Our
​Doctors

​Dr. Janet Gerardot earned her doctorate degree in Veterinary Medicine from the University of Missouri in 1985 and has owned Mint Hill Animal Hospital for over 27 years.  She is the proud owner of many pets including: two Portugese Water dogs; Trapper & Splash, a Rocky Mountain Horse "Jazz Man", a Miniature Donkey "Douglas" and one cat "Isis".  She has found her many years in Veterinary Medicine to be a "wonderfully challenging and rewarding career".  Her personal interests including trail riding and sporting clays.

 Dr. Cathy Gerstner earned her doctorate degree in Veterinary Medicine from The Ohio State University School  of Veterinary Medicine in 1986 and joined MHAH in April of 1994. Her pets include three  dogs -  Caleb, a beagle and two English Setters - Ivie and Maddux.  She also has a cat, Picabo, as well as a parrot and a number of pet chickens. 

​Dr. Allison Jones earned her doctorate degree in Veterinary Medicine from The University of Georgia in 1995.  She has been with Mint Hill Animal Hospital since 2000.  Dr. Jones has 3 cats (including Monty a special needs cat), a dog, Sophie and a horse, Abigail. She currently has a foster dog through Dogs on Deployment that will be staying with her for six months. Her hobbies include; dressage, reading and hiking.

​Dr. Cheri Wilhelm earned her doctorate degree in Veterinary Medicine from North Carolina State University and has been with Mint Hill Animal Hospital since 1994.  Dr. Wilhelm has 2 cats, Wednesday and Griffin. A dog "J" and Earl Grey, a cockatiel.  Her hobbies outside her career include; cycling, hiking, reading and spending time with her family (especially in the NC mountains).

Dr. Elena Shirley earned her DVM from the University of California Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. She has practiced small animal medicine and surgery in both general practice and emergency practice for the last nine years.

​Her professional passions in veterinary practice include: Integrated medicine, surgery,
acupuncture in orthopedic and neurologic disease, and ophthalmology.
She completed her specialty certification in veterinary acupuncture in 2014. Incorporating this modality has provided optimal pain management, without unwanted side effects, created rapid return to function, and quicken recovery for countless patients over her career.
She has been an invited speaker in veterinary medical schools in both the USA and South America. And co-authored a study published in the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine (JAVMA). Dr Shirley believes that Success is about we, not me. Your team makes all the difference in the practice of veterinary medicine, and in life.

​Her personal life is blessed with the love of her life, beautiful children, wonderful family and friends, near and around the globe, and critters of all shapes and sizes that leave paw prints on our hearts.