About Us

Dr. Salmon achieved her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Colorado State University in 2016, completed a 1-year medicine and surgery rotating internship at the University of Minnesota, and then became residency trained in Veterinary Cardiology at the University of Georgia in 2020. She has practiced in Colorado Springs since completing her residency and became board-certified in 2021. Dr. Salmon’s professional interests include arrhythmia management, medical management of congestive heart failure, and catheter-based interventional procedures. Dr. Salmon also holds a Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science & a Master’s degree in Environmental Health & Toxicology. In her free time, she enjoys time outside with her dogs, Bee & Ladybug & time with her family in Denver.

Dr. Ko is one of only seven veterinarians in the world who are double board-certified in both Small Animal Surgery and Neurology. He brings exceptional surgical expertise to North Springs, where he will focus on delivering advanced orthopedic surgery, soft tissue surgery, and comprehensive surgical care for complex cases.

Dr. Ko grew up in Montreal, Quebec. He earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the Université de Montréal in 2000, followed by a rotating internship at Angell Memorial Animal Hospital/MSPCA. He then completed a surgical residency at Purdue University, where he also earned a Master of Science degree. He became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS) in 2007 and later achieved board certification in Neurology (DACVIM), making him part of an elite group of specialists with this rare dual expertise.

Throughout his career, Dr. Ko has been dedicated to providing the highest level of surgical precision and patient care. His passion for excellence extends to mentoring fellow veterinarians and advancing clinical standards within the profession. Before joining North Springs, he served as an orthopedic, soft tissue, and neurosurgeon at Thrive Pet Healthcare Specialists in North Scottsdale and most recently held leadership roles as Regional Medical Director and Regional Doctor Mentor, guiding veterinary teams and supporting professional growth.

Outside of the hospital, Dr. Ko enjoys ice hockey and rock climbing. He is a certified climbing route setter, designing routes and boulder problems for commercial climbing gyms and USA competitive youth athletes.

Dr. Emily Purswell received her undergraduate degree from the University of Denver in 2004 and her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Iowa State University in Ames, IA, in 2010. After completing a small animal rotating internship, she was commissioned into the U.S. Army, serving 14 years as an Active Duty veterinarian. During her military service, Dr. Purswell completed her clinical residency in internal medicine at North Carolina State University in 2018, subsequently becoming board-certified in small animal internal medicine. Dr. Purswell’s clinical interests include renal & gastrointestinal diseases. She lives in Colorado Springs with her partner, Scott, & they enjoy spending time together in the mountains, taking advantage of all that Colorado has to offer.

Dr. Leigh earned his DVM with honors from Colorado State University in 2001. After graduation, he completed a one-year internship in small animal medicine and surgery at the Animal Medical Center in New York City. Dr. Leigh then practiced emergency and general small animal medicine in the Denver area before being accepted into the radiology residency program at North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine. After completing his residency training, he became board-certified by the American College of Veterinary Radiology in 2007. Dr. Leigh returned to Colorado and founded Rocky Mountain Veterinary Imaging in 2007 working as a veterinary radiologist at several front range referral hospitals and as a mobile radiologist. His professional interests include abdominal, musculoskeletal and vascular ultrasonography, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain and spine. When not working, Dr. Leigh enjoys time with his family (including two mixed breed dogs), photography, mountain biking, skiing, hiking, and backpacking.

Dr. Sutton grew up in Arizona. He attended the University of Arizona for his undergraduate degree where he received a bachelor’s in veterinary science. He then went on to gain work experience in Florida within the veterinary field before attending Washington State University for veterinary school. He graduated in 2020 and has worked in emergency on the front range ever since. He loves all things emergency medicine, especially interventional procedures and surgery. In his free time, you will often find him off in the mountains with his wife, Lexi, and two dogs, Arlo and Addie.

Dr. Cokeley acquired her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Mississippi State University in 2019. Originally from West Virginia, she returned to her home state as a small animal generalist and emergency practitioner after graduation. In 2021, she and her husband moved to Colorado Springs where she has since been practicing. Dr. Cokeley’s clinical interests include soft tissue emergency surgery, anesthesia, critical care, and ultrasound/diagnostic imaging with a strong emphasis on maintaining the most up to date, evidence-based care. Outside of her professional interests, Dr. Cokeley enjoys mountain biking, skiing and backcountry ski touring, as well as backpacking with her husband Jacob and their four dogs Cooper, Blanche (who also loves skiing and mountain biking!), Peanut, and Tuli.

Dr. Summers joined NSVRC after graduating from Atlantic Veterinary College in Prince Edward Island, Canada in 2023. Prior to veterinary school, Dr. Summers accumulated over ten years of experience working at general practice veterinary clinics. While pursuing her doctorate degree, she discovered that emergency medicine is where she thrives as a veterinarian. Dr. Summers prioritizes clear and compassionate communication during ER visits to help owners make informed decisions for their pets during their most stressful times. She has empathy for anxious, fearful, and aggressive pets and practices within their comfort level to support a positive experience for pets while still providing the care they need. Dr. Summers grew up in Anchorage, Alaska where she spent most of her free time training and racing sled dogs. She now resides in Colorado Springs with her husband, their dogs Vino and Theo, and their cat, Yuki.

Dr. Butler grew up in Washington State but earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology at the University of Michigan (GO BLUE!). Dr. Butler then graduated with her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Washington State University. After graduation, she moved to Colorado for a small animal rotating internship in the Denver area. After a few years working as an ER veterinarian in the Denver area, Dr. Butler, her fiancé, and her three-legged dog, Tater Tot, moved to Colorado Springs. Dr. Butler has a special interest in emergency and critical care and surgery. In her free time, she enjoys taking Tater to the dog park, exploring breweries, and reading.

Dr. Hardcastle grew up in Knoxville, TN attending the University of Tennessee for both undergraduate and veterinary school. Upon graduation, she commissioned into the Army Veterinary Corps, serving in Tacoma, WA, and Junction City, KS. After completing her time in service, she moved to Colorado Springs, where she joined the North Springs VRC team. Her clinical interests include surgery and anesthesia. Outside of work, she enjoys trail running, mountain biking, and spending time with her dogs.

After growing up in Brandon, South Dakota, Matt Hubbell graduated from Creighton University in 2010 with a degree in accounting. He began his career in public accounting, where he earned his CPA certification and discovered a passion for understanding what makes small businesses succeed. Following his time in public accounting, Matt built a successful career in the manufacturing and construction industries. As the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for North Springs Veterinary Emergency & Specialty Center, Matt provides strategic leadership for the center’s business and finance functions. He is dedicated to creating efficiencies by leveraging technology and fostering a healthy, inclusive work climate. Matt is a personable, reliable, and accomplished professional who demonstrates integrity in all he does. He believes that business success and employee well-being are intrinsically linked. In his free time, Matt enjoys golfing, camping, and skiing.

Joanna Campbell has been in the veterinary field for the past 12 years and is passionate about supporting both pets and the people who care for them. Throughout her career, she has worked alongside many different veterinary teams and doctors, building strong relationships and gaining experience in a variety of areas within the field. Prior to veterinary medicine, Joanna spent 15 years in customer service and corporate leadership with Ford Credit, giving her a strong background in finance, business operations, customer relations, and team support.

Known for her friendly and approachable personality, Joanna truly enjoys getting to know clients, coworkers, and patients alike. She loves being part of a team environment and helping create a positive experience for both staff and pet owners.

Outside of work, Joanna enjoys spending time with friends and family, hiking, reading, painting, watching movies, listening to all kinds of music, and trying new things — most recently country line dancing and Pilates. She shares her home with her big floppy black Lab mix, Bubba, and her two cats, Pie and Cannoli. Joanna also spent many years helping raise her nieces, April and Sara, and is excited to soon become a “Grauntie” for the first time.