Meet the Veterinarians & Team of Burke Animal Clinic in Morganton! We’re pleased to provide exceptional vet care for your pets!
Please call us at 828-437-0481 to speak to one of our caring veterinary staff members!
Dr. Linda Schilkowsky earned her Bachelor of Science in Agriculture at the University of Georgia in 1981, and is a 1985 graduate of the University of Georgia, College of Veterinary Medicine. A lifelong “farm girl”, she spent most of her childhood in horse and dairy country in western New York state and north Georgia. She began her career in mixed practice, working with dairy cattle, horses, pigs, dogs, and cats, in Elberton, Georgia. From there she decided to make the jump to full time small animal medicine, working in practices in Charlotte, NC and Rome, Georgia, before launching a career as a relief veterinarian. As a relief vet she specialized in filling in at practices that needed temporary or part time help, serving over 100 different practices in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia.
The Schilkowsky family moved to Morganton in 2003, and Dr. Linda focused her relief service closer to home. She worked part time at Burke Animal Clinic from 2004 until 2013, doing most of the surgery and getting to know the patients and clients, while traveling the region to provide relief for other practices on her “days off.” In 2013 she made a shift to emergency medicine, staying and working most weekends at an emergency and critical care service. While she loved the challenge of emergency medicine, she missed her family and pets on the weekends. When Dr. McMahon offered to sell her this practice, she jumped at the chance. Dr . Schilkowsky has been privileged to work in some of the finest animal hospitals in the country, and brings a wealth of experience and new ideas to Burke Animal Clinic.
Dr. Schilkowsky married her best friend and college sweetheart, Carl, a teacher at Hallyburton Academy and coach at Patton High School, in 1984. They have three children: John, of Providence, Rhode Island, is a 2014 graduate of Cornell University, and works in the biotechnology research industry as a regulatory specialist. Ellen is a 2017 graduate of NC State and is in graduate school studying dairy reproductive physiology at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. Jonathan Hall, who joined their family in early 2016, is a 2017 graduate of Patton High School and a pre-med biochemistry major at East Carolina University. They also share their lives with 6 cats, 3 dogs, and 3 horses. In her free time, she enjoys reading, riding horses, canoeing local lakes and rivers, hiking, traveling, and fine dining.
Whitney was born and raised in Ripley (Believe It or Not), a very small town in western New York, where she attended kindergarten through 12th Grade in the same school, and was given the nickname “Point 5”. After high school, she attended Delhi University and received her Associates Degree in Veterinary Science, passed the difficult State Board Exam, and became a Licensed Veterinary Technician. Whitney has worked in the veterinary profession for over 30 years. She began working in kennels in Westfield, NY, at age 16, and since has worked as a licensed technician in several veterinary hospitals in Florida and North Carolina. With her late husband, she was the co-owner, hospital manager, and Vice President of Village Square Veterinary Clinic in Boynton Beach, Florida, for 9 years. She began working for Burke Animal Clinic in June, 2015, and is very happy to be a part of our clinic family. In her spare time, Whitney enjoys boating and fishing on her pontoon boat, country dancing, car shows (with her 1930 Model A Ford), attending CFA cat shows (showing her blue persian “Show Felines Mason Claude Bowe”) and raccoon hunting with her significant other, Robert. To the locals she is known as a “halfback”, since she lived the first half of her life up north with her family and the next half in South Florida with her late husband, of 27 years, Bill. In May 2006 she and her husband semi-retired and moved into their new log dream home in Rutherfordton, NC, where they lived happily until his death in 2015. She has since moved and rebuilt her new “dream log home” in Morganton with her two cats, “Mason”, and “Loosie”, her tortoise, “Sangha”, three Blue Tick Coon Hounds and of course, Robert.
Growing up on a farm in Ohio, Kelly was raised caring for and loving all animals. She has had a passion for animals for as long as she can remember! With over 13 years experience in the veterinary field, Kelly began working at Burke Animal Clinic in 2007. Kelly truly loves her job, caring for the needs of your pets, and is fascinated with veterinary science.
In addition, Kelly has enjoyed 30 blissful years married to her wonderful husband, Alan. Together they have 4 sons they are very proud of and 6 beautiful grandchildren. Of course, they also have a menagerie of fur babies, including 3 dogs, 2 cats and chickens. We really enjoy the farm fresh eggs Kelly shares with us. Kelly loves being part of the Burke Animal Clinic team and we are glad to have her!
