Meet The Team

Dr. Kristina Ringness grew up in Rocky Mountain House, Alberta, near Crescent Falls. She attended the University of Alberta and graduated with a Bachelor of Science Specialization degree in Zoology in 1990. It was at this point she set her sights on becoming a Veterinarian, and attended Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon, graduating in 1997.

After this, she moved to the North Okanagan and has enjoyed the area since. In 2003, she opened Crescent Falls Veterinary Hospital and a few years later, was able to build the current facility. She enjoys companion animal surgery and medicine and the rewarding feeling of working together with clients for the health of their pets.

Dr. Sam Gertz is originally from Massachusetts and knew from a very young age that she wanted to become a veterinarian, having grown up around animals of all kinds from dogs to bunnies to horses. She graduated from the Atlantic Veterinary College in PEI in 2022 and made the decision to move out west to the Okanagan shortly after graduation.

Her particular interests include internal medicine, dermatology, and behavior, and she enjoys the variety that small animal general practice offers!​

Dr. Sam lives on a small acreage with her partner, their two dogs, Ezra and Betty, and her horses. When not working or tending to her animals, she enjoys exploring the beautiful Okanagan with her partner and their dogs and reading.

Kathy grew up in Vernon and joined our team as a Receptionist in 2006. Over the years she has remained an integral part of our team and she has grown to know most of our clients and their pets and appreciates the one on one interactions.

Kathy and her husband have 2 daughters and a dog named Ruxin and they enjoy the Okanagan lifestyle!

Having grown up in a farming environment in southwest Ontario, animals have always been a major part of my life. Whether it is livestock or companion animals, l've never been without a four-legged friend. Moving from Ontario in 1992, leaving behind my farming roots and position within a local veterinary clinic, I was fortunate to land a position in a veterinary clinic in Vernon as a client care representative evolving to the manager position for the last decade at that clinic. Now that I am nearing my golden years I accepted a position in client care and administration in 2022. I am thrilled to be working with a wonderful, warm and supportive team at Crescent Falls Veterinary Hospital.

In my spare time I enjoy camping, exploring the back country with my husband Frank. Our animal menagerie consists of Lucy our dog and two cats. Silas and Boris. 

Bio Coming Soon!

Anna grew up in Sweden and first came to Canada as a student. She settled in the North Okanagan and went on to graduate from Thompson Rivers University as a Registered Veterinary Technician in 2002. She joined our team in the summer of 2005.

Anna is our resident “cat whisperer” and lives with her husband and fur children on a farm outside of Vernon.

Bio coming soon!

Bio Coming Soon!

Growing up in Alberta, I was always running around my grandparents farm with the dogs, barn cats, cows, and ostriches. It was obvious to everyone I was mean to work with animals. I spent some time in Vancouver after getting my acting degree to work in Film and TV then in 2023 I got my VOA diploma! I relocated to Vernon for a slower lifestyle and have been working with Crescent Falls since October of 2025.

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I have one pet, my senior cat Ember, who turns 18 in the fall of 2026! I absolutely adore her and she's given me a lifetime soft spot for old lady kitties.

I'm currently upgrading via Thompson Rivers University to enroll in their Veterinary Technician program.

Miss Puurrsonality, this pretty lady is our newest addition to our clinic cat roster! She was having some troubles sticking to her litterbox in her previous home so she's taken an extended stay with us to get her back on track. She's rocking it!

Miss P is our most extroverted cat, she eagerly waits up with our other receptionists to greet anyone who steps through the doors. Her specialty is stepping on keyboards and receiving praise for it.

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This girl likes her scratches! Not the head first, please! She needs a second to sniff out the situation with back scratches before allowing a head pat.

Recently Roswell has been promoted in the office to our new Vice Purrsident of Culinary Affairs! Roswell taste tests all new feline treats brought in, along with any new foods his kitty coworkers aren't brave enough to try.

On his off time, Roswell likes to spend 80% of his day yawning and sleeping sound like a baby. Our staff room chair has been been designated as Rossie's sleeping chair, andwe respect that. He silently judges you if you make the choice to walk past him without giving a head scratch. Roswell has been a resident here for over 5 years now and has made himself very much at home. You may see him now and then but he likes to shadow his snack providers in the back more often than not.

This little girl has many tasks and talents, while keeping to herself she does love a good scratch behind the ears. Miss "Swish-swish" gets her nickname from her fluffy tail that never stops swishing. Gertie is our Director of Fluff and Fabric Affairs. Keeping all the clean laundry warm and hairy is 90% of her daily tasks, otherwise she is competing with her brother for snacks.

Upon discovering some underlying health concerns early on, Gertrude has lived here at the clinic for majority of her life. She is the sassiest, quietist, most love-you-from-afar cat ever. Again, you may see Gertie sometime sneak up front but she knows which staff to sucker into an overload of treats in the back.