Tracy Allen came into veterinary medicine looking for something that would keep her engaged — but found far more than she expected.
Now a Registered Veterinary Technician in the nephrology, urology, and extracorporeal therapies service at UC Veterinary Medical Center, San Diego, Tracy has built a career at the intersection of two things she loves most: animals and learning.
"I wanted a job that would keep me engaged. I found veterinary medicine to be interesting and very fulfilling. I love to learn and so I found something that involved my love for animals and learning."
Over the past few weeks, the transformation at 5040 Shoreham Place has been striking. As the center's Executive Director Martin Durham notes: “the underlying design concept continues to emerge.”
Olivia has many claims to fame in her household. She can jump into the air and catch a dragonfly. She can make her needs known with her expressive eyes and a quiet meow. She can “loaf” with the best of them, according to her owner Allison Libeu. But Olivia is also possibly a “one and only” in the world of veterinary medicine. Or at least, one of the few.
To Jenny Tang and her husband, Lei, supporting veterinary health also means helping those who provide the care. They have named the lactation room at the new UC Davis Hobbs Veterinary Center, dedicated to team members who are new mothers. They did this in honor of their “first born,” a Lhasa Apso named Gogo.
“Gogo was our first child,” Jenny said. “She went with us everywhere. She was a spoiled girl! We loved her dearly, and she was with us a very long time.”
Construction on the new Janice K. Hobbs UC Davis Veterinary Medical Center Southern California is moving at a strong pace. As Executive Director Martin Durham notes, It's really amazing how quickly the interior appearance changes on a weekly basis.”The walls are now up throughout the building, with all offices, exam rooms, and specialty areas clearly identifiable.
Aaron Inserra didn’t set out to spend his career in veterinary cardiology. But fifteen years into his role at UC Veterinary Medical Center, San Diego, it’s clear that cardiology is his calling.
Aaron is an Associate of Science and Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) who has been with the cardiology team since the early days of the center. Long before that, his path into veterinary medicine began somewhere else entirely.
Things are taking shape at 5040 Shoreham Place in San Diego. Walls are going up, and with them, a clearer picture of what the Janice K. Hobbs UC Davis Veterinary Medical Center Southern California will become. What began as a building purchase and a bold vision is quietly, steadily becoming real.
Cupcake came to the UC Veterinary Medical Center, San Diego in need of care from the center’s cardiology specialty team. Thanks to compassionate care funds made available through philanthropic support, Cupcake received critical treatment at the time she needed it most.
Here is Cupcake's inspiring story.
With heartfelt appreciation and love, we want to thank you for your generous support of Cupcake’s Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA) surgery.
For Joseph Castro, RVT, a career in veterinary medicine wasn't planned from the start — it grew from a simple desire to help. Now a Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) on the cardiology team at UC Veterinary Medical Center, San Diego, Joseph is one of the familiar faces that greets patients and their owners every day, making sure every visit runs smoothly and every concern is heard. "I started working for a mobile low-income vaccine clinic," he said. "After several months I decided to work in an actual clinical setting. Since then, I've been in veterinary medicine."
In March, 2024, the school announced that with the assistance of donor Janice K. Hobbs it purchased a building in San Diego to expand its veterinary services in Southern California.
As the new UC Davis Hobbs Veterinary Center buildout continues, the construction team has been laying the foundation and groundwork for the center to start being framed out. The floor has been placed, along with most major utilities.
Dennice Wilson and Choon Neo Siow grew up in very different environments, yet both found deep connection with the animals around them. Dennice sought out pets and animals everywhere she could as a child growing up in Southern California. Choon Neo lived in an urban Singaporean jungle where monkeys and wild boars lived hidden in rainforest that the city island still preserved, wild animals would encounter from time to time.
For Ashley Lahti, caring for animals of every kind is at the heart of everything she does. She is one of the Animal Health Technicians at the UC Veterinary Medical Center, San Diego, with a focus on the center’s cardiology specialty. Her care for each patient is central to her day to day work at the clinic. Ashley’s vision also extends beyond the clinic, as her long-term career goal is to eventually work in conservation medicine (wildlife medicine) as a veterinarian.
Scheduled to open in summer 2026, the Janice K. Hobbs UC Davis Veterinary Medical Center Southern California will usher in a new era of veterinary care for the region. For more than 25 years, the UC Veterinary Medical Center in San Diego has served pets and their families with excellence and compassion — but demand for advanced veterinary services has far outpaced capacity.
