Our Veterinarians

Dr. Jim Ack is Dr. McCarron’s husband and partner.  He grew up in Cleveland and spent some pre-college years training Arabian and Quarter horses in Colorado, where he fell in love with the West.  He received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the Ohio State University in 1988.  After several years of private practice in Ohio, an opportunity in the biomedical field and an itch to return to the West led to career in Utah.  Over a 9 year span he became an officer of two private companies and a Director of a public company.   In 2000, he took on the job of managing partner of the practice, and ultimately led the team of professionals constructing the new hospital.  He has also been active in the community, serving as a founding member of the Salt Lake Vest Pocket Business Coalition, an organization advocating for local, independent business.  He has also served on the City’s Business Advisory Board, several planning and zoning committees, and an advisory committee to the Mayor.

Dr. Lynn McCarron, DABVP, is the owner and founding practitioner of UVHDC.  She was raised in Ohio, attended undergraduate college at Kent State University, and received her DVM from the Ohio State University in 1988.  Her entry to private practice was in rural Ohio in the role of James Herriott, caring for a large variety of farm animals, as well as dogs, cats, horses, and miniature pigs.  A move to Utah associated with Dr. Ack’s career proved to be a great one for her, as she found it to be an incredible place to live, play and work.  After eight years in practice Dr. McCarron pursued rigorous advanced accreditation as a specialist in dog and cat medicine and surgery, and became a Diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners – one of but a few in all of Utah.  She has strong interests in cancer care, geriatric medicine and internal medicine, especially endocrinology.  Her daughter and son share her attachment to an Australian Shepherd named Jed, and a cat named Baxter (after Baxter Black the veterinarian-comedian). 

Dr. Magali Lequient was raised in French-speaking Quebec, Canada and graduated from the University of Montreal Veterinary Medicine Faculty in 1997.  In August 2000, while on a road trip searching for the best rock climbing and skiing areas in America, she had the good fortune of meeting Dr. McCarron. She has since been working at UVHDC, appreciating the wonderful clients, the amazing staff, and all the great outdoor that Utah has to offer. Her special interests include internal medicine, soft tissue surgery, dermatology, and pain management. She really enjoys communicating with her clients and helping them take better care of their companion's health. Her husband Alex is also from Quebec, and together they spend all their free time climbing, skiing, and spoiling Ouest their 12 years old Lab-Golden-with-the-best-life-in-the-world, and Azrael their very vocal 5 years old grey tabby.

Dr. Rachel Walton grew up in Ogden, Utah, and spent much of her teenage years raising guide dogs and other service dogs.  From her involvement in these programs, she learned that she wanted to spend her life working with animals. She completed her undergraduate education at the University of Utah and then received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Degree from Colorado State University. Prior to veterinary school, Dr. Walton worked at UVHDC as a technician and was excited to join the team as a veterinarian. Dr. Walton shares her life with her husband, Jeff, a school teacher.  Two dogs, a chocolate lab named Dory, a border collie mix named Jake, and three cats, Hermione, Max, and Padme complete the Walton family.  In her free time, Rachel enjoys hiking, reading, and spending time with her family and pets