Our Doctors & Administrators

Dr. Neshan Sarkisian

Dr. Sarkisian purchased Santa Ynez Pet Hospital in January 2023. He is a California native and always dreamed of living in the Santa Ynez Valley.

After attaining his undergraduate degree in biology at the age of 19, he moved to South America where he would spend the next 9 years. He met his wife while teaching in Bolivia, then moved to Peru where he decided to pursue veterinary medicine. He then returned to the US to complete an academic internship in large animal medicine and surgery at the University of Tennessee, College of Veterinary Medicine before ultimately moving back to California. After working for a few years in Santa Barbara and Santa Ynez, he was presented with the life-changing opportunity to purchase Santa Ynez Pet Hospital.

Dr. Sarkisian still holds a special love for camelid and ruminant medicine, but his biggest passion is caring for his dog and cat patients. He is extremely interested in more advanced orthopedic and soft tissue surgeries, and anything involving scoping (endoscopy and laparoscopy). He is very proud to have added laparoscopic spays and TPLOs to our repertoire of more advanced surgical services.

Dr. Sarkisian feels fulfilled at the end of each day knowing that he did his best to send his patients home feeling better, no matter the ailment. He feels strongly that his job is to advocate for the wellbeing of each patient, first and foremost.

Dr. Sarkisian lives in Santa Ynez with his wife, three children, two dogs, two cats, ducks, geese, chickens, and several beehives.

Dr. Amy Parker

Now achieving 30 years in the field, Dr. Amy Parker’s journey in the world of veterinary medicine began with a profound love for animals that developed during her childhood here in the Santa Ynez Valley. After graduating as Valedictorian from Dunn School, she pursued her dream by obtaining her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from UC Davis, where she honed her skills and knowledge and graduated with high honors. After graduation, she embarked on a career path that would become a testament to her passion and professionalism.

Dr. Amy Values all aspects of medicine and surgery, but her primary interest is in preventative healthcare and wellness. In addition to practicing quality medicine, she has also been a prominent member of the Veterinary community, holding several board member positions including 20 years with the Sacramento Valley Veterinary Medical Association.

When she is not caring for our patients, Dr. Amy and her wife, Joy, owner of Solvang Spice Merchant, enjoy hiking with their rescue dog, Bullseye, and hanging in their Solvang garden with their tortie cat, Patsy. Dr. Amy is also an avid oil painter and watercolorist. You can often find her paintings featured on the walls of the Santa Ynez Pet Hospital.

Dr. Lara Zekaria

Dr. Zekaria earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Pennsylvania in 1991 then went on to earn a Master in Education from Pepperdine University in 1996. After working as an elementary school teacher for several years, Dr. Zekaria realized something was missing. Even though she loved education, she yearned to dedicate her life to animal welfare. In order to accomplish her dream, Dr. Zekaria returned to school, ultimately earning a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from UC Davis in 2003.

After graduation, Dr. Zekaria settled back in Los Angeles, California, accepting an offer at a small animal hospital in her old neighborhood. For the next 20 years, she served her community, honing her skills as a practitioner and dedicating herself to client education. Because of her unique background, Dr. Zekaria understood that empowering pet parents with clear and practical information is just as important as diagnosing and treating ailments.

In 2021, Dr. Zekaria and her husband Ike relocated their family to the Santa Ynez Valley. They wanted a slower paced life and a tight knit community where they could raise their twins. They had long since fallen in love with the area and always knew that they would move one day.

Dr. Zekaria is thrilled to have found a home at Santa Ynez Pet Hospital and can’t wait to meet you and your furry family members. Her interests include dentistry, soft tissue surgery, dermatology, behavior medicine, and preventative medicine.

When not working, Dr. Zekaria is passionate about mentoring the next generation of veterinarians and raising money for endangered mountain gorillas. She loves reading, traveling, and spending quality time with her husband, her twins, and her Bernedoodle named Gus.

Dr. Julia Andrade Godoy

Dr. Andrade Godoy is a California native, originally from the Ventura County area, and is excited to be part of the Santa Ynez community. From a young age, she aspired to become a veterinarian, a dream that has shaped her academic and professional journey.

She earned her Bachelor of Science in Animal Science from the University of California, Davis in 2017. Eager to embrace a unique path in veterinary medicine, she then moved to the Caribbean island of Grenada, where she completed three years of didactic training at St. George’s University and became scuba certified. Dr. Andrade Godoy later completed her clinical year at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. After several years away from home, she returned to California to begin her career as a veterinarian, close to her family and community.

Her professional interests include soft tissue surgery, preventative medicine, and integrative therapies such as acupuncture. She is passionate about providing care in underserved communities and hopes to pursue certification in veterinary acupuncture, with the goal of participating in international outreach programs.

Outside of the clinic she enjoys spending time with her family, especially her nieces and nephews. As well as exploring the outdoors through hiking, paddleboarding, beach outings, national park visits, and scuba diving. She shares her home with three beloved pets: a Golden Retriever and two cats.

Dr. Leah Tassoni

Dr. Leah Tassoni’s passion for animals began at a very young age. In Kindergarten, she was voted most likely to become a veterinarian. Every goal from then on was accomplished with her lifelong dream in mind. Dr. Tassoni attended the University of Miami where she received her Bachelor’s degree in Biology and a minor in Chemistry. During her time as an undergraduate, she spent a semester abroad in the Galapagos islands where she studied Ecology, worked at a Galapagos Tortoise Sanctuary, and lived with a local family. After undergraduate school, Dr. Tassoni returned to her home state and attended the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. A memorable part of her Penn experience was providing veterinary care for the local animals in Haiti as a student volunteer. After graduation, Dr. Tassoni decided to further her educational experience by completing an Internship at the largest mixed animal hospital in Texas. She then practiced for 5 years at an Urgent Care and Wellness clinic in Philadelphia. Her special interests include emergencies and surgery.

Dr. Tassoni lives with her cats Sage and Kofi. In her free time she enjoys hiking, biking, and eating. She is especially looking forward to exploring the area since she is new to the west coast!

Marie

Inventory Manager

Marie is a technician and our inventory manager who has been with SYPH since we opened our doors in 1983. She manages our inventory and keeps our equipment functioning. We also call her the “cat whisperer” as she is particularly talented when it comes to handling cranky cats. At home she has dogs, cats, chickens, ducks, geese, goats, donkeys, and even a rescued opposum! She is one of the original veterans of our hospital and we are fortunate to have her here.