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Our team

The people behind your pet's care

Two board-certified veterinarians, a lead technician who knows every patient by name, and a support team that treats your pet like their own.

2Board-certified veterinarians
8+Dedicated support staff
20+Combined years of experience
3,000+Patients cared for annually
Veterinarians & staff

People who know your pet

Scroll to meet the full team.

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Medical Director, Medical Director & Co-founder
Internal Medicine

Medical DirectorDVM, DACVIM

Medical Director & Co-founder

Our Medical Director founded Poughkeepsie Animal Wellness in 2018 after 12 years in academic veterinary medicine. She specializes in internal medicine and chronic disease management, and is known for her calm, methodical approach with anxious patients.

EducationCornell University College of Veterinary Medicine
Accepting new patients
Dr. John, Surgeon & Co-founder
Surgery & Dentistry

Dr. JohnDVM, DACVS

Surgeon & Co-founder

Dr. John leads our surgical and dental programs. With board certification in veterinary surgery, he performs everything from routine spays and neuters to complex orthopedic procedures. He co-founded this clinic to build a practice where surgery and primary care share the same roof.

EducationTufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine
Accepting new patients
Maria Santos, Lead Veterinary Technician
Clinical Operations

Maria SantosCVT

Lead Veterinary Technician

Maria has been with the practice since opening day. She oversees our technician team, manages in-house lab operations, and is the person most likely to remember your pet's name before you say it.

EducationHudson Valley Community College, CVT Program
Accepting new patients
How we work

A team that treats your pet like family

Poughkeepsie Animal Wellness was built by two veterinarians who wanted to practice medicine the way they were trained to — not the way the industry pressures you to. That means longer appointments, honest conversations, and a team that's invested in your pet's long-term health, not just today's visit.

We hire people who genuinely love animals. That sounds obvious, but it shapes everything — how our technicians handle nervous patients, how our front desk explains a diagnosis, how our surgeons approach a procedure they've done a hundred times.

Every member of our team participates in continuing education. Medicine changes. We keep up.

"We built this practice for the long game — relationships with families, not one-time visits."
— Medical Director, Poughkeepsie Animal Wellness
Compassion over efficiency

We schedule longer appointments on purpose. A rushed exam misses things.

Continuous learning

Our team attends continuing education every year — not because we have to, but because medicine moves.

Honest communication

We tell you what we know, what we don't, and what it will cost — before we do anything.

Support team

The whole team

Great veterinary care is a team sport. Our technicians, assistants, and client services staff are the backbone of every visit.

James Whitfield

Client Services Manager

James runs our front desk and makes sure every visit starts and ends smoothly. He's been in veterinary client services for eight years.

Priya Nair

Veterinary Technician

Priya specializes in anesthesia monitoring and post-operative care. She joined us from a specialty hospital in Albany.

Tom Reyes

Veterinary Technician

Tom handles our diagnostic imaging suite — digital radiography and ultrasound — and assists in surgery.

Leila Hassan

Veterinary Assistant

Leila is finishing her CVT certification and brings genuine warmth to every patient interaction.

Dana Park

Client Services

Dana manages appointment scheduling and insurance paperwork, and is fluent in Korean and English.

Chris Morales

Kennel & Boarding Supervisor

Chris oversees our boarding program and ensures every overnight guest gets the attention they deserve.

Ready to meet the team in person?

Book a wellness visit or call us at (845) 473-0358 — Mon–Fri 8 am–6 pm, Sat 9 am–2 pm.