Our Staff and Partners
AWAP Owner and Director of Animal Rehabilitation and Veterinary Care
Dr. Ilana Strubel
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Ilana Strubel, MA, DVM, CVSMT, CCRT, CVAT
A Well Adjusted Pet My pets:
Read more about Dr. Ilana |
AWAP Medical Team
Dr. Laurie Pearlstein
Dr. Laurie Pearlstein, DVM, CCRT, CVA, CVAT
Dr. Pearlstein was born in Washington D.C. but has lived all over the country since then. Most recently she lived and worked in Boston/Cambridge until moving out here to the 'left' coast. . When not at work, she spends time outdoors with anything nature has to offer (the Bay Area and Northern California certainly provide a cornucopia of options). She still likes the fun and beauty of winter, but finds it quite novel living in a place where you can choose to go to winter or not.
Her extra training is in emergency medicine, physical rehabilitation and acupuncture/TCVM (traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine) from Angell Memorial Animal Hospital, Canine Rehabilitation Institute and Chi Institute (Chinese medicine/Acupuncture). She is very pleased to offer so many aspects of training and experience, channeled into a practical but creative nature to care for and treat patients. "Our animal friends give us so much, it is a small token of appreciation back to be able to help them to feel and function their best."
Dr. Pearlstein was born in Washington D.C. but has lived all over the country since then. Most recently she lived and worked in Boston/Cambridge until moving out here to the 'left' coast. . When not at work, she spends time outdoors with anything nature has to offer (the Bay Area and Northern California certainly provide a cornucopia of options). She still likes the fun and beauty of winter, but finds it quite novel living in a place where you can choose to go to winter or not.
Her extra training is in emergency medicine, physical rehabilitation and acupuncture/TCVM (traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine) from Angell Memorial Animal Hospital, Canine Rehabilitation Institute and Chi Institute (Chinese medicine/Acupuncture). She is very pleased to offer so many aspects of training and experience, channeled into a practical but creative nature to care for and treat patients. "Our animal friends give us so much, it is a small token of appreciation back to be able to help them to feel and function their best."
Ella Woods
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Ella Woods, DAOM, Dipl. OM, LaC
What I do for the Team: Acupuncture; including acupuncture and electrical-acupuncture when appropriate, and Traditional Oriental/Chinese Medicine, including prescription herbs. What I do for Fun:
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Robin Byas
Robin Byas
What I do for the team: Veterinary tech/assistant with 12 years of professional experience and counting
My Pets:
I've lived in Pacifica all my life. I enjoy music and camping and backpacking, searching for cool antiques, doing fun art projects and DIY projects at home, baking and party planning. Graduated from C.E.E.P (Community Environmental Education Program) aka Wilderness in 2002, located in Daly City. I have volunteered and worked for local summer camps as a Rock climbing instructor, archery and environmental educator and youth counselor and cabin leader from 1998-2005. I'm an avid gardener and enjoy spending time with my 5 kitties and teaching them new tricks.
I have worked at a pet clinic in Pacifica for 12 years as a vet tech and the last 4 years as a tech supervisor and was the lead tech for the walk-in vaccine clinic for the last 10 years. I have extensive knowledge of vaccines, medications prescription food and general knowledge of pet care. I have worked with many types of animals; cats, dog, rabbits, birds, rats, hamsters, ferrets as well as a variety of reptiles. I love helping pets and owners become more educated about pet products and how to best care for our furry friends.
What I do for the team: Veterinary tech/assistant with 12 years of professional experience and counting
My Pets:
- 5 cute kitties (Son 12, Chatter 15, Wile E. Coyote 7, Blackie Chan 7 , and newest addition Buddha aka Sir Bunnyman 5)
- I love music and play Guitar, percussion and most recently have been working on learning to play the Cello.
I've lived in Pacifica all my life. I enjoy music and camping and backpacking, searching for cool antiques, doing fun art projects and DIY projects at home, baking and party planning. Graduated from C.E.E.P (Community Environmental Education Program) aka Wilderness in 2002, located in Daly City. I have volunteered and worked for local summer camps as a Rock climbing instructor, archery and environmental educator and youth counselor and cabin leader from 1998-2005. I'm an avid gardener and enjoy spending time with my 5 kitties and teaching them new tricks.
I have worked at a pet clinic in Pacifica for 12 years as a vet tech and the last 4 years as a tech supervisor and was the lead tech for the walk-in vaccine clinic for the last 10 years. I have extensive knowledge of vaccines, medications prescription food and general knowledge of pet care. I have worked with many types of animals; cats, dog, rabbits, birds, rats, hamsters, ferrets as well as a variety of reptiles. I love helping pets and owners become more educated about pet products and how to best care for our furry friends.
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Karyna Blake
I have been a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Veterinary Nurse for the past 5yrs+ and Veterinary Technician for the past 10yrs+. I have worked in general practice veterinary hospitals as well as at SAGE veterinary specialty hospitals in the surgery, ER, CCU, and rehabilitation departments. I am also certified in Health Touch For Animal energy healing. My other area of expertise is in massage/body-work/ manual therapy but more specifically myo-fascial release but I LOVE all things rehab! I am currently working on my small animal Traditional Chinese Medicine / Acupressure certification. I am excited to be working with this great team and adding my skills to the practice. In my free time, I enjoy walking around my forest with my pack and tending to my food/ pollinator garden. I am very much devoted to helping those in need; I have started seeing animals in their own home for manual therapy. It fills me with joy when I help enhance an animal's quality of life. My husband and I are also BIG on movies! We don't have cable or internet at home so movies are our JAM! I was blessed to find my husband, Jordan, at the ripe age of 17 and it has been a blast ever since. I very much married my BEST friend. I was raised in Burlingame, California and never see myself leaving the Bay Area. My Husband and I strive to own the 7 acre La Honda forest property we live on currently with my father and uncle. |
Karyna Blake
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The Pack:
- Matriarch: Brownie, 13yr old Chihuahua/ Italian Greyhound; my Foster Win - She is a fearless leader, who holds the keys to my heart. Brownie is sweet as sugar and tough as nails.
- Father of the pups: Sancho, 14yr old German Short-Haired Pointer. My Oldie but Goldie and is more PUPPY-LIKE than his own pups. Obsessed with toys and Oh So Silly! Brownie and Sancho are my Super Seniors. A rogue Fox Hound wandered up to the property and eloped with Sancho but unfortunately passed 7 days after the pups were born. My husband and I bottle fed the Pups; they are very much our babies. They will always be puppies in my eyes!
- The Pups: 6yr old GSP/Fox Hound Mix Quixote- The Sweetest boy ever! He is my odd man out; he is very much an introvert. Quixote is delicate spirit but he can still hold his own!
- Dulcenea (Dulce for short)- my stubborn, wild child. Dulce only does what she wants! Brownie has taken her under her wing. The Ladies patrol the property and make sure that no neighboring dogs or wildlife wander on to their territory. Dulce now also keeps her eye on the sky after a winged creature tried to take Brownie; we suspect it was an owl.
- Sir Reginald Blaze AKA Reggie Veggie- typical alpha male but very much a Mama's Boy. He is my cuddle bug, who loves to get under the covers to snuggle.
Julie Stiefel
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Julie Stiefel
What I do for the team: Client Services Manager My pets:
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Kellie Caldwell
New to the team since June 2021, I contribute to both rehabilitation and client coordination services. My Pets: I currently have two pets - In the photo is Spike, my beautiful creamsicle corn snake who I have had for over 16 years now; And Rubee, a 14 year old sweetie pie cat who loves her morning cuddles but is still sassy and spunky. What I do for fun: Anything connected to nature - hikes around the local trails or camping in places like the Shasta-Trinity National Forest, where I can be found looking for morel and porcini mushrooms. If I am inside, I love to get lost in either drawing or painting fantasy worlds filled with mystical creatures. I was born and raised in the East Bay for most of my life but I have spent some time living out in the Amador County mountains and southern Oregon. I do hold many special memories as a child going on family beach trips to Pacifica, which I cherish very dearly, and ever since then I dreamed of moving to the area if given the chance. In the year 2020 I graduated from Cosumnes River College of Sacramento and then shortly after acquired my Registered Veterinary Technicians license. I have a wide range of clinical skills pertaining to domestic pet veterinary care as well as wildlife rehabilitation. I have always felt comfort and peace around animals, so being able to directly contribute to their health and well being is incredibly fulfilling. Since joining the team here at A Well Adjusted Pet, I hope to learn and give back as much as possible through my exciting new career in pet rehabilitation! |
Kellie Caldwell
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Charlie Monge
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Charlie Monge
What I do for the team: Clinic Manager
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Kathleen Dougherty
What I do for the team: Animal Rehabilitation Assistant
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Kathleen Dougherty
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Alexandra Zuanich
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Alexandra Zuanich
What I do for the team: Animal Rehabilitation Assistant
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Ariana (Ari) Pizano
What I do for the team: Animal Rehabilitation Assistant
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Ariana (Ari) Pizano
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Beth Crittenden
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Beth Crittenden
What I do for the team: Business Manager.
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A Well Adjusted Pet would like to express its gratitude to the amazing support from our team and partners. Most of all, we want to thank YOU, our clients, who inspire us every day and provide great reviews and referrals.
AWAP Partners
OrthoPets San Francisco
Dr. Ilana will head up OrthoPets San Francisco, offering new and innovative solutions for patients’ mobility problems in the San Francisco Bay Area where she currently owns and operates A Well Adjusted Pet – an Integrative Veterinary Physical Rehabilitation and Aquatic Fitness Center, in Pacifica, CA, just 10 minutes south of San Francisco.
www.awelladjustedpet.com/OrthoPetsSF/orthotics
Dr. Ilana will head up OrthoPets San Francisco, offering new and innovative solutions for patients’ mobility problems in the San Francisco Bay Area where she currently owns and operates A Well Adjusted Pet – an Integrative Veterinary Physical Rehabilitation and Aquatic Fitness Center, in Pacifica, CA, just 10 minutes south of San Francisco.
www.awelladjustedpet.com/OrthoPetsSF/orthotics
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The Rex Center staff provides great resources for therapeutic swims, swim coaching, and canine massage.
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Bay Woof
Dr. Ilana is a regular contributor to Bay Woof’s “Ask Dr. Dog” feature section, providing useful advice for dog care and health. To see past contributions, check out our “Ask Dr. Ilana” page or visit www.baywoof.com.
Dr. Ilana is a regular contributor to Bay Woof’s “Ask Dr. Dog” feature section, providing useful advice for dog care and health. To see past contributions, check out our “Ask Dr. Ilana” page or visit www.baywoof.com.
