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.
Gina grew up on farm and has loved and been caring for animals since the age of 5. A Morganton native, she attended Freedom High School and Appalachian State University. Gina Graduated with a BA in History – Russian, Soviet and Eastern European Studies in 1992, when she also travelled abroad and spent a semester attending North Ossetian State University in Vladikavkaz, North Ossetia, a former Soviet republic. Gina has worked in veterinary hospitals since 1993 starting in Wilmington, NC. She is also the proud Mother of a son, 4 dogs, a very special cat named Peggy and a very stubborn pony named Dude. Gina continued her education by earning a BS in Psychology from Appalachian State University in 2013. Gina began working at Burke Animal Clinic in 1995 as a receptionist, has worked as a Head Technician and is now the Practice Manager. When she is not working, you will probably be finding her enjoying the outdoors and fishing whenever possible.
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.
Karen grew up in a small town in Wisconsin, but spent most of her years in South Florida. She has always loved animals of all kinds and frequently, to her mother’s dismay, would bring toads, mice, and other critters into the house to keep them safe. Karen has earned an Associate in Science degree with emphasis on Nutrition. She has worked in the health care industry for over 25 years. Karen previously worked at Burke Animal Clinic and is delighted to reconnect with clients and their pets. She has increased her household with a new husband, 3 dogs, 2 cats, a horse, and a donkey. Her favorite pastime is enjoying her pets, working in her flower/herb garden, and visiting the numerous antique stores in North Carolina.
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!
“Normy” was rescued from the side of the road and, when his owner could not be found, came to live with Gina. He comes to work every day with Gina, and spends his days overseeing her work. He takes his duties very seriously! Always dressed stylishly for the job, Normy adds a bit of class to our clinic! His job includes making sure Gina does things right, sniffing out and picking up dropped crumbs in the break room (he says we are slobs), giving moral support and comic relief on hard days, providing material for our social media posts, and keeping us on our toes by repeatedly trying to escape from Gina’s office. When not working, Normy prefers snuggling, barking at squirrels, and being in charge of Gina’s small dog pack. His hobbies include fishing with Gina and trying to remove the fish from the hook for her, attempting to catch wildlife, sunning himself on the deck, vacationing at the beach and being Dr. Mark’s buddy.
