Meet Our Doctors

After graduating from veterinary school with my DVM degree in 1996, I moved to West Los Angeles to a 1-year internship program at California Animal Hospital (now ASEC). The internship was half emergency medicine and half surgery, so I had the opportunity to learn a variety of different procedures and concepts. My mentors at my internship and the very challenging experiences there had a huge impact on my life and are responsible for who I am as a veterinarian today. I enjoyed the emergency aspect of the internship so much that I took a full-time position at Animal Urgent Care, our local emergency hospital in Mission Viejo. Taking the job there also allowed me to move back to my home town.

I purchased Alicia Pet Clinic from Dr. Dykstra in the summer of 2000. Since that time, I have worked to turn Alicia Pet Clinic into the state-of-the-art veterinary facility that it is today. We have upgraded every aspect of the facility here and have added countless tools to help us provide the best quality medical and surgical care for all of our patients. While being a very experienced surgeon, my special interest is internal medicine with an emphasis on geriatric animal care.

I am an avid concert-goer and enjoy fishing, stand up paddling with the local wildlife (dolphins and whales) and snowboarding in my free time. The Wheaton babies started arriving in 2003 with the birth of my son, Flynn, followed by my daughter Scarlett in 2005 and my youngest son Callan in 2009. My fur children include Golden Retriever “Fezzik Hodor,” Australian Shepherd “Sally Sparkle” and an Orange Tabby cat, “Grover.”

Having a herd of pets at home gives me a great deal of empathy for my clients when they are dealing with their own pet problems. My compassion is born of my own experiences with illness and loss in my own life and with the many pets we have had over the years. Combining that compassion with ultra-high quality medical and surgical care is what makes Alicia Pet Care Center the outstanding veterinary facility that it is today. It is my hope that Alicia Pet Care Center will feel like another family for all of my clients. All of our team here truly strive to help and stand by our motto, “We’re taking care of your babies!”

Throughout high school, I focused my time and energy on competitive swimming and cross-country running. My dedication to these activities led me to seek a degree in kinesiology/pre-physical therapy at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, combining my loves for an active lifestyle, medicine, and people. But one of my favorite things was missing: animals. In 2003, during my final year at Cal Poly, I began to reconsider my dream of becoming a veterinarian. With the support and encouragement from my parents and my husband, Brandin, I began the process of applying to vet school. In 2008, I graduated from Western University of Health Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine in Pomona, CA. Following graduation, I completed a 1-year internship in emergency medicine, internal medicine, and surgery at Sacramento Veterinary Referral Center.

Aside from one year back in Sacramento, I have lived in Orange County since 2003 with my husband and my two daughters, Helene and Liv. Currently we have two dogs: a Golden Retriever named “Kamp” and a Staffordshire Terrier named “JoJo.” In my free time, I enjoy simply being a mom and spending quality time with family and friends, relaxing with my dogs, trail running, camping and backpacking.

I am full of gratitude to have found a profession that allows me to witness, admire, and be a part
of the human-animal bond every single day. I couldn’t be happier to have found the Alicia Pet Care Center family (animals and humans), and I look forward to many more years of educating you, my clients, on your pets’ health care needs, guiding you in making health care choices, and applying my knowledge and compassion every day so that you and your pet can enjoy quality time together for as long as possible.

I chose to attend Colorado State University for my Bachelor’s degree because of the veterinary school. While at Colorado State, I worked in a FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus) laboratory, whose research was focused on trying to develop a vaccine to the FIV virus. After obtaining my 4-year biology degree, I finished a Master’s in anatomy and biomedical sciences at Colorado State as well. Living in Colorado was pretty amazing and I took full advantage of enjoying the outdoors. I also adopted my first dog of my own: “Sahara,” a Boxer-Shar Pei-Pitbull mix. I absolutely viewed Sahara as my first child.

After finishing my Master’s degree, I was accepted into the inaugural veterinary class at Western University of Health Sciences. This is where I met my husband, Kevin. We both shared a love of animals and soccer and started dating during the first year of school. Another highlight of my time in veterinary school was the month I spent at the San Diego Wild Animal Park as well as a month with the Navy working with their trained dolphins and sea lions. Following veterinary school, I completed a 1-year medical and surgical internship at Southern California Veterinary Specialty Hospital. Since finishing the internship, I have worked both in an emergency clinic and small animal general practices. What I enjoy most about my job is seeing the close connection between owner and pet.

I now live in Mission Viejo with my husband and daughter, Dempsey, and two dogs: “Everest” and a new puppy! In my spare time, I enjoy anything outdoors, especially hiking, camping, fishing and watching soccer.

I explored this notion of helping animals in high school when the career counselor organized an opportunity to shadow at a local veterinary clinic. My love for veterinary medicine was solidified after watching my first real life surgery – a canine neuter! With a clear goal of becoming a veterinarian in mind, I pursued my Bachelors degree in Animal Science at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. It was at Cal Poly that I met Graham, my sweet and supportive husband.

I continued my veterinary training and completed my doctorate degree at the University of California, Davis. My primary interests within the veterinary field include Internal Medicine, Dermatology, Geriatric Care, Preventative Medicine, and Acupuncture. I have a lifelong learner mentality and I continually strive to learn about the latest advances in medicine. For this reason, I am a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the California Veterinary Medical Association, and the Southern California Veterinary Medical Association.

Outside of veterinary medicine, I am an avid reader, adventurer, foodie, yoga buff, and wine/craft beer enthusiast. I satisfy my wanderlust by traveling to obscure parts of the world. I recently completed an around the world journey where Graham and I lived as nomads for a few months. While traveling, I used this time to help build homes for disadvantaged families in Romania with Habitat for Humanity. I am also a proud doggie mom to Archie (or Archibald Sinclair when he’s been naughty), who I adopted from an animal shelter while still in veterinary school.

Over the past decade, I have had the pleasure of working with a multitude of pets, families, and rescues throughout Orange County. My favorite aspect of the veterinary profession is creating long-term relationships that allow me to watch my patients grow from little puppies and kittens all the way through to helping them transition gracefully into old age. I truly love what I do and consider my patients and their parents to be a part of my extended family. It is an honor to be trusted with your four-legged family member’s health and well-being. I look forward to meeting you and your pet to provide the highest quality of compassionate care.

When I made this decision, my motivation and academics soared. I took extra science classes and labs to finish my prerequisites, started earning hours working in veterinary clinics and studying for the GRE. After working as a small animal veterinary technician for a year, I went to Colorado State University/University of Alaska Fairbanks Collaborative Veterinary program. I have always loved adventuring, so Alaska did not seem too daunting. I flew to Fairbanks to spend my first two years with nine of my Colorado classmates.

During orientation I met my husband during a rugby match. (I still do not understand the rules of rugby.) He was stationed at Fort Wainwright and came to campus to play in a tournament. He had spent every Thanksgiving down the street from my grandmother’s house, but it took going to Alaska to meet. He jokes that he minored in veterinary medicine because he helped me study from day one. Our class got to work one on one with veterinarians in the classroom and in the field. I worked with musk ox, reindeer, and Iditarod dogs. 

After my second year and adopting two Alaska huskies, my husband, my dogs and I packed into my little Jeep and drove down through Canada to join the rest of my classmates in Fort Collins, Colorado for my clinical years. 

I graduated Veterinary school in 2020 with a remote graduation. I joined Thrive Pet Healthcare, a general practice in Santa Ana, California. I worked with an amazing team to provide high quality care. In 2021, I got my certification in veterinary medical acupuncture. I realized how much passion I have for the old dog who is just “slowing down”. I realized I could touch human and animal lives by making pets more comfortable in their golden years. I joined veterinary medicine with a love of animals, medicine and people. The human hospitals may not have been for me but working with pets and their parents gives me the passion I need to show up every day. I want every day to end with pets feeling safe, humans feeling like they left with all their questions answered and goals met, and my team feeling like their time at work is filled with purpose.

In my free time, I enjoy being outside with my family. This could mean hiking, camping, mountain biking, going to the beach or simply hanging in the yard with our dogs. Kenai, our sled dog that only runs when free rather than hooked to a sled, is a double-digit dog. Meaning, it takes at least 10 miles to get her tired. “Mishka”, our Alaskan village dog, has embraced California and has turned to the water for her favorite activity. This dog can swim for hours. I also enjoy working out, cooking (although I am not super great at it), and DIY home projects.

I am so grateful to have found Alicia Pet Care Center and join such an amazing team. My goal is to perform the highest level of medicine and communication. I want pet parents to feel heard and pets to feel loved and cared for. I can’t wait to meet you all!

I explored the veterinary field by taking a position at a small animal hospital, as well as volunteering at the Friends of the Seal Lion Marine Mammal Rescue Center. I was then accepted into the charter veterinary class at Western University of Health Sciences. During this time, I had amazing opportunities like working on the Hava Supai Indian Reservation with the Veterinary Christian Foundation, externships at the Los Angeles and San Diego Zoo, as well as studying abroad in Australia.  

After graduating from veterinary school, I practiced medicine for over 15 years at a small animal hospital in Huntington Beach. There I was able to grow in experience and love for the veterinary field. My interests include internal medicine, dermatology, ultrasound, shelter medicine, and preventative care.  

I am married to my loving and supportive husband, Micah. I love being a mom to my two daughters, Makayla and Macie. They keep us very busy with school and extracurricular activities such as competitive dance and gymnastics. We also love to travel and spend time with family and friends. 

We have a cat, Leia, who is convinced she is a princess; and a labradoodle, Flynn Rider, who is definitely a lady killer. I enjoy music, dancing, wine and good food.

I am so excited to be a part of Alicia Pet Care Center and appreciate the honor of being part of your furry friends’ family and care team!

I moved to Arizona for veterinary school where I was part of the inaugural class at Midwestern University. During my first year, I co-founded the Student Association of Veterinary Surgery with one of my best vet school friends who also had a strong interest in surgery. I also co-founded the veterinary branch of the HOME program which provides free mobile veterinary services to the underserved/homeless populations in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area. While in Arizona, my husband and I brought home a 2-year-old Devon Rex kitty named Luna. We enjoyed all of the awesome hiking spots in Arizona and made life-long friends.

Within one week of graduating veterinary school, we got married, moved to Los Angeles, and I started a small animal medicine and surgery internship at VCA West Los Angeles Animal Hospital. I spent that year managing a wide variety of small animal cases and learning a ton!

After completing the internship, my husband and I moved back to Orange County and adopted Benny, a Cocker Spaniel mix who was found as a stray in Mexico. I started work as a general practitioner at San Clemente Veterinary Hospital where I practiced for four years before joining the team here at Alicia Pet Care Center. In 2022 our baby girl, Summer, joined us. She is now best friends with both of her furry siblings.

My interests in veterinary medicine include wound management, surgery, management of osteoarthritis, and preventative care. I love connecting with people through their pets and I’m passionate about working together to provide the best possible care for all fur babies. It is truly an honor to be able to support the special bond between people and their furry family members.

I always loved school, and was particularly keen on science and math. In my senior year of high school, I enrolled in an ROP program where I got my first hands-on experience into the veterinary field: volunteering at an animal hospital for 6 months shadowing the vets and nurses. I loved the experience and peek into the profession, so I decided to major in Animal Science at Cal Poly Pomona. During my time in college I joined the pre-vet club, volunteered at the college petting zoo and worked in the anatomy lab as a student technician. I graduated with my B.S. in Animal Science and a minor in Microbiology and then set off across the pond to go to veterinary school in London, UK!

I stayed in London for a little over 5 years, where I obtained both my D.V.M  and a second Bachelor’s degree in comparative pathology at the Royal Veterinary College. I had the complete British experience, living in both a bustling city and the quaint countryside. I got to work with all species of animals as part of my extra mural studies. I worked on a sheep farm in Ireland, where I assisted in the birth of over 20 lambs, a dairy farm in England where I milked cattle twice a day, performed pregnancy checks and looked after the calves, as well as a busy pig farm in the Southwest of the country. I also worked as a vet student at a couple small animal general practices, seeing cats, dogs and rabbits.  In my final year, I flew to Málaga, Spain and worked with a local charity, spaying and neutering stray cats and dogs that were to be adopted.

In my free time I enjoy playing piano and guitar, practicing yoga, outdoor activities such as mountain biking and tennis, and learning Portuguese (my wife’s native language!). I met my wife, Ana, in London while I was studying. We enjoy traveling and have had the chance to visit several countries in Europe as well as frequent trips to her home country of Portugal while living in the UK. We enjoy being by the beach, cooking together (I’m more of a sous-chef) and are always looking to find new restaurants and cuisines to try. 

I’m interested in all aspects of veterinary general practice, with a particular passion for clinical/anatomic pathology and ophthalmology. I am so excited to be part of the team at Alicia Pet Care Center and to serve the Orange County community. It is an honor to work alongside a  collaborative team who advocates for your pet’s health with compassion, expertise and top medical standards. I can’t wait to form long-lasting relationships with my patients and the people who love and care for them. I’m looking forward to meeting you!

I attended UC Santa Barbara, where I met my wife, May, at a swing dancing class. I graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Physiology. I was admitted to the second class at Western University of Health Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine. I married May during a summer break in veterinary school, and upon graduating, we moved to the Sacramento area. There I completed a 1-year rotating internship in small animal medicine and surgery at VCA Sacramento Veterinary Referral Center (along with Dr. Sarah Northrop, who was also one of my classmates from vet school!)

Following completion of my internship, I worked at a small animal general practice in Folsom, CA that emphasized care of brachycephalic dog breeds (Bulldogs, French bulldogs, etc.). It was there that I developed a passion for the special care of these breeds. My wife and I moved to Orange County in 2012. I joined a practice in Huntington Beach where I worked for nearly 12 years, prior to joining the team at Alicia Pet Care Center.

When not at work, I spend most of my free time with my wife touring botanical gardens, working in my garden, hiking/walking, preparing for my next fishing trip, cooking something I learned from my culinary idol’s newest cookbook, or indulging in one of my many other interests like listening to K-pop and watching television dramas with my wife.