Ricardo Pacova is East Side Animal Hospital’s Practice Manager. He is also a Licensed Veterinary Technician. Ricardo joined our team in October, 2014 and brings over ten years of experience in the animal care field to the position. He is responsible for performing administrative duties and working with the veterinary care team to help provide excellent care to our patients and clients. Ricardo has an Associates of Applied Science in Veterinary Technology.

“The best thing about this profession,” says Ricardo, “is knowing you’ve made a difference for animals. East Side is also a rewarding place to work. Our team members enjoy their jobs and as the practice’s manager, I take great pride in the respectful, fulfilling career opportunities we’ve provided everyone.”

At home, Ricardo has a cat named Chelsea and two beautiful two-legged house companions, his adored children. He spends his free time with the entire bunch trying new gastronomical cultures, traveling, and watching movies.

Cecilia’s love for animals started when she was just a little girl. She grew up on a farm helping to care for large animals and, of course, dogs and cats too. This started a life long dedication to animals.

She has become an extraordinary veterinary technician with over 17 years of experience. She graduated LaGuardia Community College earning a degree in Veterinary Technology and then going on to earn a bachelor degree in science from Queens College.

She is passionate about veterinary medicine and strives to maintain a high standard of care. She says, ”I love taking care of our clients and always give my best to help every single pet. I am proud to be part of the LIC Vet Center family and to serve our community.”

Outside of work she is a wife and a proud mother of 3 children and 3 rescued senior dogs. You might see her running through Vernon Blvd as she enjoys running as an exercise.

Kimberlee Pearson is a licensed veterinary technician who joined our staff in September of 2012, and she has been working professionally with animals for the past 23 years. She performs a wide variety of services at the hospital, including administering medications, assisting in surgery, running lab tests, maintaining equipment, answering client questions and much more. Kimberlee is both professional and compassionate. She has an associate’s degree from Queen’s College and will receive her bachelor’s degree in biology in February of 2013.

“I am excited to be a part of a friendly team of professionals who love their jobs and are passionate about their work,” Kimberlee said.

She and her husband have a dog named Hannah and a cat named Paddington. She enjoys spending time with her family, including her three children and her parents, as well as traveling to new states across the country, camping, playing basketball, sledding, reading and going to flea markets.

Taisha has been in the animal health field for about 12yrs. She started out as a receptionist and worked her way up to be a Licensed Veterinary Technician by obtaining her education at Laguardia Community College.

She has always loved animals ever since getting her first pet at the age of 8 years old. She now has her very own little zoo with 7 turtles, 2 tortoises, 4 beagles and 1 cats. She “enjoys every minute of her time at work and at home caring for animals because they are all blessings. Animals bring out the kindest part of ourselves that we sometimes forget exist.”

Wendy started volunteering at LIC Vet Center while still attending LaGuardia Community College working towards her veterinary technology degree. She’s been with us for several years now and has grown to be part of the LIC family as well as a strong and caring veterinary technician.

Growing up she’s always loved animals. She says “I find it very rewarding to care for animals and nurse the sick back to health.” Even though she loves all animals, she has a special place in her heart for… CATS! In her free time, she volunteers with Anjellicle Cat Rescue. She rescues and fosters many cats in hopes to find them permanent loving homes. She’s a cat whisperer with a big heart.

Even though Isidora was born in the US, she was raised in Serbia and all through her childhood, as most animal lovers do, Isidora used to bring home stray animals to “heal them”. Her love of animals and her childhood tendencies inspired her to continue her education in veterinary medicine. In 2014 she received her veterinary degree after graduating the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Belgrade in Serbia.

We are lucky she moved back to the US because she is knowledgeable and skilled, making her a great asset to the LIC Vet Center family. She is currently practicing as a veterinary technician and working on certifying her degree in the US. Isidora is proud to say that she “loves working with animals in the company of such a great team”.

Diego is a full-time veterinary technician at LIC Vet Center. Some of his responsibilities include patient care, monitoring sedated patients, performing x-rays, and various maintenance repairs. Diego refers to LIC Veterinary Center as a “home run by family.” He loves working with the extraordinary staff and the amazing clients and patients each day.

At home, Diego cares for his five year old Bearded Dragon named Gizmo. In his free time, Diego enjoys hiking, traveling, and exploring new breweries.

As a Veterinary Nurse for Long Island City Veterinary Center, Estella joined our team in November of 2015. Some of her responsibilities include helping to monitor patients during surgical and dental procedures, intaking patients, relaying medical history to our veterinarians, venipuncture, IV-catheter placement, and much more. She brings with her leadership, dedication, and confidence each day.

Estella has been working in the veterinary field for over 12 years. She has prior experience working with private practice veterinary hospitals, as well as working with farm animals.

In her spare time, Estella like running, biking, reading, photography, and trying new restaurants. She also loves to spend time with her loving daughter, and their two orange cats named Mr. Walnuts and Mr. Pickles Bowie.

Providing exceptional patient care and treatment is among one of the many things Jamie is responsible for as a Veterinary Technician here at Long Island City Veterinary Center. Some of her other duties include administering anesthesia, diagnostics and imaging, communicating and providing client education, customer service, and much more.

The aspect of her job that Jamie finds most enjoyable is being able to assist with surgery and dental procedures. She also loves being able to play with the pest and taking care of our hospitalized patients. She is a passionate and dedicated individual who genuinely cares about our clients and their wonderful pets.

Jaime has been working in the animal related field since 2012, and loves her profession. “I love working at Long Island City Veterinary Center because I like the diversity of different cares and surgeries,” Jaime says.

Away from the hospital, Jaime likes practicing photography and playing with her pets. She shares her home with 2 rescued ferrets, named Kaipo and Kalea, and one foster cat.

Bronx Native

Nancy was born and raised in the Bronx.  She attended Christopher Columbus H.S. and then Monroe College.  In 1999, she started working at the Humane Society of New York, quickly fell in love with the profession, and applied for a full time position as a technician with East Side Animal Hospital. She’s been with our practice for more than 18 years and counting!

Two Dogs, One Cat, and a Pigeon!

Nancy owns a 7 year old Chihuahua named Layla, a 9 year old Miniature Pinscher named Tiffany, and a 17 year old (!!!) Domestic Shorthaired Cat named Spooky.  She is also a happy companion to a rescued pigeon which she outfits with bird diapers and has free reign of the house.

Likes Helping Clients Keep Patients Living Healthy Lives

Nancy enjoys talking to clients about the long term healthcare of their pets.  She is big advocate for Nexgard and Heartgard, two safe, chewable medications that protect against fleas and Heartworms respectively.

Avid Gardener

In her spare time, Nancy loves gardening, barbecuing, and enjoying time in her backyard pool. Her latest project is a backyard greenhouse!  In the wintertime, she and her family convert the backyard fire pit to a S’mores roasting center of fun!

Native of the U.K.

Veterinary nurse Michael Falconer has been with East Side Animal Hospital since January of 2002 and hails all the way from West Bromwich, England.  His responsibilities include general animal care and patient treatments. He also has developed an expertise in handling nervous pets.  His experience spans more than 20 years!

Owns a Beagle

Michael owns a rambunctious Beagle, Jack Russel mixed breed dog.  With an excellent nose, great agility, and a serious hunting drive, his dog provides endless entertainment on long walks.

Really Enjoys Pet Dentistry

Michael performs a lot of dental cleanings on dogs at East Side Animal Hospital and is a big advocate for great oral health, especially in older dogs.  He reminds people, “Dogs that have healthy mouths live longer, happier lives.  Let me do your dog’s cleaning for you.  I promise I’ll do an excellent job and care for your pet like no other”.

Helps Diabetic Patients

Michael is also our go-to person for anyone who needs to learn how to give insulin to their diabetic cat or dog.  “I’ve been doing this a long time”,  says Michael, “I can teach owners how to administer insulin effectively without pain or stress to the patient.”

For Michael, describing what he likes most about his work is easy, “Having coworkers that love what they do just as much as I do. Michael enjoys working out at the gym, playing soccer, cricket and darts.

Originally From Romania!

Born in Romania, Marion’s mom is from Transylvania. (Yes, really!) Marion is no stranger to animals. He grew up spending his time in the rural parts of Romania, surrounded by hundreds of animals (cows, horses, pigs, sheep, dogs and even cats) on his family’s farm. Veterinary medicine was a natural pathway for him.

Earned a Veterinary Degree at the U. of Veterinary Medicine in Last, Romania

In 2004, Marion studied veterinary medicine at The University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine in Lasi, Romania and graduated with a title of DVM in 2010.

Owns a French Bulldog and Wheaton Terrier

As a proud pet parent to an adorable French Bulldog and Wheaton Terrier, Marion enjoys educating new puppy owners about their new set of responsibilities and what to expect from their latest addition to the family.  Marion is also excellent at helping owners understand the needs of pets that have sensitive skin.  Having a French Bulldog prone to allergies and skin infections exposed Marion to a lot of information that he wishes he would have learned sooner, so it’s nice to help owners with similar conditions in their dogs.

Advocate for Prevention

Marion wants clients to know that East Side Animal Hospital provides a full spectrum of flea, tick and heartworm prevention products. All of which are especially helpful for dogs or cats that are allergic to flea bites.

Isu is a veterinary assistant with over 20 years experience. We were fortunate to have her join our team in 2017. She is thorough and compassionate. She “loves taking care of sick pets and makes it her goal to make sure they are well taken care of when under our care.“

She also has a heart of gold and is constantly rescuing stray cats. She nurses these strays back to health, rehabilitates them, and adopts them out. In her spare time, she is an avid cyclist. She has participated in many races.

This Bronx native has two dogs, Suki and Maya, along with three cats, Bam Bam, Pebbles, and Pee Wee.

Since she was 5 years old, she knew that she wanted to dedicate her life to animals. Raquel has been in the veterinary field for over 21 years. She started as an intern for Dr Manning when she was in High School. She then continued to further her career in the veterinary industry by learning from different animal hospitals before coming back home to us.

Raquel is an amazing team player and loves to provide our clients with the best customer service by educating and addressing any questions or concerns.

At home she cuddles with an orange tabby, Hamilton, as well as a pit bull, Humphrey. She also fosters two pit bulls, Louie and Eva. In her spare time she enjoys traveling, yoga, cooking, listening to music, dancing, and laughing with friends.

Gwen joined LIC Veterinary Center in 2015 and has over 16 years of experience in animal care. She strives to provide an excellent experience to all those that come into LIC Vet Center. She genuinely enjoys caring for our patients and their owners.

Obviously an animal lover herself, she has 3 cats: Carter, Lily and Benjamin whom were all rescued. When not at LIC Vet Center, she spends her time cooking, exploring the outdoors, and spending time with her family and friends.

Brittney has years of experience as a veterinary receptionist and loves the fact that she gets to help save lives everyday. She is always smiling and that smile even comes through on the phone. That’s how you will know you are speaking to Brittney.

Brittney is originally from Los Angeles but has been in NYC for over 5 years. She loves going out with friends, reading about wildlife and watching wildlife documentaries. She has a big space in her heart for animals considering she became a vegetarian when she was only 15 years old.

Jahna is one of our exceptional Client Care Specialists here at Long Island City Veterinary Center who joined our team in 2015. Jahna’s daily responsibilities include answering client questions, addressing client needs and concerns, and greeting our wonderful clients. The favorite part of her job is assisting clients and teaching clients more about veterinary medicine and knowledge. She aspires to go back to school to pursue a degree in Veterinary Technology.

At home Jahna owns a Red Eared Slider named Taco. In her spare time Jahna likes to read books, studying to advance her knowledge in veterinary technology, spending time with her friends and loved ones, and going food hunting at new restaurants

Our head of client services, Melissa De Martino,  joined our team in 2015.  She performs a variety of services at East Side including client care, veterinary assistance, and supervision of the pharmacy.  She holds degrees in history and biology and is a licensed groomer.

“I’m extremely thankful for my animal loving parents who were always understanding when I brought any kind of animal home.” 

She and her partner live on the Upper East Side with their three animals: two rescue chihuahuas, Petey Pablo and Lolita Marie.  They also have a tortoiseshell cat, named Piccolo.

In her spare time, she donates her grooming skills to make special needs dogs look more adoptable; trying new restaurants; and spending time with her family.

Dana Salzman is a receptionist who has been with East Side Animal Hospital since January of 2010. In addition to her work in the animal care field, she has a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from the State University of New York at Albany.

“The staff here is all very caring and professional in their duties,” she says of why she enjoys her work. “I also enjoy interacting with our many clients and welcoming in all of the new puppies and kittens.”

Dana likes to spend her free time with her husband and children as well as relaxing upstate.

East Side Animal Hospital Kennel Technician, Getachew Bekele Adgeh, has been with East Side Animal Hospital since 1997, but has been in the animal care profession since 1980! How’s that for tenure?! He also holds veterinary-related degrees from schools outside of the U.S.

Among his many duties, Getachew focuses on the kennel area, tends to hospitalized animals, and ensures the health and happiness of kennel guests.

Asked what makes him uniquely adept at his work, Mr. Adgeh says, “My caring and kindness for all animals. All my life experience is with animals and I have studied agricultural science and veterinary medicine. I am trained to work only in this field.”

Getachaw’s hobbies include photography, traveling and visiting friends and family.

East Side Animal Hospital Kennel and Daycare Technician, Cecil Jackson, has been with East Side Animal Hospital since 2002, but has worked in the pet care field since 1995. He is responsible for managing the general care and husbandry of all daycare and boarding animals, assisting in animal recovery for hospitalized animals, and maintaining the animals’ living quarters. He also has a Bachelor of Science in Criminology.

Asked what he enjoys most about his work, Cecil says that everything he does goes hand in hand with ensuring the happiness and wellbeing of each and every animal. “We are like a family here working toward the common goal of providing the best care for all animals and ensuring that all of our clients’ pets are well-rounded and happy, which makes them a pleasure to be with,” he says. “We are also very good at incorporating new techniques and ideas to improve our existing programs and promote team work among our staff.”

Cecil has six American Pit Bull Terriers, Roxy, Bo, Einstein, K-Wack, Sheba, and Jimmy Boots. He adds that all of his free time is spent with other members of the American Pit Bull Terrier Club fighting discrimination against this breed of dog. He also enjoys showing his dogs and agility training.