Veterinarian in Brampton, Ontario

Dr. Ashna Varma BVM&S MRCVS

Education: University of Western Ontario Bachelor of Science, University of Edinburgh: Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies; Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, Member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons

Dr. Varma graduated from the University of Edinburgh Veterinary School in Scotland in July of 2014, where she took advantage and travelled around the UK for veterinary student volunteer opportunities during her veterinary studies. She began her full-time career at Heart Lake Veterinary Hospital in May of 2019 but has done some relief work with us for several years! Her medical interests lie in internal medicine and dentistry. Her hobbies include running, reading, and spending time with her family. Dr. Varma also dedicates time annually to volunteering with First Nations Communities to provide veterinary care where needed.

Dr. Varma dearly misses her dog, Kenya, her first Golden Retriever puppy, and has since adopted a 9-year-old abandoned but very loyal German Shepherd, Sam, who sadly succumbed to an incurable bone disease. Dr. Varma now houses 2 kitty fur babies, Moshi and Kibo.

Dr. Varma believes in creating an important bond between client, patient, and veterinarian in order to ensure a great quality of life for our pets. By focusing on preventive medicine for each individual patient, she believes that our pets can live the longest, healthiest, most comfortable lives possible.

Dr. Vanessa McDonald DVM

Dr. McDonald graduated from the University of Melbourne in 2020. She joined the team at Heart Lake in 2011 as a veterinary assistant before leaving for veterinary school in Australia in 2016. She rejoined our team in 2020 as a DVM. Her interests in veterinary medicine include small animal general practice, emergency medicine, behaviour medicine and working with exotic animals such as birds, reptiles and rabbits. When not at the hospital, she enjoys horseback riding, swimming and binge-watching horror movies. She currently shares her home with her fur family Bear (Doberman x), Brice (Chihuahua), Shiloh and Chandler (cats), Hannibal, Freddy (fancy rats) and Leo (leopard gecko). Dr. McDonald believes strongly in using fear-free principles to ensure a positive environment and positive interactions with animals during consultation. She believes strongly in the preservation of the human-animal bond and therefore recognizes that animals are an integral part of their humans’ lives. By making her patient’s health and well-being top priority, she can also help to better the lives of their human counterparts.

Dr. Yash Varma – DVM, MVSc

Dr. Varma graduated as a veterinarian in 1980 from the University of Nairobi (Kenya). At that time, his special interest was in African wildlife. He spent the next 3 years working as a wildlife research veterinarian in Kenya. This was “real” wildlife like hyenas, lions, water-buck, eland, and buffalo. In 1984 he received a scholarship to do a Master’s Degree in Veterinary Science at the University of Edinburgh (Scotland). Dr. Varma then immigrated to Canada in 1987 and worked for a few months at the Ontario Veterinary College while preparing for his Ontario licensing exams. He worked at various clinics in Toronto and Brampton before finally setting up Heart Lake Veterinary Hospital in 1995.

Dr. Varma is proud to be a veterinarian and endeavours to give back to the profession by mentoring veterinary students and foreign graduates to acquire local licenses. He has held the following positions

• Past President of the Brampton Veterinary Association
• Past President of The Highway 10 & Wexford Emergency Veterinary Clinic serving Georgetown, Milton, Orangeville, Bolton, Caledon, and Brampton.
• Council member for the College Of Veterinarians Of Ontario, the regulatory body for the veterinary profession in Ontario.
• Treasurer of the Kenya Overseas Veterinary Association, whose mandate includes helping veterinary students and the profession in Kenya.
• He is a co-owner of the Erin Mills Pet hospital in Mississauga.

He shares his home with his wife, Poonam, and their two children, Ashna and Vishal.

When not at work, Dr. Varma likes to travel and spend his few free minutes at the gym.

Sheri Corbit – Practice Manager

Sheri Corbit joined the Heart Lake team in May of 2022 as the practice manager. She graduated from Western University in 2011 with a Bachelor’s degree in communications, as well as completing Sheridan’s veterinary receptionist program in 2019. After working in pet-specific retail jobs, she realized how much she loved working with animals! 

Andrea – Registered Veterinary Technician

Andrea graduated from the Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) program at Seneca College in 2004. She has been working in small aminal practice in Brampton for the last 20 years. She started at HLVH in November 2021. Her interests are divided equally between medicine and surgery. She considers herself fortunate to be as enthusiastic about her job today as she was when she began her career. She remains passionate about improving the quality of our pets’ lives and enjoys applying her wide variety of skills, experience and education to the ever-changing daily demands of being an RVT. In her leisure time, she enjoys spending time with family and close friends while being active outdoors. She has had dogs since she was young and is currently the pet parent of two incredible dogs.

Brigitte – Veterinary Technician

Leah – Veterinary Technician

Leah started with HLVH in September as a Veterinary Technician. She started with Animal Care in 2009 and worked her way up to a technician in clinics. She has 3 cats, Skittles, Peach, Moxxie, and a dog named Dori. In her spare time, she enjoys playing co-op-style video games.

Nicholas – Registered Veterinary Technician

Nicholas, or simply Nick as some may know him, has always had a passion for animal care and veterinary medicine since he was young. Nicholas went off to graduate from the Veterinary Technology Program at Ridgetown College in 2016. Nicholas’ passion for education continued and brought him back to school to complete and graduate with an Honours Bachelors of Science degree in Animal Biology from the University of Guelph. Along the way, he met a lot of his closest and best friends.

His journey was very different, working in various veterinary fields like large animal, small animal, and laboratory practices. All of these experiences allowed him to explore his love for all animals, from the very smallest to the very largest! During his time in school, he had many volunteer opportunities, extracurriculars and part-time jobs. He definitely loves to keep busy!

Nicholas began his career as an RVT at Heart Lake Veterinary Hospital in August 2020! Those who know Nicholas know how much he loves to educate clients on the importance of Pet Nutrition, healthy feeding and weight management. In his spare time, he is researching and continuing to learn how to make the world of pet nutrition a better place.

Nicholas has a strong love for horses and small-breed dogs and enjoys spending time with his loving family and friends. He dearly misses his passed pets and is currently waiting for the right ones to come along.

Nicholas believes that the best way to ensure healthy, happy and long lives in pets is through proper feeding and nutrition. Nutrition is truly an extraordinary science that has a whole-body influence on our pet’s health and well-being. From sick to healthy, pets can be their happiest and healthiest on the proper and most perfect diet for them on an individual basis!

Victoria – Receptionist

Victoria started at Heart Lake Veterinary Hospital in September 2022 as a receptionist. She studied at York University and graduated with a degree in English with a minor in French. She has always had a passion for animals, even wanting to be a veterinarian growing up! She loves broadening her knowledge of all animals and catering to each creature’s unique and lovable personality. Outside of work, she likes classic cars, reading, and drawing.

Zelema – Receptionist

Zelema started Heart Lake Veterinary Hospital in March 2021 and has since graduated from Sheridan College in Animal Care. She is currently studying to go back to school for Animal Physiology. Zelema has three pets – two cats named Joey and Raven and one rabbit named Imogen, aka Genie. In her spare time, she loves to go on hikes and try new food!

Alyssa – Veterinary Assistant

Alyssa graduated with Bachelor’s in Biomedical Science from the University of Guelph in 2020. She is now entering her second year at the Ontario Veterinary College.

Her family includes an ex-racehorse named Annie and a cockatiel named Glen Coco. Around the clinic, she is also known as the “bear lady” with three bears (Bouvier Des Flandres dogs) named Mr. Alfredo, Juniper and Lord Hawthorn. All she needs is golden locks, and she’s set!

When Alyssa’s not around animals, she’s volunteering restoring antique wooden boats, enjoying classic rock or a glass of a full-bodied GSM blend. She is also a fanatic hobby chef – Mr. Alfredo, Juniper and Lord Hawthorn enjoy being her taste testers very much!

She looks forward to meeting you and your precious furry friends!

Anel – Veterinary Assistant

Anel has been part of the Heart Lake Veterinary Hospital team since March 2022. Even though she recently joined the team, she believes Heart Lake has already become her second home. Anel loves being the person responsible to hold and keep your pet comfortable and happy when they are feeling a bit nervous during their visit. She has always been passionate about animals and is very happy to work in the field of animal care. For the past few years, Anel has completed multiple pet care courses and has gained experience with animals in many different areas. She is thrilled to be studying Animal Welfare & Law while being part of the team, and she hopes to pursue a veterinary technology diploma in the future. In her free time, Anel enjoys crafting new things, going to the arcade, and spending time with her husband and furry babies: Maple Syrup the pug, Larry the mouse, and her Siamese cat, Sky.

Katherine – Veterinary Assistant

Katherine has been working with animals since a young age and she is passionate about all animals. She pursued her education as a Veterinary Assistant, and there is nothing else that she would rather do.

Linoy – Veterinary Assistant

Linoy joined the Heart Lake Veterinary Hospital team in 2013 as a high school co-op student. Since then, she attended Trent University and obtained her Honors of Biology while working at Heart Lake Vet during summer breaks.

During her university career, she learned to work with many different animals, such as cattle and small mammals, reptiles, and amphibians – providing animal care.

Linoy always had a passion for the veterinary field from a very young age. She aspires to support as well as further her passion with education and clinical experience. The most rewarding aspect of her job is assisting with treatment and being a part of her patient’s healing process.

When she’s not at work, she enjoys travelling, as well as spending time with family and friends.

You will most likely meet Linoy at the reception desk or in the treatment area, providing care for your furry family members!

Olivia – Veterinary Assistant