The WSVMA is pleased to welcome the sixth class of qualified and impressive veterinarians that have been accepted to participate in the WSVMA Power of Ten leadership program. What is Power of Ten? It’s an initiative designed to help recent graduates develop foundational skills in leadership, communication, and business. The year-long program begins in November and culminates with graduation at the 2022 Pacific Northwest Veterinary Conference. To date, 51 veterinarians have graduated from WSVMA’s Academy.
Dr. Kristi Wubben, a Power of Ten graduate of Power, and recognized for her leadership within the veterinary profession, is the team coach. She’ll be assisted by subject matter experts, veterinary mentors, and certified facilitators in helping Power of Ten participants grow through in-depth, high-impact learning experiences.
Meet the Participants!
D
r. Marisa Adams
VCA All Critters, Sammamish
Hello! My name is Marisa Adams. I am a Seattle area native who came to veterinary medicine a little bit later in life after a career in marketing. I graduated from Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine and completed an equine medicine and surgery internship at Bend Equine Medical Center before shifting my focus to small animal medicine in 2017. I have been the medical director of VCA All Critters in Sammamish since March 2020, and I am currently in the process of becoming certified in canine rehabilitation through the University of Tennessee. I share my home with a very spoiled Boston Terrier/Jack Russel cross named Zoey and a tank full of considerably less spoiled fish. In my free time (when not studying,) I enjoy baking, paddle boarding, and day-tripping around the area.
Dr. Anna Baines
Univ. of Washington – Center for One Health Research, Seattle
Dr. Anna Baines is a small animal veterinarian turned One Health research scientist. She attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison for her undergraduate degree where she majored in Zoology and Psychology. After graduating from the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine in 2016, she moved across the country to the beautiful Pacific Northwest. She practiced small animal medicine in Seattle for just over 4 years before transitioning to a position at the Center for One Health Research at the University of Washington. Dr. Baines is passionate about the One Health concept and believes that research that takes into account the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health is critical for the health of all.
Dr. Michael Brands
Pacific Northwest Veterinary Services, Seattle
Dr. Brands was born in Indiana but has been a West Coaster since 2000. He studied engineering and business at Purdue University before starting a career in retail management. It took some time before he found his true calling in life and enrolled in veterinary school at the University of Minnesota, where he earned his DVM degree. After graduation, he moved to Seattle where he worked as an associate in one practice for five years. He then made the transition to working as a relief veterinarian to create more flexibility in his schedule. That flexibility allows him to enjoy more of what he and his family love most: hiking, camping, and globetrotting. Mike lives in Ballard with his wife, two young (and crazy) boys, plus their dog (Rumi).
Dr. Nicole Gilmore
Snohomish Station Animal Hospital, Snohomish
I grew up and have lived in the beautiful Pacific Northwest/ greater Seattle area for almost my entire life! My undergraduate degree was earned at the University of Washington in 2014, and my DVM was earned at Washington State University as of 2020- I can’t lose the apple cup ever again!
I currently live in Woodinville with my husband Chris and our cat, Rosie. I enjoy wine tasting (especially since we live so close to all the wineries), reading, writing, and getting to experience all the restaurants the area has to offer while enjoying time with friends and family. When I was younger, I used to love horseback riding and hope to get back into that hobby soon.
It’s been a wild ride starting my career as a veterinarian during COVID times, but I look forward to experiencing many more years to come!
Dr. Jessica Hirota
Harbor Companion Animal Hospital, Gig Harbor
Dr. Hirota grew up in Tacoma and is currently a small animal vet in Gig Harbor. She completed her B.A. at the University of California, Berkeley in sociocultural anthropology. While she originally intended on studying human medicine, an amazing shadowing experience at a wildlife park changed her course. After Berkeley, she moved to Scotland to complete her studies at the Royal School of Veterinary Studies in Edinburgh.
In Scotland, Dr. Hirota enjoyed traveling in Europe and hiking with her dog and partner around the English countryside and Scottish isles. In practice, she enjoys establishing strong relationships with her clients and providing mentorship for younger students. Clinically, she is interested in ophthalmology, internal medicine, and preventative care. Outside of small animal work, she has participated in conservation research of local marine mammals, including fieldwork off the North coast of Scotland doing population monitoring of local bottlenose dolphins and Minke whales, and has also assisted with monitoring the strandings of gray whales in the Pacific Northwest. Since moving home, she has enjoyed exploring Washington’s beaches and trails with her partner and their two dogs Kona and Bowie.
Dr. Shayla Johnson
Soundview Veterinary Hospital, Tacoma
Dr. Shayla Johnson, originally from the south, lived in Georgia and Arkansas before attending veterinary school at Tuskegee University in Alabama. She completed a year-long internship in Long Island, NY, and worked a year at a high-volume practice in Las Vegas before relocating to Washington to practice primary veterinary care in 2018. She has a special interest in rehabilitation services and exercises, which include post-operative rehabilitation, neurological disease treatment, and activities meant to help with weight loss and pain management in pets.
Dr. Johnson’s household is quite active and full with a Labrador Retriever named Fossil, a Pembroke Welsh Corgi named Roman, and three cats; a Tabby named Spartacus, a ragdoll named Bosco, and a feral rescue named Logan. In her spare time, she enjoys all that Washington has to offer with her partner. Together they enjoy hiking, cooking, enjoying the sun when it’s out, and rooting for the best basketball team, the Seattle Storm!
Dr. Victoria McLean
Alpine Animal Hospital, Issaquah
Victoria McLean is an associate veterinarian at Alpine Animal Hospital in Issaquah. Dr. McLean grew up in New York and received her BS in Animal Science from Cornell University. Before veterinary school, she also received her master’s degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and developed curricula for zoos, museums, and college-level courses as a science educator. During her veterinary training, she traveled to South Africa and Brazil and treated a variety of species including big cats, rhinos, elephants, and primates! After graduating from the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine in 2019, Dr. McLean completed a rotating internship at the Veterinary Specialty Center of Seattle where she received extensive training in emergency medicine, internal medicine, neurology, surgery, and oncology. During this time, Dr. McLean fell in love with the PNW and decided to stay and pursue general practice in the Seattle area. Dr. McLean lives with her husband, her cat (Clyde), and her dog (Bonnie), and in her free time she enjoys climbing mountains and traveling to National Parks!
Dr. Lily Ngai
Banfield Pet Hospital, Vancouver
Hello! I’m Dr. Lily Ngai, born and raised in New York City, but have never really been a true city-dweller at heart. So I moved out west to Colorado, where I completed my veterinary education at Colorado State University in 2016 and practiced for two years post-graduation in Las Vegas, NV. Tired of the acrid landscape, I decided to move to the evergreen Pacific Northwest region a little over 3 years ago and absolutely love it out here. I currently live and practice in Vancouver, WA. My passion in veterinary medicine includes soft tissue surgery, internal medicine, and client education. I have three fur children, a great pyrene named Artemis, and two domestic shorthair cats named Calypso and Jupiter. When I’m not practicing medicine, I’m often hiking, kayaking, rock climbing, exploring new places to eat, and enjoying movie nights.
Dr. Katharine Onofryton
Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission, Olympia
Katharine Onofryton, known to most as Ono, is a Program Veterinarian at the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission based in Olympia, WA. She graduated from Oregon State’s veterinary school in June 2020. Ono’s work focuses on salmonid aquaculture for stock enhancement and conservation purposes at tribal hatcheries. Ono also provides veterinary services to tribal wildlife programs. Before veterinary school, Ono completed her undergraduate degree in Science of Earth Systems at Cornell University. She concentrated in Oceanography and double minored in Marine Biology and Natural Resources. Ono loves SCUBA diving, traveling, learning other languages, and cooking.
Dr. Maggie Schroeder
Columbia City Vet, Seattle
Dr. Maggie Schroeder is a Pacific Northwest native. She has been passionate about caring for animals for as long as she can remember. Her parents let her rescue an abandoned tuxedo cat when she was 3 years old, whom she named Winkles. It was her beloved Winkles who inspired her to become a veterinarian. Maggie attended Washington State University and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 2013 followed by a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree in 2017. Maggie is a small animal veterinarian at Columbia City Vet. She lives in downtown Seattle with her boyfriend and their feline fur-baby named Minerva. In her spare time, Maggie enjoys reading, traveling internationally, and attending the Seattle Opera.
Dr. Deb Yannessa
Pasado’s Safe Haven, Sultan
Dr. Deb Yannessa is a veterinarian in Tacoma, WA. Originally from New Jersey, she received her DVM from NC State. Currently, she is the lead veterinarian for a nonprofit spay/neuter clinic. Her professional interests include shelter medicine, surgery, and finding ways to provide affordable access to veterinary care. Outside of veterinary medicine, she enjoys running, rock climbing, and cooking. She lives with her husband, a mixed-breed dog named Leah, and a mischievous cat named Lucy.
Dr. Kristi Wubben, Team Coach
Mountain View Veterinary Hospital, Vancouver
Dr. Kristi Wubben developed her fondness for animals and medicine at an early age being the daughter of two veterinarians and growing up on a farm in Ridgefield, WA. She received her DVM degree from WSU in 2012. Her classmates elected her as their Student American Veterinary Medical Association (SAVMA) Delegate where she served as co-chair of the Governmental Affairs Committee (GAC) and student liaison for the Political Affairs Committee (PAC). She practiced in a mixed animal veterinary hospital in SW WA before family job transfers necessitated spending the past few years moving around the country from Maryland to Hawaii to California. While in Maryland she worked for the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) as a Veterinary Medical Officer in response to the High Path Avian Influence outbreak. In 2017 she moved back home to Southwest Washington and is working at a small animal veterinary hospital specializing in canine rehabilitation therapy. Kristi was a participant in the Power of Ten class of 2017-2018 and has been the Team Leader for Power of Ten groups since 2019.
Posted November 5, 2021