Doctors
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Nurses
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Suzanne Tappe
Fear Free Certified
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Rebecca Grove
Fear Free Certified
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Angel Cardiel
Fear Free Certified
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Marlene Martinez
Fear Free Certified
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Ksenia AlbertBig or small, be kind to all
Rest in Peace 2023
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Cynthia Marques
Fear Free Certified
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Destiny Norris
Fear Free Certified
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Dru Marquis
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Hanna Lewis
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Eddie Morales
Fear Free Certified
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Luz Silva
Fear Free Certified
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Mimi Fong
Fear Free Certified
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Danielle Carey
Fear Free Certified
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Lee Vann
Fear Free Certified
Management
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Nikki Johnston
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Karen Holliday
Fear Free Certified
TCVM Trained
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Toni Keener
Fear Free Certified
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Rachel Barton
Fear Free Certified
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Alison Colton-Rhoads
Fear Free Certified
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Ashley Vaughan
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Vanessa Thuma
Fear Free Certified
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Natalie NewittFear Free Certified
Dr. Nicholas Vaughan, MBA, CCRP, CVA
Fear Free Elite
Urban Cowboy and Rehab Coach
Founder & CEO
Born in ‘The Natural State’, Arkansas, Dr. Nicholas Vaughan was raised on being both aware and respectful of Mother Nature and how she orchestrates all of our surroundings in harmony. Nicholas has been formally trained in bio-med engineering, veterinary medicine and most recently an MBA (focusing on sustainable business)- at the University of Texas at Austin. The rest of his studies have led him from Baton Rouge to Beijing, Philadelphia, Knoxville and Berkeley. Dr. Vaughan earned his veterinary degree with honors at Louisiana State University.
Nicholas began his career in Cape Cod, MA and then music began to outweigh sailing as far as hobbies so he moved to Austin in 2004 and has been helping progressive pet owners in Austin ever since. Dr. Vaughan currently serves on multiple veterinary school advisory councils helping to formulate innovative ideas for education, pet-wellness and exam room interaction. For the last decade he has been a guest lecturer all over the world offering over 50 hours of continuing education a year on nutrition and preventative medicine. His passion for pet nutrition has earned him the reputation of the “Obesity Sheriff” in the vet community. He has also furthered his training at the University of Tennessee to be certified in Rehab medicine and small animal rehab therapy.
Outside of practicing the art of medicine, Dr. Vaughan focuses his energy on human well-being, nutrition, Yoga, fitness, creative writing, theatre, studying philosophy, motorcycles, music and of course- working tirelessly to get you to laugh and smile. Nicholas is involved in numerous community philanthropies including the development committee for Austin Pets Alive!, Big Hearts for Brave Hearts, Junior Achievement and a founding member of the philanthropic 512 Society. You can always spot him running around Lady Bird Lake or BMX riding with his son Fields while his wife Ashley watches with reserved approval. A self-described music snob and book critic… each visit with Dr. Vaughan will bring you and your pet happiness and most of all, wellness.
Dr. Vaughan is also an advisor at Bond Pet Foods where they ensure optimal pet health by developing natural, minimally processed dog and cat food.
×Dr. Tim Julien
Fear Free Certified
World-Traveled Brainiac
Chief Medical Officer
Dr. Tim Julien was raised in a rural town in the foothills of the Ozark mountains in south central Missouri. From a young age he was pretty sure he wanted to be an engineer/microbiologist working to discover a novel renewable energy source. He was wrong. Turns out he loved animals and helping people with their animals way more than math or laboratories.
In the summer after sophomore year in high school Tim met his future wife, Christine, at nerd camp (a.k.a. Missouri Scholar’s Academy). He followed her to Washington University in St. Louis. While there he was an All-American distance runner in track and cross-country and confirmed that dogs and cats are way cooler than calculus and petri dishes. After graduation the wedding (foreshadowed above) occurred. Tim went off to the University of Missouri to earn a veterinary degree while Christine worked on her doctorate in computer science.
Tim followed Christine to Austin when she accepted a faculty position at UT. He has practiced high quality medicine in Austin since 2004 with a conscious aim to educate his clients and to provide authentic and approachable choices to facilitate the best decisions possible with regard to the care of their pets.
In his free time, Tim enjoys pick-up basketball, the occasional run, cooking (and eating), traveling the globe with Christine (and eating), and hanging out with his two amazing daughters, Maya and Cora. He has an elderly Lab Border Collie mix named Casey who has just recently started to come out of her “puppy phase”. The Julien family recently returned to Austin after spending a year in northern Italy in support of Christine’s research opportunity. While he will miss Trentino-Alto Adige, he is happy to be home and excited to meet you and your pet.
×Dr. Cindy Carter
Fear Free Certified
Dental Queen
Chief Surgical Officer
Cindy grew up in East Texas and now finds herself on the East side of Austin… coincidence or fact? Well, its a fact- she is from Whitehouse, TX but has had a love for the hill country that developed from her childhood.
And guess what Aggie fans- we finally got one! She is surrounded by Tigers and Longhorns but is strong with her “Gig ‘em!” pride as she attended A&M for undergrad and vet school. Cindy has a strong and practical sense of traditional medicine and has special interests in internal medicine, FELINE medicine and more than anything, forging long relationships with clientele. Because lets face it, you will see each other out in Austin!
Speaking of, Cindy loves llamas, chickens and goats and is saving money so she can have a small farm but in the meantime she spends time on Barton Creek Greenbelt, hanging at Zilker or shopping with Tippy her 8 yr old border collie mix. She is a member of the TVMA, AVMA, CAVMA and has completed a mission trip to Honduras assisting the locals with basic veterinary medicine.
×Dr. Jena Webb
Fear Free Certified
A gentle breeze
South Chief Medical Officer
Dr. Jena Webb was born and raised in Belton, Texas- just a hop, skip and a jump from the great city of Austin. Her love for animals started at an early age and by the first grade, she declared that she would become a veterinarian (But still and Artist at Heart). She attended Texas A&M for both her undergraduate and veterinary degrees. After graduation, she moved to the “Land of Enchantment” to complete an internship at VCA Veterinary Care Animal Hospital and Referral Center. Jena’s veterinary interests include internal medicine, ultrasonography, and preventative care. She enjoys educating her clients and taking a unique team approach to determining the best treatment for each individual pet.
Jena is owned by a sassy tabby named Piper. In her free time, she enjoys the outdoors, getting a little crafty, traveling whenever possible, and all of the great food and music Austin has to offer.
×Dr. Kate Thompson
Elite Fear Free Certified
Finer Than Frog's Hair
Dr. Kate Thompson was born and raised in the coastal town of Waveland, Mississippi – a beautiful place
that’s barely a speck on the map. She was surrounded by the love of a small, tight-knit family and is the
proud daughter of an elementary school teacher and salesman. Her childhood was spent exploring the
beach which led to a more than healthy interest in animals and science.
Her formal education was completed in northern Mississippi. Over time, Kate’s eclectic personality and tendency to “fly by the seat of her pants” (as her mother would say) would lead to an avid interest in emergency medicine and critical care. She moved on to an internship in Chattanooga, TN where Kate developed a thick skin and a love for the mountains. However, the ultimate plan was to migrate to the vibrant Austin where she now calls home.
Kate was first employed at a busy, locally owned emergency hospital where she was lucky enough to meet her incredible husband, Dr. John Pullen. She brought her sphinx cat, Baldy, to the relationship and
together formed a family with an independent outdoor cat named Karen and the sweetest old lady lab
named Abby.
Kate enjoys being outside and traveling to as many places as possible. On a sunny day, you
can find Kate reading a creepy novel at Zilker with Abby gnawing on a slobbery ball nearby.
Kate believes that this is the best occupation because of the potential to help both pets and the people
who love them. She hopes to meet each family with sincerity and the intention to exchange and
combine her medical training with your knowledge, beliefs, and lifestyle. Come meet Kate at PAZ
Veterinary where kindness is the highest priority and every voice is heard!
Dr. John Pullen
Fear Free Certified
Evening Giraffe
Dr. John Pullen was raised in southeast Houston. Both of his parents were in the computer
science industry and encouraged his childhood interests in science, music, and art. His interests in science grew but his skills in piano fell [b] flat and he never really figured out how to color in the lines. Early on, he started volunteering and got a job at a small veterinary hospital where he took his dog, Andy. His love for treating animals sparked there, and John went to the University of Houston to become a chemist. He tried… for several years, but learned chemistry was not his passion. He moved to Oklahoma State University where he pursued his passion in vet med and years later, John started practicing ER veterinary medicine in Austin.
During his time in ER, John learned plenty and made lasting relationships with his clients and coworkers, including his lovely wife, Kate. Kate recently joined the PAZ family and John HAD to follow (not true, they were hired together). He wants to continue to practice high-quality medicine and develop lasting relationships. John’s goal is to clearly explain what options are available and how we can accomplish wellbeing together.
He’s not just a vet! John also loves most things outdoors on the water: canoeing, kayaking, sailing, surfing, scuba diving, snorkeling (he’s a novice at many but getting better at any opportunity). Kate and John have a very independent outdoor cat Karen, a snuggly Sphinx cat Baldwynn, and a sweet old black lab lady Abby. For those who read this far – I lived in a boat and it sank.
×Dr. Jane Mellencamp
Fear Free Certifed
Midwest Farmers Daughter
Dr. Jane Mellencamp grew up in Seymour, Indiana on a farm that raises crops and cattle. She realized early on that Veterinary Medicine was her calling and earned an undergraduate degree in Biology at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. She then moved to Columbus, Ohio and received her doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from The Ohio State University. During her time in Columbus she developed a love for live music, making Austin perfect for a chosen home.
Her professional interests include soft tissue surgery, dentistry, hospice care, and preventative medicine. In her free time she enjoys bring-your-own-vinyl night at the ABGB, seeing as much live music as she can, and visiting the beautiful state parks of Texas. She shares her home in South Austin with a dog named Donna June, whom she adopted from Austin Pets Alive! shortly after moving to Texas.
Dr. Mellencamp takes pride in client education and believes answering the ‘whats’ and ‘whys’ of diagnostics and treatment helps pet owners make the best decisions for their family.
×Dr. Melissa Tackett
Elite Fear Free Certified
Southern Belle
Dr. Melissa Tackett is excited to be joining the Paz team as she is such an advocate for positivity, the Fear Free movement, and the human-animal bond. She is originally from Knoxville, TN and a 2018 graduate from Lincoln Memorial University’s veterinary college. Dr. Tackett also attended undergrad at LMU to complete her Bachelor of Veterinary Medical Technology degree.
Like many veterinary doctors, Dr. Tackett knew from a very young age that she wanted to love on pets forever and make that her career. I mean, she did have a pretend clinic set up on her grandparents’ porch when she was in elementary school where the neighborhood kids would bring their dogs over for her to give a dose of love to, not much has changed as she still loves on every pet that she sees, but now she gets to actively participate and make their lives healthier and therefore happier- making medicine fun and less stressful.
Internal medicine cases, geriatric medicine (She is a SUCKER for a grey muzzle), and anything related to German Shepherds all fall under her umbrella of professional passions.
In addition to that, Dr. Tackett is a firm believer that teamwork makes the dream work which is why she loves client education. She feels as though when owners understand a medical condition fully, they are empowered to make great medical decisions for their pet. For her, forming a relationship with her clients is just as important as the relationship she forms with their baby/her patient. Dr. Tackett is also a big fan of chronic disease management because she gets to develop that bond, her client learns, and she enjoys being able to offer a multimodal approach to a disease process- another reason that she loves Paz.
×Dr. Kelly Might, DACVS
Surgery Specialist
Supersurgeon
Dr. Kelly Might, DACVS was raised in Bedford, Texas, a town between Dallas and Fort Worth. He moved to Austin to attend the University of Texas at Austin as an undergraduate student, earning a bachelors in zoology and a minor in Spanish. He then attended Oklahoma State University for veterinary school. Early in his first year at Oklahoma State, Dr. Might found his calling for veterinary surgery. Dr. Might completed a 1-year rotating internship at PetCare Veterinary Hospital in Santa Rosa, California. He then went on to perform a 1-year surgical internship at Aspen Meadow Veterinary Specialists in Boulder, Colorado. These experiences were then followed by a three-year surgical residency at Washington State University in Pullman, Washington. During his training Dr. Might developed a strong interest in minimally invasive surgery and orthopedics. While at Washington State University, Dr. Might published multiple manuscripts and found great interest in orthopedic research. After 9 years away from home, Dr. Might, his wife, and two children returned to Austin, Texas. By teaming up with Dr. Allman and performing mobile specialty surgeries, Dr. Might is able to provide complicated surgical procedures to many pets that would not otherwise be able to receive specialty care. When not at work, Dr. Might enjoys cycling and spending time with his family.
×Dr. Krista A. Sirois
Practice Limited to Behavior
Elite Fear Free Certified
Dr. Sirois worked in veterinary clinics from the age of 16 and decided while she was working in Austin that she needed to go to vet school. She graduated in 2016 from Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine.
While in school, she was very involved in the American Animal Hospital Association and in leadership of the Integrative Medicine Club. She also completed a 10-week fellowship in Clinical Pathology at Texas A&M. After graduating, she entered an internship program at VCA Veterinary Specialists of Northern Colorado. During that time, she received in-depth training in internal medicine, surgery, neurology, and emergency medicine.
Dr. Sirois completed her residency in 2020 under the mentorship of Dr. Lisa Radosta at Florida Veterinary Behavior Service and remained as an associate for an additional year. Her special interests include feline behavior, a holistic approach to medicine, and the impact of other illnesses on behavior. She has given many CE lectures to veterinarians (live and virtual) and consulted with industry groups. She regularly writes educational articles for sites such as PetMD and All About Cats.
Dr. Sirois learns something new about behavior almost daily from her Chihuahua-Pug mix, Molly, and her three cats (Chupie, Ducati, and Stanley). When not working, she enjoys tennis, history documentaries, and working on puzzles with her family.
×Dr. Spencer Wolfe Fear Free Certified
The not-so-big, not-so-bad Wolfe
Dr. Spencer Wolfe grew up in Houston, Texas. Her parents taught her to love and respect animals at an early age, which blossomed into a passion for veterinary medicine. She’s a proud Aggie and earned her undergraduate degree in Biomedical Science from Texas A&M University. From there, she trekked up to Kansas to earn her veterinary degree from Kansas State University. After enduring several Kansas winters, this Texan gal came to Austin to surround herself with vibrant culture, good food and pet-loving people.
Her professional interests include preventative and internal medicine, orthopedics and rehabilitation — and she’s also a sucker for tiny dogs. Dr. Wolfe finds the most joy in creating lasting relationships with pets and their people. She strives to use both science and empathy to collaborate with owners and offer quality care tailored to each pet’s individual needs. In her free time, you can find Spencer on walks with her two chihuahuas or on a mission to find the best breakfast taco in Austin. She looks forward to getting to know you and your pet!
×Dr. Fernanda Sanudo, CVAFear Free Certified
Dr. MexiCat
Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist
Dr. Sanudo was born and raised in Mexico City. In 2015 she graduated from UNAM, the #1 university in Mexico. In 2017, she relocated to Texas to continue with her veterinary journey.
Dr. Sanudo has a passion to practice integrative medicine to help her patients in the best way possible. In 2021 she became a certified veterinary acupuncturist at the Chi University and works to incorporate eastern techniques in her western training to provide a functional medical approach for her patients.
In her free time she enjoys yoga, meditation, and traveling to Playa del Carmen. She has 2 hilarious cats and a lively cattle dog that all love to snuggle.
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Dr. Sarah Castleman
Dr. Castleman was born and raised in Houston, Texas. She’s had a love for animals for as long as she can remember. Growing up, she had a wide variety of animals as pets including spending a lot of time around cattle through her family’s hobby ranch.
Dr. Castleman received her Bachelor’s of Science in Animal Science from Texas A&M. Throughout her senior year of high school and her undergraduate career, she has worked at all levels of employment at an animal hospital which caused her to fall more in love with this field.
Dr. Castleman attended Auburn University for veterinary school and graduated with honors. Her professional interests are mainly urgent care/emergency medicine, soft tissue surgery and dentistry. However, she enjoys getting to practice preventive medicine as well.
In Dr. Castleman’s free time, she can be found spending as much time outside, tending to her plants or playing with her two German Shepherd/husky mixes (Khal and Zara). Otherwise, she’ll be found snuggling her cat, Lola who she swears is her soulmate. Dr. Castleman is very excited to join the Paz family!
×Dr. Matthew Ray
Dr. Matthew Ray was raised in Potomac, Maryland, a suburb of Washington, D.C. Both of his parents were journalists, but this line of work never quite suited him. From an early age, Matt’s love for animals was apparent, probably influenced by his frequent trips to the Smithsonian Zoo. He grew up with a feisty cat named Lucky and a sweet pup named Skittles and eventually moved to Burlington, Vermont, where he graduated from the University of Vermont with a BS in Zoology.
After completing his undergraduate degree, Matt decided he was in need of some warmer weather, so he made his way to Austin, where he worked as a veterinary technician. After a few years, he returned to the east coast to earn his veterinary degree from the Virginia Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine. During his clinical rotations, Matt was lucky enough to spend a few weeks at Paz and couldn’t resist the opportunity to become a full-time member of the team.
His professional interests include preventative and internal medicine, and he has a special soft spot for kitty cats. Dr. Ray strives to provide high-quality medicine and to help educate owners about their pet’s well-being. He currently lives with his tortoiseshell cat, Josie, and his Brittany spaniel Sully. In his free time he enjoys hiking with Sully, playing guitar, and expanding his culinary horizons with Austin’s great food scene.
×Dr. Jigar Dedhia
Dr. Jigar is an Illinois native who grew up in the northern suburbs of Chicago. He attended the University of Illinois for veterinary school, where his love for feline medicine, internal medicine, and cardiology really blossomed. Outside of work, Dr. Jigar has a passion for fitness, his favorites being basketball, working out, and dancing. Other hobbies include playing video games, watching anime, and checking out new breweries.
×Dr. Rae Sherinian
Cat Lady Couture
Born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Dr. Sherinian first came to Austin in 2010. She immediately fell in love with the warm weather, cold swimming holes, and native wildlife. Although she has always loved animals, she hadn’t considered becoming a veterinarian until getting involved with Austin Pets Alive and other local rescue groups. Previously a film major, she figured that one can always be an amateur artist but never an amateur doctor. She went back to school and earned her BS in Animal Behavior from Southwestern University in 2018.
Dr. Sherinian studied veterinary medicine at Tufts University in beautiful rural Massachusetts. Coming from a long line of cat ladies, she is most passionate about feline medicine and behavior. Although she also loves dogs, especially rescues (the love of her life was a lab mix from APA named Janet). Her other clinical interests are preventative medicine, soft tissue surgery, pain management, and holistic end-of-life care. Most importantly, she loves connecting with clients and collaborating on the best plan for each pet’s unique needs.
Rae and her spouse, Max, are excited to return to Austin, mainly for the beautiful friends and community they missed during four years on the East Coast. Of course, the tacos and live music don’t hurt either. When Rae isn’t working or volunteering, she can be found growing food in her front yard, making art, or exploring the outdoors. She and Max have four cats: Monkey (oldest), Peanut, Ancho, and Kayak (youngest, pictured).
×Dr. Noreena Lau
Fear Free Certified
Dr. Noreena Lau was raised in the San Francisco Bay Area in northern California. From the very first pigeon she saw from her stroller, her love of animals was born and she never looked back. She headed to upstate New York to earn her undergraduate degree in animal science from Cornell University, then across the pond to the UK for her vet degree from the Royal Veterinary College in London. Now an avid tea-drinker, she is proud to be part of the coolest clinic in Austin.
Dr. Lau particularly enjoys internal and preventative medicine. She strives to practice with patience, kindness and respect for all, and loves witnessing the bond between Austin’s pets and their people. Since moving to Texas, Dr. Lau has been reading historical plaques around town and is still trying to spot an armadillo. She shares her home with her partner and scruffy rescue dog, Sunny. The unofficial mascot of PAZ East, Sunny can be found wearing bright blue shoes and begging for treats at every coffee shop.
×Dr. Natalie Thompson
Fear Free Certified
Dr. Natalie Thompson’s love of animals started at a young age, growing up in San Antonio with a tough cat and a timid Shih Tzu. Then that love expanded to pet ferrets, snakes, parakeets, cockatiels, rabbits, and conures and going horseback riding (hunter/jumper). She thought she wanted to go into academia/research and earned her Bachelors in Genetics and Master’s in Microbiology at Texas A&M, but sitting alone in a quiet lab was not ideal. She pivoted and earned her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from A&M in 2015.
Her husband wanted to move back to Austin, where he had attended UT, and Dr. T was ready for a city to support her hobbies of succulents and indoor plants, hiking, bird watching, and collecting books and records. They routinely can be found at a music venue or hiking a trail or knitting in a coffee shop. Her little human loves growing up with Lab/Pyrenees mix Finn, Aussie/Heeler mix Lottie, ball pythons Tohil and Kukulka’n, and the occasional Aussie foster dog.
Dr. T has her Elite Fear Free Certification and wants to help your pets lead long, happy, healthy lives, caring not only about their physical health but also their emotional well-being. She takes her experiences teaching in grad school to educate and partner with pet parents making medical decisions for their loved ones . She has a passion for ophthalmology, dermatology, and soft tissue surgery, and loves traveling for CE to keep learning more about veterinary medicine (and to get new tattoos).
×Suzanne Tappe
Fear Free Certified
North Lead Technician
A Bad Mama Jama
Suzanne came to us originally from Illinois. After high school and college there and a little bit of normal life in the Midwest, she decided it was time to get weird and move to Austin after only spending 2 days here on a road trip! She’s lived in Austin since 2016 and never looked back!
Her favorite part of being a certified veterinary technician is preventative medicine, but a nice foreign body surgery can always be fun!
You can find her taking her pugs Matilda and Willie out hiking, going to concerts, brunchin’ it up with friends, or trying to be a bad ass on the roller derby track playing on the Hell Marys for the Texas Roller Girls!
×Rebecca Grove
Fear Free Certified
Lead Surgery Technician
I am originally from Kansas but have now been living in Texas for 9 years, 6 of those being in Austin. I have one fetch loving cat and the most smiley dachshund boy around. I have been in vet med for 9 years now. I enjoy anything outdoors and puzzling in my free time.
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Marlene Martinez
Fear Free Certified
Veterinary Technician
I was born in Santa Anna, California, and raised in Austin, Texas. I knew I wanted to work in the veterinary field since 8 years old, after our family dog passed away from parvo. I love surgery especially dentals; I get so much satisfaction seeing tartar free teeth! I have a total of 5 kids: 1 human 2 labs 1 husky and 1 fish 😉
×Ksenia AlbertBig or small, be kind to all
Rest in Peace 2023
From the time Ksenia was a child, her grandfather helped instill a love and passion for taking care of all kinds of animals- from spiders in the garden to bunnies found stranded in the fields he was farming. Even though she double-majored in psychology and philosophy, she always knew that nurturing animals is what made her feel most fulfilled. Previous experience at a non-profit agency working towards a no-kill shelter initiative further instilled her belief that this is what she was meant to do in life.
Ksenia started as a technician assistant and was soon promoted to vet tech and surgery tech. She is the proud mama of Juna, her heeler mix, 2 cats, and 3 leopard geckos. She has been a vegetarian since the age of 19 and is a die-hard Packers fan. She enjoys reading, crime documentaries, concerts, good coffee (even bad coffee is okay), and going to the beach.
×Cynthia Marques
Fear Free Certified
Veterinary Technician
Empire State of Mind
Cynthia is a New York transplant who’s lived in Austin for past 3 years. They started their veterinary journey at 18 years old but didn’t truly fall in love with the profession until they started working at a hybrid emergency / speciality hospital. They have a strong hunger for learning and teaching! Naturally this lead them to Paz, full of innovative individuals that share their knowledge with fellow staff members and clients alike. On their off days they teach, practice learning a new craft and tend to be planning some sort of adventure to go on.
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Dru Marquis
East Pharmacy/Lab Technician
Zen Nature Nerd
Dru has dedicated most of her life to working with animals. From training farm dogs during her free range childhood in the woodlands of North Mississippi, to earning her Bachelors Degree in Equine Science, to fostering and adopting Retired Racing Greyhounds, she has always found joy in the practice of Compassionate Animal Care.
After leaving her long-time career as a horse trainer and instructor in the Pacific Northwest, Dru made
her way to Central Texas, where she turned her talents to pet grooming for the next decade. It was through grooming for an animal hospital that her interest in becoming a Veterinary Technician took
root and began to blossom. She eventually realized that Austin was where she felt most at home, and heeded the voice of Karma that called her to join PAZ Veterinary in 2016.
Dru enjoys practicing Yoga, working with Fiber Arts, and getting out into Nature for hiking and camping. She also advocates for Greyhounds and other Sighthounds in need of Forever Homes, and
currently shares her life and her heart with her sweet but spicy retired racer, Aoife.
Hanna Lewis
Technician
Hanna is a graduate from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in biology and minors in primatology and evolutionary and functional anatomy. She started her veterinary career in emergency medicine but has been loving working at a general practice! Her favorite aspect of PAZ is the community that it provides for both humans and animals. Although Hanna loves being a veterinary technician, her goal is to become a veterinarian one day. Outside of spending time with her 3 cats, Hanna loves to explore Austin with her friends and see what the world has to offer!
×Eddie Morales
Fear Free Certified
Lead Technician
Eddie is originally from El Paso and has been in Austin for 7 years. He has experience in multiple aspects of the veterinary field. He has a 9 year old Lhasa Apso named Yoki that shares the same birthday as him (gotta love the pisces). In his free time, Eddie enjoys swimming, biking, and picnics. You can rest assured your pet is in good hands with Eddie!
×Luz Silva
Fear Free Certified
Technician
Luz graduated from Texas A&M as a first generation Mexican-American with a Bachelors degree in animal science. Working with animals has always been her passion. She actively volunteers in animal shelters and helps strays find a home. Even though she knows she can’t save every animal on the planet, she sure will try!
Luz is a mother to a beautiful boy and also a fur momma, you can guarantee her fur babies will keep multiplying in the future. She started as a technician assistant and loves working now as a veterinary technician.
Mimi Fong
Fear Free Certified
Technician
I grew up in San Jose, California and was told if I moved to Texas I would be riding a horse to school everyday. It’s been a little over 2 decades residing here in Austin and I love it, even if I never got that horse.
Growing up as a first generation American, I was taught to work hard for what I wanted. If I can walk and talk, I can work. I was also told no pets for majority of my childhood and boy did that suppress passion continue to grow. When I was finally on my own, I grew a zoo in my home. I’ve had snakes, lizards, rats, cats, turtles, fish, axolotls but my most favorite are my dogs!
My passion for my dogs wanted me to do anything I could for them. I worked at a local pet store to learn about products, took countless training classes to understand them, and now I’m continuing to learn vet med to maintain their healthy lifestyles.
My career was art related but I took a “what if” shot at applying to Emancipet thinking my chances were slim. I wanted any escape from restaurant or retail management. I started my vet med career being trained with no experience at Emancipet in 2018. I learned so much but wanted to keep growing. That’s when I joined Paz!
I still enjoy art at a hobby and work with all materials! TV is also a big part of my life and you’ll probably catch me wearing a shirt with some of my favorite movies or shows. If I’m not home, I might be at a local brewery or at Come And Take It Live. Come by, say hi, and let’s chat about aliens and spooky things!
×Danielle Carey
Fear Free Certified
Technician
Danielle was born in southern CA, and after several moves to CO and AZ, she eventually found her way to the vibrant city of Austin. She went to college with a desire to pursue a career in animal behavior, but other opportunities arose, detouring her into a home mortgage for eight years. After an inspiring experience at one of our clinics, Danielle made her way back into vet med. She realized seeing your snuggly pets all day was way more fun!
Danielle loves to learn new things, which led her into being a surgery technician. She aspires to bring a positive light to the clinic, making sure all feel welcome and educated after each visit. Her bright smile and enthusiasm keep the tails wagging.
When she’s not techin’ at our south location you can find her bouncing around town and being a part of the community! Volunteering, paddle boarding, dancing, supporting local drag, and catching live music. Random quirk about her: she used to work at the Denver Aquarium, where she trained tigers, otters, and many species of birds!
×Lee Vann
Fear Free Certified
Technician
Lee was born and raised in Texas, originally from a small town south of Waco. She was raised in a metaphoric barn with chickens, geese, dogs, cats, cows, horses, and even a domesticated raccoon– Big Momma. Always having a love for animals, when they found their way to Austin in 2015, they started volunteering at the Austin Animal Shelter. After a brief intermission of working with animals, she found herself professionally dog training. After a traumatic event that involved the hospitalization of her own dog, Sam, Lee decided she wanted to be a part of the bigger picture and venture into veterinary medicine.
They were warmly welcomed by the team at Paz in 2023. Instantaneously feeling pride and purpose, Lee quickly flourished and became a certified Fear Free Veterinary Technician Assistant.
Lee has a special affinity for anxious and older animals. They love hiking (unfortunately, her mesocephalic senior pup can’t hang,) live music, dive bars, drag shows, skateboarding, plants, traveling to colder climates, and video games. Lee is also a current ACC student and has high hopes of joining the dark side and becoming a small animal veterinarian… eventually!
×Kate Bannon
Fear Free Certified
North Reception Supervisor
CCPDT-KA certified dog trainer
With roots in New Orleans, it’s no surprise that Kate has settled here in Austin where the people know how to have a good time and the temperature stays warm. After graduating from LSU, Kate made a leap of faith to pursue a film career in Austin. Between gigs, Kate knew she had to find something more sustainable and was hired on by Karma Dog Training as an assistant trainer and quickly moved up the ranks to start leading classes in 2015. After COVID and classes became virtual, Kate parted with Karma Dog. Knowing the importance of early socialization, she started our very own “Puppy Paw-ty” classes. She plans to keep expanding puppy classes within Paz and continue to grow her knowledge in animal behavior. If you’ve got puppy questions, Kate is your go-to girl.
Growing up, Kate was always surrounded by animals and as an only child, her Golden Retriever became her best friend. Frequently her mom brought home stray or injured animals making compassion a trait learned early on. With knowledge in animal behavior and excellent people skills, it’s no surprise Kate has found a family within PAZ. When she isn’t busy helping people and their pets, Kate enjoys practicing yoga, discovering new music/food, and spending as much time as possible soaking up the sun and water with her pup, Butters. If she isn’t out and about with friends, you bet she is cuddled up at home watching cartoons or horror flicks.
The Professional Dog Trainer CPDT-KA certification requires 300 hours of training experience and passing a lengthy exam testing knowledge and skills in ethology, learning theory, dog training technique, and instruction.
×Katie Castillo
Fear Free Certified
South Reception SupervisorCooking Mama!
Katie was born and raised in our awesome city of Austin, Texas. She is a mother of two children, Noah, 12, and Sophia, 8. Let’s not forget her 4-legged pal, Chunk, who is 3. She began her career back in 2018 starting off as a kennel technician, moved up to a receptionist, then began some training as a technician. She much enjoys client interaction and building relationships with owners, ensuring they have the best experience coming into, and leaving the hospital. Katie heard about Paz through a co-worker and although she doesn’t like a huge change, she applied only to find out that her career would better both hers, and her children’s future. That change was needed! Katie came to us from another clinic, a little worn out from the volume they were receiving, due to COVID. She utilized her knowledge, customer service skills, and training learned over the years, and fit right in with the Paz family. Shortly after, she was promoted to South reception supervisor, doing an overall good job (She says) haha!
When Katie is not working at the clinic, she loves to spend time with her kiddos, doggo and boyfriend, Adam. They love to adventure and explore new parks and food places in the Austin area. Her #1 passion is COOKING; she has been cooking since she was 8 years old and has never put the spatula down. Her dream is to one day have a ‘67 Volkswagen van, and convert it into a mobile restaurant to take on the road around the country, serving all sorts of desserts. Along with spending time with the kids, she cooks, messes around with her many plants, and seeks any new hobby that could be interesting for not just herself, but the kids as well. Family is everything to her and what she learns in life she shows Noah and Sophia so that they are capable of bright futures and success.
×Andrea Massella
Receptionist
TieDye Yankee
Andrea is originally from Connecticut on the East Coast (best coast). This Yankee has been working with dogs for over 15 years! She loves being part of the PAZ family, helping pets get well. She enjoys going to concerts and roller skating in her free time. She’s a firecracker, she’s fabulous, she loves dogs, and she roller skates to the beat of her own music!
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Beatriz Hargett
Reception Supervisor
The Brazilian nut in our Trail Mix
Bea is originally from Brazil and has been in Austin since 2017.
She absolutely loves animals. She has two of her own. Alfie (Pyreness mix) and Summer (Red Heeler).
In her free time she enjoys going to the lake and dancing.
You might see her silly dance moves when you walk in at the South location.
×Gloria Perez
Receptionist
Gloria was born in Michoacan, Mexico, and moved to Austin, Texas at a very young age. She is a Mom to a 3-year-old girl, Camila. Her Career started in 2021 working at an exotic animal clinic, seeing a wide range of animals. Gloria loves building client relationships and helping pets get better. She spent most of her childhood with Pitbulls as pets and later a beagle named Toby and a German shepherd named Shadow. You can catch her at the front desk in a Buc-ee’s shirt most of the time. When she is not working she loves to spend time with her Daughter and Husband, Kevin. While she has only worked with animals for a short time, she knows she has found her passion. Believer in the power of animal-human connections and the joy they bring.
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Nikki Johnston
Chief Operating Officer
Mother Nature
Even though Nikki Johnston was born in Lubbock, Texas, she’s been in Austin since 1984. She took a brief sabbatical to go back to Lubbock to attend Texas Tech University where she obtained a B.S. in Animal Science and Natural Resources/Chemistry. As a college student, she worked as a veterinary technician in a few practices (GP to Emergency. After graduating Texas Tech University, she left Lubbock (quickly!) to come back to Austin and picked up where she left off. She has worked in the veterinary field since 1994.
Over the years of being a technician, she developed a passion for practice management, and was promoted quickly as a practice manager in Round Rock, Texas. About a year later, she was promoted again as a Regional Operations Manager (same company) from Austin to Boston overseeing 16-22 practices. Nikki has managed over 63 practices all across the United States, and has felt privileged to have a career where she got to know and work with several veterinarians and their staff.
Nikki was itching to get back to her Austin roots, and in January 2020, Nikki joined Paz Veterinary as the Director of Operations, and in the summer of 2022, became Paz’s Chief Operations Officer. Nikki has a knack for operational strategy, building relationships in the veterinary industry, operational finance and project management- but what she really loves is curating and mentoring new leaders.
Nikki has a teenage son as well as 5 dogs (3 miniature dachshunds, a chihuahua and a chiweenie). She also has quite the green thumb, caring for her personal collection of over 800 plants, and has taken up crochet! She’s a sucker for keeping busy!
×Karen Holliday
Fear Free Certified
TCVM Trained
Director of Human Relations
Zen Master
Karen, who is originally from Portland, Oregon, was raised with cats and dogs but also any animal that needed care. She found a natural solace in animals and knew from a young age that she would likely dedicate her life to them.
She started her career in Veterinary Medicine as a kennel attendant and receptionist in 2003. She decided this was the path to pursue and enrolled in a year long certification program along with invaluable on the job training to become a Veterinary Technician. Moving to Austin in 2008, she continued her Vet Med journey and worked for an emergency animal hospital for 7 years before taking a year and a half off to reset and travel the world. After amazing adventures in India, Greece, Turkey, Ireland, Germany and Italy she returned to Austin in 2017 unsure of what she wanted to do next. She heard about Paz through a friend and decided to give it a try. She’s never looked back. She was quickly promoted from Technician to Technician Supervisor. Promoted again and again until she now resides as the Director of HR. It was a whirlwind of growth both personally and professionally as well as her contribution to the growth of Paz as a whole and she wouldn’t change it for anything. Paz has been a great reminder of why she got into Veterinary Medicine in the first place: to strengthen the human animal bond. Now that she gets to work more on the human side of things, she has become keenly aware of how important it is that we take care of our Veterinary professionals by providing them with a healthy work environment where they are able to advocate for themselves and feel empowered to be the best humans they can be. She is proud to be a part of Paz’s very unique culture and approach to Veterinary Medicine.
Karen has an adult son, Aiden, who lives in Austin and three furry freeloading roommates: Beeju, a 14 year old pitbull, Kali, a 4 month old black kitten aptly named after the Hindu Goddess of Destruction and Judas Goat, a 9 year old black cat who holds ultimate power over all who enter his home. Outside of veterinary medicine, her hobbies and passions include yoga and meditation (certified yoga instructor), the good death movement (certified Death Midwife), travel, nature, learning/seeking, cooking, volunteering, music, self care (biohacking) and anything that inspires personal empowerment as well as respect and admiration for nature and all of its inhabitants. She’s just a general fan of this journey we call Life.
Ultimately, Karen will end up on some land in the country growing veggies and caring for a small herd of black cats, goats, chickens and dogs.
×Toni Keener
Fear Free Certified
Director of Logistics and Innovation
Jack of All Trades
Toni is one of our most tenured employees at Paz Veterinary. She came to us way back, when we were known as Austin Corner Vet and quickly established our standard of care for the technician staff. Toni has an interesting career story-arc coming from the insurance industry years ago but her Kansas farm girl roots and her sensibility got the best of her and she has excelled as a technician, a lead trainer and even operation management. She left Corner Vet for a great opportunity at Thrive Vet Care and opened one of their more successful hospitals.
She returned back to Paz when a management role opened for her and has brought even more experience and success back with her. She is a fan favorite and knows her way around a hospital and takes patient care serious. Toni completed tech training at Penn Foster and began her career at Sunburst Animal Hospital in Phoenix, Arizona.
She does way more than just create spreadsheets, solve logistics and research/implement new veterinary technology – she also rides motorcycles (with a helmet on), cultivates an organic garden, mother of many plants and two active dogs-Rayne (black mouth cur) and Declan (Labrador Retriever mix). You can probably catch Toni out on a trail hike all over Austin with her dogs. So get to know her! Maybe you will get some fresh tomatoes or some 2-wheelin advice.
×Rachel Barton
Fear Free Certified
North Head of Culture
Cool, Calm, & Collected
Although not a native to Austin, Rachel is a native to Texas. Having lived far north, southeast, and central, she’s had a little taste of everything this state has to offer. Austin has always felt most like home though, so after completing her Veterinary Technician degree in Houston, she officially moved to the south side with her two cats, Tanny and Mitch. Similar to most veterinary professionals, Rachel has always felt a connection with animals and never really considered a career in any other field. She feels lucky to do what she loves everyday and is excited to continue learning and shaping herself into the best tech possible. Rachel enjoys low key outings with friends and family but is happiest at home, with some coffee, her cats, and The Office.
×Alison Colton-Rhoads
Fear Free Certified
Mama Bear
I grew up in Northern California… true Northern California… 170 miles North of San Francisco. I spent my youth exploring tide pools, playing at the beach, hiking in the redwoods and playing sports with my older brother. We always had a pet when I was growing up. We had one cat and multiple dogs.
I got my start in the veterinary industry at Pets Unlimited in San Francisco, CA in the early 2000’s. I worked as a file clerk (remember paper files?), receptionist and then reception supervisor. I loved establishing relationships with our clients as well as the fast paced environment of our 24 hour emergency center.
After falling in love with my future wife at a veterinary conference, I moved to Sydney, Australia. I lived in Sydney for 7 years. I loved photographing all native wildlife like wombats, koalas, kangaroos, echidnas, sulfur-crested cockatoos and rainbow lorikeets. I now have dual citizenship and I also gave birth to our son, Nicholas, in Sydney in 2017. Oh and being stung by a stingray really, really hurts. Trust me, I got stung on the top of my foot while vacationing at the Great Barrier Reef.
We moved back to the States in 2017 and after a few years of being a stay at home mom, I decided it was time to get back into the veterinary industry. It is definitely my passion. I love being able to meet our patients and build relationships with our clients. I’m so proud to be working at Paz Veterinary. I love the culture and employees at Paz.
We currently have Zoey, a 3yr old DSH; Rizzo Louise, a 2yr old Cavapoo; and Whiskey Nash, a 2yr old Cavachon. Along with Nicholas, our fur babies keep me busy on my days off. Nicholas also loves rescuing lizards (usually from Zoey’s mouth), so we always have a terrarium set up for his next best friend. Right now, his best friend is Ninja, a baby red-eared slider that our dogs found in our backyard.
×Ashley Vaughan
Interior Designer
Queen Bee
Hailing from Austin, TX, Ashley the Queen Bee had early aspirations of becoming a cowgirl, riding horses and working a ranch. She also deeply admired the veterinarian profession and had dreams of becoming (or marrying) a vet one day. One wish down and one to go as she is the better half to Dr. Nicholas and proud mother of the two kinetic babies you see around Paz Vet, Redding and Fields Vaughan.
Ashley grew up with a deep love and fascination of all living creatures and frequently brought home stray kitties, birdies, and anything that was looking for love. A passion to nurture was cultivated by her mother, who is a labor and delivery nurse, and whom also instilled an education of care and responsible medicine. Ashley loves to be around all furry friends and believes their unconditional love is one of the worlds greatest gifts and is necessary for those seeking a fulfilled life. Paz Vet has also been a creative outlet for Ashley as she has had the opportunity to work with some of Austin’s greatest minds (VUKA-Impact HUB-Seeds Interiors) in creating an environment where you can feel like you are home when you bring your loved one to see our amazing staff!
×Vanessa Thuma
Fear Free Certified
West Head of Culture
Simply the Best
Vanessa was born in California and raised (for the most part) in Texas. She started working with animals in 2012 as a volunteer dog walker at a local shelter in Fort Benning, Georgia. Vanessa knew she wanted to work with animals even more closely after that and landed a job as an adoption counselor at a Humane Society in Alabama.
Over the years, Vanessa has worked with many wonderful people and feels lucky she’s been able to see so many animals find good homes. After years as an adoption counselor, Vanessa moved back home to Texas and worked as a receptionist at an animal clinic with a focus on rehabilitation and a holistic approach. Vanessa loves helping people and animals alike, and nothing makes her happier than an animal who has a long life free of cruelty and sickness. She takes pride in the fact that she gets to help ensure animals live a happy, healthy life full of love and friendship.
In her spare time, Vanessa is a hardcore cross-stitcher, crocheter, video game streamer on Twitch, and roller derby badass for one of the tops teams in the world.
×Natalie NewittFear Free Certified
South Head of Culture
Lady in Red
I’m a Texas native by birth but my previous homes that I hold dear are Colorado and Alaska. I have loved animals since I could remember! Growing up I spent my free time trying to catch wild life and bring home any stray to convince my parents they needed a home! Once I volunteered at a shelter I knew working with animals was my calling. I have been in veterinary medicine for about 5 years now and have been fortunate to spend 2 of those years growing my roots at PAZ. I love educating clients on their furry companions and strive to make vet visits fun for people and animals alike!
I love all animals! But I am a cat person at heart and love to spend my down time cuddling on the couch with my cat JiJi. But then 3 years ago Geronimo came into our lives and changed everything (for the better). Now I am a dog person as well and biased to the husky mixes ;P
We love to take Geronimo on our hiking/climbing trips! He enjoys being outdoors and he will not let us pass up an opportunity to say hi to a furry friend or human companion, and you bet he will lay down until he gets his way!
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“We love Paz!”
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“Great service. They made my puppy feel comfortable and happy to be here. Friendly and helpful staff.”
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“We love bringing Frankie in to see his friends at Paz! Best vet service we've ever received.”
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“You nailed it.”
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“Everything was wonderful!! Everyone was exceptionally nice and helpful. Thank you!”
HERE WHEN YOU NEED US.
Mon–Fri. 8A–8P
Saturday 8A–2P
Closed Sundays
Site by: EYE LIKE DESIGN