Dr. John R. Abel

DVM, Practice Owner
Dr. Abel is the owner of Harper Animal Hospital and has been treating generations of pets there since 1989. His interest in veterinary medicine dates back to an early age when he traveled from farm to farm with his father, who ran a mixed animal veterinary practice in rural Iowa. Watching his father leave in the middle of the night to deliver calves in sub-freezing weather led Dr. Abel down a slightly different path, however, which brought him to our suburbs in 1988. Prior to that, he received a Bachelors Degree in Microbiology from Iowa State University in 1984, followed by his Veterinary Degree from Iowa State University in 1988. Dr. Abel enjoys doing many things with his wife and four children, which include boating, water skiing, biking, golfing, watching movies, and attending sporting events. They share their home with two cats, Juneau and her tormenter, Disco. Dr. Abel has had the honor of being voted “BEST VET” in the Daily Herald Readers Choice Awards. He is an active member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, American Animal Hospital Association, Chicago Veterinary Medical Association, and the Illinois State Veterinary Medical Association.

Dr. Leilani Savitt

DVM, Associate Veterinarian
Dr. Savitt started at Harper in 2020. She knew from a young age that she wanted to take care of animals. She did not grow up with cats and dogs but instead her family had hermit crabs, a guinea pig, rats, and a hedgehog. Her childhood pet, a guinea pig named Snapperzoid, was her most precious companion. Originally from Minneapolis, Minnesota she attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison for undergraduate studies where she double majored in psychology and biology. She stayed in Wisconsin for veterinary school and graduated from the Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine in 2013.

After graduation, she completed a rigorous one year rotating medical and surgical internship at VCA San Francisco Veterinary Specialists in San Francisco. After completing her internship year, she solidified her love for general practice with a focus on canine and feline medicine. Being originally from the midwest, she missed home too much so she relocated to Hoffman Estates. Since then, Dr. Savitt has spent several years practicing as a veterinarian in the northwest suburbs. She strives to treat each animal as if they were her own offering the highest quality of medicine.

She has interests in internal medicine including ultrasound, dermatology, and endocrinology. She is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association and the Chicago Veterinary Medical Association. When Dr. Savitt is not practicing medicine, she enjoys spending time outdoors, dining at various restaurants, and traveling. She shares her home with her husband, her 2 year old son, and her wonderful furry companion, a senior cat named Max.

Dr. Rory Fritz

DVM, Associate Veterinarian
Dr. Fritz joined the Harper family in 2021. He completed his undergrad at ISU where he served as the President of the pre-veterinary association. He attended Ross University for vet school. Dr. Fritz has a special interest in emergency medicine and has completed the “fear free” and “preventative health care for the small animal patient” certifications. Dr. Fritz was excited to join the team at Harper because it allows him to work with the man who inspired him to pursue veterinary medicine, Dr. John Abel. Rory shares his home with a 3 year old mixed breed female dog named Ripley. In his spare time he enjoys watching sports, working out, and taking Ripley for walks. Dr. Fritz is an active member of the American Veterinary Medical Association and the Veterinary Information network Community.

Dr. Ploch

DVM, Associate Veterinarian
Dr. Ploch has been a member of the Harper family since 2012, when she first entered the field of veterinary medicine as a kennel attendant. While attending Loyola University Chicago for her undergraduate education, Dr. Ploch continued working at Harper and ultimately trained her way to the role of technician. The mentorship and hands-on experience provided by Dr. Abel and his team solidified her childhood dream to become a veterinarian, and in 2018 Dr. Ploch began veterinary school at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Dr. Ploch completed her doctorate in May 2022 and was thrilled to return to Harper once more, this time as a doctor. Within the veterinary field, Dr. Ploch has special interests in endocrinology, oncology, and anesthesiology. She is an AAFP-certified Cat Friendly Veterinary Professional and an active member of the American Veterinary Medical Association. Outside of work, Dr. Ploch enjoys spending time with her family and friends. Her favorite hobbies include golfing, drawing, and cycling. Dr. Ploch shares her home with her husband and their two senior cats, Max and Tinkerbell.