Meet Our Staff

Dr. Patrick Emmelot grew up locally in Rolling Meadows and graduated from the University of Illinois where he studied Animal Science in undergrad and then earned his DVM at The College of Veterinary Medicine in 1992. He practiced at Park Ridge Animal Hospital and Palatine Animal Hospital before landing at Lincolnshire Animal Hospital in 1999, at which time he and Dr. Stuart Clarke took ownership of the clinic. Outside of work, spending time with his family is a priority, including their several dogs and cats.

Dr. Jennifer Sutkay is a native to our community, growing up locally in Long Grove. While attending Stevenson High School, Jennifer started working at a local animal hospital. She started as a kennel assistant, but quickly learned the ropes and was trained as an assistant. Shortly after being immersed into veterinary medicine, she decided her goal was to become a veterinarian herself. Dr. Sutkay obtained her Bachelors in Biology from the University of Illinois at Chicago. In 2010 she received her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Ross University, where she graduated with highest honors. She was awarded the Pfizer Small Animal Proficiency Award in 2008.

Dr. Sutkay came to Lincolnshire Animal Hospital in 2014 and joined Dr. Emmelot as an owner in 2021. She enjoys all aspects of veterinary medicine, but takes a special interest in dermatology, which is likely a result of having had an English Bulldog. She likes promoting preventative medicine, where she can try to help pets and their owners avoid problems before they occur.

Dr. Sutkay married a fellow veterinarian, Dr. William Sutkay, in 2010 and have three beautiful daughters. When Jennifer is not seeing patients at Lincolnshire Animal Hospital, she enjoys running, biking, canoeing, and has started dabbling in furniture restoration.

Dr. Julie DiFuccia is a 2004 Univeristy of Wisconsin grad, who also went to Madison for undergrad. Being from Wisconsin, she is also a Packers fan, but is allowed to work here anyway. She has been with Lincolnshire Animal Hospital since 2005 and considers the clinic to be home. Dr. DiFuccia enjoys being a general practitioner because it has allowed her to develop wonderful relationships with her patients over the years and do her best to keep them happy and healthy. Maintaining quality of life is one of the main goals for both her patients and their families. She loves to perform surgeries, but enjoys all aspects of medicine as well. When she is not here at the clinic, she and her husband are raising their two sons, one daughter, and one adorable but naughty terrier. When she gets free time, Dr. DiFuccia loves to travel, especially to places where she can hike or snorkel!

Dr. Kelly Rasch was born and raised in Chicago and attended the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana for both undergraduate studies (Biology) and veterinary school. Go Illini! She graduated from vet school with honors in 1990 and worked at a small animal hospital in Northfield for two years, then as an emergency/critical care doctor for sixteen years. She has been working at Lincolnshire Animal Hospital since 2009.

Dr. Rasch recognizes the importance of the human-animal bond. She is happy to be able to foster this bond by providing the medical care that is needed to keep pets happy and healthy and is always inspired by the profound impact that loving, furry family members can have on our lives. Her professional interests include endocrinology, cardiology, ophthalmology, and emergency medicine.

Her free time is spent with her husband, two daughters, two super cute dogs, and one mischievous cat. Dr. Rasch enjoys hiking, cooking, going to concerts, and watching the Cubs beat the White Sox (sorry Dr. Emmelot!)

Dr. Erin Gray was raised in Cleveland, Ohio, and grew up as an avid Buckeyes fan. She earned her undergraduate degree in Animal Sciences in 2009 and her DVM in 2013 from The Ohio State University. She spent her first years out of veterinary school at a small animal general practice in Reno, Nevada where she developed interest in internal medicine, surgery, and working to enrich the relationships that humans have with their animal companions. She joined Lincolnshire Animal Hospital in 2017 when she moved to Chicago with her yellow lab, Lilli. Dr. Gray enjoys spending time running and hiking the outdoors with her husband Patrick.

Dr. Miller earned her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Michigan State University (don’t worry, she and Dr. “OH-IO” Gray have already buried the hatchet).  She brings 15 years of experience in small animal practice with a passion for dentistry.  We love her strong focus and commitment to client relationships enhancing your pet’s treatment and wellness.  

Dr. Miller moved from Michigan to Chicago in 2007 and is currently in the process of relocating to the suburbs with her husband, 2 year-old daughter, and her dog Bella.

In her free time, Dr. Miller enjoys cheering on her MSU Spartan sports teams, golfing, checking out local breweries and enjoying time outdoors in the local forest preserves and parks.

Dr. Fitzgerald is an Iowa native who attended the University of Northern Iowa and graduated from Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2005.

After coming to Chicago for an internship, Dr. Fitzgerald worked as an emergency doctor for 3 years at a specialty center, with another year and a half dedicated to her passion of neurology.

Dr. Fitzgerald continues to enjoy emergency medicine and surgery all the while being focused on client education and fostering the critical human-animal bond.  Did we mention her love of neurology?!

Dr. Fitzgerald has an affinity for the outdoors, working out, reading, and spending time with her husband, son and daughter. Rounding out her family are two dogs (Templeton and Corbin) and one cat (Coal).

Dr. Daniel Pusateri joined our hospital in April of 2025.

Dr. Pusateri has a special connection to our hospital – his family brought their pets here for care when he was growing up.  Inspired by those experiences, he is now thrilled to become part of our team.

Dr. Pusateri earned both his undergraduate and veterinary degrees from the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana. Since graduating in 2019, he has spent the past 5 years practicing in Downers Grove, where he became the managing doctor in 2023.  His passion lies in helping families navigate challenging situations with their pets while finding just as much joy in building strong connections with healthy pets and their owners.

Outside of work, Dr. Pusateri enjoys competitive gaming, cheering for the Bears and Fighting Illini, spending time outdoors, and appreciating wildlife.  He also has a friendly “I love everybody” dog name Sadie, that he adopted in vet school.  And as a big March Madness fan, he loves a good underdog story!

Title: Practice Manager
First Year at LAH: 2019
Pets: Ares, Theo & Jilly
Favorite Part of LAH: The people, both clients and staff, are amazing!
About Me: I love outdoor walks or spending time with my family and friends.  A perfect day for me involves curling up with a good book, being in the water or attempting some new culinary recipes!

Title: Assistant Manager
First Year at LAH: 1999
Pets: Teddy (dog)
Favorite Part of LAH: My coworkers and our sense of community.
About Me: I’ve worked at Lincolnshire Animal Hospital for a very long time. I love helping our patients feel safe and comfortable and I love educating clients and helping them through difficult times.

Title: Certified Veterinary Technician
First Year at LAH: June 2016
Pets: Ruger (Rottweiler), Gary (leopard gecko) & Mushu (bearded dragon)
Favorite Part of LAH: The high standard of care along with the amazing team I get to work with!
About Me: My experience is going on 26 years of veterinary technology. My areas of interest are broad, from basic animal care to anesthesia and pain management. My hobbies include reading and gardening. I am a wife, mother of 2 and am an avid gamer as well. A fun fact is that I enjoy cooking and canning my own salsa.

Title: Veterinary Assistant
First Year at LAH: 2011 in kennel!
Pets: Frankie (pointer), Ham & Cheese (sweet kitties)
Favorite Part of LAH: The patients and clients!
About Me: I love taking long walks and working out! I also love to hang with my friends and to go out to brunch. Travelling is another passion of mine, and I’m also an Olympics junkie and hope to volunteer at the 2028 LA Olympics!

Title: Veterinary Assistant
First Year at LAH: 2016
Pets: 2 cats (Bruce & Alfred) and 1 dog (Bane)
Favorite Part of LAH: My favorite part of LAH is working with such an incredible team who are always willing to help with whatever may come through the doors.
About Me: I’ve been in the veterinary field since I was 18 years old. I love expanding my knowledge in my career and it gives me great satisfaction knowing that I can make a difference for those that can’t speak for themselves. In my free time, I love to spend time with my family and friends, as well as going on adventures with my canine companion (Bane).

Title: Veterinary Assistant
First Year at LAH: 2018
Pets: Cats and a Dog
Favorite Part of LAH: Management and fellow staff.
About Me: I’ve been working with animals since age 14. I enjoy rock climbing and other outdoor activities in my free time.

Title: Veterinary Assistant
First Year at LAH: 2014-2018; 2023-present
Pets: Moira (cat)
Favorite Part of LAH: My coworkers and just being able to help dogs and cats, young and old!
About Me: I started in the field over 20 years ago. My favorite part of the job is working with senior kitties and spicy kitties. In my free time I enjoy estate sales, antique fairs, concerts and horror movies!

Title: Veterinary Assistant
First Year at LAH: 2022
Pets: Davy (cat)
Favorite Part of LAH: All of the Collies, Labradors and grey kitties that come in.
About Me: I’m an aspiring veterinarian and recent graduate from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana. In my free time I enjoy golfing, camping and watching sports. I also love cuddling with my cat Davy.

Pets: At home, I have three beloved pets: Tobie, a beagle/dachshund mix; Miko, a playful husky; and Luna, my sweet gray cat.

Favorite thing about working at LAH: I’m proud to be part of the LAH team, where every day feels like working with family. One of my favorite things about being here is how well we work together to care for our patients — it’s incredibly rewarding to help animals feel better and be surrounded by people who share that passion.

About me:  Outside of work, I enjoy spending time outdoors, crocheting, cooking, crafting, and exploring new places — especially if it involves traveling or camping. I was born and raised in Chicago, Polish was my first language, and I’m a proud first-generation member of my family. I’ve always had a deep love for animals, and I’m currently in school working toward becoming a certified Veterinary Technician!

Pets: 1 Dog (Lola)
Favorite part about LAH: The amazing team I get to work with everyday and of course the cute cats and dogs that come in.
About me: I’m an aspiring veterinarian and recent graduate of UW-Madison. In my free time I enjoy going on walks, practicing yoga, traveling and spending time with my friends, family, and my dog.

Pets: Chicory (dog), Winnie & Honeybee (cats)
Favorite thing about working at LAH: Learning more every day about veterinary medicine and how to care for animals
About me: I have a degree in history and global health from Northwestern, and I enjoy reading, roller skating, and baking.

Title: Client Service Representative
First Year at LAH: 2013
Pets: Geddy & Puddin
Favorite Part of LAH: The clients and their pets!
About Me: I have been married 35 years and have 2 wonderful grown kids! My passion for animals has led me to work in the vet field for over 25 years.

Title: Client Service Representative
First Year at LAH: 2005
Pets: Nellie (most beautiful collie)
Favorite Part of LAH: Being close to home and working with an awesome staff!

Title: Client Service Representative
First Year at LAH: 2017
Pets: Dogs and Ferrets
Favorite Part of LAH: The family I have found here at Lincolnshire Animal Hospital.
About Me: After working in human medicine for majority of my life, I found the opportunity to intertwine my LOVE for animals with my daily job and I have never been happier! I spend most of my free time with my family going to movies, comedy shows, camping and dog parks/beaches.

Title: Client Service Representative
First Year at LAH: 2023
Pets: Naomi (grey cat)
Favorite Part of LAH: Being surrounded by animal lovers. :)
About Me: I enjoy hiking, painting, and yoga.

Pets: Tucker (the sweetest and sassiest dachshund mix)

Favorite part of LAH: Working with the LAH family to help clients and their fur babies when they need it the most! And all the Dachshunds that come in!

About me: I’ve always been an animal lover and fond of working in customer service. And as a current student studying Business Administration at NEIU, I aim to bring both heart and professionalism when working with people and their pets to provide the best experience possible! Outside of work, I love photography and traveling. I also really enjoy cooking and baking in my free time.

First Year at LAH: 2007
Pets: Raven & Riley (dogs) and Fish Tank
Favorite Part of LAH: The best part of my job is socializing with the staff who are the most wonderful people, making my job most enjoyable.
About Me: I started working in November 2007 part time and I help out with anything that needs to be done, like washing and drying towels, throwing out recyclables and preparing bottles for pet medications. I love to see the animals that come to the hospital, which I sometimes get to pet and talk to the owners about them. I have 2 dogs, Raven and Riley, that I love to play with and a fish tank. I collect keychains and have a collection of over 1000. I also collect Angel figurines and photo frames which I put pictures of all my pets, friends and family. I like to go bowling and shopping on the weekends with my friends.