Meet Our Team

Lesley Battell

Raised on a farm interacting with different pets and farm animals, Lesley’s passion for animal health and well-being was instilled from childhood.

Lesley has pursued many different career paths, but her enthusiasm for animals inevitably brought her back to working with pets and their relationship with humans. Since joining PWAH, Lesley has brought all her skills, compassion, and dedication to all aspects of patient care. Lesley loves being part of a team that puts pets’ health and happiness first.

Lesley is a certified dog trainer who volunteers at a Marshfield Animal Shelter. She enjoys using her nutritional knowledge to cook pet food for her Scottie, Maggy. Lesley also likes spending time outdoors tending to plants, birdwatching, playing golf, and spending time with her family.

Lesley is committed to making every animal feel safe and every client feel heard.

Jennifer J. Johnson, D.V.M

Veterinarian

Dr. Johnson was raised in Quincy and graduated from Thayer Academy before pursuing a B.S. in Biology from Bates College in 1988. She earned her D.V.M. with a Thesis from Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine in 1995. During her academic journey, she enjoyed wide-ranging research experiences, studying dolphins in Western Australia, chimpanzees in Burundi, Central Africa, and calcium and bone metabolism in a human nutrition laboratory.

After veterinary school, Dr. Johnson completed a 13-month internship in small animal medicine and surgery at VCA South Shore Animal Hospital in Weymouth. Since then, she has honed her veterinary skills at several small animal hospitals on the South Shore, including practicing for 17 years at Pembroke Animal Hospital. She has also enjoyed her time serving as a relief veterinarian at the Animal Rescue League of Boston for over 20 years.

Dr. Johnson enjoys all aspects of veterinary medicine, but especially soft tissue surgery and preventative medicine. Outside of work, she loves traveling, running, hiking, drawing, and family time. Her husband, Stephen, graciously supports her passion for native plants and her obsession with planting trees…everywhere. She is a proud mom to a son and a daughter. She has an English Shepherd named Dublin, a Shiloh Shepherd named Roman, a Terrier Mix named Gigi, and two cats named Luna and Timmy.

Kate

Veterinary Assistant/Client Care Specialist

Kate has been working with animals in the South Shore community for years. Her passion started when she began working at a dog daycare and training facility, although her love for animals has been lifelong. Kate grew up surrounded by dogs, cats, horses, bunnies, and even pigs! Her love for caring for animals both at work and at home encouraged her to step into the veterinary field.

She is very excited to work at Pine Woods Animal Hospital, where she can continue her passion for caring for animals while learning from the best in the field.

In her off time, she and her bulldog, Delilah, love to travel and hang out with family.

Kirsten Nilson

CVT, Practice Manager

Kirsten is a Certified Veterinary Technician with over 20 years of experience in the veterinary field. A graduate of Wheaton College with a background in social work, Kirsten made the transition to the animal field while volunteering at the Scituate Animal Shelter. Since then, Kirsten has worked with various animal hospitals as a technician and manager, focusing on surgical and dental procedures and having a special interest in feline medicine. She is a member of the ASDVT and the MVTA.

In addition to the Scituate Animal Shelter, Kirsten was a co-founder of St. Croix Animal Welfare Center to facilitate off-island adoptions.

Kirsten has known and worked with Dr. Johnson for over 20 years and is excited to begin this new adventure with her. She looks forward to getting to know our clients and community.

In her off time, Kirsten is involved in and enjoys showing her Siamese in CFA and TICA cat shows. She lives in Marshfield with her husband Chip and their cats.