Erika Carrillo, DVM

Practice Owner/Medical Director

Born and raised in Southern California, Dr. Erika Carrillo found her calling for Veterinary Medicine her senior year in high school in Hacienda Heights, CA, when she began volunteering at her town’s local animal hospital. There she began her experience with animals, walking dogs, cleaning kennels, and taking care of boarding patients. She then proceeded to work as a receptionist, working her way to becoming a veterinary assistant at different hospitals in the area over the next 8 years all while paying her way through college and graduate school.  

Erika’s love for animals grew as she started her studies at the University of La Verne in La Verne, California and obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology in 2005. The following year, Dr. Carrillo began graduate school at Western University of Health Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine in Pomona, California and graduated in 2010. During her veterinary training, Dr. Carrillo did many externships in various areas such as internal medicine, surgery, emergency and critical care, dermatology, ophthalmology, clinical pathology, and radiology. After graduation, she began working at a high-volume practice in West Los Angeles for 9 years where she obtained extensive experience in all areas of veterinary medicine. Ultimately, Dr. Carrillo wanted to be outside of the busy city and moved east to Orange County to start a family of her own and open her own hospital. Dr. Carrillo now lives in Orange County and spends her time off with her husband Richard and their two daughters, Audrey and Charlotte, their Cane Corsos Bane & Ivy, and their Russian tortoise Quasimodo Pepperoni.

Jennifer Engelhard, DVM

Associate Veterinarian

Being surrounded by loving family pets from a young age, Dr. Jennifer Engelhard knew her career would be in the area of animal care from the get-go! Aspiring to be a whale trainer as a child, her interests in science and medicine led her down the path of veterinary science and working in the veterinary field. In high school, she pursued her school’s regional occupational program and was hired as a part-time veterinary assistant at a companion animal and exotics hospital, where she learned to care for many different species. Later, Dr Engelhard would receive her Bachelor’s of Science degree in Zoology with a pre-veterinary medicine focus from Oregon State University in 2012. While there, she proceeded to work at the university’s veterinary diagnostic pathology laboratory and ultimately applied to graduate school. After being accepted by Oregon State University's College of Veterinary Medicine, she explored many areas of study, from small animal medicine to exotic & zoological medicine, graduating in 2018. With a doctorate in one hand and a stethoscope in the other, Dr. Engelhard moved back to her home region of Southern California where she has worked for three years in a corporate small animal practice before joining our family at Fullerton Regional Veterinary Hospital. Dr. Engelhard enjoys treating all kinds of pets from dogs and cats to bunnies, reptiles, and even fish! She currently lives in Anaheim with her partner and their two dogs Mara and Jones.

Hilary Chan, DVM

Associate Veterinarian

Dr. Hilary Chan, native of Southern California having grown up in Cerritos, attended veterinary graduate school at Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona. During her graduate schooling she developed and pursued her professional interest in holistic/complementary/alternative medicine and preventative care. But what she loves most about veterinary medicine is that it combines her love of animals with her desire to serve people through the intimate bond that they have with their pets. Her personal interests include creating and using different art media such as embroidery and resin! When she is not at work, she can be found trying different foods (no matter how weird they may sound!), reading fantasy books, and traveling as much as she can. She is accompanied by her dilute tortoiseshell Luna, and hopes to expand her fur family soon!

Selene Ruelas

Practice Manager

Selene grew up with an extra appreciation for animals. She began her journey working at a family-owned pet store for four years, during which she found a perfect position joining the team as a receptionist at Fullerton Regional. Although Selene focuses a lot of her time and energy into caring for pets and wildlife, she is also very invested in business, having recently received her associate's degree in Business Fundamentals in June 2022. Her experience in business training resulted in her loving to work with clients as their point of contact when calling or coming in for their pets. Outside of work, Selene enjoys spending time with her loved ones and being a “foodie”, trying out foods that are trending or unfamiliar!

Yessica

Veterinary Technician

Yessica has always loved and cared for all types of animals throughout her life. From a very young age, she began helping her grandmother take care of her many types of farm animals. During this time, she grew up with several of her own pets, a hamster named Elephant, a chocolate labrador named Reindeer, and two chickens, Pickles and Lettuce. Having been surrounded by animals her whole life, Yessica inevitably began working with animals in a hospital setting when she first started her career in the veterinary field as a receptionist. Ultimately, she transitioned from receptionist to veterinary assistant, to technician. She has since worked at several animal hospitals and a local animal diagnostic laboratory. In her free time, Yessica enjoys spending time with her family, friends, and her Havanese Caroline and cat Gordo. She also enjoys seeing the intricacies of the moon with her telescope and enjoying a good book!

Keysy

Veterinary Technician

Keysy was born in Anaheim and raised from a young age in Mexico City, all the while always seeking the well being of animals around her. Keysy could be found rescuing any street cats or dogs she would encounter on her way to school or at the mercado with her grandma. One of her rescues, a Pomeranian mix named Terry, would even walk her to school every day, slowly changing her life and her relationship with animals, making them truly inseparable. Keysy grew up with numerous pets, including dogs, cats, frogs, turtles, fish, sliders, hamsters, and pet chickens. Moving back to California was hard for her, leaving behind her pets, but Keysy knew deep down she would make her dream come true to continue her relationship with animals. As she followed a different career path for some time as a licensed cosmetologist and barber, she found her passion wasn’t fulfilled. Once COVID came about, she finally received the opportunity to work as a veterinary receptionist and proceeded to make her way to working as a veterinary technician, finally filling that void she had been longing for. Working with animals brings her immense joy, knowing that she is helping improve the quality of life of her patients each and every day.

Nikki

Veterinary Technician

Nikki’s career journey has been shaped by her lifelong passion for working with animals, culminating in many years of experience in the field. From a young age, her dedication to animal care was evident, leading her to participate in the FFA program during high school where she had the opportunity to raise and showcase lambs. After graduating high school, Nikki pursued her passion by enrolling in the Orange County Veterinary Assistant program, where she continued to further her experience. Her involvement in the field of veterinary medicine further solidified her love for caring for all animals. Her commitment to animal welfare has also led her to pursue further education and is now enrolled in Purdue University’s Veterinary Nursing Program in the hope of becoming an RVT. When Nikki isn’t working, she enjoys spending quality time with her family, boyfriend, and her furry companion pups August, Ellie, and Lefty as well as her cat Stormy.

Crystal

Veterinary Technician

Crystal has always been very passionate about animals and knew she wanted to work and care for them when she grew up. Crystal attended UC Davis and obtained her Bachelors of Science in Animal Science in 2017. During her college years, Crystal cared for many different large animals and assisted in a wildlife conservation project! Since her graduation, Crystal has been working in the veterinary field for many years where she strives to provide quality care for each and every patient. During her free time, Crystal enjoys attending comic cons and concerts, doing arts and crafts, playing video games, and enjoying yummy foods! She currently has an Australian Shepherd Cosmo, and a Lionhead Netherland Dwarf bunny named Smores.

Nicole

Client Service Representative

Nicole has always had a strong passion for animals since a young age especially after she obtained her very first pet, a beautiful kitty named Tasha. Since then, Nicole knew she wanted to work with animals, especially cats, boxers, and pitties, all her favorites! Her career in the veterinary field began in 2015, when she started working at several different veterinary hospitals throughout Southern California as a client service coordinator. Ultimately, she plans to further her career in veterinary medicine when she soon starts attending a veterinary assistant program to expand her skills. Nicole loves her job and really enjoys seeing all her happy clients and patients! When not busy at work, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends or relaxing and soaking in the sun at the beach. Nicole currently has three feline furbabies of her own: Gamora, Spazz, and Smokey!

Stephanie

Client Service Representative

Ever since Stephanie was little, she has always had a love for animals. You could always find her reading any zoology magazine she could get her hands on and learning about every animal she would see on the pages. She began working in the veterinary field in 2013 through a high school program where she was looking to volunteer at her local animal hospital. And although life took her in different directions, her love for animals always guided her back to veterinary medicine, eventually starting her career in the field as a veterinary assistant and now as a CSR. Stephanie’s plan is to further her career and become a registered veterinary technician in the future. During her free time, you can find her crocheting amigurumi, playing video games, and keeping busy with her seven pups Arlo, Cooper, Chewy, Saphira, Cassidy, Chocolat, and Baloo.

Kayla

Client Service Representative/Veterinary Assistant

Kayla was born and raised in Orange County and is currently a full-time student chasing her dreams of becoming a veterinarian! Kayla has just recently started her career in the field and has already learned so much and cannot wait to continue to grow her experience and knowledge in the field! She currently has three fur babies, Romeo, Lily, and Amor who she absolutely cannot live without. Kayla has been surrounded by all kinds of animals her entire life and has turned this love and passion into her career. One of Kayla’s favorite parts of the job is making strong connections with clients and their pets. When Kayla isn’t busy with her schooling or work, she enjoys spending time with her friends and family, fishing, painting, learning new skills, and pursuing new adventures. She looks forward to meeting all of you and your pets to provide them with compassionate care and lots of love!

Brittney

Client Service Representative

Brittney has always had a deep connection with animals. Starting at a very young age, she would take trips to her local veterinary hospital, often going behind the counter and pretending to be one of the receptionists! That is when she knew she wanted to pursue a career in animal care. As a teenager, she would often help her mother volunteer for a guinea pig and rabbit rescue organization and at the age of eighteen, Brittney got her first job working at a veterinary hospital and has absolutely loved it ever since. Outside of work, she loves to spend time with her own pets. She currently has three cats named Moe, Squiggy, and Mac, a Chihuahua named Maggie, a Yorkie/Chihuahua mix named Zeus, and a guinea pig named Beatrice. She also enjoys spending time with her friends and family, often hiking with them in her free time. Brittney continues to be committed to improving the lives of animals and works to inspire others to do the same.

Destiny

Client Service Representative

Destiny was born and raised in San Diego and is currently a full-time student at California State University, Fullerton, studying toward her Bachelor’s degrees in Biology and Public Health. Destiny has had a love for animals ever since she was a little girl, which inspired her dream of one day becoming a veterinarian. Over the years, Destiny has volunteered and worked alongside veterinarians in various programs and sanctuaries around the world, from working with wildlife in Australia, to dolphins in Costa Rica, and exotic animals in sunny San Diego. These travels helped her gain hands-on experience and learn about animal care for all types of critters. When she’s not busy studying or working with animals, Destiny enjoys reading and spending quiet time at home with her cat Suki. Her passion for animals, and the support from her colleagues, help her remain focused on her goal of becoming a veterinarian and making a difference in the lives of animals everywhere while advocating for their health and wellbeing.