Meet The Team

Dr. Jantzen A. Strother, also known as Dr. J., is a highly experienced veterinarian with a deep passion for serving underprivileged families and their pets in various communities. He was born and raised in the Washington, D.C./metropolitan area, where he developed a strong interest in veterinary medicine at a young age.

Dr. J. pursued his education in veterinary medicine at Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine, graduating in 2003. He then completed a small animal clinical rotating internship in medicine/surgery at the Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2004, gaining valuable experience in various aspects of veterinary medicine.

Over the past 20 years, Dr. J. has gained extensive experience in a wide range of veterinary practice areas, including family/wellness practice, emergency medicine, shelter medicine, and high-volume spay/neuter practice. He has worked tirelessly to provide high-quality veterinary care to pets in various communities, earning a reputation as a compassionate and skilled veterinarian.

Driven by his passion for serving underprivileged families and their pets, Dr. J. co-founded CityVAX-Low Cost Pet Vaccinations. This innovative program provides low-cost pet vaccinations to families who may face challenges with providing adequate veterinary care for their pets. By making these essential services more accessible, Dr. J. and his team of veterinarians and veterinary technicians are helping to improve the health and well-being of pets while also strengthening the bond between pets and their owners.

In addition to his work with CityVAX, Dr. J. is an active member of various veterinary organizations. He is committed to staying up-to-date with the latest advances in veterinary medicine and regularly attends conferences and continuing education programs.

In his free time, Dr. J. enjoys spending time with his family, traveling and serving at his church.

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Hello, my name is Karen Lewter. I started my career in the animal welfare community in 2017. After 16 years as a stay-at-home mom and raising my two kids with my wonderful husband, I decided it was time to go back to work and find something that gave me purpose outside of my family. I began my journey in a nonprofit, high-volume spay-neuter clinic as a surgery technician for the past 5 years. I also had the great privilege of being a part of the disaster relief team that was invited to Puerto Rico with the ASPCA, helping with their overpopulation problem. While we may have only made a small dent, we participated in 4 rounds of this program, each lasting a week. It was exhausting, but truly the best kind of exhaustion. We spayed and neutered over 1400 animals in four days, as well as microchipping and getting them up-to-date on all vaccines.

For the last year and a half, I've been working in a full-service clinic as their lead surgery technician. While I've loved all the wonderful skills that I have gained, I was still missing something. That's why I am so excited to be a part of this groundbreaking City VAX team, giving back to underserved communities and their pets.