Dr. Lesley Leach is the co-owner and medical director at 5280 Veterinary Care. She earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Colorado State University in 2006. Prior to attending veterinary school, she obtained a bachelor’s degree in Zoology and Biology from the University of Wyoming. Dr. Leach has professional interest in radiology.
Originally, Dr. Leach practiced in Northern Colorado before joining the team at Indian Tree Animal Hospital in Arvada. In 2016, she became co-owner of Indian Tree. Together with the award-winning veterinary team at Indian Tree, Dr. Leach and her fellow staff expanded and opened 5280 Veterinary Care as a second location near Denver’s River North Art District, in the heart of the historical Whittier neighborhood. Her favorite part about working at 5280 Veterinary Care is the close-knit family feel between hospital staff and clients alike.
Dr. Leach likes to spend her free time doing yoga, traveling, baking, and doing costumed photoshoots. Her favorite cuisines include wine, cheese, and artisan bread, and she always jumps at the opportunity to dine at Wildflower and Bruto. Dr. Leach shares her home with her three kitties named Jeeves and Wallace, AKA The Party Peach. Fiddy Scent is the newest addition, and he was adopted from Texas following a gunshot wound to his face. Don't worry, he's thriving now and is living his best life!
Dr. Anjuli Hein is the co-owner of 5280 Veterinary Care. She graduated from the University of Colorado, Boulder with a degree in Biology, and then continued on to receive her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine degree at Colorado State University in 2007. She specializes in acupuncture, and has professional interests in dentistry, soft-tissue surgery, senior pet care, and client education.
Dr. Hein was born and raised on a ranch in Kremmling, a small town in Northwestern Colorado, and she grew up working for her local veterinarian. After earning her veterinary degree, Dr. Hein worked at a mixed-animal practice in Salida, CO before joining the team at Indian Tree Animal Hospital in Arvada in 2008. She became a co-owner of Indian Tree in 2016 and is proud to open 5280 as a second hospital location near Denver’s River North Art District, in the heart of the historic Whittier neighborhood. Dr. Hein expresses that her clients and fellow staff make 5280 an amazing place to practice veterinary medicine.
Outside of being a passionate veterinarian, Dr. Hein enjoys reading, bike riding, skiing, hiking, and traveling. Her favorite food is seafood, and she also loves the Mexican cuisine at Lola. She shares a home with her husband, two small children, and a dog, Mosley. Her first pet was a quarter horse named Lady.
Dr. Hein now spends the majority of her time at our sister location in Arvada, Indian Tree Animal Hospital.
Dr. Nikki Wise is an Associate Veterinarian at 5280 Veterinary Care. She attended Penn State University for her bachelor's in animal science in 2014, and went on to complete her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine at Colorado State University in 2019. She is Fear Free Certified and her areas of professional interest include pain management and senior care, dentistry, soft-tissue surgery, and internal medicine. She became certified in veterinary acupuncture in 2022.
Dr. Wise began working in veterinary medicine as a tech assistant / kennel care assistant. Since a very young age, Dr. Wise was inspired to become a veterinarian by an obsession with animals and her natural ability to care for them. Later, her goal was driven further by her desire to connect with clients and focus on education to better improve the lives of their pets. Dr. Wise says the best part of working in the veterinary field is forming relationships with her clients and getting to know each pet as an individual; watching them grow and change as time goes on. She says being able to connect with an animal and fitting together the pieces of the puzzle in order to better their health is very rewarding for her.
Originally from Lancaster, PA, Dr. Wise currently lives in Erie, CO with her husband and daughter. They share a home with their beloved pets, a Bernese Mountain dog named Chickie, and a cat named Lyra. When she is not providing quality veterinary care, you can find her hiking, camping, doing jigsaw puzzles, going to breweries, and attending concerts.
Dr. Emily McDowell is a Veterinarian at 5280 Veterinary Care. Dr. McDowell earned both her Bachelor of Science in Animal Science in 2016 and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 2020 from Iowa State University. In addition to her education, Dr. McDowell completed an externship at the Boulder Humane Society and practiced at a small animal general practice in Denver. Dr. McDowell is USDA Category 1 Accredited and her areas of professional interest include dentistry, preventative care, and internal medicine.
Dr. McDowell wanted to be a veterinarian ever since she could remember. Her interest and love of veterinary medicine grew as she learned about the incredible value of the human-animal bond and began taking advanced science classes. According to Dr. McDowell, the best part of working in the veterinary field is building relationships with clients and patients. She loves to answer questions and support owners during all the highs and lows that come with being a pet parent.
Originally from Iowa, Dr. McDowell relocated to Colorado in 2020 with her boyfriend, their mixed-breed dog named Josie, and their three domestic short hair cats named Edna, Oliver, and Piper. In her free time, Dr. McDowell loves to hike with her dog, paddle board, and attend sporting events and concerts.
Dr. Kayla Hiland is a veterinarian at 5280 Veterinary Care. She graduated from the University of Alabama in Huntsville in 2020, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences. She then earned her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Auburn University. Dr. Hiland is Fear Free Certified, and her areas of professional interest include cardiology, pain management, and ultrasonography.
Dr. Hiland was born and raised in a small town in Alabama. She aspired to become a veterinarian from a very young age, and this passion grew through her years of volunteering and working with animals. Dr. Hiland's favorite part about working in veterinary medicine is building trust with her patients and providing the care they need to live long and happy lives.
Following graduation, Dr. Hiland relocated to Denver, CO, with her partner. They share a home with two elderly chihuahuas, Mia and Skippy, and two cats, Frankie and Malcolm. She enjoys hiking, camping, traveling, and gardening in her free time.
Dr. Emilee Weiblen is originally from Grand Rapids, Michigan. She completed a BA in both Biology and Spanish from Albion College before earning her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine.
In veterinary school, Dr. Weiblen discovered her passion for soft tissue surgery and integrative medicine. Her deep love for animals and her ability to advocate for those who cannot speak for themselves drive her to provide the best medical care for each patient.
While not originally from Colorado, she loves to explore all that it has to offer. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, skiing, practicing yoga, exploring the Denver food scene, and spending time with her three cats, Sansa, Hugo, and Louie.
Becky is our outstanding Practice Manager. After spending 20 years in the in the culinary industry, Becky switched careers to Veterinary Medicine in July of 2020. Once she entered this industry, she immediately realized her deep seeded passion for providing animal lovers and their beloved fur babies with the very best experience Vet Med has to offer. With a great attitude and excessive customer service experience, her passion lies in high quality client support, client education and gold standard patient care. Becky's focus is raising her son and their incredibly spoiled kitty, Lucky. She is extremely family oriented and spends much of her time caring for her loved ones. She was born in Colorado, raised in Montana and enjoys all things nature, Astrology, art, and poetry.
Wyatt is originally from Osage City, Kansas. He has lived in Colorado for 7 years and began his career in veterinary medicine 4 years ago. Wyatt has a degree in biology, sociology, and environmental education. Wyatt has 3 pets at home: a dog named Ollie, and two cats, Otto and Mochi. In his spare time, Wyatt enjoys hiking, spending time outdoors, kayaking, and traveling as much as possible.
Scarlett has had a passion for helping animals since she was a kid, whether it was fostering, pet sitting or joining the veterinary field. 8 years ago, she became a certified vet assistant and has been an assistant ever since. She enjoys expanding her knowledge in the medical field and is willing to learn new skills and techniques. Over time her hard-working attitude has made her a jack of many trades. To her, one of the most fulfilling moments at work is helping some of the more nervous kiddos feel more comfortable. She loves to create a more positive experience for your fur babies, one visit at a time. When she's not working, she's usually at home cuddling her own furry babies or painting.
Vanessa has been a part of 5280 Veterinary Care since it opened in 2018, but first started her passion in the animal industry about 10 years ago. What started as an internship in college led Vanessa to realize how much she enjoys helping pets and pet parents, so they are able to live their best and healthiest lives together. Vanessa was raised in northern California but has lived in multiple states across the U.S. before settling down in Denver. Vanessa shares her home with her fiancé and son, their two dogs, Sully and Ellie, two cats Simba and Koda, an axolotl named Mr. Peaches, and a freshwater angelfish aquarium. In her spare time, she enjoys playing disc golf, attending sporting events, gardening, and spending time outdoors in general.
Katie is proud to serve as a Client Care Representative and technician assistant here at 5280 Veterinary Care. Her areas of professional interest include zoology, conservation biology and veterinary technician work. She began working in the veterinary industry in 2019 and loves learning how to help animals who need it most. Outside of 5280, she is a dog handler / trainer. Katie was born and raised in Denver, CO and loves spending time with her Doberman Husky mix, Sasha, and tabby cat, Lancelot. She enjoys spending her free time with her family, hiking, and drawing. A fun fact about Katie is that she has been a singer for most of her life and even auditioned for the Disney channel.
Andrea started working with animals in high school at a mobile pet shot clinic in El Paso, Texas and has now been a tech for just under 10 years. She moved to Colorado with her boyfriend 3 years ago and both love it here so far. Her favorite part of the job is being able to form a friendship with your pet while they stay with us for an anesthetic procedure. If she's not out exploring Colorado hugging trees, you can find her at work giving your pet all the snuggles and hugs, and yes, even the spiciest kitties! She hopes to see you soon!
Juan is a dedicated and passionate technician delivering the best care to all our patients. He's been in the field for about 6 years and has never regretted a second of it. He moved to Colorado with his sweetheart almost 3 years ago to start a new adventure in life and career. He says he can't wait to help your pets with their medical needs. He and his girlfriend have 2 dogs, 1 cat and a red eared slider turtle named Bob. Juan loves to explore Colorado, and all it has to offer!
Growing up, Liz was always surrounded by animals. Naturally, she grew a passion for our furry friends, especially cats (they were her family's primary pet). When a door was opened for her to enter the Veterinary world as a receptionist back in 2018, she ran with the opportunity.
After achieving her goal of becoming Veterinary Technicians' Assistant at her first clinic, she grew hungry for more knowledge and new challenges. She later left her primary care clinic and pursued the realms of a Specialty ER where she aided in Internal Medicine and ICU.
In the fall of 2021, Liz moved to Colorado for more job opportunities. She landed in a Cat Specialty Clinic and expressed she was a sponge during this time, taking in many tips and tricks for her feline friends. So much so that she has coined the title of "The cat whisperer" and her colleagues often request her assistance with higher maintenance kitties. Liz loves to share the skills she has picked up to help make her coworkers more comfortable handling some of our feisty feline patients. She feels she ended up with a great work family where we pass on skills and elevate each other to provide the best care we can for your furry friends. She says thank you for trusting us with your furry family members!
Savanna is a Colorado native and has always had a passion for animals. She grew up on the back of horses and was in 4H riding competitively. Savanna has a chocolate lab named Hazel and a loving fiancé! She loves exploring the mountains and all that Colorado has to offer. She is very passionate and caring with all of her patients. Savanna graduated from Bel-Rea Institute of Animal Technology in March of 2021 and has been a part of the 5280 Team since November of 2022. Savanna's bubbly and outgoing personality will always put a smile on your face!
Ashley started her journey with animals in 2018 working at a pet store in her hometown in New Mexico where she got to work with all kinds of exotic pets. She got her first job as a vet tech in Albuquerque and fell in love with the field. From working with dogs and cats to birds and snakes, she discovered how much there is to learn and love about animals. After this job, she took some time off to travel the country on her own and was able to visit 27 national parks and would love to see them all someday! Ashley moved to Colorado in November of 2023 to continue her career and education in veterinary medicine and is in pursuit of becoming a registered veterinary technician!
Born in Mexico and raised in Vail, Colorado, Lidia pursued her passion for animal care by attending Veterinary Medical school in Mexico. She recently moved to Denver and loves exploring Colorado's nature, especially in the fall. Lidia joined 5280 Veterinary Care at the end of July 2024 and has quickly become a valued member of the team.
Outside of work, Lidia enjoys hiking, camping, concerts, exploring the city and is learning how to mountain bike. One of her favorite things is giving love and comfort to both her own pets, Tootsie, Lala, and Scout and 5280 patients.
Crystal became interested in the Veterinary field after she got her very first kitty in 2017. It was soon after that she realized her deep love of animals and decided she would like to enter the industry. An opportunity showed up and she joined the 5280 Veterinary Care team in April of 2023. Crystal was born in Florida but moved to CO in 2008 and has been here since. She has two kitties, Tami and Enoki, and she enjoys playing video games, watching anime, and cosplaying in her free time. She also has a love for travel and exploring new cultures and places in the world. She has recently been to Japan, and she plans to visit Europe and Korea!
Brendan is originally from Rochester, New York, but has been living in Colorado for the past 2 years. His passion for animals grew when his family had 4 pets and purchased a dog daycare and boarding facility that he worked at for 3 years. He has more recently worked at another vet clinic in Colorado Springs, before moving to Denver. He and his longtime girlfriend currently have a Golden Retriever named Arlo and a fluffy little Maine Coone Mix named Totoro. Brendan loves video games, traveling, and anything outdoors! A fun fact about Brendan is he used to be terrified of dogs, until age 7, when his family brought home the sweetest Lab Terrier Mix named Daisy.
Located on the corner of Gilpin St and E 31st Ave. Directly next to The Great Gilpin Escape Into Elegance and steps from George Morrison St. Park.
Phone: 720-789-7000
