Joseph Schmitt, V.M.D., CVA
Hospital Director 
Joseph Schmitt, along with his brother Peter, has owned Linden Heights Animal Hospital since 1986.  He is a 1982 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, and his focus is providing wellness and geriatric care including general and orthopedic surgery.  Doctor Joe is certified in veterinary acupuncture, a member of the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine Feline Health Center, a member of the American Association of Feline Health Practitioners, and a certified PennHIP member for canine hip radiograph evaluations.  He is married to Andrea Neumaier, D.V.M., and their extended family includes a daughter, a son, three dogs, two cats and a guinea pig.

Mary Margaret Applin, D.V.M.

Mary Margaret Applin is a 1999 graduate of the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine at Blacksburg, Virginia.  Upon graduation, she and her family moved to Winchester for her to begin practicing at this hospital.  Doctor Mary Margaret provides general medical and surgical care for her patients and has had additional courses in ultrasonography, a particular interest.  She enjoys interacting with her clients and involving them in the decision-making process for their pets' healthcare needs.  Doctor Mary Margaret and her husband, John, have a son, Jack, three dogs, four cats, and one hamster.  She is active in her church, a local knitting group, and with Jack's school.

R. Marcelo Melivilu, D.V.M.
Medical Director
Marcelo Melivilu is a 1993 graduate of Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia.  He served a one-year residency at the veterinary teaching hospital, and the topic of his thesis was ultrasonagraphy.  After graduation, Doctor Marcelo practiced general medicine and surgery at one of the top veterinary clinics in Chile for four years.  He arrived in this country in 1997 and went through a strict process to obtain his license to practice veterinary medicine here.  His special interests include abdominal ultrasonography, endoscopy, soft tissue surgery (particularly abdominal procedures), knee surgery, dentistry and oral surgery.  He and his wife Andrea Wartluft (also a veterinarian in Winchester), have two sons, Felipe and Esteban, two cats, three dogs, and three fish.  Doctor Marcelo is fluent in Spanish and English and proudly became a US citizen in 2000.

Andrea Neumaier, D.V.M. 
Linden Heights Veterinary Home Care
Andrea Neumaier (Schmitt) is a 1985 graduate of the Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine and is married to Doctor Joseph Schmitt.  After 12 years of full time general medical and surgical practice at a hospital in Purcellville, VA, she chose to start a house-call practice associated with Linden Heights Animal Hospital to better balance high-quality veterinary medicine with her family obligations.  Now that their children are older, Doctor Andrea also spends one day weekly seeing appointments in the clinic.

Rhonda L. Hayes, D.V.M.
Rhonda Hayes is a 1995 graduate of Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine.  She practiced in mid-Michigan for thirteen years before relocating to Winchester in order to be closer to family.  She enjoys client education, and her special interests are puppy and kitten behavior and feline medicine.  Rhonda is an avid trail rider and horse camper, having ridden in sixteen states and three countries.  Closer to home she can be found fishing, boating and working in the yard.  Her pet family includes two dogs, four cats, a horse, a mule, and a pet rat.