Meet Our Veterinary Team
Meet the Veterinarians & Team of Peoria Area Veterinary Group! We’re pleased to provide exceptional vet care for your pets!
Appointment
Chillicothe | Dunlap | Peoria
Get to know our veterinary team!
We are solely dedicated to your pet’s care! We look forward to getting to know you, and we hope you’ll take the time to scroll down and get to know us.
Dr. Kiera Dunaway
Veterinarian
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Dr. Jennifer Witt
Veterinarian
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Dr. Suzanne Gilles
Veterinarian
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Dr. Rebecca Dieter
Veterinarian
Dr. Rebecca Dieter has been a dedicated veterinarian for 11 years and joined Peoria Area Veterinary group in February 2024. A proud graduate of the University of Illinois, Dr. Dieter is passionate about providing the highest level of care, treating every pet and their family as if they were her own.
After taking some time off to raise her children, she has joined our practice with renewed dedication and compassion. Outside of work, Dr. Dieter enjoys spending quality time with her boys, baking, playing piano, biking, and getting lost in a good book.
Dr. Sam Deadmond
Veterinarian
Dr. Sam Deadmond earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine in 2024. Before pursuing his passion for veterinary medicine, Dr. Sam served with distinction in the United States Army and Illinois Army National Guard.
After completing his education, Dr. Sam returned to the Peoria area to be closer to family and embark on his veterinary career. At home, he enjoys the company of his wife, two cats, and a French Bulldog he adopted during a clinical rotation in school.
When he’s not caring for pets, Dr. Sam likes to unwind with television, video games, and discovering new local restaurants.
Dr. Jennifer Witt
Veterinarian
Dr. Jennifer Witt hails from East Peoria and attended the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine. She decided to work with us at Dunlap Veterinary Clinic because she wanted to return to the area and be close to her family. Since she was five years old, Dr. Jennifer knew she wanted to be a veterinarian, and we’re happy that we have helped her find her life’s work!
Dr. Jennifer shares her abode with Barkleigh, a Great Pyrenees, and Olaf, a guinea pig. When she isn’t saving the lives of animals, she enjoys playing softball, reading, being near fire pits with friends and family, and watching her kids play sports and dance.
Dr. John Calhoun
Veterinarian
Dr. John Calhoun grew up in Dunlap and got his start in Chillicothe after purchasing a building to practice in. He eventually purchased the Dunlap location from his father, then later built the Peoria location.
Dr. Calhoun realized the importance of animal care after witnessing the joy and relief that clients experience from their pets. He currently lives with some mischievous animals, including Greta, who can open almost any door that isn’t locked; Mia, who is either 100 percent on or 100 percent asleep; and Chinook, who is just a big ol’ scaredy cat!
In his free time, Dr. Calhoun enjoys using QuickBooks and Excel Spreadsheets, as well as wood working and cooking.
Dr. Lissa Calhoun
Veterinarian
Dr. Lissa started off at our Dunlap location and now works at our Peoria location. She graduated from the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine in 1996. She absolutely loves the people that she meets, and really enjoys performing surgeries and ultrasounds. Outside of work, Dr. Lissa enjoys spending time with her husband Dr. John Calhoun and their 3 children. Her hobbies include horseback riding, gardening, and skiing.
What is Dr. Lissa Calhoun’s favorite thing about being a veterinarian?
“There is definitely not just one thing I love about being a veterinarian. I love so many aspects of this career. Being a veterinarian means continually learning and improving. Every day is different. I never know how the next patient will challenge my skills and knowledge. No matter what the day brings, every day is an opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives through their pets.”
Dr. Lora Deckert
Veterinarian
Dr. Lora Deckert grew up in Northern Illinois in McHenry with her mother and sister. She came back to the Peoria area after graduating from veterinary school at the University of Illinois, where she earned her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine. She eventually joined CVC in 2014.
Dr. Deckert shares her home with a plethora of pets and livestock. They currently have six cats who provide plenty of entertainment and companionship: Cupcake, Batty, Possum, Ocicat, Dobby, and Noodle. Outside, they raise chickens and other poultry including peafowl. In addition, they have an angelfish, cichlids, and a guinea pig named Whistle Pig.
In her free time, Dr. Deckert supports her three children with their activities, which include cross country and track for Princeville High School. She also is an assistant coach on the Princeville High School track team, working with the distance runners. It should come as no surprise then that Dr. Deckert herself enjoys running, along with swimming and biking—she also competes in several road races or triathlons each year. When she’s not being active, she enjoys a good book, as well as spending nice days fishing and hunting.
Dr. Suzanne Gilles
Veterinarian
Dr. Suzanne grew up in Peoria and has lived here all her life. She first started going to Dunlap Vet with her childhood pets. When she was growing up, her grandfather used to help her catch all kinds of creatures such as bugs, bunnies, snakes, and more—this helped confirm her desire to work with animals, and she eventually attended the University of Illinois for veterinary school.
Dr. Suzanne lives with two lion head rabbits named Henry and Bentley. Henry was adopted from PAWS and Bentley has one blind eye which doesn’t stop him from anything! In her free time, Dr. Suzanne enjoys running, hiking, and spending time with her children and husband.
Dr. Kiera Dunaway
Veterinarian
Dr. Dunaway is a Peoria native who wanted to be a veterinarian for as long as she can remember. She received her bachelor’s degree in biology from Trinity Christian College in 2014. Dr. Dunaway attended Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine and completed her clinical year at the University of Illinois. After a year of working in Decatur, she moved home and joined the Peoria Area Veterinary Group in 2020. Her areas of interest include cardiology, soft tissue surgery, and clinical pathology.
In her free time, Dr. Dunaway enjoys reading, crafting, baking, taking long walks with her labrador, Niamh, and snuggling with her cat, Alexa.