Staff
Team of Bishop Ranch Veterinary Center & Urgent Care
Meet our caring and compassionate veterinary care team committed to providing exceptional veterinary care.
Nicole Anderson, DVM
Dr. Anderson grew up in Orinda, CA. She left the Bay Area to pursue her undergraduate degree at the University of Washington in Seattle, followed by her veterinary degree at Washington State University. After 12 years in Washington, she moved back to the Bay Area to complete a small animal rotating internship. Her special interests include dentistry, emergency medicine, and behavioral medicine. At home you can find her hosting a board game night, cooking new recipes with friends or curled up with her toothless cat, Chantrelle.
Dr. Anderson is available for appointments Wednesday through Saturday.
John C. Baine III, DVM, DABVP
Dr. Baine is a 1985 graduate of the College of Veterinary Medicine at Mississippi State University and has been practicing veterinary medicine in Contra Costa County for 36 years. He completed an internship in small animal medicine and surgery at the University of Illinois veterinary school in 1986, where he met Dr. Frank Utchen. Dr. Baine founded, owned and practiced at Plaza Pet Hospital and Surgery Center in Alamo for a number of years before joining BRVC in 2011.
Dr. Baine was a Diplomat of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (Canine & Feline Practice). His special interests are in general and orthopedic surgery as well as internal medicine.
Dr. Baine is available for appointments Monday through Thursday.
Bari Cappelletti, DVM
Dr. Cappelletti was born and raised in Alamo, California and previously worked at Bishop Ranch Veterinary Center in our Reception/Pharmacy Department- she is so happy to be back at home! She completed her undergraduate degree from UCLA before graduating from the Veterinary School at the University of California, Davis. During vet school Dr. Cappelletti worked as a technician at a feline-only practice and was the VP of the Feline Medicine Club. She currently lives with her husband and four rescue pets, 3 cats and a dog, but don't let their sweet faces fool you, her babies are all trouble! In her spare time Dr. Cappelletti likes to get outside and be active, playing sports, hiking, swimming, and yoga. She loves to hang out with her friends but also enjoys some quiet time curled up with a good book and a cup of coffee.
Dr. Cappelletti is available for appointments Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.
Lauren Colby McCormick , DVM (Dr. Colby)
Dr. Colby is a graduate of the Veterinary School at the University of California, Davis. Upon completing the DVM degree she moved to New York for her internship, followed by a job in small animal general practice. Prior to veterinary school, she completed her undergrad in Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior, also at the University of California, Davis.
Dr. Colby is originally from San Diego, California and is happy to be back in her home state. On her days off she enjoys hiking, cooking, spending time with her husband and daughter. She has one cat named "Gray Kitty" who was once a feisty community cat, but is now happily a part of Dr. Colby's family.
Dr. Colby is seeing patients Sunday through Wednesday.
Jim DeLano, DVM
Dr. DeLano graduated from the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1987. In 1989, he and Dr. Utchen co-founded Norris Canyon Veterinary Medical Center in San Ramon, which in the year 2000 became Bishop Ranch Veterinary Center. His general practice interests include Soft Tissue Surgery and Behavior. In 2010, Dr. Delano joined the faculty of UC Davis to help teach business and exam room communications to veterinary students. He lives in San Ramon with his wife and their Great Dane Xena and Orange Tabby Wesley.
Dr. DeLano is currently seeing Wellness appointments during limited hours
(for adult pets only).
Michele Dodd, DVM
Dr. Dodd is a 2003 graduate of the Veterinary School at the University of California, Davis. She joined Bishop Ranch in July 2003. Her special interests are Internal Medicine, Preventive Care, and Emergency/Critical Care. Dr. Dodd also treats small mammals such as rabbits, hamsters, and rats. She lives with her family in Livermore. They share their home with their cat Charlie and dog Iris.
Dr. Dodd is available for appointments Tuesday through Friday.
She is currently not accepting new patients at this time.
Cynthia Easton, DVM
Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist
Dr. Easton is a graduate of the Veterinary School at the University of California, Davis, and has practiced veterinary medicine for over 25 years. After a medicine and surgery internship at the University of Pennsylvania veterinary school, Dr. Easton worked for Pets Unlimited in San Francisco where she began pursuing an interest in holistic medicine. Doctor Easton has taken courses in Homeopathy, Western and Chinese herbology, and is certified by the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society. Providing clients with multiple options, doctor Easton helps clients choose the type of medicine best suited for them and their pets. Dr. Easton shares her home with 3 dogs, 2 rats, and her grown children when they miss a hot meal or need to do laundry! She enjoys her backyard oasis complete with koi and turtle ponds.
Dr. Easton is available for appointments Monday through Wednesday an occasional Saturday.
Christopher Maag, DVM
Dr. Maag grew up in the small east bay town of Moraga. After high school he attended the University of Oregon where he completed his undergraduate degree and then attended Midwestern University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. While at veterinary school, Dr. Maag worked in a lab studying Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever outbreaks in the American southwest and served as the President of the Veterinary Dental Club. He currently lives in the east bay with his wife Margaret and their rescue miniature schnauzer, Poppy. In his free time, he enjoys exploring the bay area’s many hiking trails, spending time with friends, and trying out new places to eat. Dr. Maag is happy to be back in the east bay and excited to serve the BRVC community.
Dr. Maag is accepting new patients.
Ayeley Okine, DVM, DACVIM
Dr. Ayeley Okine is a board certified veterinary internal medicine specialist that has been practicing in the area for over 5 years. She started her own mobile veterinary ultrasound business in 2021 to help provide this imaging modality to more pets in need. She has been able to combine her love of and expertise in Internal Medicine with her ultrasound skillset to not only help make ultrasonographic diagnoses, but also to provide guidance along with treatment and follow-up recommendations to her colleagues. Dr. Okine hopes to continue growing her own business and eventually incorporate other needed modalities to help pets with a variety of diseases and disorders. She values the human-animal bond and strives to preserve and strengthen that bond through collaborative medical intervention and strong communication.
Dr. Okine is available for ultrasound appointments on Wednesdays.
Adam Scott, DVM
Dr. Adam Scott is a graduate of the Veterinary School at the University of California, Davis. Prior to veterinary school, he completed his undergrad at the University of Texas where he received his degree in mechanical engineering. He grew up in Weatherfield, TX and enjoys cycling (both road and mountain), as well as hiking, running, traveling, or just relaxing with a good book. He lives with his wife, Dr. Erin Scott, their two spunky cats, Pi & Kylar, and their terrier rescue Rupert.
Dr. Scott is available for appointments Wednesday through Saturday.
He is currently not accepting new patients at this time.
Erin Scott, DVM
Dr. Erin Scott is a graduate of the Veterinary School at the University of California, Davis. Prior to veterinary school, she completed her undergrad at UC San Diego, earning her degree in engineering. She grew up in El Centro, CA and in her spare time enjoys being outdoors - hiking, enjoying a picnic, or running - as well as completing jigsaw puzzles, reading, and listening to live music. She lives with her husband, Dr Adam Scott, their two rescue cats Pi and Kylar, and their rescue terrier Rupert.
Dr. Scott is available for appointments Wednesday through Saturday.
She is currently not accepting new patients at this time.
Shruti Shastri, DVM
Dr. Shastri is a graduate of the Veterinary School at the University of California, Davis. Prior to veterinary school, she also completed her undergraduate degree at the University of California Davis in Biological Sciences. Upon completing the DVM degree, she moved to the Sacramento region to complete a small animal rotating internship in Loomis, CA. In her spare time, she enjoys painting, embroidery, crafting, reading, and spending time outdoors hiking with her family which includes her beagle, Milo.
Dr. Shastri is available for appointments Sunday through Wednesday.
Michelle Tien, DVM
Dr. Michelle Tien, born and raised in San Jose, California. Dr. Tien attended UC Davis for her Bachelors of Science in Animal Science. She spent a year working full time as a veterinary technician at a small animal general practice in Stockton. She continued to work as a tech while attending UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. Completed a small animal rotating internship at PetCare East Veterinary Hospital in Santa Rosa.On her spare time Dr. Tien plays competitive badminton in local open tournaments. She also enjoys baking, traveling, and playing video games and board games.
Dr. Tien is available for appointments Wednesday through Saturday.
Cesar Vega, DVM
Coming back to BRVC was a true homecoming for Dr. Vega! He originally worked at BRVC as a technician supervisor while getting his veterinarian license. Dr. Vega worked closely with Dr. Utchen and Dr. Delano and is happy to be returning to work with his wonderful colleagues and clients.
The biggest joy of Dr. Vega's job is the daily interaction with pets and clients. Dr. Vega enjoys being a part of a team that supports each other and are willing to work together to resolve challenging patient cases.
Veterinary medicine has always been a passion of Dr. Vega. As a boy, he wanted to help and cure his pets and when they weren't well, he tried everything to make them feel better! It's important to Dr. Vega that all pets live a happy and healthy life. When not at work, Dr. Vega enjoys spending time with his family, mountain biking, and of course, taking care of his 2 dogs and 3 cats!
Dr. Vega is available for appointments Tuesday through Friday.
Kirsten Williams, DVM
Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist
Dr. Williams graduated from the Veterinary School at the University of California, Davis in 1992. She was on staff at Crow Canyon Veterinary Clinic prior to its merger to become Bishop Ranch Veterinary Center. In 1998 she became certified in veterinary acupuncture by the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society. With training in both conventional western medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine, Dr. Williams is able to integrate multiple treatment modalities for her patients. She was recently voted Best Alternative Medicine Provider by Baywoof Beast of the Bay Awards. She lives with her husband, two children, a cat, crawfish, and a snake.
Dr. Williams is available for appointments on Thursdays, and occasional Saturdays.
Stefanie Wong, DVM
Dr. Wong is a graduate of the Veterinary School at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY. Prior to veterinary school she completed her undergrad at UCLA and graduated magna cum laude with a B.S in Ecology, Behavior, and Evolution. She spent time in the rainforests of Nicaragua studying the poison dart frog and also spent three months living and working in rural villages in Tanzania with the non-profit Support for International Change.
Dr. Wong completed a rotating internship at VCA West LA in Los Angeles and her special interests include emergency medicine and laparoscopic minimally invasive surgery as well as soft tissue surgery. She is a San Ramon native and loves to spend time outdoors with her husband, daughter and German Shepherd rescue Zuri. Her favorite weekends are spent with them, either running, surfing, hiking or camping.
Dr. Wong is available for appointments Monday through Thursday.
She is currently not accepting new patients at this time.
Margaret Simuro
Hospital Director
A member of Bishop Ranch Veterinary Center & Urgent Care since 2001, Margaret's passion for animals and veterinary management has helped shape the hospital into one of the largest veterinary practices in the Tri-Valley area. A veterinary technician for more than 10 years with experience in emergency and critical care, she has managed multiple veterinary hospitals. Always on the go, she enjoys traveling, gardening, spending time with her husband and their German Wirehaired Pointer Kiel. They also share their home with two tortoises Captain Jack & Moriarty and Vinny Jones a Cat.
Debbie Mullins
Director Assistant
Debbie joined Bishop Ranch Veterinary Center & Urgent Care in 2011. She has quickly become an essential part of the Administrative team thanks to her extensive background in Office Administration and Human Resources. A Bay Area native, Debbie is very family-oriented and enjoys spending time with her family, especially her nephews, their dog Buck, and cats Peso and Penny. In her free time she likes to make jewelry, play games, and travel – especially camping in Yosemite, trips to Disneyland, and snorkeling in Hawaii.
Jennifer Vifian
People and Development Manager
Jen Vifian joined the team in 2013 as a Client Service Receptionist. She joined the leadership team in 2015, and eventually became the Phone Room Manager. Jen left to pursue opportunities in human medicine in July 2021. After 5 short months, Jen realized her passion was in the veterinary field and returned to Bishop Ranch December 2021. Her passion for wellness amongst veterinary professionals is a special interest of Jen’s. She graduated from Cal State East Bay with a B.A. in Psychology in 2019. Jen enjoys spending time wither wife, family and friends, and has two cats Maeby and Ron. She loves taking trips to Disneyland and spending time on the coast.
Lauren Szyszka
Phone Room Supervisor
Lauren joined our team at Bishop Ranch back in 2013 as a Customer Service Representative. She has experience in several areas at the hospital, including Exam Room Technician, and Pharmacist as well as working at both our sister practice, Amador Valley and Feline Veterinary Centers. Lauren has also assisted in coordinating our Vet for a Day and Blood Donor program as well as feline adoptions at our sister practice. In 2019, Lauren joined our remote off site team as a Phone Room Receptionist and became the department Supervisor in 2021. She has always had a passion for helping others and enjoys being able to step in and assist our clients in times when they are the most concerned for their pets.
When she is not at work, she enjoys spending time at home with her family, cooking and tending to her large plant collection. Most days she can also be found corralling and caring for one of her seven pets, ranging from turtles to dogs to a bearded dragon!
Rebecca Vifian, RVT
Operations Manager
Rebecca received her Associate of Science degree from Carrington College and passed her board exam to become a Registered Veterinary Technician in 2012. That same year she joined Bishop Ranch Veterinary Center as a Technician Assistant. She moved on to serve as an Outpatient, Surgery, and Patient Care Technician and currently works as Outpatient Supervisor.
She loves working with animals, especially in Patient Care, and her greatest joy is watching when sick pets are treated and are able to walk out of the hospital and return home.
In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her wife, family, and their two cats, Maeby and Ron. As a lifetime Giants fan, she spends as much time in the city and at games as she can.
Jacquelyn Rechtshaffer
Pharmacy Supervisor
Jacquie R joined our team at Bishop Ranch back in 2007 as a Customer Service assistant, called a Runner. Over the past 15 years she has been able to expand her experience in several areas at the hospital, including Exam Room Technician, Drop in Technician, Pharmacy Technician and Pharmacy Team Lead. She loves training and passing her knowledge off to her fellow coworkers. She has most recently become the department Supervisor in early 2022.
When she is not at work, she enjoys spending time at home with her husband, and she recently became a mom to her daughter in 2020. Jacquie has three cats Kevin, Doug & Eugene. Jacquie has a passion for traveling, crafting and baking. She is a lifetime Atheltic's fan and when not at games she may also be taking a quick day trip to Disneyland, taking advantage of being a Magic Key Holder.
India Slater
Client Service Supervisor
India received her Bachelor of Science degree in Animal & Nutritional Sciences from West Virginia University in 2016 before moving to California. She joined our team at Bishop Ranch back in 2019 as a Customer Service Representative. In 2021, she joined our Leadership team as the Client Service Supervisor.
In her free time she enjoys reading, hiking, spending time with family and friends, and her two cats!
Ericka Hall
Support Services Supervisor
Ericka has had a passion for animals from a very young age and looks forward to being an advocate for every animal that walks into our hospital on a daily basis. She started at Bishop Ranch in 2019 as a receptionist. From there, she obtained training in pharmacy, as an exam room technician, and as a drop-in technician. Ericka served as a Client Service Shift Lead as well as a Pharmacy Shift Lead before taking on my role as Support Service Supervisor to oversee our boarding, drop-in, and exam room technician departments and staff.
In her free time, you can find Ericka hiking with her dogs as well as spending time with family and friends.
Carlos Garces
Outpatient Supervisor
Carlos has been an integral part of the BRVC team for 19 years. He started his career with us working as a Boarding Assistant. He quickly became an important part of the boarding team as the clients and staff loved working closely with him. Carlos showed great work ethic and compassion; not just for the patients but the clients as well, along with an eagerness to learn new things. He worked his way to the medical side and became a Technician Assistant, and later a Technician. As of July 2022, Carlos has been promoted to our new Outpatient Supervisor.
Carlos finds it very rewarding to help pets (and our clients) through difficult times, and seeing how our passion and work makes a difference.
Helpful Articles
office hours
- Mon-Fri6:30am - 9:00pm
- Sat-Sun7:30am - 6:00pm
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