Meet the folks who make it all happen. We see big potential in every moment, and care deeply about what we do every day.
Animals made a lasting impression in Dr. Annjolyn Pecoraro-Knoll’s life very early on—she can’t remember a time when she didn’t want to improve the lives of the earth’s creatures in whatever way she possibly could. Dr. Knoll has been a part of the veterinary profession since she was only 15 years old! She’s proud to now serve as the owner and operator of Knoll Animal Hospital.
A native of Lombard, Illinois, Dr. Knoll earned her Bachelor’s degree from Elmhurst College and studied veterinary medicine at St. George’s University in Grenada to obtain her Doctorate. She completed her clinical rotations at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Dr. Knoll has special interests in dentistry, cardiology, dermatology, and exotic-pet care, and she remains an active member of the Illinois State Veterinary Medical Association and the American Veterinary Medical Association. She purchased Knoll Animal Hospital in March of 2015, and has been helping the pets and animal parents of the area ever since!
Away from the office, Dr. Knoll enjoys staying active in the community, traveling, and spending time with her family. She and her husband, Ryan, have twins named Parker and Gwen. They share their home with five furry companions: Howard the Shih Tzu mix; a Beagle mix named Ember; two Chihuahua mixes named Pinocchio and Geppetto; and one loveable cat named Bernadette.
Growing up an only child in the southwest suburbs of Chicago, Dr. Maas was never afraid to get dirty and spent most of her waking hours outdoors. From as far back as she can recall, there were always plenty of animals around – from dogs and cats to poultry and rodents. As she got older, her mother tried to expose her to other areas of interest, but the calling to work with animals was just too strong. It was only natural that she would end up pursuing a career as a veterinarian.
As soon as Dr. Maas was old enough to work, she landed a job as a kennel assistant at a nearby veterinary hospital. From there, she worked her way up through various roles and several clinics, from client service rep to assistant to technician. By the time she started veterinary school, she had already worked in just about every department. Following a stint at the Brookfield Zoo in Chicagoland, Dr. Maas was accepted to the University of Illinois, where she earned her DVM. Clinically, Dr. Maas has a particular fascination with anesthesia, dentistry and dermatology.
Outside of the clinic, Dr. Maas is fur-mom to a six pound Chihuahua mix named Nanna. After a long day at work, Nanna sits calmly, watching Dr. Maas cook in the hopes of catching a falling morsel of food. Nanna enjoys going for short walks but would rather snuggle up on the couch watching reality TV together. In her spare time, Dr. Maas enjoys fine cuisine cooking – especially ratatouille. She also enjoys rock-climbing and horseback riding. Recently, she acquired an espresso machine and is currently working on creating at home barista lattes!
Ever since Dr. Sakowski was old enough to answer the question “what do you want to be when you grow up?” the answer was always “a veterinarian”. She attended every vet appointment with her parents, and after getting a tour of the clinic at the age of just five or six, Dr. Sakowski knew for certain that veterinary medicine was her calling. Having a meaningful impact on the lives of pets and their owners has been a dream come true for Dr. Sakowski!
Her journey began in high school, where Dr. Sakowski began shadowing at the same clinic where she received a tour as a child. She eventually became a veterinary assistant and worked her way up to a veterinary technician. She also volunteered with multiple rescue groups and wildlife rehab facilities. Dr. Sakowski received her bachelor’s degree in biomedical sciences from the University of South Florida and studied veterinary medicine at St. George’s University. While finishing up her final year of vet school, Dr. Sakowski saw an ad for an employment opportunity at Knoll Animal Hospital and their dedication to mentorship and fear free medicine stood out to her. After a visit to the clinic, it truly did feel like the perfect fit. She officially joined the team in August of 2024. Clinically, Dr. Sakowski enjoys the intellectual stimulation and the reward of helping pets and their families. She has a special interest in internal medicine, exotic-pet care, and diagnostic imaging.
Outside of the clinic, Dr. Sakowski has 2 dogs of her own: Archer is a silly pit bull who always has to be laying on a fluffy blanket and Callie is a sweet hound mix who loves car rides. Her family pets include Bronco, a grumpy old min pin mix, and 4 kitties named Celestine, Percy, Alli, and Eevee.
Aside from animals, Dr. Sakowski’s other passion is traveling. So far, she’s been to 30+ states and 5 countries. One of her fun goals in life is to visit as many national parks as she can. To date, she’s been to 14, with her favorites being Kruger and Yellowstone. She’s also a huge foodie and loves trying new restaurants.
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