Dr. Cheryl Heitzman is originally from Indiana, but went to school and then lived in the Chicagoland area for about 10 years. She enjoyed a first career as a chemistry educator as a high school teacher and college professor, then graduated from NC State College of Veterinary Medicine in 2021 with her DVM. Her areas of interest include exotics medicine (especially reptiles!), challenging medicine cases, anesthesia & analgesia, soft tissue surgery, dentistry, and client/veterinary education.

During her free time, Dr. Heitzman enjoys playing sports with her son, traveling, gardening, and her houseplant collection. She has an adopted “pocket pittie” named Pancake (pictured); an adopted Jack Russell named Santana; a neighborhood cat who really likes her named Oliver; an unreleasable box turtle named Lung Boy (or Pulmy); three crested geckos named Aloy, Petra, and Varl; and an aquarium full of freshwater fish.