Our Staff
One Health Organization helps make Northeast Ohio a healthier, happier place for pets and their people. Our staff has decades of veterinary experience and an endless passion for helping animals.
Learn more about our staff below!
Our Founder | Dr. Anna M. van Heeckeren
Dr. Anna van Heeckeren has always loved animals. She grew up surrounded by dogs, cats, horses, a donkey, a goat, rabbits, birds, guinea pigs, and even llamas. Naturally, she wanted to become a veterinarian.
Dr. Anna first attended the University of Michigan. She earned a Bachelor's degree in Biology there. Later, she earned a master's of science degree (MS) in molecular genetics and her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) from The Ohio State University.
Over the years, Dr. Anna has volunteered at many animal nonprofits. The most prominent was the American Veterinary Medical Foundation. In 2008, she founded One Health Organization. Her dream was (and still is) to benefit the whole community by keeping animals healthy.
When she's not busy being the President and CEO, Dr. Anna spends time with her husband and cat named Pearl (with Pearl's permission). She is the proud mom of two young women.
Program Assistant | Missy Mitchell
Missy is our newest employee starting June 2024. She is a passionate animal lover. She cannot recall a single moment without a beloved family pet by her side.
Before joining One Health Organization, Missy worked at AthletesGoLive as an onboarding specialist. Prior to that, she was an office manager and field assistant for Dr. Jessica Laemmle, a veterinarian specializing in equine care.
During her free time, Missy enjoys spending time with her family and their two dogs, Freya and Kodiak, as well as trail riding with her horse, Ellie. She is an avid fan of college sports, particularly football and basketball. Additionally, she donates her time to provide office administration support for the horse stable where Ellie resides.
Director of Community Relations & Development | Melissa Elick
Melissa started in January 2022. Her role is to provide opportunities to make all the difference in the lives of people who need and want to keep their pets living healthy lives, together.
Prior to working at One Health Organization, Melissa worked at Greater Cleveland Volunteers and at Case Western Reserve University. She looks forward to connecting with community members using her past experience to move the mission forward to accomplish big goals.
In her spare time, Melissa enjoys running and spending time with her dog, Luna. She competed her first marathon in 2022 and is looking forward to her next one.