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.

Benjamin and Shaylyn are our receptionists in charge of keeping things organized and making sure our clients’ and patients’ needs are met.   Warren, Stephanie, Neal, Sally, and Rebecca 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.

Warren has lived in the Santa Cruz/Santa Clara area most of his life and has been a veterinary technician at Capitola Veterinary Hospital for five years. He spent 6 years in the Marines Corps/Reserves from 1987 to 1994.  Outside of work, Warren enjoys working out and spending time with his wife Amy. He has two Boston terriers named Jimmy and Cindy Lou, two cats, and is expecting a baby girl as the newest addition to his family.

Stephanie has worked at Capitola Veterinary Hospital Since 2009. She lives in the Santa Cruz Mountains with her husband Chris and their dog Jasmine (the center of their universe). For as long as she can remember, Stephanie has wanted to work with animals, and now finds her job very rewarding. She can’t imagine her life without a furry friend by her side. In Stephanie’s free time, she enjoys singing karaoke, going to the gym, taking her dog to the park, watching baseball, and of course taking it easy. She hopes to continue to working with animals and strives to learn more and more every chance she gets.

Benjamin graduated from Cal State Monterey Bay in 2010 with a Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations and Business Management. He has gained a wide range of experiences and knowledge working as a Receptionist and Administrative Assistant both in and outside of the Veterinary field. He began his career while still in junior college in the East Bay and then moved to the Santa Cruz area. He had some veterinary technician training in general practice, as well as specialty medicine, before joining the Capitola Veterinary Hospital team in October 2010. Benjamin has three dogs and a cat– Gina, Moose, Maggie and Bella. His favorite activities include traveling, gardening in his yard and spending time with his friends.

Sally entered the veterinary field in 2007 and joined Capitola Veterinary Hospital in January 2011.She has worked in general practice and in a specialty ophthalmology practice where working with cataract surgery patients cemented her love of veterinary medicine. Sally looks forward to caring for our patients and continues to add to her knowledge by attending seminars and online courses in vet medicine. In her leisure time Sally indulges her passion for sailing and all things nautical. When not on a boat she can be found reading, in her garden or playing out side. She lives in Santa Cruz with her husband Dan, cats Mr. Man and Izzy and loving pooch, Sophie.

Rebecca has been with Capitola Veterinary Hospital since March 2012. She grew up in San Jose and has been living in Santa Cruz since 2011. In the past Rebecca worked as a receptionist in small animal hospitals and is now experiencing the other end of the hospital as a technician assistant. Currently she is attending Cabrillo College and will be graduating by 2013.  When Rebecca is not at Capitola Veterinary Hospital, she enjoys horseback riding, 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 growing her knowledge of the veterinary field at Capitola Veterinary Hospital.

Neal has been a veterinary technician iat Capitola Veterinary Hospital since March 2011.  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! Neal plans on continuing his studies as a physical therapy specialist.

Shaylyn joined the Capitola Veterinary Hospital team in February 2012. She grew up in Merced, CA where she volunteered at the local SPCA and animal shelter. After having a passion to work with marine mammals her entire life, she decided to move to Santa Cruz, CA to attend University of California, Santa Cruz. Shaylyn graduated in 2011 with a Bachelors of Science degree in Marine Biology. While attending UCSC, she volunteered at a sea lion training and research facility, SLEWTHS, where she finished as an assistant animal trainer. Shaylyn is very optimistic that all of her skills she acquired while working there will help with the start of her career at Capitola Veterinary Hospital. In her free time, she enjoys swimming, hiking, and spending time with her 6 year old Chocolate lab, Lola, and her two cats, Jetta & Nala.