I grew up in downtown Chicago, on Lake Shore Drive, in one of the Mies van der Rohe buildings that are part of the famous skyline. In third grade, I moved to Winnetka, a northern suburb of Chicago. (Fun fact: Home Alone was filmed in Winnetka while I was in elementary school!)

I have been an animal lover for as long as I can remember. When I was in kindergarten, I wanted to be a zookeeper because we were frequent visitors to Lincoln Park Zoo. As I got older, I realized that I could combine my love of the biological sciences and my heart for animals to become a passionate veterinarian.

I graduated from Villanova University with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. I attended the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine for my Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine (DVM).

My favorite part of being a veterinarian is combining science, medicine, and creative problem-solving to improve an animal’s quality of life while strengthening the human-animal bond. In addition to my clinical work, I have written and published two books on mental health using techniques such as CBT, DBT, and ACT. This makes me especially adept at supporting pet owners who are navigating grief and the difficult decisions surrounding pet loss. I believe that offering my veterinary skills, combined with empathetic, non-judgmental listening, is a meaningful way to support families during one of their hardest days.

As a pet owner myself, I have experienced various euthanasia circumstances, including a negative experience with my childhood dog. Fortunately, the dignified and gentle passing of our beloved family mutt, Kunu, was a completely different experience. When it was time to say goodbye to Kunu, we called Lap of Love. Instead of taking Kunu to a stressful clinic filled with strangers, we said goodbye to him in his favorite spot: the end of our bed. Our cats also got to say goodbye, including Kunu’s favorite cat, Callie, who curled up beside him after he passed, purring her goodbyes.

Outside of veterinary medicine, I am an avid knitter, having been taught by my grandmother at age 9. I also love baking desserts, tending to my vegetable garden, birdwatching, and playing board games.

Local and emergency resources