Meet Our Team

We strive to provide the very best veterinary care possible. 

APPOINTMENT
Timothy Walker, DVM, DABVP, CCRP, cVMA

Timothy Walker, DVM, DABVP, CCRP, cVMA

Veterinarian, Practice Owner

Dr. Walker received a BA degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 1992 and a DVM degree from Ross University in 2001. He spent one year at the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Missouri, where he finished his clinical training. He then joined the staff at Somers Animal Hospital, becoming an owner in 2008. Dr. Walker has achieved specialty board certification from the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners in Canine and Feline practice. He is certified in physical rehabilitation and medical
acupuncture and is credentialed in regenerative medicine. He has extensive training in diagnostic ultrasonography, endoscopy, and soft tissue surgery including minimally invasive laparoscopy.

Kate Hallquest, DVM

Kate Hallquest, DVM

Veterinarian, Practice Owner

Dr. Hallquest received her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Stonehill College in 2008 and her DVM degree from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine in 2013. She completed her year of clinical training at Louisiana State University. Dr. Hallquest then went on to complete a rigorous one-year rotating internship at Fifth Avenue Veterinary Specialists in New York, after which she spent three years practicing in Brooklyn, NY. She then joined Somers Animal Hospital in 2017, becoming an owner in 2022. She has a particular interest in internal medicine and soft tissue surgery, including minimally invasive laparoscopy. Dr. Hallquest’s family shares their home with their two dogs, Kane and Cheza, and two cats, Miles and Reggie.

Shireen Blum, DVM

Shireen Blum, DVM

Veterinarian

Dr. Shireen Blum received her veterinary degree from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, after having completed her clinical year at North Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Medicine in 2013. She then received additional training during a one-year internship at Oradell Animal Hospital in New Jersey.

Dr. Blum is an enthusiastic and passionate advocate for her patients. Her experience in surgery and integrative pain management has led her to deepen her professional knowledge base through eastern and alternative medicine. She is currently training to become certified in veterinary acupuncture. Her approach to veterinary medicine is to focus on the whole patient and the human-animal bond, to achieve both a quick recovery as well as long-lasting health.

Dr. Blum and her husband care for their two young sons, rescue dogs Pete and Lulu, and rescue cats Stewart and Wynona.

Christina Buchter, DVM

Christina Buchter, DVM

Veterinarian

Dr. Christina Buchter graduated from Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine in 2009. After a one-year Joint emergency/referral and general practice internship in Florida, Dr. Buchter practiced at North Shore Animal League on Long Island for seven years, then at Massachusetts Animal Medical Center in the Boston area for five years. She and her family moved back to New York in 2022 to be closer to family.

Dr. Buchter finds the most rewarding part of general practice is developing trusting relationships with both pets and their owners, and working together to optimize patient health. In her spare time, Dr. Buchter enjoys spending time with her family including her husband and two young children, baking and cooking, and amateur photography.

Lucy Weizenecker

Lucy Weizenecker

Hospital Manager

Lucy has been employed with SAH since 1987. She shares her home with her husband Bill and her Boston Terrier, Hoss. Her feathered friends are a Quaker Parrot and a Parakeet.

She enjoys boating and watching Film Noir Movies.

Jennifer Bowman

Jennifer Bowman

Nursing Staff Supervisor, Veterinary Assistant

Jennifer has been with the hospital since 1997. She shares her home with her companions Juice, Fonzi, Squiggy, Shirley, Melba, and 7 turtles.
 Serena Fiorella, CCRP

Serena Fiorella, CCRP

Licensed Veterinary Technician

Serena has been with SAH since 2006. She shares her home with her animal companions Little Lady, Keenan, and Lucas.

Diane Gatto

Diane Gatto

Client Care Specialist

Diane has been with SAH since 2007.

Ingrid Jacobsen

Ingrid Jacobsen

Veterinary Assistant

Before starting at SAH, Ingrid was a zookeeper at the Bronx Zoo for ten years, mainly working with birds. In 1999, she left the zoo to work for SAH and has worked here ever since. Well, except for the years 2007 – 2012, when she went to open her own bakery in the Adirondacks.

Ingrid shares her home with her cat, Mr. Nibbles, and her dog, Bingley.

Heather Jacyszyn

Heather Jacyszyn

Veterinary Assistant

Heather has been with SAH since 2007. She shares her home with her 3 dogs, 2 cats, and her beloved fish.

Caitlyn

Caitlyn

Licensed Veterinary Technician

Caitlyn has been with us since 2021. She studies pre-veterinary medicine at Mercy College and has been a veterinary assistant since 2014. In her spare time, Caitlyn enjoys hiking with her Labrador Retriever Rigatoni.

Sophia

Sophia

Veterinary Assistant

Sophia has been employed with us since 2022. She shares her home with 5 black cats.

Lexie

Lexie

Veterinary Assistant

Lexie has been with us since  2022, she is studying to be a veterinary technician.  
She shares her home with her two dogs Marley and Mia.
Christina Pasqualone

Christina Pasqualone

Licensed Veterinary Technician

Christina has been with SAH since 2011. She graduated with a BS in Biomedical Sciences from Marist College in 2010, with a focus in pre-veterinary studies.

A native of Westchester County, NY, she has shared her home with all manner of animals; from pocket pets, to lizards, to dogs and presently a British Shorthair cat named Ciocco.

Always striving to grow, Christina can regularly be found diving into new learning opportunities and medical procedures or lending a hand in fine-tuning hospital protocols.

 Joe Sabatini

Joe Sabatini

Licensed Veterinary Technician

Joe has been with SAH since October 2000. He shares his home with his animal companions Libby, Yoshi and a Leopard Tortoise Casanova.
Victoria Smith

Victoria Smith

Licensed Veterinary Technician

Before earning her degree and license in Veterinary Technology, Victoria was a veterinary assistant for seven years. She graduated from SUNY Ulster’s Veterinary Technology program in 2015, after she finished her externship at Oradell Animal Hospital in New Jersey. Victoria joined the SAH staff in 2017.
She shares her home with her animal companions Simba, Jack, and Mush. 
Nicola Ruff

Nicola Ruff

Veterinary Assistant

Nicola joined our team in 2016. She graduated from the University of Rhode Island in 2016 with a BS in animal science. Nicola enjoys learning and sharing her knowledge with others. She shares her home with her mom, brother, sisters and her beloved fish.
In her spare time she enjoys maintaining her aquariums and creating new “aquascapes” inside of them.
Jennifer

Jennifer

Client Care Specialist

Jennifer joined us in 2021. She shares her home with her husband, two sons, and canine companion Lily.

Wendy

Wendy

Client Care Specialist

Wendy joined the staff at SAH in June 2018, after working at a Veterinary Hospital in Connecticut for 17 years in both client service and patient care.

Animals are her passion.
She has extensive experience in animal husbandry and grooming, as well as exhibiting winning Yorkshire Terriers and Maltese for 35 years. Currently, she is involved in breeding and exhibiting Devon Rex and American Shorthair Cats.

Her spare time is usually spent with her grandkids, traveling, grooming and exhibiting at cat shows.

We look forward to seeing you!

Our contact information is below. If you need anything at all, please let us know!

Address

352 Route 202
Somers, NY 10589
Click here for directions.

Using GPS? Enter "352 Somerstown Road"

Hours

Mon-Fri: 8:30am - 5:00pm
Sat: 8:30am - 12:00pm
Sun: Closed

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY after hours, please call 914-277-3686.

Contact Info

Call: 914-277-3686
Fax: 914-277-7126
Email: info@somersanimalhospital.com

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