Our Staff
The staff at Capitola Veterinary Hospital are caring, conscientious, and competent. We are dedicated to ensure the health and comfort of your companions.
Rebecca, Anna, Shauna, and Katharine are our receptionists in charge of keeping things organized and making sure our clients’ and patients’ needs are met. Neal, Anthony, Rebecca, Melissa, Nora and Katy are our veterinary nurse/technician staff members. They provide the best in care for our patients. Dr. River May and Dr. Katie Gilligan are grateful to work with such a competent and compassionate team.
Rebecca grew up in San Jose and has been living in Santa Cruz over the last few years. Rebecca has worked as a veterinary receptionist for many years and has a gift for handling animals in a calm and comforting manner. She provides client services, keeps our inventory stocked and acts as a technician assistant at Capitola Veterinary Hospital. Currently she is attending Cabrillo College and will be graduating by 2013. When Rebecca is not at work, she enjoys horseback riding (she recently bought her own horse), travelling, going to the beach, taking photos, and exploring outdoors. Although they currently live at their ‘grandparents’, Rebecca’s ‘children’ include a spaniel named Copper, cat Rascal, and a hamster named Hammy. She looks forward to continuing her education and expanding her knowledge of the veterinary field at Capitola Veterinary Hospital.
Neal is our operations manager and one of our most senior technicians. His many years of carpentry experience help keep the hospitals many systems running in top form. He grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and has lived in Santa Cruz for the past ten years. His family members include a three-year-old dachshund named Scooter and a two-year-old cattle dog named Kona. Neal enjoys hiking with his dogs and wife Amy, playing guitar, camping, and fishing. He is a graduate of Carrington College’s veterinary technician program, and is getting his RVT license soon!
Anthony has over 5 years experience in the field of veterinary medicine and it shows in his ability to work with even the most reluctant patients. Anthony also takes care of our inventory and has great ability to fix just about anything. If he isn’t catching waves here in the Santa Cruz area, you most likely will find him up in Tahoe – either hiking or snowboarding. He has great respect for nature and is happy to be part of an environmentally friendly veterinary hospital. Anthony is progressing through school with the goal of becoming a veterinarian. Anthony shares his home with his two cats, Tuxie and Tawny, and his girlfriend, Sumer.
Melissa has been a veterinary technician for over 10 years now and is extremely excited to have joined the team at Capitola Veterinary Hospital. She grew up in the bay area and graduated from University of Oregon in 2002 with a degree in biology. She took a job as a kennel assistant while trying to determine her career path and ended up falling in love with the veterinary field and quickly decided she wanted to become a technician. She became a registered vet tech in California in 2010. Melissa provides meticulous nursing care for her patients and she can often be seen cuddling with them when they need it! She is happy to be settling in Santa Cruz where she can enjoy all of her hobbies including hiking and mtn. biking. In powder season she can be found pursuing her passion for skiing. Until recently she had a sharpei mix named “Sobi” who was her best friend and hiking/backpacking companion. Now she enjoys spending time w/her shared family pets include ”Jazmine”, a fun loving boxer mix, and “Freddie Five Toes” an extremely affectionate poly dactyl cat.
Nora grew up in New England, where she worked at the local animal shelter as a kennel technician; it was there that her interest in veterinary medicine developed. She graduated from Bel-Rea Institute in Denver, Colorado, with a degree in veterinary technology (CVT). She has since worked at emergency and referral hospitals in Massachusetts and Oregon including the prestigious Dove Lewis Veterinary Referral Hospital where she worked as a surgery and anesthesia technician. Nora’s positive energy sets her patients and clients at ease. She loves her work at Capitola Veterinary Hospital and looks forward to providing compassionate nursing care while developing lasting relationships with clients. Nora has a diverse knowledge base for healthy living and eating and has worked on local organic farms in the past.
Katy Gaty grew up in Chicago and moved to Santa Cruz to attend UCSC in 2000, and like so many, got hooked on the ocean and forests and never left. Her childhood was filled with dog and horse love, so it made sense that she transferred her volunteer work with SC Animal Shelter into a full-time position there. After 4 years of good heart work, she moved into veterinary hospitals to broaden her experience. After 4 years as a Technician, an interim position as Humane Educator for the SC SPCA fell into her lap. It inspired her pursue a master’s in social work so that she could blend her interests: helping disadvantaged people and animals to create a more humane, compassionate world. While working toward her degree, she stays busy with an amazing internship at the Homeless Garden Project, volunteer work with UnChained and Big Brothers/Big Sisters, and her own small pet sitting business. In her gobs of spare time she is a avid yogini, hiker, dancer, surfer, triathlete, reader, eater, and all-around social gal. Most importantly, Katy and her husband Todd share their lives with the best pack around: 2 elderly dogs, 4 cats, and 1 rat, all adopted from shelters.
Katharine grew up in Davis, CA and developed a love for animals from an early age. She moved to Santa Cruz to attend Cabrillo College and enjoy the beautiful beaches and redwoods. Once her school prerequisites are met, she hopes to transfer to UC Davis to finish her undergraduate degree and then apply to veterinary school. Katharine started at our practice as an intern, but is now our newest receptionist! She has had years of experience working with horses and has cared for a variety of animals. Over the years, she has owned horses, dogs, cats, a bird, fish, frogs and 2 snakes. Katharine finds working with animals and people who love animals very rewarding. In her free time she enjoys going to the beach, running, hiking, knitting, riding her horse, and playing with her rescue puppy, Daisy. She also lives with her boyfriend and their two cats, Bidham and Wiggles.