Meet the Doctors

Dr. Melissa Herrera

DVM, DACVIM

Melissa Herrera, DVM, DACVIM is a board certified Veterinary Internal Medicine Specialist. She received her Bachelors of Science degree in Biology from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in 1999. She went on to earn her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Mississippi State University in 2003 followed by a small animal rotating internship and then completion of the Small Animal Internal Medicine residency program at UC Davis in 2007. Dr. Herrera became board certified by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine in 2007.

A consummate educator, Dr. Herrera joined the faculty at UC Davis as an Assistant Professor from 2007 to 2009. She moved to Ventura in 2010 continuing to share her knowledge and expertise as a Veterinary Internist. Dr. Herrera is also published in several veterinary medical journals and textbooks for her knowledge and work on adrenal tumors, immune-mediated diseases, immunosuppressive medications and more. She has a particular interest in auto-immune disease, infectious disease, endocrinology, and nephrology.

Dr. Theresa Ortega

DVM, DACVIM

Theresa Ortega, DVM, DACVIM has been a board certified Veterinary Internal Medicine Specialist since 1996. Her path to this certification includes a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Biology from UC Davis where she graduated Magna Cum Laude, a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine with honors also from UC Davis. Dr. Ortega moved on to an internship program in Santa Cruz before returning to UC Davis to complete her Small Animal Internal Medicine Residency in 1995.

Dr. Ortega stayed on at UC Davis where she served on the faculty from 1995 through 1996. She then worked in Los Angeles, consulting at a satellite clinic of a large specialty hospital and then in 1997, moved to Ventura, joining a local small animal specialty hospital and heading up their small animal medicine and surgery internship program. Throughout her career, Dr. Ortega has been dedicated to research and education both in presenting multiple scientific abstracts at national meetings including ACVIM, as a published author in publications including JAVMA, as well as serving as a mentor and lecturer for interns and local veterinarians. Dr. Ortega’s internal medicine interests are endocrinology, gastroenterology, oncology, nephrology, urology, pulmonology, immune-mediated disease, infectious disease and critical care.

Dr. Amy Rhoades

DVM, DACVIM

Amy Rhoades,DVM, DACVIM is a board certified Veterinary Internal Medicine Specialist. In 2002, she received her Bachelors of Science degree in Animal Science from the University of California, Davis continuing on at the University’s School of Veterinary Medicine where she earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 2007. Dr. Rhoades went on to complete The Ohio State University’s small animal rotating internship and UC Davis’ residency program at the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital. She became board certified by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine in 2011.

Dr. Rhoades, a Southern California native, moved to Ventura in 2011 and started working at a local veterinary specialty hospital. Well versed in infectious, respiratory, and immune-mediated diseases, Dr. Rhoades has been published numerous times, most recently for the, “Comparison of the efficacy of prednisone and cyclosporine for the treatment of dogs with immune-mediated polyarthritis.”

Dr. Sarah Gray

DVM, DAVECC

Sarah Gray, DVM, DACVECC is a board certified Emergency and Critical Care Specialist. She received her Bachelors of Science degree in 1996 from the University of California, Davis before going on to Iowa State University to earn her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree. Dr. Gray has completed several emergency and critical care internships, both locally and in Pennsylvania and completed her residency in Emergency and Critical Care medicine at the University of Minnesota.

Dr. Gray is published in multiple educational books and is a respected lecturer on subjects including pet poisons and toxicology. Dr. Gray was a veterinary consultant for a nationwide animal poison control center for over 10 years. Dr. Gray has lived and worked in Ventura County for over 10 years and is particularly well versed in the areas of toxicology, fluid resuscitation, respiratory diseases and trauma.

Dr. Nancy Scott

MS, DVM, DACVECC

Nancy Scott, MS, DVM, DACVECC is a board certified Emergency and Critical Care Specialist. She received her Bachelors of Science degree in 1992 from Santa Clara University and her Masters of Science in Biology from the University of Michigan. Dr. Scott continued her education at the University of California, Davis where she earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree. Dr. Scott completed a rotating internship at the University of Minnesota’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital then returned to UC Davis to complete her residency in Small Animal Emergency and Critical Care. Dr. Scott has presented lectures on subjects including head trauma, mechanical ventilation and fluid resuscitation.

After completing her residency in 2005, Dr. Scott moved to Ventura where she joined a local veterinary specialty hospital and established a renowned emergency and critical care department. She is particularly knowledgeable in critical patient anesthesia, post-operative patient management, poly-trauma and management of severe electrolyte disturbances.

Dr. Nora Badal

DVM

Dr. Nora Badal is a California native. She graduated cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Arts in English where she also earned academic honors. Dr. Badal became interested in veterinary medicine after working as a receptionist at an emergency pet hospital in Austin, Texas. She is proud to have worked in every support position in a veterinary clinic.

Dr. Badal obtained her Veterinary degree in 2012 from the University of California at Davis. After graduating from veterinary school, she completed a rotating internship at an emergency and specialty practice in Ventura, CA. She has worked in both general practice and emergency medicine and joined the Horizon team as one of our emergency veterinarians in 2018. Dr. Badal is particularly interested in metabolic crises and practicing feline medicine in the emergency setting.

Dr. Franziska Degen

DVM

Dr. Degen joined the Horizon Team in August of 2023. She attended the University of California, Davis for both her Bachelor’s of Science and her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree, which she completed in 2022. After graduating from UC Davis, Dr. Degen spent some time working as a spay neuter surgeon at the Sacramento SPCA, then completed an rotating small animal internship with VCA Loomis Basin Veterinary Clinic in northern California.

Dr. Degen especially enjoys emergency medicine and small animal soft tissue and emergency surgery. She also has a passion for helping at risk animals and has dedicated time throughout her career to volunteering for shelters, free clinics for pets of the homeless, and other underserved communities of animals.

In her free time, Dr. Degen enjoys rock climbing, gardening, cooking and baking, creating art, or relaxing at home with her wife, their tripod dog, and three cats.

Dr. Melissa Von Zup

DVM

Bio coming soon.

Dr. Kristi Peterson

DVM

Bio coming soon.

Dr. Emily Lunt

DVM

Bio coming soon.