Dr. Nikki Johnson
Dr. Nikki is a 2003 graduate of the University of Illinois. She is a Pekin native and returned to the central Illinois area in August of 2008. She is the current owner of Pekin Animal Hospital and Lakeview Veterinary Clinic in Pekin, IL and East Peoria, IL respectively.
She is a very active member and Past President of the Association of Reptile and Amphibian Veterinarians. She is also a member of the Association for Avian Veterinarians and the Association for Exotic Mammal Veterinarians. She is also a Past President of the Illinois Veterinary Medical Association and the Mississippi Valley Veterinary Medical Association. She has also served on the Board of Directors for the Tri-County Animal Emergency Clinic in Peoria, IL. She is a also a current member of the American Academy of Veterinary
Acupuncture and the Independent Veterinary Practitioners Association.
In addition to treating dogs and cats, Dr. Nikki has a strong background in exotic and zoo animal medicine and surgery. She shares her life with her significant other, Aaron, her adult son, their Akitas-Spartan and Ava, their cats Rory, Bruno and Sophie and a house full of
reptiles and amphibians including their continuously growing African Spurred Tortoise, Blue, who enjoys spending her winters, and entertaining the staff at Pekin Animal Hospital!
Dr. Nikki is an active member of the community. She has been involved in the Pekin Civic Chorus, Friends in Harmony, Peoria Players Theater and Corn Stock Theater. She has been a St. Jude Memphis to Peoria Runner since 2012, fundraising and giving to the children of St. Jude. She is an avid reader and can always talk to you about her current book. When she is not working, she also enjoys painting, drawing and various other arts which are an important stress outlet for her. She has even won awards for her art in the Veterinary Community! Be on the lookout, you never know where she will show up in the community!
Dr. Raymond Ramirez
Raymond J Ramirez D.V.M. is from Chatham, IL. After attending the local Community College, transfered to University of Illinois for ungraduate, was accepted and graduated with his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree in 1986 from the University of Illinois.
He lives in East Peoria with his wife, Kelly and the youngest two of their five daughters. Dr Ramirez has worked in a Chicagoland ER, Milwaukee AAHA hospital, then did relief work in Wisconsin before moving his relief business to central Illinois based in Maroa. He bought Lakeview from Dr Huwe’s estate in 2007, and sold to Dr Nikki in 2025. He has served on a variety of organizations, in Maroa on the Zoning board of appeals, Sesquicentenial celebration committee, and the Church’s parish council.
Since moving to East Peoria, he has served on the Mississippi Valley Veterinary Medical Association board as board member and then president. He served on the Tri County Animal Emergency Clinic as a board member and president. He was appointed in 2023 to the State of Illinois Veterinary Licensing and Disciplinary board, currently serving as chairperson. He also served on the church’s parish council. After euthanizing their 12.9 yr old Newfoundland ‘Kate’ in June 2025, Kelly and Ray are ‘down’ to 3 cats: Zorro, Gracie and Angel.
Dr Ramirez has also taught at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine as guest lecturer for the Student Veterinary Business Management Association, and the National Student American Veterinary Medical Symposium, Richland Community College, and Chesterton Academy of the Sacred Heart. He has been invited to present at conferences in Ohio, Iowa, Nevada and many other states. He has been a member of Veterinary Information Network (VIN) since 1995 back in the AOL days.
He enjoys spending his free time with his wife, children and grandchildren, and in his workshop where he fixes things and makes things with his Shopsmith.
Dr. Lauren Urbanowski
Dr. Lauren Urbanowski grew up in Peru, IL with a passion for animal care. Shortly after earning her DVM from the University of Illinois in 2021, Dr. Urbanowski began her career at Lakeview Veterinary Clinic. She strives to advocate for every patient, approaching every case with empathy and attention to detail. Her interests include surgery, dentistry, and preventative medicine.
Outside of the clinic, Dr. Urbanowski shares her home with her husband, Jim, her daughter, Iris, her paraplegic cat, BB Rhexa, and her two able-bodied cats, Kazmir and Patina. In her free time, she enjoys crafting, reading, gardening, and watching horror movies.