We’ll Make a Difference
Caring for your pet isn’t our profession. It’s our calling.
We’ll Make a Difference
Caring for your pet isn’t our profession. It’s our calling.
Practice Manager
Dr. McDonough feels very blessed to be a part of the profession and to be chosen to care for the dogs and cats in people’s lives. “I have a strong passion for caring for my patients but also caring for the owners who love them so dearly,” she said. Dr. Michelle earned her bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Wisconsin at Whitewater, and she continued her education at UW Madison School of Veterinary Medicine, where she graduated in 2010 with her degree in veterinary medicine. (Go Badgers!) She became the practice owner of Greendale Village Vet in March 2021. “I am so excited to take on this new challenge of being a small business owner, and I am very excited to lead my team and build a practice exactly how I want it. I believe it is so important to provide the kind of quality care for my patients that I would want my own pet to receive. This is what you can expect for your pet at Greendale Village Vet.”
Dr. Michelle has several interests in her career. She has undergone training in abdominal ultrasound and finds it to be a vital tool for completing a patient’s full diagnostic picture. She also loves soft-tissue surgery and enjoys the time she spends performing procedures. Dr. Michelle believes surgery is an important part of the treatment plan and can even be a diagnostic tool. She also enjoys a good and challenging dermatology case. Skin problems in pets are a common ailment, and she finds working through the different reasons for skin problems and finding relief for those pets is very rewarding.
When she is not at work, she spends time with her amazing and supportive husband, Nick. “We can usually be found chasing around and snuggling our kiddos, Luke and Claire,” she said. The family also has a mixed-breed dog named Lola. The family loves to spend time up north fishing, swimming and being outdoors. They are also big Packers, Badgers and Brewers fans.
“I look forward to meeting you and being able to care for the precious furry members of your family,” said Dr. Michelle.
Dr. Ellen Mueller earned her biology degree from the University of Notre Dame and her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Minnesota. She has wanted to be a veterinarian since she was a little girl, and loves creating a relationship with her clients and patients to provide great care throughout their lifetimes. Dr. Ellen has been a veterinarian at our practice since 2018, and she has greatly enjoyed working in the Greendale community. Dr. Ellen has a particular interest in surgery, orthopedic and behavior cases.
Dr. Ellen and her husband Matt share their home with three wonderful dogs: Sanna, a keeshond; Flynn, a sheltie; and Quest, a border collie; and one cat, Zelda. In her spare time, she enjoys running agility with her dogs, hiking, traveling and cheering for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team.
Dr. Kristin BeVirt is a 2000 graduate of the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine. She has a bachelor of science degree in biology from Carroll University in Waukesha. She has been part of our practice since 1994, when she started working as an assistant while getting her undergraduate degree. She has been a veterinarian here since 2001. A Greendale native, Dr. BeVirt is proud to be providing compassionate care for the pets of this community. She enjoys the many aspects of veterinary medicine, from preventive care and nutrition, to surgery and managing chronic illnesses. Her special interests include integrative holistic medicine. In October 2015, Dr. BeVirt obtained her certification in veterinary medical acupuncture through Curacore in Colorado. She continues to be amazed at the difference this form of physical medicine can make in the lives of her patients. In 2021, she received her Graduate Diploma in Veterinary Western Herbal Medicine through the College of Integrative Veterinary Therapies in Australia. This certification requires more than 1,400 hours of continuing education. Western herbal medicine is a holistic approach that uses herbs to balance a patient’s energetics, disease symptoms, mental health and organ function to achieve optimal wellness. She is truly passionate about incorporating the healing power of nature in managing her patients. It has been a life-changing journey, and she is excited to have this knowledge and skill set to improve her patients’ well-being. In her free time, Dr. BeVirt enjoys running, yoga and spending time with her daughter, husband and furry family.
Dr. Passinault earned her undergraduate degree from Illinois Wesleyan University and attended the University of Illinois Veterinary School, graduating in 1992. She started working at Greendale Village Vet, then known as Veterinary Medical Associates, and she feels fortunate never to have left. “With an amazing staff, a progressive hospital and fantastic clients, why would I want to leave?” she said. She is married to a wonderful man, and they have four kids. The family also has a variety of dogs and cats that seem to grow in number as the kids move out. When not at work, Dr. Passinault volunteers at an inner-city high school as a tutor. She enjoys hiking and biking with her family.
Dr. Bailey attended Carroll University for her undergraduate education. She earned her doctorate in veterinary medicine from the University of Wisconsin at Madison. Becoming a veterinarian has been a goal since she was first posed the question: “What do you want to be when you grow up?” In her opinion, being able to help animals in need and the people who love them makes for the most rewarding career. Within veterinary medicine, Dr. Bailey has interests in endocrinology, oncology, soft-tissue surgery and neurology. Additionally, she is Fear Free certified and passionate about using Fear Free practices to make vet visits a positive experience for her patients and their owners.
Outside of work, Dr. Bailey enjoys spending time with her significant other, family and friends. She enjoys the great outdoors and is an avid camper during the warmer months. Her other hobbies include baking tasty treats, reading and playing guitar. Dr. Bailey also enjoys acting and visiting the theatre. One of her majors of study at Carroll University was theatre and arts management. Dr. Bailey shares her home with her two kitties, Shadow and Twizzler, and she hopes to add a golden retriever puppy to the mix soon.
Maria started working at our hospital in 1997 when it was known as Veterinary Medical Associates and she worked here for 15 years. Maria filled many positions during that time including client service representative and veterinary assistant. After pursuing a career in another field for the past 10 years, Maria is excited to be back at our hospital as the Client Service Manager. Maria has a passion for customer service and is thrilled to be able to utilize her past professional experiences to support the Client Service Representative team and the staff as a whole. When Maria isn’t working, she enjoys spending time with her husband, daughters, and two mini Australian Shepherds Malibu and Violet, traveling, and baking French macarons.
