Veterinary Leadership

Veterinary Leadership

Karen K. Faunt, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVIM (small animal), is a 1994 graduate of the Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine and Banfield's Vice President/Chief Medical Officer (CMO). Prior to this role, Dr. Faunt served as the Senior Director of Veterinary School Partnerships. She joined Banfield in 2002 because of our high standard of health care. She resides in Portland, Ore., with her partner, Robert, and their two dogs and one cat. Her areas of special interest in veterinary medicine include small animal medicine and internal medicine.

Karen Johnson, DVM, is a 1988 graduate of Oregon State University and Washington State University Colleges of Veterinary Medicine, as well as Banfield's vice president and client advocate. As a Banfield team member since 1988, Dr. Johnson's role as Client Advocate allows her a unique opportunity to help and support clients across the Practice dealing with challenging or difficult situations. In addition, she manages Banfield's Hospital Audit Program for Excellence, a unique look at client service from the client's perspective. She joined the practice directly after receiving her veterinary degrees from Oregon State University and Washington State University.

She started her career at the original Banfield in NE Portland, working with Dr. Warren Wegert and Dr. Scott Campbell. After serving as Chief of Staff for several years, Dr. Johnson transitioned to Banfield's Central Team Support office and began working with the Quality Assurance Team. From there, she quickly moved on to her current Client Advocate role and was promoted to Vice President in 2004. Dr. Johnson also proudly serves on the Board of Directors of the Banfield Charitable Trust.

Dr. Johnson's current Pet family includes Webster, a recently adopted shelter dog and three rescued cats named Freeway, Worm and Gomez.

Jeffrey S. Klausner, DVM, MS, DACVIM, is senior vice president and chief medical officer (CMO) of Banfield, The Pet Hospital®. Dr. Klausner joined the practice in 2009 as vice president of professional relations, bringing rich experience in business, academic studies and veterinary medicine. Now, as Banfield’s CMO, Dr. Klausner will help lead the advancement of the practice to an even higher quality of medicine.

Prior to joining Banfield, Dr. Klausner was the president and chief executive officer for The Animal Medical Center in New York City, a highly respected nonprofit academic and clinical veterinary medical center. For more than nine years, he served as the dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Minnesota, where he led a national effort to enhance the skills, knowledge and aptitudes of entering veterinary students. He was also responsible for implementing the nation’s largest veterinary public health program. In addition, Dr. Klausner served as chair for the Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences and as an academic faculty member at the College of Veterinary Medicine, where he started the university’s first veterinary oncology teaching, research and clinical program.

A 2006 recipient of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) President’s Award and a 2005 Distinguished Alumni of the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Klausner holds several awards and honors in the veterinary profession. In addition, he is board certified by the Diplomat American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.

Dr. Klausner earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland, College Park and his masters of science degree from the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine. He is a graduate of the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine.

Bob Lester, DVM, is a 1986 graduate cum laude of Oregon State University College of Veterinary Medicine and the vice president of Veterinary Selection at Banfield. Dr. Lester joined Banfield in 1994 because of the opportunities we offered him for leadership in the field of veterinary medicine. He and his wife, Crystal have two daughters and four Pets. His areas of special interest in veterinary medicine include veterinary recruitment, business development and general medicine.

Elizabeth Lund, DVM, MPH, Ph.D., is a 1986 graduate of the Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine and the senior director of research at Banfield. Dr. Lund was drawn to veterinary medicine because of her desire to work in evidence-based medicine. Dr. Lund joined Banfield in 2006 because Banfield offered her the ability to perform clinical research and to help standardize veterinary medicine. She and her husband have four children and four Pets. Her areas of special interest in veterinary medicine include research and epidemiology.

Kerri Marshall, DVM, MBA, is a 1985 graduate of Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine and the Senior Director of Medical Informatics at Banfield. Dr. Marshall was drawn to veterinary medicine at an early age when she helped out in her parents' veterinary hospital—both her mother and father were veterinarians. As a practicing veterinarian, Dr. Marshall gained a deep appreciation of the importance of taking care of animals in disasters through involvement with disaster relief for Pets in California. Dr. Marshall was the founding chair of the California Veterinary Disaster Committee and developed the first statewide network of veterinarians who ensured animals were taken care of during California fires, floods and earthquakes. Her areas of special interest in veterinary medicine include medical informatics, which includes designing PetWare®, Banfield's health information system for Pets, and working to improve the storage and sharing of radiograph images between hospitals. Dr. Marshall joined Banfield in 1995 because of our unique model of providing affordable and high quality veterinary care and use of state-of-the art systems like PetWare. She lives in Portland with her husband, Andrew, their two Chihuahuas, Maya and Popo and their cat, Mona Montana.

Ari Zabell, DVM, Dipl. ABVP, is a graduate of Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine and the Senior Director of Field Learning and Development at Banfield. Dr. Zabell joined Banfield in 1996 because of the opportunities for growth and development that come with an established practice. In addition, being a veterinarian is the fulfillment of one of Dr. Zabell's childhood dreams. His areas of special interest in veterinary medicine include general practice, internal medicine, practice management, and helping veterinarians grow and gain new skills. He lives in Vancouver with his wife and three kids.