. Her experience includes feline medicine, dentistry and exotic species. She moved to the Roswell area in 2000, where she raised two daughters. Dr. Denning Contreras is excited to move to the Athens area, where she can pursue her love for nature and horseback riding. In her free time, she volunteers with the CASA agency for foster children, rides with Shakerag, hikes and bugs her college-age kids.