Meet Our Staff
Veterinarians • Hospital Administrator
Veterinary Technicians /Front Office Staff
Veterinarians
Dr. Scott E Heckerling
Co-owner and Medical Director
Dr. Scott Heckerling, Medical Director of Middlesex County Animal Hospital, is devoted to providing you pet with up to date, compassionate, and practical medical care. He has eight years experience working in large referral veterinary hospitals where he has learned from board certified internal medicine, emergency, and surgical specialists. Dr. Heckerling’s prior work experience has provide him with a unique understanding of all aspects of veterinary medicine. He has an extensive knowledge of and practical experience in preventative medicine, emergency cases, and surgical veterinary care. He feels at ease discussing the most appropriate vaccines for your new puppy, the best course of action for your vomiting cat, and the different surgical options for repair of the ligaments in your dog’s knee.
Dr. Heckerling grew up in Miami, Florida and attended the University of Florida undergraduate and veterinary colleges. He graduated with high honors from the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine in 1998 and completed a one year intership at South Shore Animal Hospital in 1999. For the past seven years Dr. Heckerling has gained invaluable on the job experience helping expand medical and surgical capabilities at the Animal Hospital of Nashua in Nashua, New Hampshire. Dr. Heckerling has handled hundreds of emergency medical and surgical cases and has gained a reputation for exceptional customer service and patient care. He loves to teach both his clients and staff and held the position of Director of Staff Medical Education.
Away from the office Dr. Heckerling relaxes at home with his girlfriend (and Middlesex County Animal Hospital technician), Kristy Williams, and their many pets (three dogs, a cat, three rats, a Sun Conure, a Beta fish, and a Corn snake). He loves the mountains and gets away for skiing, hiking, and snowshoeing whenever possible. He is an avid Boston Red Sox fan but unfortunately has remained a Miami Dolphin fan from his younger years. His hobbies include dabbling in the stock market, weight lifting, fishing, and planning the next project around the house.
Hospital Administrators
Mr. Joe Mercado, expert veterinary ultrasonographer,
hospital manager, and co-owner
Mr. Joe Mercado has devoted his life to serving the veterinary medical field and has 20 years experience as a veterinary technician and ultrasonographer. Mr. Mercado began doing veterinary ultrasounds with Dr. Tom Rossi back in 1985 when very few veterinary offices had ultrasound capabilities. The two would travel from Rhode Island to Portland, Maine in a day performing ultrasounds on sick dogs and cats. Today Mr. Joe Mercado is one of the best ultrasonographers in his field, performs dozens of ultrasounds per week, and is highly respected amongst area veterinarians who refer their patients to him for ultrasounds.
With the opening of Middlesex County Animal Hospital, Mr. Joe Mercado has full filled life long dream of owning a veterinary hospital. Having grown up in Lowell, Massachusetts as one of fourteen children, Mr. Mercado has strong ties in the Billerica community and is excited about giving back to its residents and their pets. Mr. Mercado has two decades of veterinary technical experience and has spent the past the past eight years at a large 24 hour referral hospital in Nashua, New Hampshire as the head veterinary technician, ultrasonographer, and hospital diagnotics manager.
Away from the office Mr. Joe Mercado spends time with his wife Melissa and their dog Echo. Mr. Mercado is an avid weight lifter, runner, and occasionally picks up a pair of boxing gloves to relive his younger Golden Glove days. He is an avid New England Patriots fan and has not missed a home game in three years.
Veterinary Technicians/Front Office Staff
Miss Kristy Williams, CVT and puppy trainer
Miss Kristy Williams is an animal lover through and through. She has spent the last 12 years in veterinary medicine and recently became a certified veterinary technician after completing a two year medical program. Miss Williams spent three years as an animal technician for the Army and more recently worked as an outpatient nurse and anesthesia technician for the Animal Hospital of Nashua. Before coming to Middlesex County Animal Hospital, Miss Williams worked in the ICU, emergency, ophthalmology, and surgery departments at Massachusetts Veterinary Referral Hospital.
Miss Kristy Williams began training puppies for the Air Force in 1996 and has been helping new puppies owners ever since. She trained under Dr. Michelle Posage, a veterinary behaviorist, while running weekly puppy classes at the Animal Hospital of Nashua. Miss Williams uses a positive reinforcement style of training proven successful by many prominent behaviorists. She is an extremely knowledgeable, patient trainer and her years of experience will translate into success for you and your pet. Her two sweet, obedient German Shepherds, Cassie and Ty, are proof that her methods work.
Miss Darci Corrigan, CVT
Miss Darci Corrigan quickly worked her way up through the ranks at her prior employer and comes to Middlesex County Animal Hospital with a wealth of knowledge. Beginning as a kennel technician three years ago at the Animal Hospital of Nashua, Miss Corrigan demonstrated a fierce work ethic, love for the patients, and a thirst for learning everything about veterinary medicine. In just three years she was promoted to veterinary technician status and became the heart and soul of the hospital’s diagnostic team. Her primary interests lie in the areas of radiography and ultrasound but she always welcomes the opportunity to broaden her veterinary knowledge. Originally from Nashua, NH Miss Corrigan recently moved to Billerica. Outside of the office she loves to hike, go to the gym, and visit family in different areas of New England.
