Our Team
Meet the team of professionals at Northwest Animal Hospital that will be taking care of your pets.
Our Team
DVM
DVM
Practice Manager
Certified Veterinary Technician
Nenad
Veterinary Assistant
Veterinary Assistant
Customer Service Representative
Dr. Jennifer Draca
Dr. Jennifer Draca grew up in the Chicago suburbs and discovered her passion for veterinary medicine early on. She began working as a veterinary assistant at 19 and continued in the field until starting veterinary school in 2015. She completed her undergraduate studies at DePaul University and went on to earn her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Midwestern University in Arizona in 2019.
During her time in veterinary school, Dr. Draca developed a deep commitment to volunteering and providing care to underserved communities, work that continues to inspire her practice today. She has special interests in dermatology, palliative care, and alternative medicine, and she takes great pride in treating every patient as if they were her own, while making every client feel like family.
Outside of work, Dr. Draca loves spending time with her husband and their two young daughters, Natalia and Nikolina. She’s also a proud fur mom to five pets: Smokey and Mila, both rescued pit bulls; Moose, a Rottweiler; and her two cats, Mr. & Miss.
Dr. Jasmine McCoy
Dr. Jasmine McCoy has had a passion for animals for as long as she can remember. Although she did not grow up with pets and was even afraid of dogs as a child, her path changed after meeting a soft tissue veterinary surgeon and shadowing a variety of surgical procedures. That experience inspired her to pursue a career in veterinary medicine and surgery.
After earning her Bachelor of Science in Zoology from Michigan State University, Dr. Jasmine moved more than 900 miles from home to attend Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine. Following veterinary school graduation in 2019, she completed a one-year rotating internship at Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine to further advance her clinical training and surgical experience.
Dr. Jasmine now resides in the Chicago area, where she travels throughout Chicagoland providing veterinary, surgical, and dental care to clinics in need of additional support. She is passionate about helping practices deliver high-quality patient care and enjoys being a trusted resource for both veterinary teams and pet owners.
Outside of veterinary medicine, Dr. McCoy shares her home with her cat, Pumpkin, and her dog, Marlie Quinn. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, exercising, painting, and trying new restaurants.
Shari Santucci
With 10 years of experience in the pet industry, Shari Santucci is dedicated to providing exceptional patient care and well-being through client education and clear communication. She prides herself on building strong client-patient relationships and caring for pets as if they were her own.
Outside of work, Shari enjoys spending time with her English Bulldogs, Bentley and Louie, reading books, and staying active through workouts. A fun fact about Shari is that she had hip dysplasia – just like dogs can get!
Nenad
Certified Veterinary Technician
Sarah is a Certified Veterinary Technician with 8 years of experience in emergency medicine.
Her favorite part of veterinary medicine is building meaningful relationships with her patients and their owners.
Outside of work, Sarah enjoys watching movies, reading, and going to concerts.
At home she loves spending time with het two rescue cats, Winnie and Ellie.
Nenad
Veterinary Assistant
Nenad Draca is a dedicated veterinary assistant who enjoys working closely with patients and supporting the veterinary team in providing compassionate high quality care. He takes pride in helping pets feel comfortable during their visits and values building positive relationships with both animals and their owners. Outside of the clinic, Nenad enjoys spending his free time fishing and being outdoors. His love for nature and animals extends beyond work and reflects his genuine passion for animal care and well-being.
Mariah
Veterinary Assistant
With five years of experience in veterinary medicine, Mariah is passionate about making every pet feel loved and cared for—treating each one as if they were her own (which definitely means a little extra spoiling!).
At home, she’s proudly owned by her two cats, Norman and Deborah. Mariah also loves all things spooky, from horror movies and creepy books to celebrating Halloween every chance she gets. Outside of work, you’ll usually find her curled up on the couch with her cats and a good book.
Nikki
With 20 years of experience in the industry, Nikki takes pride in greeting clients with a warm smile. Her friendly demeanor creates a welcoming atmosphere for everyone who walks through the door. In her free time, she enjoys spending quality moments with her family and her beloved dog, Apple.
Mariah
Veterinary Assistant
With five years of experience in veterinary medicine, Mariah is passionate about making every pet feel loved and cared for—treating each one as if they were her own (which definitely means a little extra spoiling!).
At home, she’s proudly owned by her two cats, Norman and Deborah. Mariah also loves all things spooky, from horror movies and creepy books to celebrating Halloween every chance she gets. Outside of work, you’ll usually find her curled up on the couch with her cats and a good book.
Nikki
Customer Service Representative
With 20 years of experience in the industry, Nikki takes pride in greeting clients with a warm smile. Her friendly demeanor creates a welcoming atmosphere for everyone who walks through the door. In her free time, she enjoys spending quality moments with her family and her beloved dog, Apple.
Barb
Lead Receptionist
With over 18 years of experience in the veterinary field, Barb is a dedicated and compassionate member of our team. She studied at Loyola University and has a true passion for veterinary medicine, especially when it comes to rescuing animals. Over the years, Barb has cared for a variety of animals, including cats, kittens, dogs, squirrels, opossums, birds, and more, and she’s particularly loves and is skilled at bottle-feeding very young kittens and squirrels.
In her free time, Barb enjoys cooking, attending concerts, reading suspense and mystery storybooks, watching movies, spending quality time with her family, and enjoying comedy shows. A fun fact about Barb is that she once met comedian Adam Ray in Austin!
Nenad
Veterinary Assistant
Nenad Draca is a dedicated veterinary assistant who enjoys working closely with patients and supporting the veterinary team in providing compassionate high quality care. He takes pride in helping pets feel comfortable during their visits and values building positive relationships with both animals and their owners. Outside of the clinic, Nenad enjoys spending his free time fishing and being outdoors. His love for nature and animals extends beyond work and reflects his genuine passion for animal care and well-being.
Alex
Veterinary Assistant
With over 30 years of experience in the veterinary field, Alex brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to our team. He studied at Elmhurst College, the Chicago National College of Naprapathy, and Suomi College, building a strong foundation in animal care. Alex is passionate about providing compassionate care and empathy to every patient he meets.
Outside of work, he enjoys taking road trips with his family and dog, and you can often find him camping, hunting, and fishing.
Shari Santucci
Practice Manager
With 10 years of experience in the pet industry, Shari Santucci is dedicated to providing exceptional patient care and well-being through client education and clear communication. She prides herself on building strong client-patient relationships and caring for pets as if they were her own.
Outside of work, Shari enjoys spending time with her English Bulldogs, Bentley and Louie, reading books, and staying active through workouts. A fun fact about Shari is that she had hip dysplasia – just like dogs can get!
Dr. Jasmine McCoy
DVM
Dr. Jasmine McCoy has had a passion for animals for as long as she can remember. Although she did not grow up with pets and was even afraid of dogs as a child, her path changed after meeting a soft tissue veterinary surgeon and shadowing a variety of surgical procedures. That experience inspired her to pursue a career in veterinary medicine and surgery.
After earning her Bachelor of Science in Zoology from Michigan State University, Dr. Jasmine moved more than 900 miles from home to attend Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine. Following veterinary school graduation in 2019, she completed a one-year rotating internship at Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine to further advance her clinical training and surgical experience.
Dr. Jasmine now resides in the Chicago area, where she travels throughout Chicagoland providing veterinary, surgical, and dental care to clinics in need of additional support. She is passionate about helping practices deliver high-quality patient care and enjoys being a trusted resource for both veterinary teams and pet owners.
Outside of veterinary medicine, Dr. McCoy shares her home with her cat, Pumpkin, and her dog, Marlie Quinn. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, exercising, painting, and trying new restaurants.
Dr. Jennifer Draca
DVM
Dr. Jennifer Draca is a dedicated small animal veterinarian with a passion for providing compassionate, individualized care to every patient she treats. She earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Midwestern University in Arizona in 2019 after completing her undergraduate studies at DePaul University in Chicago.
Dr. Draca has a strong interest in integrative veterinary medicine and enjoys combining traditional Western medicine with complementary therapies when appropriate to support the overall health and well-being of her patients. She is currently completing advanced training in veterinary acupuncture and continues to expand her knowledge of Chinese and integrative medicine to offer additional options for pain management, chronic disease support, and whole-body wellness.
Outside of the clinic, Dr. Draca enjoys spending time with her husband and their two daughters, as well as traveling and exploring the world together. She also shares her home with a lively group of pets, including her Rottweiler Moose, two pit bulls Smokey and Mila, and three cats.
Dr. Draca is also passionate about supporting animal shelters and rescue organizations and believes strongly in advocating for animals in need. She takes pride in building meaningful relationships with both pets and their families and strives to treat every patient as if they were her own.