Highlands ranch animal hospital

Hometown: Syracuse, NY
Pets: Dogs: Freckles, Calvin

Dr. Myers was born in Syracuse, NY and moved to Southern California while still in high school and graduated in 1989. She did her undergraduate studies and played soccer at Cal Poly Pomona, graduated with BS in Animal Science in 1995. She then moved to Gainesville, FL and became an animal anesthetist at the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, University of Florida. Dr. Myers graduated from University of Florida with her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine Degree in 2002.

Upon graduation from Vet School, Dr. Myers moved to San Diego and practiced at a small animal hospital for 11 years where she treated cats, dogs, and occasional pocket pets. She opened Highlands Ranch Animal Hospital in Carmel Valley late July 2013. Dr. Myers has a special interest in dentistry, general/preventative and geriatric medicine. 

She resides here in sunny San Diego with her husband, and two children,  who keep them very busy year round! The family also includes Freckles, their rescue Mix, and Calvin, their rambunctious yellow lab.

Dr. Myers grew up her entire life with 1 or more dogs. Her love and passion for caring for animals started when she was young and continues to this day. She enjoys most sports, with soccer being number one and is now enjoying them with her children. In her spare time, she enjoys running, spending time with family at the park, at soccer tournaments, the beach or at home playing games!

Hometown: Poway, CA
Pets: Dogs: Idaho
         Cats: Polly, Ivy, Boots, Butterscotch, KC

Profile coming soon

Hometown: Cerritos, CA
Pets: Dogs: Elvis
         Cats: Izzy, Arthur

Vivian Chang was born in Los Angeles, CA and grew up in Cerritos, CA. After graduating from high school she attended the University of California San Diego. She graduated in 2006 with a BS in Biology. She worked at a privately owned veterinary hospital in San Diego during and after college as a veterinary technician. Dr. Chang then moved back to LA to attend Western University College of Veterinary Medicine where she received her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in 2012. During her training she completed several externships in specialty hospitals in San Diego and Orange county.

Dr. Chang moved back to San Diego where she worked at several small animal hospitals practicing on dogs, cats, and some pocket pets. Dr. Chang has special interests in dentistry, surgery, dermatology, and pain management. 

She currently resides in San Diego with her husband and children. She and her husband currently have a full house with their two daughters Hana (6) and Zoey (3) as well as two cats (Izzy, and Arthur) and their goofy Dalmatian (Elvis).

Caring for animals has always been a passion for Dr. Chang. Growing up she had various pets including guinea pigs, turtles, cockatiels, hamsters, and a rabbit. She enjoys spending time with her two and four legged kids at home, but also loves to travel. Although traveling with two young children is very different now! She also loves hiking, going to the beach/pool, and eating yummy food!

Hometown: San Diego, CA
Pets: 

Dr. Rachel Talpalatsky, “Dr. T”, used to work here at Highlands Ranch Animal Hospital as a veterinary assistant from 2016 - 2018, 3 years after the hospital opened. She later left to pursue her dream of becoming a Veterinarian. Dr. Talpalatsky received her Bachelor’s Degree in Animal Science from Cal Poly SLO State University. She then went on to graduate from Oregon State University College of Veterinary Medicine in June 2020.

She has been practicing Veterinary Medicine in the Los Angeles are for 4 years with special interests in Internal Medicine, preventative care, and nutrition. She has recently moved back to her hometown of San Diego with her husband and dog!

Dr. T enjoys hiking with her dog, water sports, and traveling with her family. 

Our team is happy to welcome Dr. Talpalatsky back and are all very excited for you to meet Dr. Talpalatsky as well. 

Hometown: San Diego, CA
Pets: Dogs: Levi, Yasmine

Jessica has a degree in Wildlife Biology from U.C. Davis and has been part of our team since the Fall of 2018. Over the past decade she has worked for the World Famous San Diego Zoo as a tour guide, zoo keeper, and an animal trainer. She's been working in the veterinary field since 2006, where she first worked with Dr. Myers before she started her own practice. Jessica has 3 dogs at home and animals have been her passion since she was a child. On her days off she enjoys hiking, going to the beach, or hanging with her friends. She has traveled to 12 different countries in 12 years and loves learning new cultures and history around the world. She is currently the Practice Manager, but remains very much involved and enjoys the relationships she has with our patients and clients.

Hometown: San Diego, CA
Pets: Dogs: Rosie, Ollie

Sydney was born and raised in San Diego and graduated from Mt. Carmel High School in 2015. After high school, she completed a course from Animal Behavior College to become a certified Veterinary Assistant in 2016-2017 and graduated with honors. Upon completion of her internship, she began working in a kennel environment and worked her way up to being a technician and has been one ever since. She loves working with pets and plans to return to school to become a Registered Veterinary Technician. Sydney grew up with all kinds of animals, but her favorite has always been dogs. Her childhood miniature dachshund, Hazel, sparked her love for the breed, and now she will only own dachshunds for life. She currently resides with her boyfriend, Cedric, and two miniature dachshunds Rosie and Ollie. In her free time, she enjoys relaxing at home, eating out, and going to the beach with her dogs.

Hometown: El Centro, CA
Pets: Dogs: Milo, Zeus
         Cat: Mori (also born in El Centro, CA), Benji

Erica was born in El Centro, but moved to Lubbock, TX, prior to moving back to San Diego in 2000; where she currently resides in San Marcos. Erica attended University of SD high school and Cathedral Catholic prior to attending Palomar College, where she received her A.A. in Communications and Mass Media. She then went on to receive her B.A. in Comm and Mass Media at Cal State San Marcos. She has loved animals all her life and had previously been studying to become a technician before becoming a receptionist at HRAH. As a child, she would feed the cats in El Centro when she was visiting during the summers and grew up with cats, lab, and rottie mixes, as well as Boxers from Helen Woodward. She has also volunteered at the Birch Aquarium and Helen Woodward. When she isn’t here, you can find her hanging with her Bulldog, Milo, and husband, Derek at Burgeon Beer. 

Hometown: La Mesa, CA
Pets: Dogs: Deku
          Horses: Chuckles (OTTB), Epke (Friesian)

Jaclyn has her Bachelor's of Science from U.C. Davis in Animal Science with an emphasis in Equine Science and minor in music. She has been a member of our team since 2019. While she started out in livestock and large animal, she has always grown up with a colorful array of animals ranging from bearded dragons to chickens to horses and cats and dogs. Her passion has always been animals and their welfare. After interning at the Center for Equine Health in Davis, being a hotwalker/groom at the Del Mar Racetrack for several race seasons, and working for the California Department of Food and Agriculture, she decided to move to the world of small animals and gain a new wealth of experience and knowledge. While not at work, she can be found riding her Friesian in the dressage arena, training horses, at an anime convention, or taking her chiweenie, Deku, on an adventure.

Hometown: San Diego, CA
Pets: Cats: Gyzmo, Jax

Beth was born and raised in San Diego, CA. She studied at PIMA Medical Institute as a Veterinary Assistant before fulyl entering the world of veterinary medicine. Beth has been working in the field for close to ten years and enjoys the different challenges each day brings with it. In her time off, she likes to travel, bake, and work on various art projects. 

Hometown: Macon, Georgia
Pets: Cats: Nubbins McGee (aka Tripod), Kibby
          Dogs: Jambi

From the same city as music legends Little Richard and The Allman Brothers, Eliza just moved from Macon, GA to pursue her passion of animal husbandry. She has always been avid lover of animals and rescuing those in need. Previous pets and fosters include dogs, cats, bunnies, a bearded dragon, pigeons, and more! At home, Eliza enjoyed spending time with her animals as well as eating at and managing her mother’s restaurant, Ingleside Village Pizza, which has been open almost 30 years. Some of Eliza’s favorite activities so far in San Diego have included Nate’s Point dog park in Balboa Park; the dog beach in OB with her corgi mix, Jambi; and discovering all the best foods the city has to offer! Eliza can’t wait to meet you and your best furry friends in our office!

Hometown: Lakeside, CA
Pets: Dog: Koga
          Snake: Domino

Emily was born and mostly raised in Lakeside, California, and graduated from El Capitan High School in 2012. She was an active member of her local 4H and FFA clubs, raising and showing her own goats for her projects. In 2023, she applied for the Veterinary Specialty Hospital's Veterinary Assistant program. Upon completion, she became a Certified Veterinary Assistant and has worked in the Veterinary field ever since. Emily grew up with all sorts of animals and loves them all. She currently has a French Bulldog named Koga and a Kenyan Sand Boa named Domino. In her spare time you can find her at the beach, riding horses, spending time with her friends (and Koga), or at home drawing.

Hometown: Battle Creek, MI                                                                                                                                                      Pets: Dogs: Tater (Doberman Pinscher)

Romy grew up in Battle Creek, Michigan. She lived there until she met her husband & fell deeply in love with the California and Sunny San Diego. She permanently relocated the West Coast in 1991 after completing Cabott College & receiving her Pharmacy Technician license. She has always worked in the health field, but what entranced her most about the veterinary field was being able to work alongside animals on a daily basis. Romy currently has her beautiful Doberman Pincher, Tater, and has had various cats, dogs, and hamsters throughout her life. She is blessed by her two wonderful children and her husband/best friend, Roger. Romy looks forward to seeing everyone and welcoming you with a warm smile!