Meet the Team at ABC Veterinary Hospital Pacific Beach

Dr. Nicole Zaranek

Doctor of Veterinary Medicine

Dr. Zaranek is from British Columbia, Canada, and has always had a passion for animals. She cultivated her animal-loving nature by immersing herself in the world of veterinary medicine at a young age by volunteering at farms, wildlife centers, and small animal clinics. She then transformed her childhood fascination into a lifelong passion by earning her Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from the Ontario Veterinary College. Her favorite part of being a veterinarian is helping patients recover from their illnesses and forming lasting relationships with pets and clients. Dr. Zaranek especially enjoys treating allergy cases and working with senior pets. She is currently pursuing advanced certification in veterinary acupuncture.

Dr. Zaranek lives in San Diego with her husband, son, and black Labrador, Kaia. She enjoys going to the beach and spending quality time with friends and family.

Dr. Nichole Svehla

Doctor of Veterinary Medicine

Dr. Svehla is originally from Nebraska and earned her veterinary degree at Kansas State University. Dr. Svehla worked as an emergency veterinarian in Arizona, the Bay Area, and San Diego before shifting to general practice.

Her favorite part about being a veterinarian is improving the quality of life for pets and educating clients. She is particularly interested in the care of geriatric animals, internal medicine, and emergency medicine. Dr. Svehla loves the ocean, yoga, and horseback riding. She has a Golden Retriever named Darby and two Persian cats, Devereux and Aloysius.

Dr. Robin Sayres

Doctor of Veterinary Medicine

Dr. Sayres is originally from Miami, Florida. She earned her veterinary degree from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine and finished her clinical year at Texas A&M. She then completed a small animal rotating internship in Denver, Colorado, and continued practicing for 3 more years there. She moved to San Diego a year ago with her cat, Thiago.

Her favorite part about being a veterinarian is helping animals (of course) and working with animals of all sizes. Her special interests are wildlife/conservation medicine, internal medicine, and neurology. In her free time, she loves to travel as much as possible. Otherwise, you’ll find her at the beach, hiking, or camping.

Dr. Liz Noppinger

Doctor of Veterinary Medicine

Dr. Noppinger was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland. After graduating college, she drove across the country to California to pursue her career and graduated from the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. Her special interests include behavior, emergency medicine, and oncology and hospice care.

In her free time, she enjoys going to the beach, hiking, and traveling with her family whenever time allows. Dr. Noppinger and her husband share their home with their son and daughter, and are actively looking for a bonded pair of cats to join the family!

Reva Raymond

Assistant Manager and Lead Veterinary Technician

Reva was born and raised in San Diego. She studied at Grossmont Health Occupation Center and is a fantastic technician.

She loves seeing her patients going home healthy and certainly does a huge part in keeping them healthy.

Reva enjoys spending quality time with her family. She shares her home with seven furry family members. It’s a farm with Pickles, Archer, Charlie, Alfred, Missa, Destiny, and Kevin.

Natalie Baloochesti

Registered Veterinary Technician, Dental Technician, Surgical Technician

Natalie was born and raised in Houston, Texas. She moved to San Diego, wanting a change of scenery and to be close to the beach. Natalie attended Northwestern State University in Louisiana, where she majored in Biology with a Concentration in Veterinary Technology. She has always had a fascination with animals and knew she wanted to work in the Veterinary Field.

She quickly discovered her passion for animal dentistry, pursuing her Registered Veterinary Technicians License and gaining experience performing anesthetic dental procedures. Natalie is a fur mama to her two dogs, Zoey and Chloe. On her off days, she enjoys being outside, at the beach, and with her friends.

Jaelyn McGuire

Registered Veterinary Technician, Dental Technician, Surgical Technician

Jaelyn was born and raised in San Diego, CA. She attended San Diego City College and pursued her passion for the Veterinary field shortly after, by attending Pima Medical Institute. Jaelyn became a licensed RVT in 2017, with a passion/focus in dentistry and surgical anesthesia. She has two of the best boys, Ozzy and Ollie, who love to adventure with her. Jaelyn is always outdoors, camping, hiking, surfing, and exploring on her off time. She is a San Diego native and always will be!

Matt Bohamed

Veterinary Technician

Matt was born and raised in Los Angeles, CA. Wanting to come down to sunny San Diego for the “big city in a small city” feel, he pursued a bachelor’s in Biology at the University of San Diego. His love and passion for animals and animal care have helped him determine he wants to go even further than being a technician and actually become a Veterinarian.

Matt has one furchild, Maui the cat. Outside of work, he likes to be outdoors, hiking and running, as well as visiting beaches. His favorite thing in the field is growing his technical skills and learning more about diagnostics to help with patient recovery.

Sidney Gallardo

Veterinary Technician

Sidney was born in New Jersey. She originally was in the Navy and was stationed in San Diego—that is what brought her here! She had always had a passion and a drive for working with animals. After being in the Navy, she decided to pursue her passion in the veterinary field. She went back to school at Pima Medical Institute and is currently pursuing her VTNE to become a Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT).

Sidney enjoys spending time with her husband, her cats and dogs, and playing video games when not working. She has two dogs, Kylo and Maya, and two cats, Tony and Cleo. We welcome her to our ABC family and are excited to have her on our team!

Mia Huynh

Veterinary Technician

Meet Mia! We are excited to welcome her aboard with us. Mia was born in Vietnam and came to reside in the US 5 years ago. She was on a veterinary degree track in Vietnam, but moved to the US before finishing school. Mia aspires to continue her education in the veterinary field and either grow as a Technician or pursue a veterinary degree here in the US.

Mia loves being in San Diego; she finds the ocean very peaceful and loves the city of San Diego as a whole. During her off time, she enjoys researching new topics of study to help advance her career in the field. Mia is a homebody, so in addition to researching on off time, she enjoys a lazy day at home. She is eager to learn more about American culture.

Fernanda Cervantes

Veterinary Technician

Fernanda Cervantes is a dedicated Veterinary Technician based in San Diego, where she was born. She plays a key role in supporting animal care and guiding pet owners to provide the best possible care. Her hands-on experience spans urgent care, spay and neuter clinics, and general veterinary practice.

Fernanda studied Veterinary Medicine in Mexicali, Baja California, and holds an Associate Degree in Veterinary Technology in California. She is currently preparing to earn her Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) license, with the goal of becoming a licensed Veterinarian in California. Outside of work, Fernanda enjoys life in San Diego with her 10-year-old rescue dog, Greta, and her family.

Charla Lowe-Valdez

Veterinary Assistant

Charla has lived in San Diego since she was 4 years old.

She has been working with animals for 17-plus years. Charla studied at Pima Medical Institute in Chula Vista.

Charla loves giving the best customer service possible, and she succeeds at it! Her favorite part of her job is when she gets to see a patient recover from illness or injury.

In her spare time, she makes succulent arrangements for friends and family. Charla shares her home with three cats and one dog, Taylor, Bootsee, Spookie, and Latte.

Jenny Nguyen

Customer Service Representative

Jenny is a born and raised San Diegan and has never left! She attended San Diego State University with a Bachelor of Science in Biology with an emphasis in Zoology. Jenny has always had an interest in animals and has wanted to pursue a career in the veterinary field, but she also loves talking to people. Jenny aspires to work her way up in the field, becoming a Registered Veterinary Technician. With that licensing and experience, she’d love to eventually work with wildlife doing rehabilitation.

Outside of work, Jenny loves to spend her time in the ocean paddleboarding, kayaking, and going to the beach. When she’s not out and about, she also really enjoys being at home with her family and furbabies. She has quite the mini farm at home: 2 cats (Benito and Gloria), 3 dogs (Lola, Artie, and Kona), and 2 tortoises (Leo and Buddha).

Bayleigh Clark

Customer Service Representative

Bayleigh was born in Imperial Valley, CA. She knew she had a passion for the veterinary field from a young age and knew she wanted to go to school and work with animals! Bayleigh is currently in school with Pima Medical Institute and has started her career in the vet field as a receptionist because she believes learning how to help clients from the moment they walk through the door is where good patient care starts, and that will help her become a successful Registered Veterinary Technician in the future.

Bayleigh hopes to become a Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) and eventually work with exotic large animals at the Zoo. Outside of work, she likes to spend time reading and with her boyfriend. She has one boxer mix named Mochi and two leopard geckos: Milo & Randall. We welcome her to our team and can’t wait for you all to meet her!

Ardel Trujillo

Registered Veterinary Technician, Dental Technician, Surgical Technician

Meet Ardel! A proud Coronado native, born and raised right here in Coronado, she brings both local roots and a growing passion for veterinary medicine to our team. At 23, Ardel discovered her calling in the veterinary field when she started her first role as a veterinary assistant—and she hasn’t looked back since.

She quickly fell in love with animal dentistry, where her passion for hygiene and attention to detail truly shine. There’s nothing she enjoys more than seeing the transformation from heavy tartar buildup to a clean, polished smile, and she’s excited to continue pursuing her goal of becoming a Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT).

At home, Ardel is kept busy by her hardworking crew—Nukka, her Australian Cattle Dog (whose daily job mostly consists of expert-level snoozing 😄), and her cat, California.

When she’s off the clock, you can find her soaking up the outdoors, exploring nature, and enjoying her favorite local fish tacos.

We’re so happy to welcome Ardel to the team and can’t wait for you to meet her!

Schnell Williams

Veterinary Technician

Schnell Williams was born in Kingston, Jamaica, and brings the warmth, dedication, and vibrant spirit of her island roots to our veterinary team here in San Diego, CA.

With a deep love for animals and a passion for providing exceptional patient care, Schnell is known for her gentle handling, strong technical skills, and calm presence—especially during busy or stressful moments in the hospital.

She is committed to continual learning, teamwork, and making every pet and pet parent feel supported and understood. Whether she’s monitoring hospitalized patients or educating clients, Schnell approaches every task with compassion and professionalism.

Outside of work, she enjoys exploring San Diego’s beaches, reading books, and spending time outdoors hiking.

We are proud to have Schnell as part of our veterinary family!

Christian La Salle

Veterinary Technician

Meet Christian! He was born and raised in El Centro, California. Christian brings a unique and dedicated background to our veterinary team. He began his journey in animal care through the U.S. Army, where he worked hands-on with military working dogs—an experience that sparked his passion for veterinary medicine and animal welfare.

After his time in the military, Chris chose to continue growing in the veterinary field, driven by his love for animals and desire to keep learning and advancing his skills as a technician. His calm demeanor, strong work ethic, and experience with working dogs make him a valuable part of our team.

Outside of work, you’ll find Chris spending time with his dog, Apollo, staying active with running, hiking, and working out, or experimenting in the kitchen—he loves to cook just as much as he loves caring for animals. We are happy to welcome him to our team.

Summer Bernard Heredia

Customer Service Representative

Summer is a dedicated veterinary receptionist who brings years of hands-on experience as a veterinary assistant to the front desk. Her background in patient care allows her to support clients with compassion, clear communication, and a deep understanding of what pets need to feel safe and comforted. Summer’s calm, friendly presence helps create a welcoming environment for every pet family who walks through the door.
Outside of the clinic, Summer enjoys spending time with her husband and their beloved pets—two cats and a dog who keep life full of joy (and fur). She loves cooking and baking new recipes, cozying up with relaxing video games, visiting museums, and listening to or watching her favorite musicals. Summer is passionate about animals, kindness, and learning something new every day.

Devin Caldwell

Customer Service Representative

Meet Devin, our newest friendly face at the front desk! Born and raised in North County San Diego, she’s had a lifelong love for animals and always knew she wanted to be part of the veterinary field.
As a receptionist, Devin truly enjoys building connections with pet parents and making every visit feel welcoming from the moment they walk through the door. She especially loves greeting all the furry patients and helping create a positive experience for both pets and their people.

Outside of work, Devin has a passion for writing and enjoys expressing her creativity in her free time. She’s also a dedicated reptile enthusiast, caring for several geckos and snakes at home—so she has a special appreciation for all kinds of animals, big and small.

We’re so excited to have Devin as part of our team and can’t wait for you to meet her!