Meet Our Teams

Working at Heart + Paw is much more than performing a job. Our team members develop lifelong careers with a supportive and nurturing environment, the opportunity to lead, and countless ways to grow. Beyond helping you do your best in your chosen role, we are invested in your individual success and seeing you excel beyond your original goals.

Meet the Talent Acquisition Team

Meet the Vet-Led Operations Team

Introducing the Team that Will Help You Succeed

With the experienced Heart + Paw talent acquisition and veterinarian-led operations teams in your corner, you’ll receive an incredible wealth of knowledge, and the assistance you need to grow into your new role and beyond.

Our Talent Acquisition Team

Choosing your next career can feel overwhelming. We have put a great deal of thought and resources into every aspect of the team experience: physical space, compensation, benefits, technology, equipment, caseload, and staffing. Whether you are new to veterinary care or looking for the next step in your career, we're here to help you succeed.

Charlene Wandzilak

Director of Talent Acquisition

Read Bio

Charlene joined Heart + Paw to bring together her 19 years of experience working on behalf of the veterinary community, her understanding of industry trends and challenges, and her deep passion to have a positive impact on the lives of pets and those that care for them by helping to build strong teams and empower individuals. Prior to joining Heart + Paw, Charlene served as the Executive Director of the Pennsylvania and Delaware Veterinary Medical Associations. She started with Heart + Paw as the Director of Talent Acquisition at the company’s beginning in 2018 and is grateful for being part of Heart + Paw’s growth and evolution. She is equally excited to lead an awesome Talent Acquisition team who brings their passion, expertise, and enthusiasm for Heart + Paw and the veterinary profession to the candidate's experience. She lives in Hershey with her daughter Olivia and her four-legged family members Remmie, a mischievous black Labrador Retriever, and 3 cats Midnight, BeBe and MeowMeow.

Chelsea Staincliffe

CVBL, Talent Acquisition Partner

Read Bio

Chelsea lives in Raleigh, NC and joins Heart + Paw with over seven years of veterinary experience. She completed her undergraduate degree at East Carolina University with a concentration in Business Administration and is currently finishing her master's degree at the University of Denver. She loves connecting with veterinary professionals and students, as well as assisting them with finding the perfect role for their long-term success. Chelsea is an avid equestrian and enjoys competing in Dressage with her 13-year-old American Paint Horse gelding, Ringo Starr. She also loves snuggling with her two cats, Ember and Mystique, as well as traveling as much as possible.

Julie Bradford

Talent Acquisition Partner

Read Bio

Julie Bradford grew up watching her father care for four-legged patients as a veterinarian in Westport, Connecticut. She pursued a marketing and journalism degree from Southern Connecticut State University and worked in property management for many years before returning to her roots as a veterinary hospital manager in Columbus, Ohio. She brings over 16 years of experience in the veterinary industry to her role as a Talent Acquisition Partner at Heart + Paw. She loves getting to everyone she meets and enjoys swapping stories about her crazy dog Lilly, aloof cat Nala and, from time to time, her grandpuppies, Cash and Izzy too. Julie currently resides in Nashville, TN and has 2 grown children, Allison who is graduating from medical school in May 2023 and Justin, who is married and has two beautiful daughters, who are very spoiled by their Grammy!

Randi Warfel

LVT, Talent Acquisition Partner

Read Bio

Randi has over 17 years of veterinary nursing experience, working in all aspects of veterinary medicine including general practice, specialty, and emergency care. Residing in the Douglassville, PA area, she shares her home with her husband, 3 dogs, 3 goats, 2 pigs, and 15 chickens. She joined the Heart + Paw family at the opening of the Glen Mills Center in 2019, holding positions as Lead Technician and Center Director before being promoted to her role as Talent Acquisition Partner in the Support Center. Randi loves the family feel of Heart + Paw, the welcomed ideas, and collaborations between each department. She is passionate about making connections with each candidate and ensuring their hiring and onboarding experience is smooth and enjoyable.

Veterinarian Led Operations Team Retouch

Our Veterinarian-Led Operations Team

Each Heart + Paw center works closely with a veterinarian on our operations team to assist with hospital leadership in medicine and business. This can look like helping a partner doctor dig into their P&L statement, onboarding new graduates, or scrubbing in to assist in surgeries. Our veterinarian-led team serves as a supportive sanctuary for budding careers and experienced minds alike.

Dr. George Melillo

Co-Founder and Chief Veterinary Officer

Read Bio

A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. George Melillo, VMD, Co-founder & Chief Veterinary Officer, brings more than 35 years of veterinary experience to Heart + Paw.

In 2018, he co-founded Heart + Paw, a company that has 28 full-service veterinary, grooming and dog daycare centers across 10 states, that is reimagining pet care in every way. He is passionate about creating a practice environment and culture that fosters happy, healthy, and successful veterinary teams in what is traditionally a very challenging field.

Dr. Melillo’s decades of experience, combined with a fresh philosophy for pets, pet parents, and the veterinarian teams alike, helps deliver on the Heart + Paw mission: to treat pets and pet parents like family in a way that no one ever has.

Dr. Melillo is frequently interviewed by media and has been featured in media including CNN, Los Angeles Times, iHeartRadio, Reader’s Digest, PureWow, Daily Paws, and more. Currently Dr. Melillo serves as the Secretary/Treasurer of Animal Care of Pennsylvania and resides with his wife in the Philadelphia area close to his five adult children, two grandchildren, and his 12-year-old rescue Jack Russell Terrier.

Dr. Mary Peacock

VP of Operations

Read Bio

Mary has over a decade of experience in veterinary medicine, first as a doctor in general practice and emergency medicine, and then as a leader with extensive multi-unit management and operational experience. She is passionate about development and creating positive environments for all team members to thrive in. Connection and community involvement is central to her work professionally as well as personally. Originally from Washington DC, she attended Wesleyan University before graduating from the Royal Veterinary College in the UK. She loves living in Philadelphia and enjoying all that the city has to offer. She has two small, rambunctious children and two fluffy, rambunctious cats to keep her life busy, but exciting.

Dr. Julie Sanders

Director of Operations

Read Bio

Dr. Julie N. Sanders is a graduate of the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine (VMCVM). During her time at the VMCVM she served as Student Ambassador for Purina, class fundraiser, and VBMA treasurer. Upon graduation, Dr. Sanders entered directly into full-time emergency practice with additional part-time shelter & spay/neuter work. Dr. Sanders also served as the consulting veterinarian for Radford University’s Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee for two years before moving to New Jersey to further her emergency career as a Senior Emergency Veterinarian at Red Bank Veterinary Hospital.

In pursuit of work-life balance, Dr. Sanders transitioned to general practice in 2014 as a Chief of Staff for Banfield Pet Hospital in South Philadelphia. Her medical interests include surgery, dentistry, behavior, and nutrition. She successfully revitalized a struggling hospital and was promoted to Director of Veterinary Quality in 2017 - coaching medical quality for over 40 doctors in multiple locations. In 2021, Dr. Sanders expanded her role to managing both business and medicine. She currently serves as Director of Operations for Heart + Paw leading multiple hospital teams across six states. Her medical & surgical skills remain honed through relief emergency shifts at the local specialty practice.

Dr. Sanders volunteer work started well before vet school with Alley Cat Allies, her local SPCA, and Greyhound Welfare (Vice President). Her service continues to this day with donated surgical services at local shelters. She has volunteered with the AVMA since 2012 participating in ECFVG BCSE workshops and becoming elected to two consecutive terms on the Council on Veterinary Service. She remains active with the VMCVM as both a member of the Alumni Board of Directors and student mentor.

Dr. Sanders enjoys traveling and driving motorcycles with her husband, Jason, and stepson Joseph. A life-long dog-person, Dr. Sanders has acquired an appreciation for cats from her cat-in-law, Lo-Mein.

Dr. Andrew Koch

Director of Operations

Read Bio

Dr. Koch received his Veterinary Medical Doctor degree from the University of Pennsylvania. Prior to veterinary school, he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry and Psychobiology from the State University of New York at Binghamton. After graduation from veterinary school, he started as an associate veterinarian with a small animal general practice in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. In 2015 he transitioned into a hospital leadership role with a different practice in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. His clinical interests include oral surgery and the diagnosis and treatment of endocrine diseases. Dr. Koch lives in Cherry Hill with his wife, two children, dog, and cat. He enjoys traveling, history and spending time with his family and friends.

Dr. Frank Gomez

Director of Operations

Read Bio

Dr. Frank Gomez received his veterinary degree from Tufts University in 2014. Following graduation, he completed rotating and ophthalmology internships and then practiced at small animal hospitals in New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Maryland. He currently lives in North Wales, PA with his fiancée. His clinical interests include internal medicine, ophthalmology, and dermatology. In his spare time, Dr. Gomez enjoys CrossFit, listening to music, and spending time with his fiancée, miniature dachshund, and cat.

Who I am for each location must change. As a veterinarian, I can approach support solutions from the perspective of what is possible through a medical and ethical lens. I’ll never ask you to do something I wouldn’t be comfortable doing.

Dr. Julie Sanders, Director of Operations

Meet Our Teams

Introducing the Team that Will Help You Succeed

Our Talent Acquisition Team

Charlene Wandzilak

Chelsea Staincliffe

Julie Bradford

Randi Warfel

Our Veterinarian-Led Operations Team

Dr. George Melillo

Dr. Mary Peacock

Dr. Julie Sanders

Dr. Andrew Koch

Dr. Frank Gomez

Join Our Talent Network