Meet Our Team
Compassionate, skilled veterinary professionals serving Highlands Ranch, CO & beyond.
Dedicated to Exceptional Pet Care
At Altitude Animal Hospital, we’re more than just a veterinary clinic—we’re a dedicated team of veterinary professionals passionate about helping pets live long, healthy, and happy lives. Our staff brings together decades of combined experience, advanced education, and a deep love for animals to deliver the highest standard of care to every patient.
Whether you’re visiting us for a wellness check, surgery, grooming, or chronic condition management, you can feel confident knowing your pet is in the hands of a caring, qualified, and trusted team.
Our Veterinarians
Karen Todd,
DVM
Dr. Karen Todd is a Colorado native and lifelong pet lover who always knew she would pursue a career in veterinary medicine. She has been a practicing veterinarian for nearly 20 years and is now the proud owner of Altitude Animal Hospital. Dr. Todd earned her B.S. in Biology from the University of Oklahoma and completed her DVM at Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine in 2002. Her beloved pets include an enthusiastic German Shorthaired Pointer named Liberty Blue, a Portuguese Water Dog named Buster Brown, and a Chihuahua mix named Ricky. Outside of work, Karen enjoys spending time with her husband and raising their two children. She also loves camping with her family, gardening, reading, biking, running, baking, and parenting.
Ellen Kim,
DVM
Dr. Ellen Kim is a full-time associate veterinarian at Altitude Animal Hospital. She got her undergraduate degree in Molecular and Cell Biology from the University of California at Berkeley. She then went on to get her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine degree from Kansas State University. Ellen’s interests in veterinary medicine include preventative care, senior care, and public health. She has a large pet family including a Boston Terrier mix named Henry, a Shepherd mix named Ember, a three-legged cat named Sushi, and two young rescue cats – Bento and Maki. Outside of work, she enjoys taking on home projects and arts and crafts. She spent six months in East Africa working with an NGO – it was an amazing experience!
Our Technicians
Michele Carpinello,
Practice Manager, RVT
Michele became a Certified Veterinary Technician when she graduated from Bel-Rea Institute, and she has a particular interest in veterinary microbiology and laboratory testing. As practice manager, she ensures that each and every pet that comes through the door is cared for to the highest standard of practice. In her free time, Michele enjoys spending time with family, friends, and her Shepherd mix named Jeter, and participating in outdoor activities.
Nicole Roulain,
Lead RVT
Nicole is a graduate of the Bel-Rea Institute of Animal Technology. She loves animals unconditionally and enjoys helping them lead healthy and happy lives. Nicole is Altitude Animal Hospital’s nutritional manager and pet food expert, and she looks forward to helping pet caretakers discover the optimal diet for their cat or dog. Nicole was born and raised in Colorado. She enjoys sharing her passion for plants but her favorite activity is spending quality time with her two young kids. She has two adorable pets – a pitbull mix named Nezzy and a young kitten named Nibbler.
Lexie Tasei,
RVT
Lexie is a Colorado native and animal lover whose introduction to veterinary training has been right here at Altitude Animal Hospital! Lexie loves movies, and when she’s not at work, she likes to hike, fly fish, spend time with family, and of course, with her animals! Lexie’s pet family includes her two rescue pups: Tripp the Mutt and Thatcher, as well as her horse, Gallagher. Lexie’s veterinary interests lie in surgery and anesthetic procedures, and she especially enjoys all things related to dental cleanings and oral health!
Jordan Mendez,
RVT
Jordan is a registered veterinary technician and graduate of Pima Medical Institute. She is also a certified ultrasound technician. Jordan’s pet family includes a mixed breed named Lucy, a German Shepherd/Husky mix named Paris, and a Blue Heeler named Oz. Outside of work, Jordan enjoys hiking, reading, and volunteering in her local community. She also has her own pet sitting business and loves caring for animals even when she’s not at Altitude.
Kristiana Watson,
Veterinary Assistant
Kristiana is a veterinary assistant who has been working in veterinary medicine for over 4 years. She has a passion for working with anxious animals and strives to make their vet experience as pleasant as possible. Her furry family consists of a 4-year-old German Shepherd named Allie. Kristiana enjoys swimming, traveling, and long walks with Allie. She dreams of opening her own animal shelter one day!
Hope Jones,
Veterinary Assistant
Hope is a veterinary assistant with a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Colorado State University. Her pet family includes her two cats, Harley and Beau. Outside of work, Hope enjoys rock climbing, skiing, and river rafting. She aspires to become a veterinarian herself in the future!
Our Customer Service Team
Amelia Herrera,
Office Manager
Amelia earned her bachelor’s degree in Business Management from the University of Denver and joined Altitude Animal Hospital because her experience as a client made her want to join the team! Her passion is ensuring each and every client leaves with that same welcomed feeling. A Colorado native, Amelia loves dogs of all kinds (the bigger the better!) and is the proud owner of Grizzly and Bruin, both Mastiff mixes who firmly believe that they are lap dogs. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, spending time with family, and all things beauty and fashion.
Jorden Papol,
Lead Customer Service Representative
Jorden is a former veterinary assistant turned receptionist. Her desire to ensure a pet’s best care brought her to our front office! Growing up in New Jersey, Jorden volunteered at Popcorn Park Zoo and discovered her passion for animals. Her pet family includes two young cats, Mushu and Pazuzu, who enjoy keeping her on her toes!
Lexi Coffman,
Customer Service Representative
Lexi is an experienced customer service representative who has worked in all types of clinics including general practice, emergency, and specialty hospitals. Her pet family consists of her two princesses: her cat, Bastet, and her Lab mix named Aurora. Outside of work, Lexi enjoys reading and believes curling up with a good book is the best way to unwind. She loves dogs and cats of all kinds and helping them in any way she can.
Our Grooming Team
Amy Augustine,
Grooming Manager / Groomer
Amy started working in grooming nearly 11 years ago in various roles while going to school and receiving her grooming certification. She has a passion for grooming pets who may have been labeled as anxious or challenging at other grooming facilities, and she works tirelessly to teach them that getting groomed can be fun! She spends her time outside of work with her three kids and her five dogs: Elvis, Presley, Priscilla, Kevin, and Wrangler. Amy’s goal is to one day open a grooming shop of her own!
Allie Alexander,
Groomer
Allie graduated from the University of Colorado – Denver with a Bachelor’s in Psychology as well as a Master’s in Forensic Psychology. She has over a decade of grooming experience with pets of all ages, sizes, and temperaments. Allie has a special interest in creative grooming and enjoys working with clients to bring their visions to life. Her pet family includes two young dogs, Ripley and Newt, and a cat named Vinnie. In her free time, Allie loves exploring the mountains, reading, and donating grooming services to animal rescues.
