About Me

I am a lifelong animal advocate and caretaker. I grew up surrounded by pets, including cats, dogs, birds, rats, hamsters, guinea pigs, and fish. I developed an interest in animal health at an early age, checking out textbooks from the library on feline anatomy and physiology at eight years old.  At thirteen, I started volunteering as an assistant at a small wildlife rehabilitation center, providing care and husbandry to local wildlife, including squirrels, songbirds, and the occasional fawn. 

After achieving my bachelor's degree from UC Santa Cruz, I began my career working with companion animals as a veterinary assistant in 2008, and have primarily worked at large specialty and emergency clinics over the years. My areas of interest have included emergency and critical care, internal medicine, anesthetic monitoring, preventative care, and client education.  After 17 years in the field of veterinary medicine, I have found that I love cultivating relationships of trust with pet owners, providing vital education on animal health and wellness, caring for geriatric pets, and minimizing stress for patients.

 I am Fear Free-certified, having completed special training on low-stress handling techniques for dogs and cats. I have also completed intensive training through the RECOVER Initiative to become certified in basic and advanced life support for dogs and cats. I am passionate about providing pet health education, and honoring the human-animal bond by creating access to high-quality, affordable veterinary care, especially as the veterinary industry struggles to meet the ever-growing demand. I feel privileged to be able to serve the community of pet owners in the counties of Santa Cruz and Monterey.