“Outstanding services! I don’t know what else you could do! Absolutely pleased. Professional beyond belief.” Gene Taylor, Auburn
Meet Loomis Basin's Outstanding Veterinarians
Loomis Basin Veterinary Clinic promises that our exceptional staff of primary care and specialist veterinarians, trained technicians, and expert support staff will provide outstanding care for your pets. The entire Loomis Basin team works together to understand you and to meet your expectations and your pet's needs.
We are here 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year to provide comprehensive, high quality veterinary care services, including wellness and preventive care, critical and emergency care, and sophisticated specialized care.
We are always here when you need us, providing veterinary excellence, day or night.
Read more about our doctors and veterinary support staff below.
Veterinarians
Loomis Basin Veterinary Clinic employs or works with some of the best and brightest veterinarians and veterinary technicians in our profession. As a full-service community, emergency, and specialty practice that can care for your pets 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, we staff over 70 individual doctor shifts each week. All of our veterinarians work between two and five shifts per week and we are proud to have more than 250 years of combined experience practicing veterinary medicine among our more than 25 doctors.
So that we can provide the best care, we encourage you to find a veterinarian on our staff with whom you and your pet are comfortable. When you call us to make an appointment, please request that doctor when you can. This will help you and your pet to establish a strong relationship with a particular veterinarian. While your preferred veterinarian may not be available every time, we want you to know our entire staff works as a team to ensure your pet receives consistent, excellent veterinary care.
Our veterinarians regularly take advantage of continuing education opportunities to ensure they remain knowledgeable and skilled in the latest veterinary developments. Everyone is conscientious and passionate about caring for your pet.
Jill Aschehoug, DVM
Dr. Aschehoug was born and raised in Michigan. She received her undergraduate degree in Biology from California State University, Sacramento in 2003. Jill graduated from the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of California, Davis in 2008. She joined the staff at Loomis Basin Veterinary Clinic in 2011.
Jill lives in Roseville where she and her husband, Vince, enjoy raising their two sons Samuel and Michael. Jill also stays busy taking care of their 5 cats, 2 dogs and 4 horses.
Lauren Ayala, DVM
Dr. Ayala was born in Carmichael and raised in Davis. She attended the University of California, San Diego, graduating in 2001 with a bachelor of science in biochemistry and cell biology. She graduated from the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine in 2008.
Lauren joined Loomis Basin Veterinary Clinic in 2008. She has a special interest in emergency and critical care. Lauren feels her background in working with human hospice patients gives her special insight for helping owners address their pets’ end-of-life care.
Lauren lives in Sacramento with her husband, Brian, and their two dogs and four cats. In her time away from the clinic, she enjoys gardening, reading, snowshoeing, or spending the afternoon on a lake.
Andrea Carlomagno, DVM
Dr. Carlomagno was born and raised in Knoxville, Tennessee. She received her bachelor’s degree in animal science from the University of Tennessee where she remained to complete her doctor of veterinary medicine in 2011. Andrea has a special interest in clinical pathology and infectious diseases. She joined Loomis Basin Veterinary Clinic in 2011.
In her spare time, Andrea enjoys horseback riding, rock climbing and mountain biking. She is excited to be living in California and looks forward to bringing her thoroughbred gelding named Juice west as soon as possible
Corey Cherrstrom, DVM (Retired)
Dr. Cherrstrom began his pursuit of a career in veterinary medicine during high school with experience working for a friend’s father in his veterinary hospital. After undergraduate studies at Colorado State University and a year of graduate school in physiology at the University of California, Davis, he enrolled in veterinary school in the fall of 1968. During this time, he gained experience at a research facility caring for a colony of cats and on the small animal treatment crew.
Both of these jobs gave Corey valuable additional experience with small animals. He received his doctor of veterinary medicine degree in 1972, spending his first year after graduation at the University of Minnesota School of Veterinary Medicine in a small animal medicine internship. The next 4 years were spent in two small animal practices in northern California.
Corey joined friends and classmates Drs. Rick Frey and Greg Fellers in March 1977 in Loomis. Throughout his practice of veterinary medicine, he enjoyed all aspects of small animal medicine and surgery, with a special interest in canine reproductive cases. In 2008, after more than 30 years as a co-owner of Loomis Basin Veterinary Clinic, he retired from active veterinary practice.
These days, Corey and his wife, Jan, enjoy spending time with their family including their grandchildren and friends, tending their orchard and garden, traveling, building bamboo fishing rods, and fly fishing.
Cameron Collins, DVM
Dr. Collins was born and raised in Walnut Creek, California. He completed his undergraduate degree in animal science at the University of California, Davis, in 2003. He then worked as a veterinary assistant for 2 years before being accepted into the School of Veterinary Medicine at UC Davis. Cameron obtained his DVM in June 2009 and joined Loomis Basin shortly after. His main areas of interest are oncology and surgery.
When not working, Cameron enjoys biking, skiing, golf, and playing with his two dogs, Gracie and Colby. He and his wife, Staci, live in Sacramento.
Daphne Descollonges, DVM
Dr. Descollonges joined the Loomis Basin team in August 2007 after completing a small animal internship in emergency care, surgery, and general practice at PetCare Veterinary Hospital in Santa Rosa. She was born in Paris, France, and moved with her family to Santa Cruz at the age of 2. Pursuing an early passion for medicine and animals, she earned her bachelor’s degree in small animal science from the University of California, Davis, and went on to complete her DVM there in 2006. Her areas of special interest include soft-tissue surgery, emergency care, critical care, and general practice.
In their free time, Daphne and her husband, Josh, enjoy rock climbing outdoors, spending time with their two dogs, cooking, and their East Sacramento home and neighborhood.
Rick Frey, DVM
Upon completing high school, Dr. Frey attended the University of Pacific in Stockton with a graduate year at the University of California, Davis. During summers, he volunteered with a mixed animal practice in the Woodland area. There, Rick realized his desire to enter the veterinary field and attended UC Davis, earning a doctor of veterinary medicine degree in 1972.
His first job out of veterinary school was with a large private mixed practice in Thousand Oaks. Three years later, Rick moved to Loomis and began a mixed animal practice out of his home and car. In 1975, a small house on Taylor Road in Loomis became available so he transitioned into that facility.
In 1976, Dr. Greg Fellers joined him in the practice and Dr. Corey Cherrstrom came on board in 1977. It was a thrill in 1978 to move into the original hospital at the current location. As a veterinary practitioner, Rick has a special interest in llamas. He also enjoys the business management aspect of veterinary medicine. He and his wife, Jani, married in 1969 and have three grown sons, Doug, Greg, and John, as well as two grandsons and a granddaughter.
Away from the practice, Rick enjoys high country hiking with his llamas, woodworking, collecting and restoring antiques, scuba diving, fishing, gardening, and spending time with family and friends. Most recently, he is enjoying yet another fruit of parenthood — grandparenthood.
Claire Hardy, DVM
Dr. Hardy was born in Oakland, California, and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area. She attended the University of California, Davis, graduating in 1986 with highest honors and received a bachelor of science degree in biological sciences with a minor in English. She graduated from the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine in 1990. Claire joined Loomis Basin Veterinary Clinic in March 2005 and has special interests in feline medicine, family practice, and surgery.
In her time away from the clinic, Claire enjoys spending time with her husband, David, and their two children, Ian and Michaela. She also enjoys reading, any kind of water sport, skiing, and mountain biking.
Lisa Hess, DVM
Dr. Hess was raised right here in Sacramento and received her bachelor’s degree in biology from California State University, Sacramento, in 1997. She later studied at Kansas State University, where she graduated with a doctor of veterinary medicine in 2003.
Lisa joined Loomis Basin Veterinary Clinic in 2003 as a staff veterinarian. Her veterinary special interests include dentistry, surgery, and emergency medicine. Lisa has been the Vet Expert for the KXTV News 10 weekday morning show Sac & Co since 2006. Look for Lisa’s segments, which air on the first Monday of each month between 9:00 and 10:00 a.m.
Lisa and her husband, Brian, live in Auburn. She enjoys running, cycling, and hiking.
Sarah Kaiser, DVM
Dr. Kaiser is a native of the San Francisco Bay Area. She attended the University of California, Davis and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science in 2006. During the summers, she worked as an assistant in a small animal veterinary clinic in the Bay Area. Sarah grew up riding horses and participating in local horse shows, as well as volunteering at a therapeutic riding center. Sarah received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from UC Davis in 2010 and joined Loomis Basin Veterinary Clinic in July 2010.
Sarah has a special interest in small animal internal medicine. In addition to veterinary medicine, she enjoys horseback riding, hiking, traveling, music and classic films./p>
Cynthia Kerner, DVM
Dr. Kerner was born and raised in Los Gatos, California. She received her undergraduate degree in biology and kinesiology from the University of California, Los Angeles. Cynthia graduated from the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of California, Davis in 1999. She then went on to complete an internship at Sacramento Veterinary Surgical Services where she remained as an associate until 2005. Cynthia joined the staff at Loomis Basin Veterinary Clinic in 2011 and has a special interest in emergency and critical care.
In her free time, Cynthia enjoys spending time with her family and camping. She shares her home with her dog Kona, a border collie/lab mix and her cat Bobcat.
Jenna Lee-Ahrens, DVM
Dr. Lee-Ahrens was born in Chicago, Illinois, and raised in Palo Alto, California. She attended the University of California, Davis, and graduated in 1995 with a bachelor’s degree in biological science. She completed her education at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, earning her DVM in 2000. Jenna joined the staff at Loomis Basin Veterinary Clinic in March 2006, and has special interests in preventive medicine and thorough patient care.
When not practicing medicine, Jenna takes great joy in being a mom to her son, Benjamin. Her husband, Tim, is a middle school teacher in Loomis, and together they all enjoy spending time outdoors with their two dogs, Bubba and Troika. They also appreciate relaxing at home with the dogs and their two cats, Pancake and Monkey.
Wendy MacKinnon, DVM
Dr. MacKinnon was born in Stanford and raised in Cupertino, California. She received her undergraduate degree in evolution and ecology from the University of California, Davis, in 2002. She earned her doctor of veterinary medicine from UC Davis in 2006. Wendy joined the staff at Loomis Basin Veterinary Clinic in 2008. She has special veterinary interests in surgery, emergency, and exotic medicine.
When away from the clinic, Wendy enjoys downhill mountain biking, roller derby, knitting, and hiking and camping with family and friends.
Elizabeth Montgomery, DVM
Dr. Montgomery was born and raised in Arizona. She received her undergraduate degree in psychology from the University of Arizona and completed a master’s of public health at the University of California, Los Angeles. Elizabeth graduated from the School of Veterinary Medicine at UC Davis in 2002.
Elizabeth joined the staff at Loomis Basin Veterinary Clinic in 2004.
Sara Neilson, DVM
Dr. Neilson received her DVM from the College of Veterinary Medicine at Oregon State University in 2009. During veterinary school, she participated extensively in the International Veterinary Student Association club and helped to establish a yearly veterinary clinic on Ometepe Island in Nicaragua. Prior to veterinary school, Sara lived in Salt Lake City and attended the University of Utah, where she earned a bachelor of science in biology.
Sara joined Loomis Basin Veterinary Clinic in July 2009. In her free time, Sara enjoys being outdoors, with a particular love for backpacking. She has an 11-year-old Doberman named Webber and a 2-year-old cat named Minnie.
Jennifer Peters, DVM
Dr. Peters was born and raised in Massachusetts. She attended the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and received her bachelor’s degree in animal sciences in 1994. She graduated from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine in 1998. She is board certified in canine and feline practice and her special interests are in dentistry, dermatology and ear disease. Dr. Peters joined Loomis Basin Veterinary Clinic in 2011.
When not treating patients, Jennifer enjoys bicycling in the foothills, travelling the world and snowboarding in fresh powder.
Olivia Petrunich, DVM
Dr. Petrunich was born in Hawaii and raised in Sparks, Nevada, and Novato, California. She received her bachelor’s degree in animal science from the University of California, Davis, in 2000, where she remained to complete her doctor of veterinary medicine in 2006. Olivia joined Loomis Basin Veterinary Clinic in 2006. She has special interests in small animal medicine, exotics on an emergency basis, and physical therapy.
When away from practicing medicine, Olivia and her husband, David, who is also a veterinarian, enjoy spending time with their daughter. Their family includes six cats, one dog, one turtle, and two snakes. Olivia’s hobbies include toddler wrangling, cat herding, and yoga.
Michael Reget, DVM
Dr. Reget was born in Los Angeles and raised in Bishop, California. He attended California State University, Fresno, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in biology in 1996. Mike continued his graduate studies at the University of California, Davis, receiving his doctor of veterinary medicine and joining Loomis Basin Veterinary Clinic in 2001.
Mike has interests in all aspects of veterinary medicine. He has been in charge of Loomis Basin’s blood donor program for the past 6 years.
When away from the clinic, Mike enjoys gardening, cooking, kayaking, biking, and most outdoor activities. He and his wife, Jessica, have two daughters, Frances and Lucinda, and two dogs named Matilda and Tuesday.
Alex Rensing, DVM
Dr. Rensing was born and raised in southern California before moving north to attend the University of California, Davis. In 1995, earning highest honors, she graduated with a degree in zoology. She completed her doctoral studies in mixed animal practice at UC Davis in 2000, where she was also an Arques Scholar. Alex joined Loomis Basin Veterinary Clinic in 2000. Her interests are in dentistry and improving the human–animal bond.
Alex and her husband, John, live with their children, Joshua, Ian, and Grace, in Newcastle and enjoy camping and growing fruits and vegetables. Their family also includes five dogs, three cats, two tortoises, a turtle, a snake, a fish, two leopard geckos, and a bunch of chickens.
Mira Bogen Sanchez, DVM
Dr. Sanchez was born and raised in Pasadena, California. She graduated from the University of California, Riverside, in 1988. She received her DVM in 1997 from the School of Veterinary Medicine at UC Davis. Mira joined Loomis Basin Veterinary Clinic in 2008 and has a special interest in exotic animal medicine.
Mira shares her home with three parrots, five dogs, a Bengal cat, a Harris hawk, Sulcata tortoises, Russian tortoises, box turtles, geckos, salamanders, tarantulas, and snakes. She has two sons in college. Her hobbies include hiking, reading, and falconry.
Michelle Sievers, DVM
Dr. Sievers was born in Harvey, Illinois, and raised in Miami, Florida. She completed her undergraduate training at the University of California, Berkeley, and graduated from the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of California, Davis, in 1997. Following veterinary school, she completed a 1-year internship training program in medicine and surgery in Ventura, California, joining the staff at Loomis Basin Veterinary Clinic in August 1998. She has a special interest in feline care, emergency care, and dentistry.
When away from veterinary medicine, Michelle enjoys backpacking, bicycling, skiing, and baseball, as well as almost any activity that takes her outdoors.
Jeralyn Terry, DVM
Dr. Terry was born in Fullerton and raised in Orange County, California. She graduated from the University of Southern California with a bachelor of science in biology in 2003 and earned her doctor of veterinary medicine degree from the University of California, Davis, in 2008. Jeralyn joined Loomis Basin Veterinary Clinic in 2008. Her special interests include ophthalmology, cats, infectious diseases, and autoimmune diseases.
Jeralyn lives in Roseville with three wonderful Siamese mix cats, Peaches, Pyro, and Panda, as well as Bowdie and Bunsen, the best German shorthaired pointer rescue dogs. Her hobbies include running with her dogs and traveling to visit friends.
Peter Vellutini, DVM
Dr. Vellutini was born and raised in Torrance, California. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Oregon, graduating with a bachelor of science in biology in 1998. He received his doctor of veterinary medicine from Oregon State University and Washington State University in 2003 and joined Loomis Basin Veterinary Clinic that same year. His special interests include orthopedic surgery, laparoscopic surgery, and emergency medicine.
In addition to practicing veterinary medicine, Pete is an adjunct faculty member at Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine and enjoys participating in teaching exercises with the veterinary students.
Pete and his wife, Ruth, live in Rocklin with their three young active boys. Other members of the family include an Aussie mix named Shirley and a Devon Rex cat named Elvis. When not practicing veterinary medicine, he enjoys wrestling with his children, fishing, cycling, running, and camping.
Tarra Vickery-Williams, DVM
Dr. Williams was born and raised right here in Sacramento. She received her doctor of veterinary medicine from the University of California, Davis, and joined Loomis Basin Veterinary Clinic in 2007.
Tarra lives in Citrus Heights with her husband and two children. They share their home with three rescue dogs and three geriatric rescue cats. In her time away from veterinary medicine, Tarra enjoys running, riding motorcycles, and playing softball with her daughter.
Seth Wegner, DVM
Dr. Wegner grew up in Del Mar, California. He attended the University of California at Santa Cruz and received an undergraduate degree in molecular neuroscience and behavior in 2005. Seth then went on to complete a master’s degree in animal biology and endocrinology at the University of California at Davis in 2007. He graduated from the School of Veterinary Medicine at UC Davis in 2011 and joined Loomis Basin Veterinary Clinic in 2011. Seth has a particular interest in radiology and advanced imaging.
When Seth is not practicing medicine, he enjoys spending time with his wife mountain biking, skiing and taking care of their two golden retrievers, Barley and Scout.
Niki Wolley, DVM
Dr. Wolley was raised in Marysville, Washington. She completed her undergraduate studies at Washington State University, where she earned a bachelor of science degree in zoology. She received her doctor of veterinary medicine from Washington State University in 2007. Niki joined the staff at Loomis Basin Veterinary Clinic in 2007 and has special interests in surgery, ophthalmology, medicine, and emergency care.
In her free time, Niki enjoys gardening, riding her motorcycle, running, hiking, and spending time with her various pets, including two Jack Russell terriers, one crazy Pug, two cats, and one lovebird.
Tom Zappas, DVM
Dr. Zappas was born in Concord, California, and raised in the Bay Area. He completed his undergraduate studies in pre-veterinary medicine in 1982 at the University of Nevada, Reno. Immediately after graduation, he enrolled at The Ohio State University, earning a doctor of veterinary medicine degree in 1986.
Following veterinary school, Tom began his career at a 24-hour referral and general veterinary practice in southern California. Since his relocation to our area in 1990, Tom has been a very valuable member of our veterinary staff.
Tom enjoys running, kayaking, and music when not caring for our clients and their pets. He is married to Dr. Nancy King, who is an anesthesiologist in private practice in our area. They have a daughter named Nora.
Internal Medicine
Erica Queen, DVM, DACVIM
Dr. Queen received her doctor of veterinary medicine from the University of California, Davis, in 2006. She worked at Loomis Basin Veterinary Clinic from 2006 to 2007. She completed her internal medicine residency at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine and was board certified in small animal internal medicine in July 2010. Dr. Queen returned to Loomis Basin as a member of our Internal Medicine team in 2010.
Dr. Queen shares her home with three cats, Piper, Phoebe, and Scout, and two dogs, Finn and Nutmeg. Outside of work, Dr. Queen enjoys gardening, cooking, hiking, and music.
Noelani Reinker, DVM, DACVIM
Dr. Reinker was raised in Hawaii and attended Wellesley College where she received her bachelor’s degree in 1999. Noelani graduated from the College of Veterinary Medicine at Washington State in 2006. She then went on to complete a three year residency in internal medicine at the University of Minnesota Veterinary Medical Center. In addition to being board certified in internal medicine, her special interests include gastroenterology and urology. Noelani joined Loomis Basin Veterinary Clinic in 2011.
Noelani is excited to be back on the west coast and enjoying all that the foothills has to offer. She shares her home with her two cats, Ranna and Henry and enjoys spending time doing yoga, climbing and Nordic skiing.
Marcia Smith, DVM, DACVIM
Dr. Smith was born in San Rafael, California, and raised in Marin County. She attended the University of California, Davis, earning her bachelor of science in physiology with high honors in 1976. She returned to Davis and earned her doctor of veterinary medicine in 1983, and then completed an internship at Michigan State. Dr. Smith completed her residency in internal medicine at UC Davis and became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine in 1987.
Dr. Smith joined Loomis Basin Veterinary Clinic in 1989, became a partner in 2007, and is currently our acting medical director.
Dr. Smith and her husband, Tom Johnson, have lived in Loomis since 1992. Five horses and three dogs live with them. She has always been an avid equestrian with significant accomplishments in the sport of endurance and is currently enjoying learning the sport and art of dressage. In her spare time, she also enjoys gardening, cooking, hiking, and running.
Dennis Spann, DVM, DACVIM
Dr. Spann was born and raised in Salinas, California, before attending the University of California, San Diego, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry and cell biology. He graduated from the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine in 1996, and then went on to North Carolina State University, where he completed an internship program in 1997.
Dr. Spann’s areas of special interest include infectious and immune mediated diseases, oncology, endocrinology, cardiopulmonary, and endoscopy.
He and his wife, Cindy, have three children who occupy most of their free time. Their whole family enjoys gardening and other outdoor activities.
Oncology
Susan Kraegel, DVM, DACVIM, Specialty of Oncology
Dr. Kraegel joined our Internal Medicine team in January 2009 as our oncology specialist. She grew up in Wisconsin and attended the University of Minnesota School of Veterinary Medicine. After graduating in 1985, she spent several years in New York City, where she did an internship at the Animal Medical Center. In 1988, she moved to California for a residency position in oncology at the University of California, Davis.
Board certified by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine in 1991, Dr. Kraegel is a Diplomate in the specialty of oncology. Since completing her residency, she has done a fellowship in molecular oncology, taught and done research at the University of California, Davis, and practiced oncology in northern California.
She is interested in all aspects of veterinary oncology, including the treatment of bone cancer, lymphoma, mast cell tumors, and histiocytic cancers. Dr. Kraegel’s goal is to help each family find the best solution for their pet with cancer, maintaining the best quality of life possible.
Veterinary Surgery
Michael Dearmin, MS, DVM, DACVS
Dr. Dearmin completed his undergraduate degree in Marine Biology at the University of California, Santa Cruz in 1994. He then went on to complete a Master's Degree in Biology at the University of California, Santa Barbara before heading to veterinary school. Dr. Dearmin received his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from the University of California, Davis in 2000. He then travelled to Texas A&M University for internship training in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery. After his internship, Dr. Dearmin spent a year working in emergency practice in the Bay Area before heading to Athens, GA for a surgery residency at the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine. The University of Georgia is a renowned institution for its expertise and leadership in minimally invasive soft tissue surgery and orthopedic surgery. After completing his residency training, Dr. Dearmin returned to the West Coast working in Santa Cruz, Northern Nevada, and now Loomis, CA.
Dr. Dearmin is experienced in all areas of small animal surgery, including soft tissue surgery, orthopedic surgery, and minimally invasive procedures. In addition, he has given presentations at national medical and veterinary medical conferences and meetings. He has also been a speaker at local CE events, and has published articles and contributed to textbooks on topics such as surgical and traumatic wound infections, total hip replacement, and minimally invasive surgery.
Dr. Dearmin's wife Karen is also a Veterinary Surgeon, specializing in large animal surgery at Loomis Basin Equine. He enjoys spending time with his two boys, Donovan and Tyler, riding bikes and skateboards and getting to the beach whenever possible. The family is rounded out with Billy Bones, a Vizsla, Ginger Snap, an Ibizan Hound, a cat named Jeekers and 4 horses.
D.W. Griffin, MS, DVM, DACVS
Dr. Griffin received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of California, Davis in 1985 after simultaneously receiving a Master of Science degree in Physiology. After a general practice internship, Dr. Griffin returned to UC Davis completing his residency in Small Animal Surgery in 1989 and became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons in 1992. During this time, Dr. Griffin authored and co-authored research papers in orthopedics, urologic surgery, gastroenterology and environmental physiology. After completion of his residency, Dr. Griffin accepted a position at UC Davis with the Section of Neurobiology, Physiology & Behavior conducting research in Neuroscience as well as consulting for NASA.
Since 1989, Dr. Griffin has practiced referral surgery in the Sacramento area treating patients from Northern and Central California as well as Southern Oregon and Northwestern Nevada. As a board certified veterinary surgeon, Dr. Griffin routinely performs general soft tissue, orthopedic, neurologic, oncologic and reconstructive surgical procedures. Dr. Griffin’s clinical interests focus on the repair and healing of injured tissue.
When not treating patients, Dr. Griffin enjoys spending time at home with his wife Nancy, daughters Katie and Jenny, and Golden Retriever, Rory. His pastimes include reading, gardening, hiking the American River Parkway and being outdoors in general.
Philip Vasseur, DVM, DACVS
Dr. Vasseur was born in Detroit, Michigan, and raised in southern California. After attending the University of California, Davis, for his undergraduate studies, he earned his DVM from the School of Veterinary Medicine in 1976. He then went on to complete an internship program at West Los Angeles Veterinary Medical Group. Dr. Vasseur completed his residency program at Animal Medical Center in New York City and became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons in 1982.
Dr. Vasseur’s services have been available at Loomis Basin Veterinary Clinic since 2003. He specializes in orthopedic surgery.
Dr. Vasseur lives in Davis. He enjoys skeet shooting and spending time with his two children, Sara and Taylor, as well as his two dogs, a papillon named Cody and a Labrador named Indy.
Cardiology
Lori Siemens, DVM, DACVIM, Specialty of Cardiology
Dr. Siemens received her doctor of veterinary medicine from the University of California, Davis, in 1992. She completed an internship in small animal medicine at Michigan State University in 1993, and then returned to UC Davis for her residency in veterinary cardiology from 1993 to 1995. She became a board-certified cardiologist in 1996.
Dr. Siemens began working with Loomis Basin Veterinary Clinic in 2011. In addition to providing mobile cardiology services, Dr. Siemens has also been a consulting cardiologist for Guide Dogs for the Blind for over 10 years.
Radiology
David Detweiler, DVM, DACVR
Dr. Detweiler was raised in Fresno and graduated from California State University, Fresno, in 1998. He received his doctor of veterinary medicine degree from Kansas State University in 2002. After veterinary school, he completed a year-long internship at Veterinary Medical and Surgical Group in Ventura, California. He then participated in a 4-year residency program in radiology at UC Davis, leading to board certification as a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Radiology.
As a member of Veterinary Medical Imaging, Dr. Detweiler has been working with Loomis Basin Veterinary Clinic since 2007. His special interests include abdominal and soft tissue ultrasound.
Dr. Detweiler lives in Davis with his wife and three children. He enjoys jogging and working on older cars.
Steve Harnagel, DVM, DACVR
A California native, Dr. Harnagel attended the University of California, Davis, where he received a bachelor’s degree in zoology in 1976 and a doctor of veterinary medicine in 1980. After a stint as a large animal practitioner, he returned to Davis for a radiology residency from 1984 to 1987. Dr. Harnagel became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Radiology in 1987. Dr. Harnagel has been working with Loomis Basin Veterinary Clinic since 1988 and is a member of Veterinary Medical Imaging.
Dr. Harnagel enjoys many activities with his family, including spending time with his border collies, wine grape growing, whitewater rafting, kayaking, fly fishing, photography, and playing the guitar.
Eric Herrgesell, DVM, DACVR
Dr. Herrgesell is a second-generation veterinarian who completed his doctor of veterinary medicine and radiology training at the University of California, Davis. He has served on the faculty at UC Davis for 8 years as a lecturer and clinical radiologist.
He is well known on the national continuing education circuit for radiology and ultrasound training, and in 2005, he was awarded the Norden Distinguished Teaching Award at UC Davis.
As a member of Veterinary Medical Imaging, Dr. Herrgesell has been working with Loomis Basin Veterinary Clinic since 2006. He continues to speak internationally on topics related to small animal radiology and ultrasound.
Craig Long, DVM, DACVR
Dr. Long attended California State Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo, where he concentrated in animal sciences and biology. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of California, Davis, where he earned a bachelor of science degree in veterinary sciences. Dr. Long received his doctor of veterinary medicine degree from UC Davis in 1994.
Following veterinary school, Dr. Long completed a mixed animal internship in medicine and surgery at the Country Veterinary Clinic in Live Oak, California. He then completed a 4-year residency program in radiology at UC Davis, leading to board certification as a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Radiology. For 5 years he was a clinical instructor at the UCD Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital.
A second-generation veterinarian, Dr. Long has been working with Loomis Basin Veterinary Clinic since 2000, and he is a member of Veterinary Medical Imaging. He lives in Davis with his wife and daughter.
Behavior
Leslie Cooper, DVM, DACVB
Dr. Cooper was born in Turlock and raised on a dairy farm in Hickman, California. She received her bachelor’s degree in animal science from the University of California, Davis, in 1976. She continued her education at UC Davis, where she earned her doctor of veterinary medicine in 1980.
Dr. Cooper served on the faculty of the Behavior Science department at the Veterinary Medicine Teaching Hospital at UC Davis from 1980 to 2002. She passed her specialty board exams for the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists in 1995, the first year they were given.
Dr. Cooper’s services have been available at Loomis Basin Veterinary Clinic since 2004. She has special interests in veterinary behavior and the human–animal bond. She and her husband, Phil, have two sons, Ben and Nick. Their family also includes Rocky, a one-eyed “pirate” cat. In her time away from veterinary medicine, Dr. Cooper enjoys quilting, singing in two choirs, and reading what she calls “escape literature.”
Veterinary Technicians and Assistants
At Loomis Basin, our veterinary technicians and veterinary assistants are an integral part of our team. They bring a solid combination of compassion and skill to the care of your pet. Our registered veterinary technicians (RVTs) are trained professionals who have completed education that has prepared them to work as highly skilled assistants to our veterinarians during physical examinations, collecting specimens, and performing routine lab procedures and tests. RVTs obtain their professional status following achievement of a passing score on the state board exam. Our veterinary technicians and assistants are a very important part of our staff. They take great pride in helping to care for your pet.
Technician Assistants
Loomis Basin has a wonderful group of technician assistants who help our registered veterinary technicians and veterinary assistants. These individuals bring both energy and empathy to work every day and treat your pets as if they were their own. Usually these are individuals who aspire to become an RVT or a veterinarian. They are responsible for ensuring your pet is exercised regularly and has clean and comfortable accommodation at our clinic.
Dispensary Assistants
At Loomis Basin, you and your pet will be greeted by one of our dispensary assistants when it is time for your appointment. They will ensure all preparations are made for your visit with the veterinarian. Trained extensively on the medications carried by Loomis Basin’s dispensary, our dispensary assistants fill every prescription with precision and care. They will make sure that you go home with the right medication for your pet and will answer your questions on how to give it most effectively.
Client Service Representatives
We pride ourselves on first-class customer service at Loomis Basin. We believe it is important that each and every client and patient receive excellent care and attention. Each time you call the clinic or when you first walk through our front door, you will be taken care of by one of Loomis Basin’s client service representatives. Their knowledge and professionalism are combined with compassion and consideration. They are aware of the rapidly changing field of veterinary medicine and are ready to answer your questions, make suggestions, or direct you to someone who can help. Our client care professionals always welcome the opportunity to serve you.
Administrative Staff
Loomis Basin has a staff of dedicated administrative professionals who keep our hospital running smoothly. You may not see them during a regular visit, but you can be sure that they are hard at work behind the scenes every day.
Management
Our management team comes from many different backgrounds but has one goal in common: providing you and your pet with the best veterinary care and client service experience possible.
Lori Brown, Swing Shift Manager
Our swing shift manager, Lori Brown, was born in San Diego and raised in Fresno, California. She started working in the veterinary field when she was 18 years old with a small, one-doctor practice and also worked at the Chaffee Zoological Gardens in Fresno, first as a docent, and then as an assistant zookeeper for the tigers, lions, and wolves. Lori began working at Loomis Basin in 1994. After pursuing other interests for a while, she returned to the clinic in her current capacity in 2008.
In her spare time, Lori enjoys collecting BarbiesTM and currently has amassed 260 of them. She enjoys cooking recipes she sees on Food Network and shares her home with two cats named Ratt and Taz.
James Clawson, Facilities Manager
James is our facilities manager. He is an integral part of maintaining the facility and medical equipment. He has worked at Loomis Basin since 1993.
Janet Craft, RVT
Janet is our technical staff manager. She became a registered veterinary technician in 1990 and joined Loomis Basin in June 1993.
Jon Cunnington, MBA, CVPM
Jon is our hospital administrator. Jon was born and raised in northern California. He attended California State University, Sacramento, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration. He later earned a master’s of business administration at California State University, Chico, and subsequently taught various management, marketing, and communications at the university before entering the veterinary field. Jon worked for 6 years as a practice manager at a Chico veterinary hospital before joining Loomis Basin in 2000 as hospital administrator.
In 2005, Jon completed rigorous educational, experiential, and testing requirements and earned the designation Certified Veterinary Practice Manager through the Veterinary Hospital Managers Association (VHMA). Currently, he is serving as Secretary on the VHMA’s Board of Directors.
Jon, his wife, Becky, and their daughter, Emily, live in the Loomis area. He enjoys gardening, fishing, and puttering in his workshop. Jon and his family are also active in their local church.
Mark Dunn, AHA, IT Manager
Mark is our assistant hospital administrator and information technology manager. Mark was born in Palo Alto, California. He holds a bachelor of science in business from San Jose State University. Before coming to us, he worked for 20 years at ImproMed, a veterinary management software company.
Mark joined Loomis Basin in March 2010. He and his wife, Myra, came to Loomis from Santa Rosa with their 1-year-old daughter, Rylee, who is also known as “Bean.” He enjoys exploring Placer County, checking out the farmers’ markets, finding local produce and products, and cooking with them. He loves to cook and recently showed off his talents at the Loomis Food Extravaganza, making chocolate truffles with espresso, mocha, and peppers.
Linda Klujsza, Customer Service Manager
Linda is the customer service representative manager. She joined Loomis Basin in 1999 after working for approximately 20 years in the human dental field in Michigan.
Kristyn Lutey, RVT
Kris is responsible for our purchasing and inventory. Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, she later graduated from Yuba College in 1978 and attended California State University, Chico. She joined the staff at Loomis Basin Veterinary Clinic in 1984 as a registered veterinary technician.
Kris, who lives with her daughter, two dogs, and two cats in Cool, enjoys kayaking, hiking, camping, yoga, tai chi, reading, and gardening.
Patty Mayhew, Operations Manager
Patty is the operations manager for Loomis Basin Veterinary Clinic. Patty was born in Nevada City and raised in the Sacramento area. She joined Loomis Basin Veterinary Clinic in 1988. In her more than 20-year career with us, she has fulfilled a variety of important roles.
Linda Munos, Patient Services Manager
Linda is our patient services manager. Linda was born and raised in San Jose. She had her first experience working in a veterinary clinic when she was 15 years old at Campbell Animal Hospital in Campbell, California, where she worked for 6 years. Linda subsequently worked as a purchasing agent for a large furniture store chain in the Bay Area before moving to Rocklin in 2000 and joining Loomis Basin Veterinary Clinic in 2007.
Linda and her husband, Mario, have been married for almost 25 years and they have two daughters, Jennifer and Jamie. They share their home with Makana, a 14-year-old terrier; Duke, a silver tabby that is almost 10; Kaipo, an 8-year-old corgi with one eye; Max and Fred, both orange tabbies; and Russell, a 2-year-old Jack Russell mix also with one eye. In her time away from the clinic, Linda loves to cook and bake and spend time with friends and family.
Jane Rusmintratip, Human Resources Manager
Jane is our human resources manager. Born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland, she later attended the University of California, Berkeley, and earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology. Her human resources career began in the Bay Area, where she worked for a large semiconductor organization. After moving to the Sacramento area, her career took a different turn toward the human health care field, where she managed departments for several years. Jane joined the Loomis Basin staff in 2006.
Jane lives with her husband, Andrew, in Roseville with their three dogs, Kobe, a Shiba Inu; Shi-Shi, a Coton de Tulear; and Tinkerbell, a Maltese. She enjoys gardening, raising koi, playing tennis, and curling up with a good book.
Carol Tauscher, Accounting Manager
Carol is our accounting manager. She joined Loomis Basin Veterinary Clinic in September 1995.
The materials offered on this website are intended for educational purposes only. Loomis Basin Veterinary Clinic does not provide veterinary medical services or guidance via the internet. Please consult your veterinarian in matters regarding the care of your animal.
