Our Team

The People Behind Elk Meadow.

Independently owned, deeply rooted in the Foothills, and committed to giving your pets the time and attention they deserve. Get to know the veterinarians and team caring for your family.

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Our Veterinarians

Meet Our Veterinarians

Drs. Brian Young and Liz Hoaglund lead Elk Meadow Animal Hospital, bringing decades of small animal medicine, emergency care, and surgical expertise to the Foothills community.

Co-Owner & Veterinarian

Brian Young, DVM

Ophthalmology · Ocular Surgery · General Practice

Dr. Brian Young graduated from the University of Glasgow Veterinary School in 2016 after attending The University of Texas for undergraduate and graduate school. After Vet School, he completed a small animal rotating internship in Nashville, then spent time as an emergency doctor at a large referral practice in Pittsburgh. After his internship and ER positions, he pursued advanced training in Ophthalmology at Colorado State University. After realizing Colorado was home, he started a mobile Ophthalmology service traveling along the front range and west into the mountains.

Drs Cristie and Jason approached Brian and his wife Liz Hoaglund about taking over Elk Meadow Animal Hospital in 2025, and the transition was completed late that year. Dr Cristie and Dr Liz Hoaglund are cousins, and so the practice remains family run!

His main interests include both simple and refractory eye cases, ocular surgeries, as well as general practice. Brian enjoys all that Colorado has to offer, including snowboarding, hiking, and cycling. He can be found camping along the Colorado trails, having a pint at the local breweries, or relaxing at home with his wife (Dr. Liz Hoaglund), his two Goldens (Alba and Islay), three cats (Titan, Spockle, and Alpine), and horse (Loki).

Co-Owner & Veterinarian

Liz Hoaglund, DVM, MS, DACVR, DACVR-EDI

Diagnostic Imaging · Abdominal Ultrasound · CT Imaging

Dr. Liz Hoaglund grew up in Indiana and completed her Bachelor's degree in Biology at Purdue University where her love for veterinary medicine was sparked. She graduated from Colorado State University's College of Veterinary Medicine and subsequently went on to Pioneer Equine Hospital in California for a rotating Equine Internship. She then returned to CSU to complete a fellowship with the Equine Field Service prior to beginning her residency in Diagnostic Imaging.

Dr. Hoaglund became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Radiology in 2021 and became dual board certified in Equine Diagnostic Imaging in 2022. She enjoys the mixed caseload of specialty/referral and general practice hospitals and is passionate about abdominal ultrasound, ultrasound guided procedures and cross sectional imaging, particularly CT.

Dr. Hoaglund loves spending her free time enjoying the Colorado outdoors, cycling, cooking, traveling, and relaxing with her family (husband Dr. Brian Young, dogs Alba & Islay, cats Titan, Spock & Alpine, and horse Loki).

Our Support Team

Meet Our Team

The technicians, assistants, and front-desk crew who help every visit feel welcoming and every pet feel cared for.

Kate Embree

Registered Veterinary Technician

Kate has been a dedicated member of our team for seven years and has worked as a Registered Veterinary Technician for over ten years. With a passion for animal care and client education, she loves building relationships with both pets and the people who love them, helping every visit feel compassionate and personalized.

Outside the clinic, Kate enjoys a full and lively home with a spouse, two kids, three cats, one dog, and seven chickens — so caring for animals is truly a way of life! A proud Colorado native, she loves embracing the Colorado lifestyle through running, outdoor adventures, and catching concerts at Red Rocks.

Emily Tarvin

Team Member — since 2018

Emily has been a part of the team at Elk Meadow since 2018. Her love for animals started early in life and has always been a passion of hers. In 2010 she left the midwest to attend Regis University to earn her bachelor's degree and quickly decided to make Colorado her home.

At home, Emily stays busy with her spirited husky/shepherd mix, Rory, along with her two cats: Ducky, a sweet black kitty, and Squatch, a mischievous chocolate-colored kitten who certainly keeps life interesting. Outside of work, she enjoys happy hours with friends, weekend getaways, catching some live music, and attempting to keep her collection of houseplants alive.

Heather Braucksick

Team Member

Heather was born and raised near St. Louis, Missouri. After earning her bachelor's degree in Animal Science in 2022 she moved to Colorado to begin working in the veterinary field. For as long as she can remember she has always wanted to be hands-on working with animals, which she has been able to do since being here in Colorado.

She currently lives with her two cats — her sweet boy Riot and her tripod Achellis — who she loves very dearly. In her free time she loves to hike, go to the movies, and read.

Paige Briscoe

Team Member

Born and raised in Colorado, Paige was always surrounded by animals. Whether she was building vacation homes for rollie pollies, playing outside with her doggies, or chillin' with her parakeet named Flint, she's continued to have a special love and appreciation for all animals.

Currently, she's a mom to a stubborn pitbull mix named Sauce and three Cuban tree frogs named Cuba, Chico, and Concha. When she's not working at Elk Meadow she's likely tending to her houseplants or out exploring nature while listening to an audiobook.

Audrey Riggs

Team Member — since June 2026

Raised on a farm in Evergreen, Colorado, Audrey grew up caring for dogs, horses, and cats, fostering a lifelong passion for animal care. She shares her home with Walter, her beloved gray tabby cat.

When she's not at the hospital, Audrey can often be found writing, performing, and creating music as a dedicated musician and songwriter. She also enjoys helping local Evergreen businesses grow through her marketing work. Since joining Elk Meadow Animal Hospital in June 2026, Audrey has loved being part of a team that shares her commitment to animals and their well-being.

Henry

Hospital Pet

Bio coming soon!

Ready to Meet the Team?

New patients are warmly welcomed. Book an appointment to introduce your pet to Brian, Liz, and the rest of the Elk Meadow family.

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