Growing up in Evanston/Skokie, Lu graduated from ETHS in 1987 and the University of Illinois CVM in 1993. She worked and lived in the south suburbs for 9 years before moving with her family to Glenview. For 8 years, just prior to joining Berglund, she was medical director of Higgins Animal Clinic in Chicago. In June of 2013, she became the Chief of Staff and Chief Operating Officer here at Berglund. In December, 2014, Dr Howes transferred ownership to Lu. She lives with her husband, Jon, children, Harrison and James, and 3 dogs, Dino, Pepsi and Chilly. 

Dr. Aria Hill was born and raised in northern New Jersey and knew from a young age that she wanted to become a veterinarian. After volunteering at the Humane Society of New York during high school, her career path was solidified. Aria obtained her B.S. in Biology in 2011 from Northeastern University in Boston, MA and her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in 2015 from Cornell University in Ithaca, NY. After making the big move from the East Coast to the Midwest in June 2015, Aria joined the Berglund family and couldn't be happier. Aria currently lives in Rogers Park with her husband, Jake, and terrier mix, Jessi. She looks forward to meeting you and your furry family members.

Dr. Laura Schwartz happily joined the Berglund family in the Fall of 2015, after practicing with Wheeling Animal Hospital for almost 8 years. Laura grew up in Mount Prospect and began her veterinary career at the age of 15 as a veterinary assistant at a local animal hospital. She attended the University of IL where she obtained her B.A. in Animal Sciences. She loved the ILLINI so much that she stayed to receive her D.V.M in 2008. Dr. Schwartz true love of veterinary medicine is split between the science of medicine, specifically geriatric veterinary medicine, and the bond created between families and their pets. She is the proud owner of a standard poodle named Daisy, and is happy to share photos and/or stories upon request.

Mandy graduated from Parkland College and became a CVT in 1999. She joined the Berglund staff in 2000 and hasn't looked back. She has excellent technical skills and loves helping in dentistry and surgical procedures. She currently lives in Gurnee with her husband, James, 3 cats and a rabbit.

Born and raised in Skokie, Carrie used to bring her pets to Berglund as a little girl. In 1975, Carrie started working at Dempster Animal Hospital. In 2001, when Dr. Cosnow retired, Berglund was fortunate enough to open the door to his clients, but most importantly, Carrie decided to join the staff at Berglund as well. She has been working here ever since and has a wealth of information and experience. She loves country line dancing and checking out the local garage sales. She has a grown son, Karl, and lives in Grayslake with her husband, Bill, 3 dogs, Mugsy, Wilbur, and Chester, a parrotlet named Emmie and many pet chickens.

Alex started working at Berglund in 2004 and has been a member of the Berglund family ever since. He grew up in Northfield, where he currently lives with his Australian Shepherd, Sophie. In his spare time, Alex loves going to concerts, taking his 49' Chevy Pickup to car shows, and kayaking. 

Amin joined Berglund in August 2013. Prior to joining our staff, he worked for many years at the Anti-Cruelty Society in Chicago, which is where he met his wife Jenny, who is an assistant director at PAWS Chicago. Amin and Jenny have a passion for fostering kittens and also have two cats of their own: Owen and Latte. 

Tracy joined Berglund Animal Hospital in May 2014. She comes to us with a background in Nursing with a speciality in Hospice Care. She lives in Libertyville with her son, Jadon who keeps her busy and young. She has an overwhelming desire to care for both humans and animals, and knows the importance of listening to patients.   

Give some background on this staff member, such as how long they've been in this field and what they love about their job. Also provide some personal info about hobbies, pets, family, and more.