Our Team
Meet Our Doctors
Meet the Veterinarians of Kirkwood Animal Hospital! We’re pleased to provide exceptional vet care for your pets.
Get To Know Our Doctor Team
Our Doctors
Dr. Sarah Hormuth
Veterinarian
Dr. Hormuth joined Kirkwood Animal Hospital as a Veterinarian in 1997 but has worked for KAH since 1989. She has worked as a: Kennel worker, Technician, Receptionist, and Staff Veterinarian. In 1993 she earned a B.S. in Neurobiology & Animal Physiology from Purdue University and later became a 1997 Graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia College of Veterinary Medicine. In 2018, Dr. Hormuth became Hospital Director. Dr. Hormuth has three beautiful daughters: Hannah, Hadley, and Hayden. She enjoys spending time with her family, reading, and playing tennis. However, she is certain that her only real hobby is growing kidney stones! Her pets include a friendly Cat named Hazel and Louie and Walt, the Goldendoodle duo.
Dr. Carmen Riguero
Veterinarian
Dr. Riguero was born and raised in Miami, Florida, and is fluent in Spanish. She earned a B.S. in Animal Science with a minor in Chemistry from Berry College in 2013 and then proceeded to graduate with a D.V.M. from Purdue University in 2017. She has been with KAH since graduating and loves her new family. Special interests include surgery, dentistry, and feline care. Dr. Riguero has two cats named Waffles and Richard and two dogs named Bowser and Pinkie. Her hobbies include traveling, hiking, and cooking.
Dr. Dave Hart
Veterinarian
Dr. Dave Hart joined Kirkwood Animal Hospital in 2019 as the Assistant Medical Director. He graduated from Millikin University in 1992 with a BS in Biology and received his Veterinary degree from the University of Missouri in 1997. Dr. Hart’s wife is also a Veterinarian, and they have two children and live in Sunset Hills. They have many pets-most of which are hard luck cases that “hit the lottery”. His interests include the running, restoration, and racing of old sports cars. Dr. Hart has over two decades of experience and leadership in veterinary practice with an emphasis on orthopedic surgery.
Dr. Natalie Branson
Veterinarian
Dr. Natalie Branson was born and raised in St. Louis before moving to Columbia for her Bachelor’s in Biological Sciences with a minor in Psychology and her D.V.M. from the University of Missouri- Columbia. She is very excited to be back and a member of Kirkwood Animal Hospital! Her interests include cardiology, oncology, and geriatric medicine. She lives with her husband Kyle, and their cat Jack, and frequently loves the family dog, Phoebe. Her hobbies include exercising, cooking, and watching NCAA football.
Dr. Sarah (Hesse) Kolaz
Dr. Kolaz originally joined Kirkwood Animal Hospital in 1997 as a kennel worker and then started work as an Associate Veterinarian in 2006. She received her B.S. in biological sciences from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 2003 and later earned her DVM degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 2006.
In June 2011, Dr. Kolaz married her husband, James, and they now have two young children. Their furry friends include one cat named Koka and one dog named Maggie. She has retired from full-time work to be a stay-at-home mom to her lovely children but can be seen from time to time filling in when necessary.
Dr. Thomas Mohn DVM, MS
Thom Mohn and his wife, Beth, two daughters, Abigail and Journey, and their pets Coggins (Cavalier King Charles Spaniel) and Maizy (a cranky cat), came back to the Saint Louis area in 2018 from Vancouver, WA. Thom grew up in Oklahoma and went to Veterinary School at Oklahoma State University and graduated with his DVM and MS (Anatomy and Physiology) in 1996. He has worked in private and corporate practice in Southwest Missouri, Oklahoma, Oregon, and Washington State. In January 2012, Thom passed the rigorous examination and certification process to become a Diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners and was Board Certified in Canine/Feline Medicine. Thom loves helping families care for their pets and is excited to be working with the amazing Doctors and Staff of Kirkwood Animal Hospital.
Dr. Taylor Klimt, DVM
Veterinarian
Dr. Taylor Klimt was born and raised in Kirkwood, Missouri. She earned a Bachelor’s in Chemistry with a minor in Business from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 2018 before attaining her D.V.M also from Mizzou in 2022. She’s been bringing her family dogs to Kirkwood Animal Hospital
since she was seven years old, and she’s thrilled to return as a veterinarian.
Her interests include oncology and internal medicine. Dr. Klimt lives with one dog named George at home. Her hobbies include playing with her dog, watching St. Louis sports, working out, and drinking Starbucks.
Dr. Kelsey Battelle, DVM
Veterinarian
Dr. Battelle was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri. She earned her Bachelor’s in Biology with a minor in Chemistry from Missouri State University in 2016 before attaining her D.V.M from The Ohio State University in 2023. Her interests include dentistry, surgery, behavior and shelter medicine. She has over 6 years of experience in dentistry and has undergone extensive continuing education training in feline and canine oral surgery; she also hopes to be able to offer root canals and other forms of endodontic care in the future.
When she is not at work, Dr. Battelle can be found hanging out at home with her cat, Marshall, whom she adopted as a feral cat in vet school, her pitbull, Mathers, whom she rescued in undergrad, and her two jumping spiders, Jack Harlow and Melon. She also enjoys hiking and climbing and loves spending as much time as she can on the water at the Lake of the Ozarks in the summer.