Veterinary Team

Meet Our Veterinary Team

Meet the Veterinarians & Team of Fitchburg Veterinary Hospital! We’re pleased to provide exceptional vet care for your pets!

Appointment

Leadership Team

Erika Lukas, Medical Director, DVM, Ph. D.

I am originally from Zurich, Switzerland, by way of Boston, MA. I have loved animals and nature for my entire life, which led me to study biology as an undergraduate. Veterinary Medicine is a second career; I worked at the University of Wisconsin’s McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research, researching tumor growth in liver cancer before going back to school to study veterinary medicine at UW.

I have been practicing at Fitchburg Veterinary Hospital since 2007 and can’t imagine working elsewhere. It has been a joy to watch our hospital and team evolve over the years and to experience wonderful relationships with our patients and clients.

I live in Madison with my husband, four daughters, and a menagerie of pets. Outside work, I have a passion for travel, lifelong learning, playing with my Golden Retrievers Bruno and Atlas, cycling, paddle sports, cooking, and creating art.

Clinical Areas of Interest

Dentistry and oral surgery
Medicine and surgery of exotic species
Anesthesia of geriatric and complicated patients
Pain management
Oncology

Education

B.A., Tufts University. Major: Biology.
Ph.D., University of Wisconsin, Madison, Cellular and Molecular Biology
DVM, University of Wisconsin, Madison School of Veterinary Medicine

Certifications

Fear Free Certified
Fear Free Certified – Avian

Mary Schmidt

CVPM, CVT and Practice Manager

Mary Schmidt is a seasoned professional in the veterinary industry, bringing over 30 years of experience to her field. She became a Certified Veterinary Technician (CVT) in 1993, beginning a dedicated career focused on compassionate care and expertise in veterinary medicine. In 2010, Mary furthered her commitment by earning her Certified Veterinary Practice Manager (CVPM) designation, equipping her with specialized skills to effectively manage veterinary practices and support clinical teams.

Outside of work, Mary loves spending time outdoors camping, and is a passionate cook and baker. She shares her home with her loyal German Shepherd, Major, and an independent cat named Sage, who bring even more joy to her life. Mary’s blend of experience, dedication, and genuine love for animals makes her an invaluable asset to the veterinary community.

Doctors

Jacob Wolf, DVM, MPH

Dr. Jacob Wolf obtained his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (2018) and Masters in Public Health (2017) degrees from UW-Madison. He attended St. John’s University in Minnesota and received a bachelor’s degree in biology. Dr. Wolf lives in Madison with his wife, Hannah, and his sons Louie, Hugh, and a third on the way. Dr. Wolf’s interests outside work include traveling, gardening, cheering on any Wisconsin sports (Packers, Bucks, Badgers, Brewers), and doing anything outside to enjoy the fresh air! “I am very excited to join Fitchburg Veterinary Hospital’s amazing team. I look forward to meeting and caring for all the incredible patients and clients here. I promise to treat your pet like my own and collaborate with you on your pet’s care plan. Veterinary medicine, client education, and strengthening the human-animal bond are my passions.”

Dr. Wolf joined Fitchburg Veterinary Hospital in October of 2019.

Kyle Babich, DVM

Dr. Kyle Babich graduated with his DVM from UW-Madison in May 2020. He attended UW-La Crosse for his undergraduate studies and received a Bachelor of Science. Before vet school, Dr. Babich worked as a veterinary assistant in a primary care veterinary hospital and a small animal emergency and specialty clinic. Dr. Babich lives in Madison with his girlfriend and two cats. Some interests outside of work include playing soccer and ultimate frisbee, spending time with family and friends, and supporting our Wisconsin sports teams. Dr. Babich looks forward to helping care for your many beloved pets and becoming a part of this community. His veterinary interests include preventative medicine, client education, surgery, and dentistry.

Alyssa White, DVM

Dr. Alyssa White graduated from the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine in 2018. She has also earned her certificate in Fear Free Handling and strives to make every pet’s veterinary experience as stress-free and enjoyable as possible. She has special interests in behavior, preventive care, pain management, and hospice care.

Dr. White lives with her husband and daughter, her dogs Rosie and Harvey, and her cat Zuppa. She enjoys hiking, camping, traveling, and coaching gymnastics in her free time.

McKenna Larsh, DVM

Dr. McKenna Larsh graduated with her DVM and Fear-Free Certification from UW-Madison in May, 2024 after completing her undergraduate degree and receiving her Bachelor of Science in Animal Science at UW. Before and during veterinary school, McKenna worked as a technician in multiple hospitals that focused on primary care, urgent care and emergency services of small animals, in addition to volunteering at multiple animal shelters and completing several volunteer veterinary trips inside and outside the US. McKenna lives in a small, rural town outside of Spring Green, Wisconsin with her husband, dogs, cats and even chickens! Some of McKenna’s interests outside of work include reading, listening to music, spending time with family and friends, and traveling. McKenna is excited to promote collaborative veterinary medicine and build strong owner-pet-veterinarian relationships. McKenna’s interests include urgent care, complex case management and advancing access to care. She is very excited to be working at Fitchburg Veterinary Hospital and is looking forward to working with you and your pet on all of their veterinary needs!

Lauren Keith, DVM

Dr. Lauren Keith is a native of southeastern Wisconsin. She completed her undergraduate studies at UW Madison in 2010 and will always be a Badger at heart. She then went on to obtain her Master’s degree in Veterinary Science focusing on reproductive physiology and endocrinology at the University of Kentucky prior to obtaining her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Oklahoma State University in 2016. Since graduation, Dr. Lauren has practiced mostly emergency medicine in Milwaukee and Madison, however, she also has experience with high volume, high quality spay and neuter and general practice. She is passionate about fear free veterinary care and strives to create an inclusive environment that ensures that her patients and their families feel supported through each stage of the animal’s life.

Dr. Lauren’s biggest professional interests include managing endocrine diseases, ophthalmology, neurology/seizure management, and hospice/end-of-life care. In her free time, Dr. Lauren enjoys reading, attending Packer and Badger games (especially womens volleyball) and traveling. Dr. Lauren shares her home with her husband Lucas and their wolfhound mix named Goose. She also has a retired off the track thoroughbred horse named Charley (officially McCharles in his racing days) who is enjoying his golden years eating all the carrots and cookies he can get.

Katie Cunningham, DVM

Dr. Katie Cunningham is native to the Madison area. She graduated from UW-Madison with her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) in 2024. Prior to this, she earned her Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from Edgewood College in 2018. Her journey in the veterinary field started at a young age of 15, encompassing various roles such as a boarding/daycare attendant, veterinary assistant, and surgical suite assistant.

Currently residing in Waunakee, Dr. Katie shares her home with her husband, 3 dogs—Apollo, Astro, & Daisy Mae—and 2 cats, Buzz & Woody. Beyond her professional commitments, she cherishes spending time with family and friends, reading, and taking trips to Disney World.

Dr. Katie’s professional interests include exotic animal medicine and surgery, geriatric patient care, palliative/end-of-life care, and soft tissue surgery.