CAT CLINIC - Key Persons
Dr. Donna Hughes is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, and also has a Ph.D. from the University of Pittsburgh. She is a native of Pittsburgh, and lives with her six cats, Onyx, Midnight, Delilah, Tiger, Samantha, and Reesey…and one dog, Shadow. Her love of cats, enjoyment of being with people, attention to detail, and decades of experience are all qualities she brings with her to the Cat Clinic and Hospital. She enjoys seeing and playing with the kitten patients, and being able to handle cats in a manner that they are least stressed, and the Cat Clinic and Hospital gives her the opportunity to practice in this manner. A meaningful quote that inspires her is by Jose Ortega y…"Life is fired at us point blank."
Job Titles:
- Certified Veterinary Technician
Some of you remember Emily greeting you and your cat from 1990 - 1996 as you came into the Cat Clinic and Hospital…..30 years ago! Well, we are ever so fortunate that Emily has moved back from Philadelphia (Kennett Square), and after all those years has come back to be with us once again. Emily was born and raised in Erie, PA, and moved to the Pittsburgh area after high school. She attended Pitt, and then later moved on to live in Savannah, Georgia, and then on to Kennett Square. In the process, she worked in banking, and then when she realized she missed working in veterinary medicine. Emily is now a licensed veterinary technician having earned her degree from Harcum College in Bryn Mawr, PA in 2000.
Emily grew up with a cat, who lived to the old age of 21 years, and currently has both a 20 year old cat, Percival, and a 15 year old Golden Retriever, named Mabel. She has spent a total of 26 years working in veterinary medicine, and thinks that her work with both cats and dogs over the years has led her to a deep understanding that cats are not just ‘little dogs.' Her favorite part of working at the Cat Clinic and Hospital are the cats! …and working with people who have dedicated their lives to caring for cats. She most enjoys being able to contribute to the well-being of cats at the Cat Clinic and Hospital.
Job Titles:
- Certified Veterinary Technician
- Office Manager / Certified Veterinary Technician
Flo is a Certified Veterinary Technician, who thinks the best part of working at the Cat Clinic and Hospital is working with a wonderful team of techs and doctors who work together for the health of the cat and the emotional support of their owners. Flo is a Pittsburgh native and has lived here most of her life, with her husband and son. She currently lives with three cats…Mozart, Lucy and Canolli.
Flo is involved with marine causes, and is a member of Marine Life Mission and Ocean. Her bucket list reflects her love of the ocean and nature, with a shark cage dive at Guadalupe Island and hopefully a base camp visit to Mt. Everest on that list.
In her down time, Flo enjoys working on mosaic art, as well as reading history and science books.
Job Titles:
- Administration / Veterinary Technician
Geri has been at the Cat Clinic and Hospital, since it opened in 1979! She was born and raised in Pittsburgh, and Geri and her husband Bob Full, were one of the first to bring their feline family, Tom and Tuffy, to the Cat Clinic. Geri has been through all 45 years of our existence, first as a client and then as an integral part of our day to day operations. She has a deep compassion for both animals and people, and has used her excellent communication and organizational skills to guide us through those 45 years caring for cats. If you are a Cat Clinic and Hospital client, you certainly have seen her in many capacities, but the most memorable is as our ‘leader.'
Geri grew up with pets and when her first cat died of distemper only two weeks after adoption when she was 11, she knew she wanted to work with cats when she grew up. Along the way, she married Robert (Bob) Full who in 1987, as the Assistant Chief of the City of Pittsburgh Paramedics, helped rescue Dr. Robert Bebko's family and cats from the Cat Clinic and Hospital in the middle of the night when a train derailed with hazardous materials in April 1987, and all of Bloomfield was evacuated. Bob Full later went on to become the Chief of Allegheny County Emergency Services. Geri was married for 39 years when Bob passed away in 2020. Geri has two children and three grandchildren. Geri has had many cats over the past 45 year, and currently shares her home with 17 year old Coco, a kitten the Cat Clinic and Hospital triaged when she was rescued from a Homewood construction project.
Geri enjoys time with her family when not working, and her favorite place to vacation is Disneyworld, which she has visited over 20 times since her honeymoon there in 1981. On her bucket list is traveling throughout Europe, and learning a new language.
Jennifer has been a veterinary technician with us for many years. She has been a pet groomer for almost 20 years, and when not at the Cat Clinic and Hospital, she has her own grooming business in the South Hills. She is a graduate of the Pittsburgh Vet Tech Institute. She has known since she was a child that she wanted to work with animals. She enjoys working with the cats and her fellow staff members at the Cat Clinic and Hospital.
Born in Baltimore, MD, she enjoys spending time with her daughter, crafting and hanging out with her pets. She has two dogs and five cats, and her most memorable pet is a cat that was part Norwegian Forest Cat which she had as a young child. It was this cat that inspired her to go into veterinary medicine as an adult. On her bucket list : visiting Hawaii, a Caribbean cruise, and visiting Sedona, Az.
Natalie has been working at the Cat Clinic and Hospital since 2021, and says that her favorite part of working with us is the people she works with. She is a native of Pittsburgh but has lived in several places in the US, including Las Vegas and Charlottesville, VA. She has her BFA from Clarion University in Graphic Design, with a minor in Creative Writing. Natalie worked for a local humane rescue organization for a number of years before transitioning to a veterinary practice in 2021. Besides having a mother who loves cats, and just happens to be Dr. Donna Hughes, Natalie was raised with cats, once as many as 10, so she is a natural with cats. Natalie is married and has a young son, Liam, and currently lives with two cats, Nefertiti and Midas.
Natalie's most memorable cat was her orange tabby, Nick, with whom she grew up with. Natalie describes Nick as both affectionate and tolerant. In the future, Natalie would like to go on a cruise to Alaska to see the Northern Lights. She enjoys role playing games like Dungeon and Dragons. In her spare time she enjoys playing with her son, Liam, and playing video games when she gets the opportunity.
Dr. Bob Bebko founded the Cat Clinic and Hospital in 1979 after graduating from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine in 1975. He worked for three years after graduation with one of the first feline specialty veterinary practices in the U.S., in Jenkintown, Pa, outside of Philadelphia. That's at total of over 40 years of practicing with cats only!
Born in Quincy, Ma, to a naval officer father, Dr. Bob grew up in Erie, and attended Gannon University, where he was on the wrestling team and majored in biology. For a year in between his college education and veterinary school Dr. Bob was a U.S. Marine, working on various Marine fighter jets. He continued to serve in the Marine Reserves throughout veterinary school and completed his service in 1975.
During veterinary school his experience with his own cat at a veterinary practice convinced him of the need for practices that understood and respected cats. He's never looked back once at his decision to specialize. Dr. Bob was one of the first veterinarians in the US to be board certified in Feline Practice by the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners. As a Diplomate he often helped prepare board exams for new applicants. Dr. Bob has two daughters, one is an accountant and one is a neuroscientist at Pitt. He currently has 4 cats….Harry, Timmy, Boo, and Lulu, and the clinic cats, Thornton, and newest member, Tilly.
Valerie started working with us after several years of being a client. When asked how she decided on a career in veterinary medicine, she said "I fell into it and I'm very happy I landed here." Valerie's favorite parts of working at the Cat Clinic and Hospital are her co-workers, the cats, and the clients. She has spent the better part of her life in Pittsburgh, and studied Elementary Education and Dance/Movement Therapy in college. She studied ballet most of her life. She has always had cats in her life, and now lives with her cat Nigel.